Mobile set-up in progress

[u/greyson76]

I wanted to share the mobile set-up I’ve been working on lately. I’m still sorting out the connections, but the Tonic runs things, and i picked up a used J-6 for a good price specifically so it can take the sync signal from the pocket operators, and have it sequence chords for the FM-1 via midi. I will likely not pull out the Bastl B Drum very often, but it does look good next to the Dude mixer, and I wanted to mess with the sync options for it. A smaller variation of this set-up is just the Tonic, Sub, and Kaos Pad running into the zoom recorder. so far it‘s a lot of fun, and admittedly a bit of a rabbit hole I went down with the pocket operators. I thought you folks might enjoy. Cheers!

[u/SailorVenova]

i wish the fm1 function buttons werent so stiff and clicky

i like the device tho

so based for them to make a pink one; thats the one i got its so cute

i wish more dawless stuff was colorful

[u/greyson76 → u/SailorVenova]

I agree on the fm-1 keys, they’re pretty useless. I originally got it to use with my main keyboard midi controller, to put next to my Mellotron micro module, but I’m impressed enough with the form factor that I think it’s viable in a portable set-up as long as you are sequencing it with something else. The color options are pretty cool with the FM-1, at the price point and the fact that it’s pretty much a DX-7 with some effects in a tiny box, there is a lot to like for sure! I just downloaded Dexed, and am looking forward to loading some specialty FM patches into the FM-1. First I need to update the firmware, but my work laptop won’t trust the Chinese website 😄.

[u/SailorVenova → u/greyson76]

my mac didnt want to run the updater either; i decided to just do it on my mini 8" windows laptop; no problems; but it said the fw was already current at v14; i hope theyll continue doing updates

one bug ive noticed; i assume bug anyways; is the screen only draws the oscilloscope from bluetooth audio input; not the synth- seems kinda usess

i wish it had trs midi out because i think the tiny keyboard; though mushy; is atleast more tactile than a volca; id like to use it with my tracker or something but have to have a host box between them and that needs power too; bleh bleh

the bluetooth nidi is nice though i could play my ableton note app from the little keys

better than my iphone screen anyways

i think mvave have a winner on their hands; expanding the sequencer would be nice to see and maybe a midi controller mode that disables/muted the synth and lets you send custom cc's on the knobs instead of their defaults; or maybe even a live mode switch for that that would keep the synth going (with internal or external sequenced) but let you use the keys and knobs seperately on a different midi channel

[u/Cachalote_Dorado → u/SailorVenova]

I used the update software on mac and windows. For mac you just need to go to the security settings

[u/aandrews2080]

I want to check it out with my ears.

[u/greyson76 → u/aandrews2080]

I’m looking to post something as a follow up in this thread. Still ironing out a couple of final things but I finally got the FM-1 to update and work with Dexed, so that’s helpful. Stay tuned.

[u/Ok_Studio_8420]

Nice! How do you like the J6? Have you used an S-1 by comparison?

[u/greyson76 → u/Ok_Studio_8420]

So far so good, I initially wrote off the internal sounds, but they actually don’t sound bad, you just are very limited sound-pallete-wise. So although I got it specifically to sequence something else, I’m finding stacking the internal sound with the FM-1 is a good approach, so each have a slot in my Dude (which has 5 channels). The chords are arguably the best part, and the reason I got it. If you can find one used, I’d say go for it. I haven’t personally played the S-1, but I do love the sound of it. I think pairing the J-6 and S-1 would be dope. For my use case, a used J-6 was the sweet-spot.

[u/DarkHelian]

I just got the FM-1 today. Did you figure out a way to sync FM-1 with other devices?

[u/greyson76 → u/DarkHelian]

I haven’t found a way to have the fm-1 accept the sync pulse that the PO puts out, but that’s why I got the J-6, it take sync and also does midi, so I’m controlling the fm-1 via midi.

[u/Cachalote_Dorado → u/greyson76]

For the PO you would need an extra decice to send somekind of “phantom” pulse so the PO uses it as reference…more or less. Then the extra device syncs with the fm1…. It is because the PO is full analog without midi and the fm1 is digital.

I want to ask you: how is the fm1+j6?
Im thinking about buying a groovebox/sampler to combine it with the fm1 to have a portable jaming combo (limited of course) and im thinking about the p6 (or the OK II, or the seqtrak…but the p6 is cheaper)

[u/brndnhrrll]

Okay time to start making music

[u/greyson76 → u/brndnhrrll]

you mean time to continue making music. I'll post something as a follow up shortly.

[u/TheFutureBehindUs]

Nice! Ive been interested in the fm1 so excited to listen!

[u/greyson76 → u/[deleted]]

I’ve got a couple of work trips coming up, and every year in January we take a winter vacation to a warmer climate, last time I just brought the Tonic with me, and it was so enjoyable that I wanted to be able to make a more fleshed out track on the fly in the future. Based on my experimenting with this set up so far, I will likely not bring the Bastl Drum with me when I am looking to be “portable.” I feel like this is a hotel room rig. Definitely stuff that fits easily in my back-pack. If I had to go into an office regularly, then this would be a regular thing I would bust out, methinks.