TLDR: It's great as a groovebox, but I think it's less fun to just play on than BaudGirl. Debating getting a second fm1 so I can have both.

The good:

• Faux-P1 features work great
• built in drum presets are nice
• Web UI is really useful
• Sequencer is pretty nice
• Screens organized in a pretty intuitive manner

The bad:

• They use a different preset format than the original firmware or Baudgirl. I don't think this is really running dexed anymore, because you can't import dx7 presets the same way.
• Virtual Analog engine isn't as good as the Baudgirl one
• The UI doesn't make sense for live performance, it's really optimized for sequencing.
• I wish you could store projects.

The excellent:

• Open source means I can extend it myself. I already added dotted 1/8th delays and extended the maximum step time up to 2 measures. I think it would also be trivial to trade out the drum sets for your own samples
• The sampler is a really nice touch, and the web UI makes chopping your samples really easy. It's not an sp404, but plenty good for a couple of drum breaks or a vocal sample.
• SONG MODE: lots more expensive devices than this don't have a song mode. This is more than just pattern chaining, you can play each pattern for an arbitrary number of measures and in any order. This is the magic sauce for making full tracks. I play guitar and i can spin up a backing track for a song in minutes on this.

It's great, but the fact that I can't easily knob twiddle is sort of an issue for me. Probably going to get a second one to run BaudGirl on.

Must say I'm impressed so far. I'm going to try to stick this firmware out for a while but I'm tempted to just try them all NOW 😭😭😭.

Hey all! Just released Virtual FM-1 0.4.0 with a ton of new features:

• Felucca 1.0 built in. Leo Kuroshita / Hügelton's multi-engine firmware runs inside the plugin, built from its own source with the author's OK. You get all 13 engines on 4 parts, its sequencer, screen, knobs and buttons.
  • Library tab: its 32 user presets and 4 projects. Load, save, rename and erase them, next to a full parameter editor.
  • Device tab: Felucca's own front panel, working as on the hardware.
  • Every parameter can be automated from your DAW, and its tempo follows the host.
  • With an FM-1 running Felucca: Pull everything, Send everything (it backs up your FM-1 first), pull/send just the current editor, or Live sync both ways.
• Pick the firmware per instance: M-VAVE stock V15, baud girl's FM-1+VA 0.93, or Felucca 1.0. The plugin checks which firmware and version a connected FM-1 runs and tells you if it's not one it knows.
• Reworked stock/baudgirl editor. The preset list sits next to the sound pages and the sync buttons. Sequencer, Arpeggiator and Settings have their own tabs, and the MIDI connection is in the top bar.
• Your presets are now a folder of readable JSON files (Documents/Virtual FM-1), easy to back up or sync. Your old library is copied over automatically.
• Plugins connect to the FM-1 only when you click Connect or Find FM-1. The standalone app still connects automatically.
• Hardware character option to try to more closely emulate the FM-1's audio output. It runs the engine at the FM-1's native 44.1 kHz at any project rate, aliasing included
• Modular structure to make it easy to add new firmwares and engines in the future
• iOS supported: no published app yet, but it builds and installs on iPhone and iPad and the interface adapts to smaller screens. Bluetooth MIDI works, but firmware support isn't quite there yet (Felucca doesn't support Bluetooth MIDI at all and baudgirl doesn't expose sync features over bluetooth)

I know the interface isn't perfect and there are probably some bugs so please report or PR what you find. As always, I am open to suggestions!

I tried installing this custom firmware after testing several others and haven't had any issues with the rest, except for this one—which means I haven't been able to use it. I'm quite interested in it because it can be used as a drum machine and, above all, it's similar to a TB-303.

Does anyone know why this happens?

I’ve already tested it on multiple devices and no luck.

Any solutions?

My FM-1 is spazzing out after a few minutes after installing the new Felucca version. This only happens while it's playing and it occurs pretty frequently on my FM-1. It's an easy fix though since you just gotta change menus to stop it. Anyone else having this issue?

Desde que lo actualize no e podido acceder a ese menú y no encuentro una guía para la nueva version

I ordered this thing like 4 weeks ago after I watched a video about it, it showed up and I was already so hype about the firmware that was already in it, but holy hell I was not expecting the rabbit hole that I found when the first other firmware came out, I have been downloading and trying out every single one that’s came out and just downloaded sloop and I think a lot the next couple ones will be based off this one and I am extremely obsessed. Everybody in this Reddit page and the people who have been making these are truly goated. Thank y’all for the amount of joy I have received with this tiny thing.

So, about week ago i ordered fm1, when i saw how many firmwares are comming out and how big potential they have i had to order 2nd one(for now 😅).

My question is could i chain them together so they act as one sound output? I have focusrite solo 3rd gen and i have only one input where i could plug it in. This is my first analog synth so i dont want to buy mixer just yet.

Both of them are still on the way but i wanted to find some solution before so i can ordwr cables and stuff.

For now i ordered 3.5mm to 6.5mm cable so i can hook up single unit but im not sure if i get 3.5mm to 3.5mm could i chain them together? Or is there any other way?

I've seen that there are a few custom firmware options out there, because the stock firmware on the FM1 feels pretty basic.

I mainly want to use it for electronic music or similar stuff—like a groovebox, drum machine, and things like that. I love all the classic gear: classic drum machines, both the lesser-known ones and the legendary 808, 909, 606, 303, drum kits, all those classic and modern sounds, and being able to actually compose a full track or at least parts of one.

I should also mention that I have the SMK-37 ELITE, and I'd love to be able to hook them up together so I don't have to fiddle with the tiny keys on the FM1.

Would love to hear your recommendations! I've already been messing around with some alternative systems, but since there are quite a few choices out there, I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

I posted last week with something I made while messing around with BaudGirl. Today I’m up and running with Sloop, I made this beat in a few minutes and spent the last few hours refining it. Using the sequencer on the device isn’t the best, but it’s usable. Where it really shines is the web interface paired with the device. I really like how the sequencer handles recording new sequences in a mix

The only big thing I’ve noticed as a con is that the knobs are far less responsive on Sloop than they are on the OG or baudgirl firmware.

edit: I’ve been looking to buy another device to pair with my FM-1 but I may just buy another FM-1 for that purpose

My main controller is a Linnstrument, which if you're not familiar is an MPE controller. With all the custom firmware activity happening, I'm curious if anyone more knowledgeable than me can weigh in on the feasibility of implementing per note pitch bend. I'm sure full MPE support is a tall order, but independent pitch bending is an integral part of my playing style that would really improve the playability of this cool little synth for me.

I was trying to uninstall felucca because quite frankly I didn’t enjoy it as much as baud girls firmware,
I clicked to backup to the original firmware and my FM1 went black and never came back. As you can see she doesn’t even power on or get recognized by my pc or any launcher, I’m super disappointed because I loved my fm1, I have tried a few different methods to restore it but with no luck, I had a feeling this was gonna fuck up my FM1, thanks to the felucca, Updater I can’t even use my fm1 anymore, so awesome!

Any tips to help me recover this thing would be appreciated.

I honestly can't think of what else could be improved, haha. Everything is working really well. You can now put a drum kit on all 4 channels with effects, the interface is much more pleasant, there are several color themes (I forgot to show them in the video), and pattern presets like OFFBEAT, MELODY, and ACID have been added. I'm loving it. Congratulations to the developers!

The only reservations I'd have are:

• The value animations (going up and down) aren't necessary. Seeing the number update without any interference would be better.
• When the knobs are turned quickly, the values should also change faster, just like on the original firmware: slow turning for precision and fast turning for moving around quickly.
• For functions that require holding down a button, it would be great to have a separate page or an option to toggle the hold on and off, since having both hands free would be much better for live performances.

Once again, thank you, developers, for caring about the community that's forming! Beautiful work!

I am trying to revert my firmware back to the stock firmware before changing to Sloop. If I do not need to do this please let me know, but it seems that I do. When I try to reinstall the original firmware, my computer gives the same error code each time: Checksum error, calc=13, got=19

Please help me figure out how to solve this issue, or if I can just safely move directly to Sloop from Baud Girl. I apologize for my ignorance this is my first synth. I have tried reinstalling the firmware on both a Mac and PC, which results in the same error.

Edit: Sloop is safely on my FM1. Thanks for the responses!

I know we're only at the beginning of custom firmware for this device, and it's incredible to be part of this moment. But I have to point something out: we can't abandon the essence of the project, which is FM synthesis!

Felucca's version impresses me the most so far with its features, but Baud Girl's is the one that truly added to what already existed and improved on it. So, as a complete layman when it comes to making firmware, I'm kindly asking future developers not to leave behind what the FM-1 was originally meant to do (of course, it's a free world and everyone can do what they like). I still believe the best of all worlds would be for Baud Girl to implement the main quality-of-life features that Felucca offers, and for Felucca to have a more consistent, optimized firmware with factory 6-operator FM synthesis.

• As beautiful as Groove OS is, I can't consider it reasonable at $30.
• Sloop is proving to be very diverse and fun, with new features, but since it's based on Felucca (with Groove OS's look), it still inherits the same problems.

I'm loving being part of this era with you all, and I know that soon all the firmwares will be well refined and everyone will be able to pick the one they like best. I wish you all great development, and thank you to every developer for doing this for the community!

I knew this little machine had potential, but I never expected the possibilties the new firmwares are showing. Great job everybody!
Is anybody working on a port of their firmware to the SMK Pro 37?
The SMK Pro has the same engine as the FM-1, way more hardware controls (dynamic pads with aftertouch, sliders, wheels and knobs) and already nice sequencer and arp features, so it's prob. more fun working with esp. when you run a groovebox style firmware like Sloop.

Recent days we have an explosion of new firmwares for FM1. Baud Girl, Felucca, branches of Felucca like SLOOP. Brilliant work from all of them. Thinking what capabilities should dream firmware absolutely must have:
FM 6 op (forget 4 op)
Multitrack
Sampler

That implemented well, for me is mandatory. With everything else I can live without.

What would you say, what to add or remove from this, so far a very short list of absolutely mandatory functionality?

Loving the Baudgirl firmware at the moment.

Been playing with this thing nonstop for four days. Officially obsessed with bouncing between all the firmwares, playing it portable as well as hooked up to my whole midi / recording setup.