K-WASUB · FM1 modern Bass firmware

Name: K-WASUB_Firmware_for_FM1
Author: Guizmoh

A modern bass synth for the M-VAVE FM-1: DnB, dub, dubstep, techno. Live wobble, reese, sub, 808, an EQ, a morph between four sounds, effects on the keys. Free and open source (GPL-3.0). Version 1.0.52 BETA: tested on the FM-1 hardware, in the emulator and by automatic tests; tell me what you see (Issues tab).


🎛 Try it (browser)	`emulator/index.html`
⬇️ Install on the FM-1	`installer.html` (Chrome or Edge, USB) · or `INSTALL-Windows.bat` / `INSTALL-Mac.command` / `INSTALL-Linux.sh`
📖 Manual (illustrated)	`manual.html`
🏠 Home page	`index.html` (with GitHub Pages on: https://guizmoh.github.io/K-WASUB_Firmware_for_FM1/)
🗺 Specifications	`SPECIFICATIONS.md`: done, to do, ideas
📜 Technical notes	`docs/TECHNICAL-NOTES.md`
🇫🇷 French	`fr/`: the home page, manual, specifications and notes in French
🇪🇸 Spanish	`es/README.md`: the README in Spanish

Key features

9 engines per oscillator (ANALOG, 808, CS, WAVETABLE, FM 4 operators, GROWL, ADDITIVE, PHASE DIST, HARD SYNC), each with a 4th setting: FOLD (CS: RING, 808: CLICK, FM: ALGO, 8 ways to wire the operators).
Drum sequencer with conditions & parameter locks (on the bass too: hold a step, turn a knob) and automation (hold REC while it plays and turn any knob; hold REC alone to erase): 8 coloured tracks (808, 909, dub techno, acoustic kits), chance and trig conditions on every step, black keys choose the instrument, white keys (pads) place its steps, OCT−/OCT+ turn the pages; live REC; sync out for Pocket Operators and Volcas.
LFO learn: hold LFO and turn any knob, LFO 2 is assigned to that setting in one gesture (OCT− too: LFO 1, OCT+ too: LFO 3).
CLASSIC or SHIFT mode (OCT− / OCT+) for a faster workflow, chosen in the options.
SEL windows: PERFORM, MORPH, FX LIVE, MACROS.
A/B morph: blend two sounds live.
Three LFOs (the third one global: it stays when you change sound) and a live LFO page to reshape your wobble basses while you play.
SEQ BASS (up to 64 steps, probability, trig conditions and note length per step, 30 presets, live REC), OSC C samples (attacks, textures; start / end cut, faster or slower, reverse, ping-pong), DRUMS (808 / 909 / dub techno / acoustic kits, 8 coloured tracks, rhythm presets: techno, dub, dnb…), ARP, MIDI.
The sound: engines, filters, effects, master, and FX PADS.
Animated oscillator visuals, live.
A visual EQ.
Totally different themes, to fit the way you work.
Brightness, contrast, fonts and size.
Firmware language (SYSTEM › LANGUAGE): English, Français or Español; English by default.

Install

FM-1 over USB (a data cable), other MIDI software closed.
Open installer.html in Chrome or Edge → “Install K-WASUB”.
The packages are in install/ (k-wasub-X.fwsc, older ones in install/older/, checksums in SHA256SUMS).

You can go back to KAWA (install/kawa-0.5.fwsc) or to the stock firmware (M-UPGRADE) at any time; holding OCT− at power-on = USB rescue.

Build

cd source
./build.sh --release 1.0.52          # -> build/k-wasub-1.0.52.fwsc
APP_VER=1.0.52 bash web/make_emulator.sh      # emulator
bash web/make_installer.sh                    # installer.html with the newest package
bash tests/run_stress.sh                      # load tests (UBSan)
python3 tests/manual_shots.py                 # the manual's screenshots (docs/img)

JieLi toolchain and AC79 SDK: see source/BUILDING.md and source/tools/get_toolchain.sh.

Support

☕ ko-fi.com/omnipotard

Credits and license

GPL-3.0. K-WASUB is born from KAWA (Omnipotard / Leo Kuroshita, Hügelton Instruments), whose FM-1 platform it reuses (boot, USB, audio, screen). See LICENSING.md. Not affiliated with M-VAVE.