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There’s been a lot of talk this week about Mutable Instruments and their Open Source policies, with the reveal of both the Rings “secret handshake” easter egg and source code. So it seems like an appropriate time to cover firmware installation on the Mutable devices, the same process used to install alternative firmware versions (which can be found here…). While the company updates their module code when necessary or to add new functionality, some users have retooled the firmware, creating new, altered takes on the original designs.
Probably the most popular alternative firmware for Mutable modules is the Parasites series, by French artist Matthias Puech. His alternative firmware for Clouds and Frames are extremely popular, and most recently, he completed a Parasites update for Warps, which added a host of extra functions, including a Binaural Doppler Panner and a 4 mode Chorus/Flanger/Delay. Puech makes ingenious use of the limited panel options on Warps, hiding the original 9 modes in one “Meta Mode” option, while adding new features or takes on existing features into the other 8 slots.
Another incredible revision to existing code is Bees in the Trees for Braids from Tim Churches. This alt firmware update tosses out 2 or 3 of the less used noise wave shapes to make room for an incredible assortment of extra features including a built-in Turing Machine Mode, an 8 step Meta Mode sequencer (allowing for varying wave shapes and parameter settings per step) and a pair of customizable internal modulation sources. It’s hard to explain everything that is in this firmware in only a few words, however it should be mentioned that if you hate menus, it may not be for you (the menus aren’t much worse than the original firmware).
Mutable has adopted the “CC-by-SA 3.0” license, an open source invitation to modify and edit the work of the original creator, with very few limits. This license simply insists on attributing the original creator in your new work, as well as making any modifications open source, so others can in turn modify your variations for themselves.
Have you tried any alternative code on your Mutable modules? Let us know in the comments!
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