GR-MEGA firmware 1.5.4 release notes

A bugfix release.

Date: 22 January 2026

new features:

- #1711 (1.5.4-a1) Visualization of play position in all layers
- #1720 [LFO Select] + knob assignment now supports all spectral controls. 
- (1.5.4-a4) System menu - "Send precision cc's" finally implemented.
- (1.5.4-a1) density/rate CC transmission when turning pot.
- (1.5.4-a4) [Shift] + [Wave] now shows strings like "LFO1 -> POS unipolar" instead of just "LFO1 -> unipolar".
- (1.5.4-a4) Side panel 'destinations view' updated to show polarity and modulation (with white balls).
- System menu + [Shift] + [Seq] -> debug log

changes:

- File chooser - allow loading of patch json as template.
- #1366/#1708 Sampler/tape engine patches now disable pileup by default, as this can lead to plops. 
- (1.5.4-a1) File chooser - removed delay before starting sample preview.
- (1.5.4-a1) Visualization of recording only in the recording layer.
- (1.5.4-a4) Side panel 'destinations view' doesn't show newest voice modulation anymore. instead it shows global setting + global modulation.

bugfixes:

- #1697 Controls could become unresponsive when wiggling 4 knobs at the same time for ~10 seconds. 
- #1703 Project save after firmware version upgraded -> templates folder gone!
- #1698 Slice mode now supports resampling (again).
- #1699 MIDI Note off (central C) could release play button note. 
- #1709 Auto slice - double slices now gone. chance of microslices also reduced. 
- #1710 Polyphonic use of "DensitySize" rate mode (without modulation) - density would be stuck on some voices.
- #1705 Sequencer - pressing shift (without slider or encoder usage) in chance lane / mod lanes forced current value to entire row.
- (1.5.4-a1) #1713 Sequencer mod lanes now actually are now a unipolar source like they should have been.
- (1.5.4-a2) #1718 phase vocoder - fine tuning for frequency shift. 
- (1.5.4-a1) system setting convert to 48khz can now actually be turned off again. 
- (1.5.4-a1) focus on other layers while recording would stop recording.
- (1.5.4-a4) Side panel 'destinations view' had missing destinations, and sometimes didn't update.
- (1.5.4-a4) Sequencer record - didn't step anymore after chord was released.

known issues:

- high cpu load when connected to Macs via USB C, and using USB audio + MIDI + file sharing