M-VAVE FM-1 is a new budget-friendly battery-powered DX-7-style polyphonic FM Synthesizer with a built-in multi-FX engine.
The small, DX-7-like polyphonic FM Synthesizer for 70€ or less has generated a lot of interest this summer. A written and video review can be found here.
Good news for everyone who already owns the FM-1. M-VAVE has just released firmware V15 with some great additions and improvements.
On the FM engine part, you can now create an init voice, rename the voice, and copy and replace voices. There are also new operator mute rules.
The engine also benefits from improved parameter ranges for the envelopes and built-in effects. Instead of parameter ranges from 1-10, the update lets you tweak the parameters more in detail from 1-100.
In the global section, you can now find two new functions: voice reset and a two-mode glide, a feature requested by many users.
The new firmware V15 also improves the sequencer. For example, you can now record longer notes as well as customize the step length.
Voice binding is also a nice addition. This allows you to bind a specific sound to a specific pattern. You can repeat on other patterns as well. So, each pattern you playback can have a different sound.
Further, M-VAVE has improved MIDI compatibility of the FM-1. It now comes with note-on velocity. There is also a new MIDI CC control parameter guide for easier MIDI control setup.
A nice update for the FM-1 synth.
The new V15 update for the M-VAVE FM-1 is available now as a free update. The FM-1 is available now for around $70 or even lower, depending on the deals.
More info here: M-VAVE
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Update from June 30, 2026
In mid June M-VAVE unveiled the FM-1, a 12-voice DX-7-style desktop FM polyphonic Synthesizer. After the first units sold out quickly, retailers are now listing the M-VAVE FM-1 again on AliExpress. It’s ready for order for 74,29€.
The first reviews are also out now
M-VAVE FM-1 is available now for around 74€ (+/-). It will also be available on Amazon (DE), but not until August and for around 100€.
Article from June 14, 2026
A year ago, the Chinese company M-VAVE made a name for itself with the SMK-37 Pro, a MIDI keyboard that has a built-in FM Synthesizer and sequencer for under 100€ (depending on the day and seller).
The synth journey continues. M-VAVE has introduced the FM-1, a new portable FM Synthesizer.
M-VAVE FM-1
The FM-1 is a new budget-friendly DX-7-style FM Synthesizer. Unlike the SMK-37 Pro, the M-VAVE FM-1 is not a keyboard but a first desktop synth.
Looking at the spec sheet, you can see that the company has taken the SMK-37 Pro’s sound engine and put it into a new desktop unit, available in different colors.
The case has eight knobs, a color TFT screen, 14 menu buttons (oct-/oct+…), and 27 silicone keys with menu shortcuts. For example, you can access the independent operators with the keys.
Part of the enclosure is also a built-in 2000mAh battery that delivers around 12 hours of playtime. Plus, there is a built-in speaker that automatically mutes when you plug in headphones.
Yamaha DX-7 Style Engine
M-VAVE FM-1 features a Yamaha DX-7-style sound engine with six sine-wave operators that can be configured using 32 classic algorithms. They act as carriers or modulators, and each offers an independent ADSR envelope.
According to M-VAVE, the screen renders the live algorithm structure in real-time. With the edit mode, it’s possible to program each operator independently. Like the SMK-37 Pro, you can also import SYSEX banks from the Yamaha DX-7.
You can refine the FM sounds with six fully-tweakable built-in effects, including filter, reverb, delay, distortion, chorus, and phaser. Exactly the same effects are also on the keyboard.
Furthermore, it offers a 7-mode arpeggiator and 16-step sequencer, allowing you to create melodies on the fly. I assume that this is also identical to the arpeggiator and sequencer from the SMK-37 Pro.
Connectivity
On the backside, you have an ON/OFF switch, a USB-C port for power and MIDI, Bluetooth BLE MIDI, and a 3.5mm TRS MIDI input. You can use all three connections simultaneously.
The hardware is class-compliant, allowing you to plug and play it with your macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android devices.
M-VAVE FM-1 First Impression
It was to be expected that M-VAVE would continue in the Synthesizer field. I like the form factor. I was able to try the engine in the SMK-37 Pro keyboard and wasn’t particularly impressed. Compared to other DX-7-like hardware or even cheap apps, it lacks volume and quality.
I’m curious to see if they have improved the engine in the desktop unit. The price isn’t known yet, but I expect it will cost even less than the keyboard because it’s smaller and has fewer components (no keyboard, no pads…).
M-VAVE FM-1 will be available soon. Price TBA.
More information here: M-VAVE
probably the same as the SMK-37 Élite wich is an upgrade to the Pro version.
Elite and Pro is just marketing and are the same just the name and color change
If 3x or 4x multitimbral at a very budget price, why not?
this is not multi-timbral. The CPU is not that mighty
Not sure why you say that, it has 12 voice polyphony so no reason why voices could not be allocated for multitimbrality, CPU compute wise it makes no difference, its just more complicated to write the code to implement the book keeping required to manage multiple playing patches and esp via multiple MIDI in channels
It’s based on the same architecture as the SMK-37 Pro keyboard engine. This is also not multi-timbral. There are people who have deassembled the SMK keyboard, and it has a CPU that it’s not that powerful.
Either way, you need extra resources to do something like that in multi-timbral mode because you’re running multiple processes simultaneously. Whether the CPU can handle it remains to be seen. And not sure if M-VAVE would make this. Many ???
I am curious on this one, the small footprint and effects as well as bt midi make it compelling if it is cheap enough
$70~ on Aliexpress right now
do you have a link? Can’t find it
My one complaint with the keyboard version was a lack of MIDI input, and this addresses that problem, so I’m definitely curious.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012499001058.html
thanks, looks like it’s only available for US Aliexpress users right now
I’m able to order one to be delivered to the UK.
I haven’t ordered one.
I have WAY too much gear as it is!
It doesn’t show up in Germany or Austria
now it works in Austria!
please Test it!
yes, i know 😉
OK, thanks!
No Stress! 😉
My app web-app DXcompanion.uk now fully supports the extra functions (over the standard DX7 MIDI support). Feedback welcome!
can you add support for MVave SMK37 PRO? I undertand it supports MIDI I/O over USB
patch import on the SMK37 Pro is more difficult than on this one