I like to play with synthesizers, drum machines and samplers. I don’t make a specific type of music. I’m not a musician. I really like music, and constantly have it in my head, and those sorts of devices let me explore said music. It’s really fun, I enjoy it and it makes me happy.
I have a pretty nice home setup, at least for someone of my needs. The problem is it’s in the “office” where I work everyday, which means sometimes I don’t want to hang out in there after hours.
Which is where my love for battery powered devices comes in. I take my M8 with me on flights instead of a video game handheld. I have my Deluge in my lap before bed on some nights.
Enter the M-Vave FM-1 , a super cheap little synthesizer. In its stock form its pretty meh – I’m not nostalgic for the late 80s-90s FM sound. BUT, people (ai assisted) have figured out how to make alternate firmware for it. Now, it can be a whole bunch of different things – a groove box, a digital re-production of an old synth, an ambient box, you name it.
I have a couple FM-1s, and I’ve been trying out different firmwares for a couple days. One of the keepers so far is Mutable Dreams, which makes the FM-1 an ambient machine.
Plenty of synth engines (including Plaits) to use across 6 channels. Euclidian sequencing lets you give each channel its own length, hits, and chances. A pretty wide set of configs to help tune each sound. If wanted, you can even set specific sequences or phrases to loop through.
Its been a great one to set up, get running, then leave it on while I get distracted with something else for a while, then back to the machine to make some changes and adjustments, then rinse, repeat.
I also gave AMB-1 a spin – another ambient firmware. Its nice, but more focused on generative compositions and fewer sound design options. Basically turn it on, and leave it to do its thing. Which is cool, but I want something a little more hands on that I can shape to match the vibe.
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