MESA Adaptive Moving Average (MAMA) Indicator Explained

John Ehlers' MESA Adaptive Moving Average (MAMA) uses the Hilbert Transform to measure the market's dominant cycle in real time, then adapts its smoothing to that cycle. Instead of you choosing a period, the market effectively chooses it.

How It Works

• A Hilbert Transform estimates the current dominant cycle length from price itself.
• The average speeds up when the phase advances quickly (trending) and slows in cyclic chop.
• It's typically paired with its follower line FAMA; the engine exposes the adaptive value for conditions.

How to Trade It

Trade price crossing MAMA for adaptive trend entries, or use its direction as a regime gate that self-tunes to each market. Because the adaptation is cycle-based, MAMA behaves consistently across timeframes without re-optimizing lengths.

Building It in Setup.Cash

Add MESA Adaptive Moving Average (MAMA) in the strategy builder — the length input controls its sensitivity — and use its value in any entry, exit, or filter condition. You can also combine it with other tools in the Indicators Lab or via the AI indicator generator. Ehlers' Super Smoother Filter is the companion noise filter. For the full category overview, see the advanced trend library guide.

Trend tools reward patience: pick one, pair it with a volatility or regime filter, and backtest before trading it live.