M-Vave's cheap FM-1 pocket synth has exploded as a community firmware playground. Initially billed as a pocket cousin of the famous Yamaha DX7, the FM-1 is a bargain at only $59.72 after fees. In July, intrepid tinkerers on Reddit's r/synthdiy board began reverse-engineering the FM-1's stock firmware to expand the device's abilities. By September, custom firmware began appearing. By October, there are already more community firmware projects available to install on the FM-1 than I could ever hope to cover.
The highlight is FM1 Open, a software package announced October 17 that encourages FM-1 owners to develop custom firmware. Alongside the package came an SDK, a browser-based workbench, and version 15 of the stock firmware, now an open platform you can flash and build on. The unit's 27 physical piano keys and modest 1.54-inch TFT display lend themselves well to a host of projects, including running Doom.
M-Vave has taken an unusual approach by publishing the application source under GPLv3 and including an in-browser emulator to test custom firmware prior to flashing. However, the underlying synth engine remains a closed binary. Flashing custom firmware carries risks; the Jie Li chip keeps firmware in a single flash bank, so an interrupted update can brick the device. Users must back up saved projects as flashing wipes all information. Always update to stock v15 firmware before attempting custom installations to avoid failed flashes and language mismatches between installers and the device.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing