ROM-1
ROM-1 turns the M-VAVE FM-1 into a sixteen-part sound module, as the rack modules of the nineties were: a part for each MIDI channel, each playing a preset of the sounds you put on it, with a filter, envelopes, reverb and chorus.
- Custom firmware
- Alpha
- Medium brick risk
- Reversible
This project hasn't been claimed by its maintainer yet, so its details come from the community. Is it yours? Claim it
- SETUP's LIGHTS works: Off and Keys left every button glowing dimly, so the three choices looked alike on the FM-1. Now Off is dark, Keys lights only the keys you hold, and On lights the buttons (the others glowing) and the keys.
Install
- From the browser (Chrome or Edge, the FM-1 on USB): the web installer (the starter sounds), or your sounds (your .sf2 files, converted in the browser). Or try it in the browser first.
- From the command line:
python3 tools/fm1_install.py rom1-0.1.1.fwsc(the starter sounds), orpython3 tools/rom1_load.py --package rom1-0.1.1.fwsc FONT.sf2 ...(yours; Python 3 withpip3 install mido python-rtmidi, and a C compiler). - Going back: the installer's "Back to the stock firmware", or M-VAVE's M-UPGRADE.
The firmware is rom1-0.1.1.fwsc below; its source is this tag. Installing other firmware is at your own risk; see the manual's Troubleshooting.
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?
- Small chance of trouble, with a way to recover.
- Can I undo it?
- Yes. You can go back to the official software.
Did it work for you?
Did ROM-1 v0.1.1 work on your M-VAVE FM-1?
No reports yet for v0.1.1.
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 ("Installing, and going back"):
- With your sounds: the Your sounds page (Chrome or Edge, a USB data cable) installs ROM-1 with them in one go. From the command line: pip3 install mido python-rtmidi, then python3 tools/rom1load.py --package rom1-X.Y.Z.fwsc FONT.sf2 ....
- With the starter sounds: the web installer, or python3 tools/fm1install.py rom1-X.Y.Z.fwsc with the file from the latest release.
- Going back: the installer's "Back to the stock firmware" puts M-VAVE's firmware back, as does M-VAVE's own updater, M-UPGRADE. Any other FM-1 firmware installs over ROM-1 as it would over the stock one.
- Other firmwares' saved work: the sounds that do not fit in the firmware go to the FM-1's data area, where some firmwares keep their samples, patterns or songs; putting your sounds on replaces what another firmware kept there. ROM-1's settings live in the FM-1's settings memory.
Installing other firmware is at your own risk, though it's hard to get stuck: an FM-1 that fails to start twice comes up in a safe mode the installer can reach, and the manual's Troubleshooting covers the rest.
Risk and recovery
- Brick risk
- Medium
- Reversible
- Yes
- Requires opening the device
- No
From the project's README ("Installing, and going back"):
- With your sounds: the Your sounds page (Chrome or Edge, a USB data cable) installs ROM-1 with them in one go. From the command line: pip3 install mido python-rtmidi, then python3 tools/rom1load.py --package rom1-X.Y.Z.fwsc FONT.sf2 ....
- With the starter sounds: the web installer, or python3 tools/fm1install.py rom1-X.Y.Z.fwsc with the file from the latest release.
- Going back: the installer's "Back to the stock firmware" puts M-VAVE's firmware back, as does M-VAVE's own updater, M-UPGRADE. Any other FM-1 firmware installs over ROM-1 as it would over the stock one.
- Other firmwares' saved work: the sounds that do not fit in the firmware go to the FM-1's data area, where some firmwares keep their samples, patterns or songs; putting your sounds on replaces what another firmware kept there. ROM-1's settings live in the FM-1's settings memory.
Installing other firmware is at your own risk, though it's hard to get stuck: an FM-1 that fails to start twice comes up in a safe mode the installer can reach, and the manual's Troubleshooting covers the rest.
Releases
| Version | Name | Released |
|---|---|---|
| v0.1.1 | ROM-1 0.1.1Latest | 17 October 2026 |
| v0.1.0 | ROM-1 0.1.0 | 17 October 2026 |
Credits, license and support
- License
- GPL-3.0