Groove OS: turns your M-VAVE FM-1 into a groovebox.

01 · first groove

a groove in seconds.

a new FM-1 powers on into FIRST GROOVE: four tracks, already playing the moment you press PLAY. four more starters are one turn away, and every one of them is yours to change.

The FM-1 up close, running Groove OS: the boot screen writes the mark, FIRST GROOVE plays, SELECT turns through the pages — **fig. 1.1** · power on · livethe boot, then FIRST GROOVE and the wheel

Groove OS: PROJECT · NEW, the five starters, ADD TRACK and TRACKS — **fig. 1.2** · PROJECT · NEWfirmware frames

**fig. 1.2** · PROJECT · NEWfirmware frames

what's inside

FIRST GROOVE · a new unit starts on a four-track song: press PLAY
starters · PUNCH, DUSTY, STEEL and an EMPTY page, from PROJECT · NEW
the wheel · SELECT turns TRACKS · MIX · KEYS · PERFORM · PROJECT; HOME always brings you back
the legend · every page names what K1–K4 do, in the knobs' own colours
help on hold · hold a button for a second: a card says what it does
asks first · anything that deletes asks, and SHIFT + REC takes the last change back

02 · sound

sounds good on the first turn.

every sound comes with four macros chosen to change it for real. FM or VA on any track, a deep editor when you want one, and one FX chain every track can send into.

Groove OS SOUND: an FM voice drawn as its algorithm, its macros turned, the preset browser, then a VA voice and its filter — **fig. 2.1** · SOUND · livedemo: FM, the browser, then VA

fig. 2.2 · FM · six operatorsthe FM-1's own engine

fig. 2.3 · VA · one voiceper track: FM or VA

Close up of the FM-1's four right-hand knobs, K1 to K4 — **fig. 2.4** · K1–K4four macros per sound

Groove OS MIX: a strip per track, a level and an FX send turned, then the FX chain on MAIN: reverb and delay — **fig. 2.5** · MIX · livedemo: a send per track, then the FX

what's inside

curated macros · four per sound, named for what they do, chosen so each one clearly changes it
FM · the FM-1's own six-operator engine: 32 algorithms, operators, pitch envelope, LFO
VA · a virtual analog voice: saw, square, triangle, sine, SUPER, sub and noise; ladder and state-variable filters, drive
PRESETS · one list by type; turn to audition, SEL keeps it; favourites and recent
FX send · drive, chorus, phaser, delay, reverb and filter for all tracks, a send per track and per pad
DX7 import · single voices and whole banks, sent as SysEx

03 · sequence

64 steps. some happen by chance.

a step sequencer on every track: stack up to four notes on a step, lock a knob to one step, and let chance, ratchets and DICE keep it moving.

Close up of the FM-1 screen: SEQ, three-note stacks written from the keys, a p-lock on one step, then DICE — **fig. 3.1** · SEQ · livedemo: stacks, a p-lock, DICE

fig. 3.2 · one step, taken apartup to 4 notes · 4 p-locks

Groove OS KIT: a pad picked on a black key, its steps on the white keys, one hit locked higher — **fig. 3.3** · KIT · livedemo: claps, a locked hit

Groove OS SEQ menus — **fig. 3.4** · SEQ · the menusfirmware frames

**fig. 3.4** · SEQ · the menusfirmware frames

what's inside

64 steps · four bars of 16, patterns A to P on every track, chained
stacked notes · hold keys together: one step, up to four notes, each its own velocity
p-locks · hold SEQ and turn: a macro takes its own value on that step; on a kit, one hit
per step · ratchet, condition, accent, slide, tie, flam, transpose
chance and FILL · a step plays sometimes, every other bar, or only on a fill
DICE · SHIFT + SEQ rolls a new beat, or a new line in key; SHIFT + REC takes it back
kits · 8 pads by 16 steps, choke groups, velocity, a send per pad
ARP · up, down, random, octaves, latch, in time with the track

04 · in key

no wrong notes.

pick a key once on KEYS and every track plays in it. turn CHORDS on and every key plays its chord.

Groove OS KEYS: the root and scale turned to D dorian, CHORDS PLAY switched on and played, then the chords editor — **fig. 4.1** · KEYS · livedemo: D dorian, then CHORDS PLAY

fig. 4.2 · CHORDS: PADS on the keybed27 keys · 1 : 2.35

what's inside

one key · a root and a scale for every track at once
SNAP · a wrong key slides to the nearest right one
FILTER · wrong keys stay silent
WHITE · the scale moves onto the white keys
CHORDS PLAY · every key plays its degree's chord, in key
CHORDS PADS · eight chord pads from C, the left hand inverts, splits and strums
voicing · colour, voicing, spread and roll, the chord's notes shown on the keys
scale LEDs · the keys of the scale light up

05 · perform

play it live.

PERFORM puts the stage on the keys: mutes that land on the bar, scenes you capture and launch, punch-ins you hold, and four throws that always come back.

The FM-1 from above, running Groove OS: PERFORM with a scene captured, two mutes landing on the bar, a punch-in held and the FX thrown — **fig. 5.1** · PERFORM · livetop view · demo: a scene, mutes, a punch-in, throws

what's inside

mutes · white keys 1–8: tap, and the track drops out on the bar; hold to solo
together · SHIFT + taps stage several mutes; they land on one bar
scenes · SHIFT + a black key captures the moment; a black key brings it back on the bar
punch-ins · DIVE, LIFT, ECHO, WASH, three repeats and FILL on the top keys: hold, or tap to latch
throws · K1–K4 push FILTER, SPACE, ECHO and DRIVE; SHIFT + SEL glides them back over a bar
safe on stage · nothing on PERFORM deletes anything; SEL taps the tempo
automation · knob moves recorded with the notes, a lane each, played every loop
MIX · level, mute, solo and send per track, MAIN pinned

06 · keep it

never lose a take.

the session saves itself while you are stopped and is back at the next power-on. three slots keep the songs you want, and your projects export to your computer from the web.

Groove OS PROJECT: FIRST GROOVE saved into slot 1 with a thumbnail of its lanes, then the PUNCH starter started — **fig. 6.1** · PROJECT · livedemo: SAVE HERE, then a starter

fig. 6.2 · where it livesapart from the stock presets

what's inside

autosave · while stopped, the session is kept; never while you play
resume · the next power-on brings it back as you left it
capture · SHIFT + SAVE after a good pass: the last loop goes onto the track, no REC needed
three slots · in the FM-1's own flash, each with its name, size and lanes
crash-safe · a save is written whole before it replaces the old one
export and import · projects to your computer and back, from the browser over USB
undo · SHIFT + REC: the last take, a DICE, a cleared lane or a lock
the unsaved dot · every page shows when a change is not in a slot yet

export and import live on /projects, in Chrome or Edge.

07 · studio

works with your gear.

the FM-1 keeps time with your studio, records what your controller plays, and can play your other synths.

fig. 7.1 · in a studioUSB and Bluetooth MIDI

Groove OS: a DX7 bank arriving over MIDI, and the MIDI settings — **fig. 7.2** · MIDIfirmware frames

what's inside

MIDI clock · follow a DAW's tempo, or send the FM-1's out
a channel per track · a controller or a DAW plays and records any track
MIDI OUT tracks · a track plays your other synths, on its own channel
program change · pick sounds from outside
CC map · the panel's knobs as MIDI CCs
USB and Bluetooth · both, as the stock firmware has them

08 · install

one cable. one click. one way back.

installs from the browser, with nothing to download. the stock firmware is backed up first, and is one click away.

fig. 8.1 · the installchecked as it writes

01
connect the FM-1 to a computer with a USB data cable. some cables only charge.
02
sign in and open the installer in Chrome or Edge. it reads what your FM-1 runs.
03
install one click. the stock firmware is backed up first; then it verifies, writes and confirms.
04
play switch the FM-1 off and on. the boot takes one bar; then FIRST GROOVE is waiting on TRACKS.

install Groove OS how the way back works

Chrome or Edge · USB data cable · FM-1 on V15

what's inside

in the browser · Chrome or Edge talk to the FM-1 over USB; no app, no drivers
backed up first · the stock firmware is kept before anything is written
checked · every part is verified as it is written, then confirmed after a restart
the way back · one click returns the FM-1 to M-VAVE's own V15, any time
safe mode · hold OCT− and OCT+ at power-on for a stock FM-1, any time

09 · price

one price. every 1.x update.

€29, paid once, and Groove OS is yours with every 1.x update. it installs from the browser, and the stock firmware is one click away, any time.

what you get

firmware: Groove OS 1.0 for the M-VAVE FM-1: tracks, steps, kits, keys, perform and projects
installer: in this browser over USB. the stock firmware is backed up first, every write is checked
updates: every 1.x release, installed from the same page
the way back: M-VAVE's own V15 in one click, any time; safe mode at power-on
requires: an M-VAVE FM-1 on firmware V15, a USB data cable, Chrome or Edge on a computer

fig. 9.1 · Groove OS 1.xfor the M-VAVE FM-1

€29once

onceno subscription. it stays yours.
every 1.x updateincluded, installed the same way.
from the browserChrome or Edge over USB. nothing to download.
one way backstock V15 is one click away, any time.

secure payment by Stripe. your receipt is kept on your account page.

10 · specifications

the numbers.

the panel, as Groove OS uses it, and everything above as a spec sheet.

Groove OS powering on into FIRST GROOVE, then turning the page wheel: TRACKS, MIX, KEYS, PERFORM, PROJECT — **fig. 10.1** · FM-1, front view1 px hairline · measured panel map

fig. 10.2 · turn it overdrag to turn · live screen

fig. 10.3 · overallmm

FM-1 · 161.5 × 96.5 × 28.6 mm · 251 g

tracks: 1 to 8, each a loop of 1 to 8 bars; each an FM or VA sound, an FM or VA kit, or MIDI OUT
sequencer: 64 steps per pattern, 16 patterns per track (A–P), chains; up to 4 notes per step
per step: velocity per note, length, chance and condition, ratchet, accent, slide, tie, flam, transpose
p-locks: a track's 4 macros per step; a kit hit's tune, decay, level and velocity; 64 per project
sound: six-operator FM (the FM-1's own engine), 32 algorithms; a VA voice; 4 curated macros per sound
kits: 8 pads, choke groups, velocity, a send per pad; FM and VA kits
keys: a root and a scale for every track: snap, filter or white keys; chords as pads or on every key
perform: 8 mutes on the bar, 11 scenes, 8 punch-ins, 4 throws, tap tempo
automation: knob moves recorded with the notes, a lane per knob, saved with the project
fx: drive, chorus, phaser, delay, reverb and filter for all tracks; a send per track
projects: 3 slots in flash, crash-safe, an unsaved dot; autosave and resume; 5 starters
export: projects to your computer and back, from Chrome or Edge over USB
tempo: 40 to 240 BPM, tap tempo, MIDI clock in and out
midi: a channel per track, MIDI OUT tracks, program change, panel CC map, DX7 SysEx; USB and Bluetooth
screen: 240 × 240 px, colour; every page drawn by Groove OS
install: from Chrome or Edge over USB; stock firmware backed up first
safe mode: hold OCT− and OCT+ at power-on: a stock FM-1
requires: M-VAVE FM-1 on firmware V15

Groove OS runs on top of the stock V15 firmware. the FM engine, USB and Bluetooth MIDI, the keys and the LEDs are M-VAVE's; the pages, the tracks, the VA voice and the tools are ours.