Hardware / plugin file

u-he MELT

u-he / €299 (incl. VAT)

u-he MELT is the software maker's first hardware: a 14HP analog Eurorack cascade filter with a variable-slope low-pass, a simultaneous band-pass output, and a Core Temperature drive.

Dubspot / verified plugin database
8.4Great
The Dubspot verdict
8.4Great

The Dubspot verdict

u-he's first hardware is a confident analog cascade filter built to be the final stage of a synth voice, pairing a variable-slope low-pass with a simultaneous band-pass and a drive circuit that runs from mellow to feral.

Best for Eurorack builders who want one characterful analog filter to sit at the end of a monosynth voice.

Pros

  • Cascade low-pass with switchable 12, 18, and 24 dB per octave slopes
  • Simultaneous band-pass output alongside the low-pass, each with its own VCA
  • Core Temperature control sweeps from clean to heavily saturated
  • Two cutoff FM inputs, a modulatable FM VCA, and a built-in three-channel audio mixer

Cons

  • Mono voice-final filter, not a stereo movement machine
  • 14HP and €299 is mid-to-high for a single filter module
  • No software version; hardware only

Field notes

Overview

u-he MELT is the software maker's first hardware and its first fully analog instrument. It is a 14HP Eurorack filter module built to be the final tone-shaping stage of a classic synth voice, carrying the same filter voicing philosophy behind u-he's Diva and Repro plugins into a physical analog circuit.

At its core is a four-pole cascade low-pass filter with a switchable slope of 12, 18, or 24 dB per octave, alongside a simultaneous band-pass output. Each output has its own VCA, and an aux output bypasses the filter for blending dry signal. The Core Temperature control drives the circuit from clean and precise to heavily saturated, which is where the module gets its name and its character.

MELT also carries unusually deep modulation for a filter: two cutoff FM inputs (FM1 with an inverter and its own modulatable VCA), a dedicated resonance CV input, and a built-in three-channel audio mixer plus a VCA-controlled aux input. It sells for €299 including VAT through modular retailers including SchneidersLaden, Perfect Circuit, Elevator Sound, Thomann, and Moogaudio.

Technical matrix

Specifications

Type
Analog cascade low-pass and band-pass filter
Format
Eurorack module
Width
14HP
Depth
~32mm with bus cable
Low-pass slopes
12, 18, 24 dB per octave (switchable)
Outputs
Low-pass (VCA), band-pass (VCA), aux (filter bypass)
Drive
Core Temperature, clean to heavy saturation
Cutoff modulation
FM1 (attenuator, inverter, modulatable VCA), FM2 (attenuator)
Resonance modulation
Dedicated CV input
Audio inputs
3-channel mixer plus aux input with VCA
Power
70mA @ +12V, 70mA @ -12V, no +5V

Last verified 2026-08-31

Quick reference

FAQ

Is u-he MELT worth it?

For a Eurorack builder who wants a characterful, flexible analog filter, yes. The switchable slope, simultaneous band-pass output, Core Temperature drive, and built-in three-channel mixer give it real range and personality inside 14HP.

Is MELT u-he's first hardware product?

Yes. u-he built its reputation on software synths like Diva, Zebra, Hive, and Repro. MELT is the company's first physical product and its first fully analog instrument.

What does the Core Temperature control do?

It is MELT's drive and character control. At low settings the filter is clean; as you raise it the circuit saturates, from subtle analog warmth to an aggressive, overdriven tone.

Comparison matrix

Direct competitors

u-he MELT vs — head-to-head specs, price, and Dubspot Score.

u-he Zebra 39.0
u-he MELT vs u-he Zebra 3
Compare

Further routing

See also