Six tracks of synths, inside the M‑VAVE FM‑1.

Tracks and machines

Each of the six tracks holds one machine: a sound source or an FX machine. Pick the track with ALGORITHM; on an 8-knob page, SELECT changes its machine.

The 8-knob pages

Every page has eight knobs in two rows of four, on the FM-1's KNOB 1-4. The row the knobs turn is lit; press the page's button again for the next row or page. The tab strip (SYN AMP FLT EFX LF1 LF2 LF3) shows where you are.

• FILTER: a resonant high-pass at BASE into a low-pass at BASE + WDTH, each with its own Q. It follows the note: at BASE 0 the high-pass sits two octaves under it, 8 steps are an octave. An AD envelope adds BOFS to BASE and WOFS to WDTH.
• EFFECTS: a peaking EQ (±36 dB), sample-rate reduction and a stereo tape delay on every track. DTIM is in 1/256 notes, synced to the tempo; DSND below 0 keeps the stereo image, above 0 ping-pongs; DFB above 64 grows into distortion.
• LFOs: three a track, synced to the tempo. PAGE and DEST pick any knob of SYN, AMP, FLT or EFX, another LFO, or PTCH (vibrato up to 16 octaves). TRIG: FREE, TRIG, HOLD, ONE, HALF. Eleven waves. INTL interlaces the wave with silence.

Sequencer and parameter locks

SEQ puts the selected track's steps on the 16 white keys: tap a key to turn a step on or off. Press SEQ again for PATTERN (length, speed, swing, gate), MOTION and SONG. OCT− and OCT+ change the bank of 16 steps (up to 64).

• Hold a step: KNOB 1 is its chance (PROB, and A/B conditions), KNOB 2 ratchets, KNOB 3 accent, KNOB 4 SLIDE.
• Parameter locks: on STEP, hold a step and press EDIT, ENV, FX or LFO. The 8-knob page opens in LOCK mode, with the white keys still the steps. Hold any step and turn a knob: that value is locked on that step (shown inverted, with LOCK S5 on the screen). OCT− clears the held step's locks; SEQ leaves LOCK mode.
• How locks play: a locked value lasts until the next trig, and an unlocked trig plays the kit's value. A lock on a step without a trig applies at that step.
• Parameter slide: on a SLIDE step, every locked knob glides to its next lock on the track, arriving exactly there.
• Live: press REC while playing and turn knobs: the moves are recorded as locks.
• Notes: with KEYS on (the default; SEL toggles it), the keys play the selected track and OCT− / OCT+ set the octave. On STEP, stopped, REC starts step record.

More

• HOME: a tap switches between TRACKS (levels, lengths, pans; SELECT sets the tempo) and HOME (the scope; SELECT on to the COMP sidechain compressor). Hold HOME for the menu.
• GLO: a tap opens the global settings; held, the white keys mute the tracks.
• FX held: PERFORM: the black keys play live master effects, the knobs are FILTER, CRUSH, THROW and DEPTH.
• PRESETS (the knob): steps through the presets: bank MNM holds 55 for the synth and FX machines (SUPERSAW, HOOVER, SIDSYNC, EPIANO, TUBEBELL, ORGAN, GNDKICK, CHOIR, PLATE ...). Hold EDIT for the list.
• SAVE: four project slots (save, load, name) and tools. In the simulator, projects are saved in your browser.