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Comments (19)

• consumer451
  This has to be related to MWAVE's FM-1 viral popularity, largely due to open firmware right?https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/from-impulse-purchas...https://github.com/aroum/fm1-custom-fwsee also:> Reverse Engineering of the M-VAVE FM-1 Pocket Synthesizer Firmwarehttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49994065 (75 points - 50 comments)
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  sebastienbarre
  For people afraid of bricking their units, I can't stress enough how groundbreaking it is that they're acknowledging that risk and still offering to repair your unit. You pay of course, because this is a risk you took, but at least they will have a look at it: "Out-of-Warranty Repairs Available: In the unlikely event that something ever goes wrong with your hardware while using custom firmware, it is not covered under standard warranty. However, Polyend is always happy to help get your instrument back up and running through its official out-of-warranty repair service (standard service, parts, and shipping fees apply."
• dimatura
  The avalanche of reverse engineered/custom firmwares is definitely changing the synth landscape. I'm wondering how many other companies will start open sourcing. It isn't always trivial since sometimes there's proprietary software components or toolchains that can't be open sourced. But it's hard to imagine it won't be more common. There's a lot of mixed feelings in the community. A lot of musicians don't like AI, but they do want to have more features and bug fixes. A lot of synth makers are probably ambivalent too, especially if they have a stronger vision of what the synths should be that custom firmware ignore. Not to mention the commercial implications of adding features into existing synths, possibly making newer models less appealing. And of course people are copying UIs and workflows from other synths that took a lot of work to develop.
• ricokatayama
  That’s cool. After M-vave's FM1 and TE's OP-1 revolution, going this path is almost mandatory for anyone with good hardware but a crappy interface. I'd love to love Polyend's software, but M8 is so far ahead in terms of power and intuitiveness.
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  gregsadetsky
  Relatedly, Erika Synths released the source code of the LXR-02 very recently as well: https://www.ericasynths.lv/news/post/lxropen(I/AI had fun porting it to wasm/web! I don't want to seem too self-link'y, so if anyone asks, happy to share the link)I also have a Polyend Tracker for sale if anyone's in the market..! It's a great device, I'm just trying to focus on having less right now.
• anon
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• keyle
  What excites me most about this, is alternative hardware running this firmware.I love the idea of the polyend stuff but they're too pricy when there are perfectly usable trackers with more possibilities like renoise.The novelty of a handheld tracker wears off quick once you start plugging things in.
• NDlurker
  Exciting! I have a Tracker I need to update. I've also been seen stuff about Doom OS for the SP404 MK2, need to update that too.
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  vyaa
  Awesome! I don’t use any of their gear but still great news.If only Ableton and Max would follow. Maybe that’s a weekend project.
• girvo
  I'm glad! It makes sense though: the community has been reverse engineering it and building their own with LLM help lately. I love my Tracker+, such a neat bit of kit, and I'm excited to see what we can do now the firmware is open
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  viraptor
  "Click to accept marketing cookies and enable this content" on a video? Have some shame, developers...
• nullstyle
  Looks like my Tracker is getting promoted from drawer jockey to the main jamspot in my music setup, and I've got a weekend project to take on.I love to see this new trend in the electrical musical implement industrial complex.