OXI Instruments OXI ONE Firmware 5: Sequencing Evolved, Community-Driven

The OXI ONE has long positioned itself as a central brain for hybrid setups, and with Firmware 5, OXI Instruments signals that this is more than just a maintenance cycle. The video opens by emphasizing the device’s ongoing evolution, highlighting how the new firmware is not a minor patch but a significant step forward in creative potential. This is a sequencer designed to keep pace with the demands of modern music production, and OXI is keen to show that its commitment to meaningful updates is unwavering.

What stands out is the explicit mention that many of these improvements are direct responses to user feedback. OXI’s approach is refreshingly community-driven, with the team walking viewers through the most impactful changes rather than simply listing features. The tone is one of active listening and iterative design, reinforcing the OXI ONE’s reputation as a living instrument that adapts to the workflows of its users.

Firmware 5 introduces the ability to use chords in chromatic mode, a feature that OXI acknowledges has been highly requested. This addition brings a new layer of versatility to chord mode, allowing users to experiment with harmonies and directions previously unavailable on the platform. The demonstration shows how chromatic mode can unlock creative possibilities, especially for those who thrive on harmonic exploration within their sequences.

Another highlight is the ability to save custom chords in Poly Mode. The process is straightforward: switch to Poly Mode, open the keyboard view, play a chord, and assign it to one of twelve slots. This workflow enhancement allows for rapid recall of user-defined chords, making the OXI ONE more adaptable to personal compositional styles. The update also introduces a harmonize function in Matricell, letting generative melodies follow harmonic progressions crafted in other sequencer modes—a nod to deeper integration between sequencing engines.

The updated Matricell mode is billed as the flagship feature of Firmware 5, and for good reason. OXI Instruments has always touted Matricell as one of the most powerful generative sequencers available, but accessibility and clarity are now front and center. The new column view allows users to double-click on any page—notes, intervals, pulses, velocity, octave, gate, trig probability, retrigger, or glide—to open a focused, linear perspective. This makes it far easier to build, edit, and understand complex sequences at a glance.

The video demonstrates how decoupling different Matricell pages (for example, setting trig and note pages to different step lengths) can create evolving, non-repetitive patterns. The improved visual feedback keeps users connected to the musical process, balancing unpredictability with control. For those who value both generative potential and hands-on editing, this is a meaningful architectural upgrade.

Beyond headline features, Firmware 5 brings a suite of practical enhancements. The updated OXI app now allows for faster and more efficient import of instrument definitions, as well as access to a library of pre-made definitions—streamlining the setup process for both new and existing users. Other improvements include a more accurate battery meter, swing settings for the arpeggiator, and a refined menu system. These quality-of-life tweaks may seem minor, but they collectively reinforce the OXI ONE’s reputation for workflow-centric design.