Wee Noise Makers
Hello everyone,
We are happy to announce a third firmware update for the PGB-1, with new HiHat and sampler engines, improvements to the LFOs, and new menus to control mixing and live FX. Beyond the new firmware, we also have a brand new User Manual and a beta Sample Manager, more details below.
And last but not least, the 2nd batch of PGB-1 is now available in our shop.
As explained for the first update, use a good quality USB cable for the update, and do not interrupt the process.
How to update
The new firmware is available from this link:
And we have a video showing how to install it:
Let’s have a look at the new firmware content
One of the first notable additions is the availability of a complete user manual online. Unlike the original quick start guide, this new documentation goes much further, covering everything from beginner’s first steps to more advanced topics like LFO , effects processing, mixing, and arpeggiators.
Alongside this, there’s a new web-based sample manager, currently in beta. This tool connects directly to the PGB1 through a browser (such as Chrome) using WebUSB. It allows users to manage samples much more easily: you can preview sounds, edit their start and end points, apply effects like reverb or delay, and upload them back to the device. You can also drag and drop your own audio files to create new samples. In addition, it supports backing up and sharing full projects, which makes collaboration and organization far more convenient than before.
On the firmware side, the update significantly expands the number of available high-hat engines. In addition to the existing 707 and 909 sample based engines, several new models have been added, including 808, 505, LM2, CR78, MRK2, and acoustic hi-hats. All of them are available in low-pass, band-pass and high-pass variants, giving more tonal flexibility.
The sampler engines have also been extended. New glide engines allow smooth pitch transitions between notes, with both fast and slow variants depending on how dramatic you want the effect to be. Additionally, new pitch-shifting engines make it possible to shift samples up or down by one or two octaves. These pair particularly well with LFO features.
One of the biggest improvements in this update is the overhaul of the LFO system. It now includes clear visual feedback, showing exactly how modulation affects parameters in real time. There are new operating modes (additive, subtractive, and bipolar) as well as a new random shape . The controls have also been reorganized to make features like sync and looping more intuitive. Altogether, the LFO is now more powerful and easier to understand.
The mixer section has also been redesigned. A new project mixer view lets you monitor and adjust levels across different stages, such as tracks, effects, and the final output, with visual indicators to warn you about clipping. There are also dedicated pages to control the volume and stereo panning of all tracks at once, and to assign or review which effects are applied to each track. This makes balancing a full track much more straightforward.
Another major addition is the new Live FX settings menu, which gives you deeper control over performance effects. For example, the autofill feature (previously limited to kick, snare, and hihat tracks) can now be applied to any track, and its behavior can be customized with adjustable probability settings. Filter effects can now be fine-tuned with control over cutoff, resonance, and sweep behavior, all with visual feedback. The stutter effects have also been expanded, allowing you to create your own rhythmic patterns step by step and adjust how quickly the sound fades in and out.
Finally, a second production batch is now available. This new batch introduces a couple of small hardware changes (such as black screws and the addition of a battery door) but the device remains functionally identical to the original version. Importantly, the firmware is fully compatible across both batches, so all units continue to receive the same updates and features.
Overall, version 1.3.0 enhances sound design, improves live performance tools, and makes the workflow smoother and more intuitive.
We hope we will enjoy this update. Please join the Discord server to share your experience with this new firmware.