FMEL-1 0.1

The first release of FMEL-1: MEL, a Mellotron M400 tape keyboard for the M-VAVE FM-1.

Not yet tried on an FM-1. It builds and passes every check of the build, and it runs in the host mode and in the browser, but nobody has installed it on the hardware yet. Read Installing below before you do.

What it is

• Four real M400S tapes (flute, choir, cello, vibraphone) by Bernie Kornowicz (Taijiguy), two of them layered if you like, every key with its own tape.
• LOFI (wow, flutter, drive, hiss, age, dropout, drift, crush), FX (vibrato, Leslie, tape echo, reverb), EQ, ARP, a 16-step SEQ, HOLD, HALF SPEED.
• A screen drawn by Javi: a blackbird, a choir of animals, a rabbit and a raccoon, playing along.

Installing

mel-0.1.fwsc is the package (identity FM-1_951). With the FM-1 plugged straight into the computer (a data cable, no hub), charged, and no other app using it:

python3 tools/fm1_install.py mel-0.1.fwsc

• Install it over M-VAVE's official firmware (V15). If your FM-1 runs another custom firmware, go back to V15 first (M-UPGRADE and FM-1.fwsc from m-vave.com): the installer refuses otherwise.
• Don't unplug it until the installer says done. If the install is cut off, run it again: it finishes it.
• If MEL does not start, the FM-1 falls back to the USB rescue after two tries (or hold OCT− while switching it on): install again, or go back to V15.

The tapes

The tapes are Taijiguy's, not under the GPL: "free to use, but cannot be used in any commercial, for profit software". Share FMEL-1 freely; don't sell it, nor anything with these tapes in it. See the README.

Credits

Drawings by Javi. Built on Dinghy (zvenson), Felucca (Leo Kuroshita, Hügelton Instruments) and SLOOP (isod89). Tapes by Bernie Kornowicz (Taijiguy).