ETCH
ETCH turns the M-VAVE FM1 into a synthesizer built around waveforms you create yourself.
- Custom firmware
- Beta
- High brick risk
- Not reversible
Source codeWebsite: fm1.sikkenworks.com
This project hasn't been claimed by its maintainer yet, so its details come from the community. Is it yours? Claim it
Before you start
- How hard is it?
- EasyCopy a file or use a web page. No extra software.
- What you need
- A USB or MIDI cable
- Comfort with the command line
- A computer
- Can it break my device?
- Could leave your device unusable.
- Can I undo it?
- Not easily. Treat it as permanent.
Did it work for you?
Did ETCH V1.79 work on your M-VAVE FM-1?
No reports yet for V1.79.
One-tap reports from owners. Bricked reports are checked before they count.
Compatibility
Devices: M-VAVE FM-1.
No compatibility information yet.
Getting started
From the project's README ("Installation and recovery"):
The complete WebInstaller is WebInstaller.html. V1.70 has one public release: release/ETCH-V1.70.fwsc, which includes 44.1/48 kHz USB audio. The WebInstaller retains a hidden legacy stock-boothead ETCH variant only for previously identified older installations. Both install ETCH, never official stock firmware. The identity remains exactly FM-11500, and the OTA loader, 16 KiB bootheader and project format PJT31 remain protected. On-device USB audio and cross-firmware restore are not yet validated.
- Back up projects, waveforms and calibration data. Keep your original firmware and a tested, independent recovery path available.
- In Chrome or Edge, open the WebInstaller over HTTPS/localhost, close other software using the FM1 MIDI port, and connect the FM1 using a data-capable USB cable.
- Confirm the detected running firmware and choose the compatible protected boothead. The running firmware must approve CHECK; an installer cannot bypass that.
- The device must stage and read back its known OTA loader, receive the host's literal success response, and restart into the loader. The installer verifies the loader identity before sending the firmware.
- When the loader reports WRITE completion and the FM1 reconnects, confirm V160 on the device display. The SysEx firmware identity remains FM-11500 across V1.50 and V1.60, so that identity alone cannot distinguish their software versions. …
Risk and recovery
- Brick risk
- High
- Reversible
- No
- Requires opening the device
- No
From the project's README ("Installation and recovery"):
The complete WebInstaller is WebInstaller.html. V1.70 has one public release: release/ETCH-V1.70.fwsc, which includes 44.1/48 kHz USB audio. The WebInstaller retains a hidden legacy stock-boothead ETCH variant only for previously identified older installations. Both install ETCH, never official stock firmware. The identity remains exactly FM-11500, and the OTA loader, 16 KiB bootheader and project format PJT31 remain protected. On-device USB audio and cross-firmware restore are not yet validated.
- Back up projects, waveforms and calibration data. Keep your original firmware and a tested, independent recovery path available.
- In Chrome or Edge, open the WebInstaller over HTTPS/localhost, close other software using the FM1 MIDI port, and connect the FM1 using a data-capable USB cable.
- Confirm the detected running firmware and choose the compatible protected boothead. The running firmware must approve CHECK; an installer cannot bypass that.
- The device must stage and read back its known OTA loader, receive the host's literal success response, and restart into the loader. The installer verifies the loader identity before sending the firmware.
- When the loader reports WRITE completion and the FM1 reconnects, confirm V160 on the device display. The SysEx firmware identity remains FM-11500 across V1.50 and V1.60, so that identity alone cannot distinguish their software versions. …
Releases
| Version | Name | Released |
|---|---|---|
| V1.79 | —Latest | 29 October 2026 |
| V1.7 | — | 29 October 2026 |
| V1.61 | — | 22 October 2026 |
| V1.60 | — | 22 October 2026 |
| V1.50 | — | 19 October 2026 |
| V1.49 | — | 19 October 2026 |
| V1.48.5 | — | 19 October 2026 |
| ETCH-Update | V1.38 + OTA Bug FIX | 14 October 2026 |
| fm1-firmware | ETCH V1.20 RC | 12 October 2026 |
Credits, license and support
- License
- GPL-3.0