Proffieboard Guide: Versions, ProffieOS, Sound Fonts and Where to Buy
Proffieboard is an open-source lightsaber controller designed by Fredrik Hubinette and run by the ProffieOS firmware. This guide covers what it does, the V1.5, V2.2 and V3.9 versions, how sound fonts and config files work, who it suits, how it compares with Xenopixel, CFX and Golden Harvest, and where it is sold.
Short answer
Proffieboard is an open-source lightsaber controller designed by Fredrik Hubinette and run by the ProffieOS firmware. This guide covers what it does, the V1.5, V2.2 and V3.9 versions, how sound fonts and config files work, who it suits, how it compares with Xenopixel, CFX and Golden Harvest, and where it is sold.
On this page10 sections
A Proffie lightsaber is a saber whose control board is a Proffieboard, an open-source controller that handles light, sound and motion [4]. Fredrik Hubinette designed the board, and the ProffieOS firmware that runs on it is free under the GPL-3.0 licence [3][6]. The current board is the V3.9, the older one still found in sabers is the V2.2, and the firmware is configured by editing a text file and loading sound fonts from an SD card [1][2]. This page explains each of those parts, who the board suits, and how it differs from Xenopixel, CFX and Golden Harvest.
Last checked: 2026-11-12. Prices below are single-seller listings as of November 2026.
Quick answers
- What it is: an open-source lightsaber controller board, not a blade [4].
- Current version: Proffieboard V3.9, from 2023 [7].
- Firmware: ProffieOS, 8.10 marked “Latest” on its releases page when checked [20].
- Cost of a bare board: roughly $40 to $50, or EUR 45.90 to 50.90 [6][10][11].
- Best for: owners who want to change sounds, effects and buttons themselves [16].
What a Proffieboard is
A lightsaber control board sits in the hilt. It reads a motion sensor, plays sound through a speaker and drives the blade LEDs. The Proffieboard does all three on one small circuit board, and it uses the same layout of pads for LEDs, buttons and a speaker that you wire to it [4][5]. The V3 page lists an 80 MHz ARM processor, 160 KB of RAM, 512 KB of flash, a 6-axis motion chip, a 3-watt mono amplifier, six outputs for LEDs and four data pads for pixel blades [5].
Proffie is not the same thing as a neopixel blade. Neopixel is a blade type with LEDs inside it, and a Proffieboard is one of several boards that can drive such a blade [14]. Hackaday covered a Proffieboard-driven neopixel blade built from individual LEDs in 2019, so the board has been in maker circles for years [17]. If the blade versus board split is new to you, the Xenopixel vs neopixel page covers it, and the soundboards guide compares every board family.
Proffieboard versions
Proffieboards use a major and minor number, such as 1.5, 2.2 and 3.9. A new design gets a new major number, and later revisions raise the minor number [8]. ProffieOS has its own numbers, so a V3 board does not need a “version 3” of the firmware [8]. The ProffieOS repository lists the Proffieboard 1.5, 2.2 and 3.9 and the older TeensySaber as supported hardware [3].
| Proffieboard V2.2 | Proffieboard V3.9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Flash | 256 KB [7] | 512 KB [7] |
| RAM | 64 KB [7] | 160 KB [7] |
| Processor | STM32L433C [7] | STM32L452REx [7] |
| USB charging | No [9] | Yes, about 450 mA [5] |
| Size | Same footprint [10] | 50 x 15 x 10 mm [6] |
| LED outputs | 6 LED pads [4] | 6 LED pads [5] |
The flash and RAM figures for both boards are Artekit’s own, which compares V3.9 only with the board it replaced [7]. The two boards are listed at the same size [10]. Whether a V3.9 fits a given hilt chassis is for the saber maker to say. Artekit says V3.9 adds a faster SD bus, a status LED and better deep sleep [7]. On the Crucible forum, one reply to a builder using few pins says a 2.2 is “prob fine” and suggests the V3.9 only if you want more presets or USB charging [9]. That is one forum answer, not a rule.
Check the version before buying a finished saber. A listing that says “Proffie” without a number may carry either board.
ProffieOS and the config file
ProffieOS is the software. The ProffieOS page lists polyphonic playback, SmoothSwing V1 and V2 swing sounds, many LED types, multi-blade setups, OLED and colour displays, and Bluetooth remote control through an external add-on [2]. The GitHub project says it supports both polyphonic NEC-style fonts and monophonic Plecter-style fonts [3].
You set a board up in three steps, per the documentation [1]:
- Set up the board and download ProffieOS.
- Build a config file, either with the browser-based generator or the ProffieOS Workbench tool [1][2].
- Upload over USB, usually through the Arduino IDE [5].
A bad upload is recoverable. Holding the boot button and tapping reset puts the board in bootloader mode [5]. The documentation site has pages on upload problems, compile errors and finding the USB port [1]. Wiring needs care: the Battery minus pad carries the combined LED current, so use thicker wire, and reverse-polarity protection does not cover the LED outputs [5][11].
Sound fonts on Proffie
A sound font is a folder of audio files for one saber voice, held on the SD card. ProffieOS has a how-to for installing one: copy the font folder to the card, then add a preset that points to it in the config or in Workbench [1]. The sound fonts guide lists file names and the formats used by other boards, and the sound effects page explains what each slot does.
Fonts are separate from the board, so you can add more later [1]. Padawan Outpost says Proffie’s soundboard allows SD card font and ignition customisation and may carry fonts not seen on other models [16].
Who Proffie suits
Proffie suits owners who want control. Padawan Outpost calls it “unparalleled” in customisation and describes it as for enthusiasts who want the most control over sound and ignition [16]. A March 2021 Crimson Dawn page makes the same trade-off: its fixed-feature NeoCore could not be modified by the user, while Proffie was “highly customizable” but Crimson Dawn did not support programming it, so buyers flashed it with third-party open-source software [14]. That is a single 2021 vendor statement and may be out of date.
Some makers ship a friendlier layer. Ultrasabers says its Ultra Proffie is built on ProffieOS, is compatible with existing Proffie profiles, and can be changed through a browser controller without coding [15]. NovaSaber’s chooser calls Proffie V2.2 the pick for enthusiasts and notes it has no Bluetooth in that table [19].
It is a weaker fit if you want to open the box and play. In that case a ready-made board is simpler, and the Xenopixel page explains that route.
Proffie vs Xenopixel, CFX and Golden Harvest
| Proffie V3.9 | Golden Harvest V4 | CFX Mk3 | Xenopixel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bare board price | $40.40 to $48.99 [10][11] | $55 [13] | $84.99 [12] | Sold in finished sabers |
| Source code | Open, GPL-3.0 [3] | Not stated [13] | Not stated [12] | Not stated in sources read |
| Phone or web control | Add-on or browser tools [2][15] | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, apps [13] | Not listed [12] | See our Xenopixel page |
Golden Harvest V4 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas, an Android app and automatic conversion of third-party sound fonts [13]. CFX Mk3 is listed with a 3.2 W amplifier, SmoothSwing detection and 128x32 OLED support [12]. Padawan Outpost says Xenopixel has distinct ignitions and effects but less customisation than Proffie [16], and our Xenopixel vs neopixel page goes into the buying decision. For blade types, see baselit vs neopixel.
Where Proffieboards are sold
The designer’s V3 page lists The Saber Armory, Electronics123, Artekit, CCSabers and 89sabers as vendors; his V2 page lists eight, adding The Pach Store, LGT/Darkwolf Sabers and TXQSaber [4][5]. Because the design is open, others may also sell it [4].
Three listings, all as of November 2026:
- Artekit: EUR 45.90 to 50.90, depending on whether a 32 GB microSD is included. Artekit assembles and tests the board in Italy [6].
- Electronics123: $40.40, with an optional 16 GB card for $7.45 [10].
- The Custom Saber Shop: $48.99, listed as out of stock when checked [11].
Finished sabers are the other route. Ultrasabers sells sabers on its Ultra Proffie board [15], and the neopixel lightsaber guide gives the price bands for Proffie sabers. If you buy a bare board, plan the rest: battery, speaker and chassis are covered in the electronics install guide and the battery guide. The documentation points to The Crucible, a maker forum with Proffieboard and ProffieOS categories, for help [1][18].
Sources
- ProffieOS Documentation, https://pod.hubbe.net/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Fredrik Hubinette, ProffieOS, https://fredrik.hubbe.net/lightsaber/proffieos.html (accessed 2026-11-12)
- ProffieOS repository, https://github.com/profezzorn/ProffieOS (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Fredrik Hubinette, Proffieboard V2, https://fredrik.hubbe.net/lightsaber/v5/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Fredrik Hubinette, Proffieboard V3, https://fredrik.hubbe.net/lightsaber/v6/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Artekit, Proffieboard V3.9, https://www.artekit.eu/products/devboards/proffieboard-v3-9/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Artekit, New Product: Proffieboard v3.9, https://www.artekit.eu/new-product-proffieboard-v3-9/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- ProffieOS Documentation, Version Numbers, https://pod.hubbe.net/explainers/version-numbers.html (accessed 2026-11-12)
- The Crucible, Board v2.2 vs v3.9, https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/board-v2-2-vs-v3-9/5527 (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Electronics123, Proffieboard V3.9, https://www.electronics123.com/shop/proffieboard-v39-open-source-lightsaber-sound-board-12096 (accessed 2026-11-12)
- The Custom Saber Shop, Proffieboard v3.9, https://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Proffieboard-v39-Soundcard-P2249.aspx (accessed 2026-11-12)
- The Custom Saber Shop, Crystal Focus X Mk3, https://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Electronics/Sound-Modules/Crystal-Focus-Sound-Module-X-MK3 (accessed 2026-11-12)
- The Custom Saber Shop, Golden Harvest V4, https://thecustomsabershop.com/Electronics/Sound-Modules/Golden-Harvest-V4-Sound-Module (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Crimson Dawn, NeoPixel and the difference between NeoCore and Proffie, https://crimsondawn.ladesk.com/932264-What-is-NeoPixel-What-is-the-difference-between-NeoCore-and-Proffie (accessed 2026-11-12; page dated March 2021)
- Ultrasabers, Ultra Proffie, https://ultrasabers.com/?p=243554 (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Padawan Outpost, Proffie vs Xenopixel, https://padawanoutpost.com/blogs/outpost-archive/proffie-vs-xenopixel (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Hackaday, Individual Neopixels Make Up This Lightsaber’s Blade, https://hackaday.com/2019/08/09/individual-neopixels-make-up-this-lightsabers-blade/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- The Crucible, https://crucible.hubbe.net/ (accessed 2026-11-12)
- NovaSaber, Which Soundboard Should I Choose?, https://novasaber.com/pages/which-soundboard-should-i-choose (accessed 2026-11-12)
- ProffieOS releases, https://github.com/profezzorn/ProffieOS/releases (accessed 2026-11-12)
FAQ
What is a Proffieboard?
An open-source lightsaber controller that handles light, sound and motion in the hilt, running ProffieOS [3][4].
What is the difference between Proffie V2.2 and V3.9?
Artekit says V3.9 has 512 KB of flash and 160 KB of RAM, up from 256 KB and 64 KB, and it adds USB charging; the size is listed as the same [5][7][9][10].
Is Proffie better than Xenopixel?
Padawan Outpost says Proffie is the more customisable. Neither is better for everyone [16].
Is ProffieOS free?
Yes. It is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence [3].
Do I need to solder a Proffieboard?
For a bare board, yes. Sellers advise soldering to the configurator’s diagram and checking with a multimeter [11]. Finished sabers arrive wired.
Where do I get help?
The ProffieOS documentation and The Crucible forum [1][18].
Editorial team
Writes for Saber Forge Forum. Every guide is checked against the maker's specs and dated, so you know how fresh it is.
Read next
Lightsaber Soundboards Explained: Proffie, Xenopixel, CFX, GHv4
A lightsaber soundboard is the control board in the hilt: it reads motion, plays sound from an SD card and drives the blade lights. The main families are Xenopixel (cheap, ready-made), Golden Harvest v4 (mid-range), CFX (Plecter, closed) and Proffieboard (open source, most flexible). Board prices run from about $45 to $85.
Lightsaber Sound Fonts: Formats, Rights and How to Load Them
A lightsaber sound font is a folder of audio files on the saber's SD card: hum, ignition, swing, clash, blaster block, lockup and more. Each board family expects its own folder layout and file names, so a font often needs renaming. Rights are unclear for fonts built from film audio.
Xenopixel vs Neopixel: What the Difference Is and Which to Buy
Xenopixel is not a rival to neopixel. Neopixel is the blade type, a strip of individually addressable LEDs. Xenopixel is a ready-made board that drives that strip. The real choice is Xenopixel versus Proffieboard, Golden Harvest v4 or CFX. Xenopixel is cheaper and simpler, Proffie is more customisable.
Baselit vs Neopixel Lightsaber: Light, Durability and Cost
A baselit lightsaber, also called in-hilt, puts one LED in the hilt and sends light up a hollow tube. A neopixel blade carries an LED strip inside. Baselit is cheaper, lighter and the safer pick for hard dueling. Neopixel is brighter along the whole blade and does the film-style ignition.
Install Electronics in a Lightsaber Hilt: Boards, LEDs, Switches
To install electronics in a lightsaber hilt, fit a chassis that matches the bore, bench-test the board, then wire the battery, speaker, switch, LED or blade connector and charge port. Follow your board's own wiring diagram, remove the SD card before soldering, and read the lithium-ion safety note first.