How long should the official update take? as I 've seen a video where the screen goes off and IF the update app won’t show it is complete it suggest to disconnect the USB C cable and plug it back and try again without swithcing off the unit… as I’m approaching flashing 1.5 before attempting a Custom FW
UPDATE: It shows me Version : 15 so it is the latest
Great points all. The Elektron UI design is REALLY good and I never miss a bigger or colorful screen. So easy to understand and well mated to the unit’s controls.
(I have the DT1, DN1 and Syntakt)
I got the FM-1 in the mailbox yesterday, and first thing I did was put Sloop, then Groove-OS.
While I find Sloop super easy to use, and I am a fan of the bigger UI, Groove OS has more advanced functionality, but man that font is super super tiny.
I asked the dev if they could make an iOS companion or something so we can roll OP-Z style.
Question for Android users: Chrome on Android has WebMidi and can be used to upload stuff to FM1?
I believe so, although I have not tried it yet.
The tiny fonts seems to be a problem with most of the firmwares, hopefully we will see better UIs coming soon.
The firmware page is back up at the link I provided earlier, you can try it out in the browser before installing- be aware that currently to install other firmwares you need v15 as they don’t see the fm-1 with this nee firmware. There is an option on the page to revert to v15 so do that before attempting to install other firmwares.
I think there’s a WebMidi compatible browser for iOS? Called MIDIWeb Browser - not sure if that would do what you want it to?
The M-Vave’s Workbench is back and running:
https://open.m-vave.com/fm1-workbench
They even published their development kit:
Nice. Looks like they fully embrace the idea of community firmware.
I bet it sells them a shitload of devices.
If they do well, I hope they offer a bigger and more rugged unit.
Yeah I’d quite like something a little bigger with more controls, mechanical keys, audio inputs.
What happened to all this chat from last week about modding firmwares putting an end to this cycle of selling shiny new things?
Ordered an Orange one, already have the black one, so I will customize like this :
For JIANT FM ?
For XOX, Fart Machine ? (Brown noise)
Seems to me the front plate would be easy enough to 3-D print. Then maybe a UV print on that.
Has anyone published 3D print files for this ?
An open platform built on flimsy hardware (FM-1) with a questionable UX will still mainly produce landfill, people buy it for the novelty, try out some things, but only a few will use that in the long run for making music.
A solid device however will last people much longer. The sooner that is available to people, the better. My hope is that people would rather turn to such a thing than to closed and specialized devices, so I expect this making a positive difference at least mid-term.
Of course the best way is for manufacturers opening up their existing devices, but I will not hold my breath for that.
The guys from MS5Stack that built TAB5 (which retails for $50) got a FM-1 and are already developing their own vision of a synth… Wish it had a bigger screen like TAB5’s 5 inch screen, but if you want a better successor to the FM-1 now is the time to voice in your ideas while they’re still prototyping. TAB5 uses ESP32-P4 (same as dadamachine bd-16). Would be nice to see that horsepower into a cheaper groovebox style product.
M5Stack on X: "How about My version ?" / X
Doesn’t feel flimsy to me, it’s hardly high end, but seems pretty well built, screen is nice and crisp, knobs don’t wobble or feel loose
Agreed, it seems better build quality than some gear I have had, at least as solid built as Aira minis, which are pretty solid.
There are some really interesting firmwares out and forthcoming including one that will play internet radio with punch in fx, ambient generators, sid players, quite a lot of quirky and weird stuff.
These are cheap and small enough to throw in a bag and take to the park or beach or whatever, kind of reminds me of the walkman in that way.
Oh and for a bigger version the forthcoming Vibe FM Mk1 might be a solution for some people, looks like it has a bigger screen too, you can find it on thefirmwarehub.com page.
I agree also. Pleasantly surprised with the build quality.
You’re right, it’s not exactly flimsy, and it could be way worse. Still, to me it looks and feels like more like a toy than an instrument. I prefer properly sized controls, encoders and buttons that provide a different kind of response, and actual knobs and caps. Between this thing and an iPad, I’d always choose the UX of the iPad.
But give me something like a Digitakt, or even a Model:Samples, I vastly prefer the UX of the hardware.
That’s what I mean.
People say this about everything that’s tiny and/or not made of metal and/or devices with small knobs or mini jacks. I get where you’re coming from and mostly agree, but this line is kind of tired.
