From Playtaurus · Coyotiv · · 2m
Firmware freedom for guitarists
Guitarists can now choose their own firmware for hardware without locking in fixed sounds.
In brief
Guitarists can now choose their own firmware for hardware without locking in fixed sounds. Guitarists can run custom firmware on hardware without being locked to a single sound set. Originally reported by Playtaurus.
Firmware freedom
The article promises firmware freedom for guitar hardware to let users choose what runs on it.
Two sounds matter most
Guitarists use only two sounds per gig: one clean, one driven, with minimal tweaking.
Hardware choices matter more
The hardware must have the right inputs, footswitches, mic input, and fit for the guitarist's needs.
Industry gets it wrong
The industry focuses on menu depth but treats hardware as the delivery mechanism for sounds.
Ampero II Stage example
The Ampero II Stage has good inputs, footswitches, and a mic input but cannot run full NAM A2 profiles.
Firmware limits hardware
The hardware's sounds and interface are fixed by firmware, not the user's needs.
Hardware for hardware
Guitarists should buy hardware for what it is: hardware, not for fixed sounds.
iRig HD X example
The iRig HD X can be an interface or an amp modeller with different firmware without hardware changes.
Chips are cheap and powerful
An ESP32-S3 costs $3 and runs A2-Full with six effects, a tuner, and USB audio interface.
ESP32-P4 is even better
An ESP32-P4 costs $4 and runs two A2-Full models with ten more effect blocks.
No secret sauce
The amp models are open-source, effects are textbook DSP, and engineering is the hard part.
Firmware is the only closed thing
Companies keep firmware closed because it is the only thing that is still closed, not because it has magic.
Full circle
The author built pedalboard.js fifteen years ago and now runs it on hardware with the same code.
What we want to build
A community-driven firmware for guitar processing that runs on any hardware and processor.
What it means
Guitarists can run custom firmware on hardware without being locked to a single sound set.
