README from GitHub, MIT

FM-1 Emulator

An offline desktop emulator for the M-VAVE FM-1. Run FM-1 firmware with no hardware: choose a firmware, press Start, and play with your keyboard, mouse, or a MIDI controller.

Download

Get the latest build for your system from the Releases page.

OS	File
Windows	`FM-1-Emulator-Setup-.exe` (installer) or `-portable.exe` (no install)
macOS	`-arm64.dmg` (Apple Silicon) · `-x64.dmg` (Intel)
Linux	`.AppImage` or `.deb`

First launch

The builds aren't code-signed, so your OS shows a one-time warning the first time. It's safe — here's how to get past it:

macOS — right-click (or Control-click) the app → Open → Open. (A double-click only shows a Cancel button; right-clicking gives you the Open button.) If it says "damaged", run in Terminal: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/FM-1 Emulator.app" then codesign --force --deep --sign - "/Applications/FM-1 Emulator.app".
Windows — if SmartScreen appears, click More info → Run anyway.
Linux — the .deb is easiest. For the AppImage, if it won't start: sudo apt install libfuse2 (Ubuntu 24.04: libfuse2t64), and on Ubuntu 24.04 run with --no-sandbox if you hit a sandbox error.

Full per-platform detail: Installation & first run.

Features

115 open-source firmwares bundled — runs fully offline
Load your own — drag any .fwsc onto the window
Play with the computer keyboard, mouse, or a USB MIDI controller
Customize panel colors and add image decals; decorate the case with stickers
Firmware recovery (Windows) — back up, restore, and reinstall your FM-1; a flash is never a dead end

Recovery & safety

The emulator runs firmware purely in software — it cannot harm your computer or your FM-1. The only risk is flashing real hardware, and the app is built so you can always recover: back up the unit's flash in one click, resume an interrupted install, or restore with the bundled M-Flasher (Windows). See Hardware flashing & recovery.

Help

Installation & first run — the unsigned-app warning on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Troubleshooting — no sound, MIDI not detected, a firmware won't boot, settings not saving
Firmware — switching firmware and loading your own .fwsc
Hardware flashing & recovery — for a real FM-1 unit

Firmware & licensing

Only firmwares published under a clear open-source license are bundled (all 115 are GPL-3.0), redistributed unchanged with credit — see THIRD-PARTY.md. The M-VAVE stock firmware and firmwares without a stated license are not bundled; load any .fwsc yourself to run it.

Build from source

Requires Node.js 18+.

git clone https://github.com/briksquared/fm1-emulator.git
cd fm1-emulator
npm install
npm start            # run it
npm run dist:win     # or dist:mac / dist:linux to package

Release builds for all three platforms are produced by GitHub Actions on each tag.

Credits

A fork of fm1-emu by Joakim Eriksson (MIT), which provides the Rust→WebAssembly emulation engine. Firmware by the authors listed in THIRD-PARTY.md.

License

MIT. See NOTICE.md for the fork, bundled-firmware, and trademark notices. Unofficial — not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by M-VAVE. See DISCLAIMER.md.