The iCloud for your
Korg M1.
A fast browser utility for Korg M1 patch recall. Back up, search, and recall Korg M1 patches directly from your browser. Zero setup, zero drivers, instant 1-click MIDI transfers.
Connection via Web MIDI
Connect your synth's MIDI ports to your laptop and read patch names directly from RAM memory bank registers.
Secure SysEx Database
Store, search, and recall your backup soundbanks in a private cloud archive. Filter presets and restore them with a single click.
Why backups feel stuck in 1995.
Synthesizers are built to last forever, but the digital tools to manage them didn't keep up.
Archaic Desktop Utilities
-
Requires installing desktop utilities or legacy driver configurations.
-
Requires manually cataloging cryptic .syx files with no visual search or metadata tags.
-
Requires configuring custom buffer pacing and millisecond delays to avoid packet loss.
knob.monster Flow
-
Zero-installation. Connects natively inside any Chrome/Edge tab.
-
Hex-to-ASCII Parser decompresses dumps automatically to extract patch name tags in real-time.
-
Audition sounds directly inside the browser using Web Audio previews before sending.
Every byte preserved exactly as it left the CPU.
Our SysEx engine records standard MIDI dumps byte-for-byte. Every parameter is preserved exactly as it left your synthesizer's microprocessor, with data pacing calibrated to avoid buffer overflows on legacy 8-bit chips.
Abstracting 40 years of hardware friction.
The MIDI Handshake
Plug in your synth using a standard USB-to-MIDI adapter. Open knob.monster: the browser Web MIDI API initiates a handshake immediately.
Index Extraction
We send specific low-level request sequences to dump presets. The parser instantly extracts text characters from the registers in real-time.
Single-Click Recall
Hit Sync to write sound banks back. We flash the entire hexadecimal data payload, overwriting hardware RAM registers instantly.
Opinions of varying enthusiasm.
We refused to invent fake reviews from stock-photo humans. Here is the exact feedback we have so far.
A pricing system built for fellow synth heads.
King of Knobs
For sound designers and collectors
Cancel anytime with a single click. 30-day money-back guarantee.
-
Unlimited Soundbank slots
-
All parsers (DX7, Juno, M1, Generic)
-
Web Audio patch simulator
-
Single-click MIDI flash recall
-
Direct backup downloads (.syx)
30-day love it or full refund
Subscriptions with annual billing instead of monthly billing periods receive a 37% discount valuing up to $36/year in savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is knob.monster?
knob.monster is a browser-native cloud SysEx librarian and patch manager designed for vintage synthesizers from the 1980s and 90s. It eliminates the need for legacy drivers, desktop software, or complicated MIDI-OX configurations by connecting your instruments directly to the web.
How does browser-native Web MIDI work?
Modern browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera support the Web MIDI API. This allows our website to communicate directly with your physical USB-to-MIDI interface cables and hardware synths without running any local background utilities or installing manual USB drivers.
Which synthesizers are fully supported?
We feature dedicated name-decoding parsers for the Yamaha DX7 (and compatible synths like DX7II, TX7, TX81Z), Roland Juno-106, Korg M1, Roland Jupiter-6 (Europa-modded), and the Casio CZ series. We also feature a universal Generic Scan that works with almost any vintage synthesizer by scanning raw SysEx bulk dumps for readable ASCII character arrays to extract patch names automatically.
Do I need a special MIDI interface or cable?
Any standard, class-compliant USB-to-MIDI interface will work. However, we highly recommend avoiding low-cost, unbranded interface cables, as they lack internal timing buffers and frequently drop or corrupt long SysEx byte blocks during large memory dumps.
How do I prevent "Buffer Overflow" errors?
Older synthesizers utilize slow microprocessors and are easily overwhelmed by high-speed USB data. knob.monster's MIDI transmission protocol is fine-tuned to throttle outbound dumps into small packages with 60ms pauses, ensuring your physical hardware can write the data to memory without dropping packets.
Are my patches private and secure?
Yes. All soundbanks and SysEx dumps uploaded to knob.monster are stored securely in your private cloud account. We only read the ASCII patch names to display them in your private searchable library, and your raw `.syx` binary files are never shared.
Can I export and download my SysEx files?
Absolutely. Every backup captured using knob.monster can be downloaded as a standard `.syx` binary file at any time. Your data is never locked in, allowing you to use your backups with classic tools like Snoize, MIDI-OX, or hardware sequencers.
Is knob.monster better than Snoize or MIDI-OX?
Snoize (macOS) and MIDI-OX (Windows) are fantastic, time-tested tools. However, they require local software installation, manual buffer setting adjustments, and do not offer cloud backup or metadata indexing. knob.monster runs instantly on any machine and lets you search and recall patches in seconds.
Why use this instead of free utilities or MIDI Quest?
Regardless of whether you understand the complex binary details of SysEx or have no clue what that even is, knob.monster just works without any local installation or setup. It saves you time so you can focus on exploring soundbanks and making music.
- No setup: Runs instantly inside your browser without configuring legacy drivers or emulators.
- No app sprawl: No need to download, update, and manage multiple OS-specific desktop applications.
- Cloud library: No more searching through nested local folders for missing
.syxarchives—your vaults are accessible from any device. - Fair pricing: Legacy editors like SoundQuest / MIDI Quest or SoundTower demand hundreds of dollars for outdated, clunky experiences. knob.monster offers premium cloud convenience at a fraction of the cost.
Does it support editing patches in real time?
knob.monster is primarily a librarian for backup, storage, organization, and quick retrieval of patch banks. While it does not feature a graphical synthesizer editor (with virtual sliders for every parameter), it allows you to audition and swap banks in one click.
What is the price of a knob.monster subscription?
We offer a simple, transparent pricing structure: $8/month (billed monthly) or $5/month (billed annually at $60/year). Our pricing is locked in forever for early users and doubles after the first 100 members.
Do you support browser-native MIDI on iOS or Android?
Yes! Android Chrome natively supports Web MIDI out of the box. On iOS, you can use specialized Web MIDI browsers (like WebMIDI Browser or WebBLE) to connect your iPhone or iPad to your synthesizers via USB-MIDI or Bluetooth-MIDI adapters.
Who is behind knob.monster?
knob.monster is built by Half Radiation LLC, a small independent team of vintage synthesizer enthusiasts and software developers. We built this tool to solve the frustration of backing up and organizing our own classic hardware rigs.