Don’t forget to set the clock on the MicroFreak to 2ppq in the Utility menu, any higher and the NTS 1 will will run too fast and probably eventually crash. Korg gear such as Volcas and the NTS 1 and 2 use 2ppq for sync. Great video, thanks. 👍
Nice vid for folks unfamiliar with setting up a basic synth rig. Both machines make a killer combo. ONE IMPORTANT CAVEAT: The underwhelming effects and low volume output you're experiencing from the Freak when run through the NTS-1 is due to the fact that all output from a MicroFreak is mono, whereas a great many of the studio effects output by the NTS-1 are stereo. So, you need to take the mono output from the Freak and split it, right and left, to input into the NTS-1. That should solve the problem. There is a great variety of adapters on Amazon that will accomplish this feat, some 1/4" mono male (leading out from the MicroFreak) to 1/8" stereo female (leading into the NTS-1) and some 1/8" mono to 1/8" stereo. In both cases, you would then plug your standard 1/8" stereo headphone cable into the magic adapter. There are also entire cables that have the same above combinations, so that an adapter is not necessary. The MicroFreak is equipped with both 1/4" and 1/8" outputs, so the choice of combination is entirely yours. You can get a concert hall worth of sound with the setup. Cheers.
That’s not completely right. You are absolutely correct that if using the MicroFreak 1/4” output which is mono and balanced, into a stereo connection, you will get little - or no - usable signal. Balanced connections are 180 degrees out of phase so effectively cancel each other out if fed to a stereo connection. However, the headphone output on a MF is mono, but summed on a TRS connector; the same signal goes to both left and right. If it didn’t, headphones would be super quiet. The problem is more likely with the NTS-1 which has a -6dB gain reduction on the input channel as default. Changing this to 0dB gives the input a hotter signal going in and more balanced to the internal oscillators. It is a great combo and I love that description of concert wall worth of sound. They definitely can do that and sound massive together. Also, such a brilliant portable combo. Just need a USB power bank and good-to-go.
I recently hooked up my NTS1 and Mircrofreak to my MPC One and you can control them at the same time to basically add an additional voice to the Microfreak.
ooh been looking for someone to help with the mpc one. not sure what im doing wrong but the mpc pads will play the arp continuously but if i play the arp from MF just the first couple of notes play and stop.
thought the same thing while watching. its most def TRS, now idk if its type a or b. i could be wrong but i remember reading somewhere that korg and arturia use different TRS, but here it seems like it doesnt really matter. just picked up an nts 1 and stupidly forgot to get trs cables lol
Hi, great video. Do you have any issues with the output volume of your Microfreak when using it with other devices? Mine is always very quiet in the mix and I'm yet to find a decent way of making it comparatively louder.... Cheers!
Yes. I happen to have an amp or 2 that I use to drive high ohm headphones, and connect it in line between the MF and the NTS with another 3.5mm cable to fix that.
I had the same issue. If you go into the utilities menu. You can increase the volume of the output. It isn't always set to the highest value by default. This helped me.
So for connecting microfreak to the pedal I need to use Headphones out, not just OUT? (I found that typical air sends only MONO, and headphones STEREO)
Hi, can you advise me please. I have purchased a Arturia Microfreak & Novation Circuit....for the life of me i dont know how and what i need to be able to hear them...ie speaker, mixer or interface .....can you help pls?
You can follow this guide here for syncing the NTS-1 to the PO's. Simply sync the microfreak to the NTS-1, then sync the NTS-1 to the PO via the sync out and splitter mentioned. ua-cam.com/video/mT9XiIInjgo/v-deo.html
Why did you route from the Microfreak headphone jack to the audio input on the NTS-1 rather than use the Microfreak's output (I gather the 'Freak isn't stereo)? If I wanted to use the headphone jack on the Microfreak for the vocoder input, presumably I'd then have to use a 6 1/4" to 3.5mm TS cable to run the Microfreak through the NTS-1 for an FX processor?
Exact that's the way I use it, well almost Microfreak is plugged into my mixer and I plugged the nts-1 as a send effect on my mixer. Microfreak is controlled by arturia beatstep pro via midi. Then midi out front microfreak to midi in on nts-1 using a midi cable converter type A to let microfreak talk to korg. So from my sequencer I can control both synth. You could also just plugged clock if you just want synchro
Tried this with my Roland TR-08. No success. The clocks were not synched🤔 and changing tempo on 08 would not affect NTS-1 Any idea? Maybe PPB difference?
THANKS FOR SHARINGive lear a lot watching your videos. One help question, How do you deal with ground or communication, hand shake, with the Microfreak? everytime I plug the NTS to usb on my computer the MF goes erratic. I know the MF have some grounding issues on the keyboard and I am having the all when I connect the MF or the pedal or the NTS 1 to the computer. Thanks in advanced.
Can’t i use them together without using audio interface ? I am new at these kind of stuffs. I couldn’t understand what is the matter of the using audio interface here for ?
That's just how I recorded the audio for the video. I typically like to explain every cable that I use and where it goes just for clarity's sake. If you weren't plugging into an audio interface that jack is where you would plug in your headphones or speakers :)
Hi. I got my Microfreak and NTS-1 today and i am little bit confused now . I sounds in the Video like each of one arent playing the same after syncing. I just wanna use the effects of the nts-1 as aftertouch. So is the only thing i have to connect the headphone Out of the Microfreak to the Audio in of the nts-1? And another questsion: i wanna use my electribe 2 as Center or Host and drummachine. Is the method the same? Clock Out of the electribe to sync in of the Microfreak? Or have i Connect them with Midi cables? Is there an Tutorial in ur list about it? Cant find one. If not would u do an Tutorial about this? I have seen ur Video with the volca series but im not sure If this was helpful for my problem to solve....
I'm not sure how you would implement after touch on the nts-1. however if you just want to use it for the effects then you only need to run the one cable you mentioned between the audio out of the microfreak into the NTS-1. The electribe should work as you described if I read it properly.
@@FreeBeat thanx for ur answer. Maybe the word aftertouch was wrong.that what i am looking for were the effects. Now i know how to Connect them all to Work together. But one Problem solved a few new came with it. I thought i can use the electribe 2 as a brain for my Setup but that doesnt work like i hoped. New Problem: that Microfreak is connected via Midi. I can use it on that pattern/Chanel which i selected in the setting but i can use the Microfreak only as Midi Keyboard without effects. There is for example on pattern 1 a saw synth and that i can Play with the Keyboard of the Microfreak and nothing else. I thought i can the Microfreak as an external source to create melodies... There is an preset in the electribe "Audio in" but that doesnt work- there is no sound then. I tried almost each setting of both menus but. I also tried to connect the Microfreak to the nts-1 and use this as Hub via synth in the Microfreak and audio Out the electribe but also no sound of the Microfreak. Isnt it possible to use the Microfreak on the electribe? do i need a Splitter/ midisplitter/ Interface and Play both next to each other? I guess its very hard for you to follow my thoughts cause of my bad english and the easiest for me would be to get Manuals of all my Gear. I googled for that. Problem: korgs electribe 2 Manual is short and explaines only technical things. Microfreaks Manual is huge but doesnt solve my Problem even the Manuals for both Korg Gears. I cannot find Something to read even Videos in UA-cam so i dont know where to get the Information and even dont know who i could ask... So im very sorry for my looooong and hard to read message and im so thankful for any Help (especialy Urs in this Case)!!!!!!
I'm not having any luck getting the microkorg and freak sync using the builtin sequencer on the Microfreak. I noticed you didn't use the sequencer (blue botton) but you used the arp (white button) Microkorg arp is out of sync, and there's not sound when the External clock is selected.
Soooooo, I did this and got some insane tempos from the nts-1. It sounds almost like old arcade videogame noises... Can't seem to tame it down. I've tried lowering the tempo on the freak and I tried changing some stuff on the nts-1.... Maybe try to reinstall some firmware for them?
@Jason Ferdinando It sounds like one of your sync settings is wrong. The NTS-1 syncs with 1/8th notes or, in synth jargon, 2 pulses per quarter note (2PPQ). In the microfreak utility menu select Sync - Clock - make sure 2PPQ is selected and push the knob. My micro freak was set to 24PPQ default. The second issue could be that the Arp speed division is too high. Normally, when there is nothing plugged into the sync in on the NTS-1, holding Arp and turning knob B will set the Arp tempo in BPM. When an external sync is plugged in, holding Arp and turning B lets you set the notes anywhere from 1/16th notes to 1/64th notes.
I try to setup my nts1 with the model d but it don't work ..I put the main out from model d into audio in in nts1 but it still don't work ...what I'm doing wrong..can someone help please
That's the big question! It seems that there are two types of midi-trrs: type A and B (A is standard, but arturia uses B). so by inverting L-R on audio jacks you would be able to control midi without problem, like in this video! ua-cam.com/video/djR5-23pwgU/v-deo.html
trying to figure this out with an mpc one if anyone know. i can control the MF arp on the mpc pads but if i trigger it from the MF only the first few notes play then stop. MpC doesnt have a sync in. im doing this through midi
Guess I'm a little late but the one reason for people to pair these two devices is to have the effects from the NTS-1 make the Microfreak sound much bigger/stronger/better. The other one is making something more sounding like music (as opposed to "sound") when e. g. you have an arpeggio (or sequence) going on one of them and adding something different from the other. At least these are my reasons to have those two.
Nice video. Verry usefull for green people like me in te hardware world. Can you make a video how to connect and sync the micro freak to a korg volca sample/keys?
Don’t forget to set the clock on the MicroFreak to 2ppq in the Utility menu, any higher and the NTS 1 will will run too fast and probably eventually crash. Korg gear such as Volcas and the NTS 1 and 2 use 2ppq for sync. Great video, thanks. 👍
Really appreciate showing how to connect. The NTS-1 was suggested and been doing my research. Thank you.
Nice vid for folks unfamiliar with setting up a basic synth rig. Both machines make a killer combo.
ONE IMPORTANT CAVEAT:
The underwhelming effects and low volume output you're experiencing from the Freak when run through the NTS-1 is due to the fact that all output from a MicroFreak is mono, whereas a great many of the studio effects output by the NTS-1 are stereo. So, you need to take the mono output from the Freak and split it, right and left, to input into the NTS-1. That should solve the problem.
There is a great variety of adapters on Amazon that will accomplish this feat, some 1/4" mono male (leading out from the MicroFreak) to 1/8" stereo female (leading into the NTS-1) and some 1/8" mono to 1/8" stereo. In both cases, you would then plug your standard 1/8" stereo headphone cable into the magic adapter. There are also entire cables that have the same above combinations, so that an adapter is not necessary. The MicroFreak is equipped with both 1/4" and 1/8" outputs, so the choice of combination is entirely yours.
You can get a concert hall worth of sound with the setup. Cheers.
Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you very much for sharing this valuable piece of information and explaining it in detail!!
That’s not completely right. You are absolutely correct that if using the MicroFreak 1/4” output which is mono and balanced, into a stereo connection, you will get little - or no - usable signal. Balanced connections are 180 degrees out of phase so effectively cancel each other out if fed to a stereo connection. However, the headphone output on a MF is mono, but summed on a TRS connector; the same signal goes to both left and right. If it didn’t, headphones would be super quiet.
The problem is more likely with the NTS-1 which has a -6dB gain reduction on the input channel as default. Changing this to 0dB gives the input a hotter signal going in and more balanced to the internal oscillators.
It is a great combo and I love that description of concert wall worth of sound. They definitely can do that and sound massive together. Also, such a brilliant portable combo. Just need a USB power bank and good-to-go.
@@andyraps How do you change that from -6dB to 0dB? Thanks!
1:50 What if I wanted to use these two with a set of headphones?
Simply plug your headphones into the audio out of the NTS-1 :)
@@FreeBeatAha! Thanks!
I recently hooked up my NTS1 and Mircrofreak to my MPC One and you can control them at the same time to basically add an additional voice to the Microfreak.
Nice! Just one of the many cool ways to use those three pieces together. Thanks for watching :)
ooh been looking for someone to help with the mpc one. not sure what im doing wrong but the mpc pads will play the arp continuously but if i play the arp from MF just the first couple of notes play and stop.
Could not get this to work with Microbrute and NTS-1 but still like and sub, channel content looks great cant wait to explore.
Sorry to hear that, hopefully you can eventually get it working. Thanks for watching!
Good tutorial for beginners, well done.
Thanks for watching!
Nice and straightforward! Many thanks for all your help on a bunch of synths now. 👍👍👍
Quite helpful, thanks for sharing!
Love the microfreak keys
Me too, they are so immediate!
I was hoping you'd mention the type of 3.5mm cable. Mono? Stereo? TS? TRS? Type A? Type B? Or does any of that matter?
thought the same thing while watching. its most def TRS, now idk if its type a or b. i could be wrong but i remember reading somewhere that korg and arturia use different TRS, but here it seems like it doesnt really matter. just picked up an nts 1 and stupidly forgot to get trs cables lol
This is really cool but is there a way to control the volume of each device seperately? The NTS-1 is wayyy louder than my microfreak
Hi, great video. Do you have any issues with the output volume of your Microfreak when using it with other devices? Mine is always very quiet in the mix and I'm yet to find a decent way of making it comparatively louder.... Cheers!
Hmmmm, I haven't had any issues. Hopefully someone else can jump in and help.
Yes. I happen to have an amp or 2 that I use to drive high ohm headphones, and connect it in line between the MF and the NTS with another 3.5mm cable to fix that.
This isn't isn't first time I've heard that the microfreak has a low output
I had the same issue. If you go into the utilities menu. You can increase the volume of the output. It isn't always set to the highest value by default. This helped me.
@@MRH4U5 Having the same problem. Are you talking about the “preset volume”, or is there a global setting? Cheers.
So for connecting microfreak to the pedal I need to use Headphones out, not just OUT? (I found that typical air sends only MONO, and headphones STEREO)
Hi, can you advise me please. I have purchased a Arturia Microfreak & Novation Circuit....for the life of me i dont know how and what i need to be able to hear them...ie speaker, mixer or interface .....can you help pls?
Which Novation Circuit did you purchase?
Hi,real good video,what about if I want to add a PO32 and PO33 ,and sync all togethers?
Thanks
You can follow this guide here for syncing the NTS-1 to the PO's. Simply sync the microfreak to the NTS-1, then sync the NTS-1 to the PO via the sync out and splitter mentioned.
ua-cam.com/video/mT9XiIInjgo/v-deo.html
Why did you route from the Microfreak headphone jack to the audio input on the NTS-1 rather than use the Microfreak's output (I gather the 'Freak isn't stereo)? If I wanted to use the headphone jack on the Microfreak for the vocoder input, presumably I'd then have to use a 6 1/4" to 3.5mm TS cable to run the Microfreak through the NTS-1 for an FX processor?
Exact that's the way I use it, well almost
Microfreak is plugged into my mixer and I plugged the nts-1 as a send effect on my mixer.
Microfreak is controlled by arturia beatstep pro via midi. Then midi out front microfreak to midi in on nts-1 using a midi cable converter type A to let microfreak talk to korg.
So from my sequencer I can control both synth.
You could also just plugged clock if you just want synchro
Tried this with my Roland TR-08. No success. The clocks were not synched🤔 and changing tempo on 08 would not affect NTS-1
Any idea? Maybe PPB difference?
Tried this with my T-8 Aira... It went into berserk mode. I gotta figure out settings again. Argh
THANKS FOR SHARINGive lear a lot watching your videos. One help question, How do you deal with ground or communication, hand shake, with the Microfreak? everytime I plug the NTS to usb on my computer the MF goes erratic. I know the MF have some grounding issues on the keyboard and I am having the all when I connect the MF or the pedal or the NTS 1 to the computer. Thanks in advanced.
Can’t i use them together without using audio interface ? I am new at these kind of stuffs. I couldn’t understand what is the matter of the using audio interface here for ?
That's just how I recorded the audio for the video. I typically like to explain every cable that I use and where it goes just for clarity's sake. If you weren't plugging into an audio interface that jack is where you would plug in your headphones or speakers :)
@@FreeBeat thank you so much for answer, i am learning a lot from your videos 🙏🏼
Do you need to change anything in the settings in the MF?
Is the Mikrofreak syncabel with Boss RC 505? If yes how? :*
Yes, both can be synced over MIDI :)
Hi. I got my Microfreak and NTS-1 today and i am little bit confused now . I sounds in the Video like each of one arent playing the same after syncing. I just wanna use the effects of the nts-1 as aftertouch. So is the only thing i have to connect the headphone Out of the Microfreak to the Audio in of the nts-1? And another questsion: i wanna use my electribe 2 as Center or Host and drummachine. Is the method the same? Clock Out of the electribe to sync in of the Microfreak? Or have i Connect them with Midi cables? Is there an Tutorial in ur list about it? Cant find one. If not would u do an Tutorial about this? I have seen ur Video with the volca series but im not sure If this was helpful for my problem to solve....
I'm not sure how you would implement after touch on the nts-1. however if you just want to use it for the effects then you only need to run the one cable you mentioned between the audio out of the microfreak into the NTS-1. The electribe should work as you described if I read it properly.
@@FreeBeat thanx for ur answer. Maybe the word aftertouch was wrong.that what i am looking for were the effects. Now i know how to Connect them all to Work together. But one Problem solved a few new came with it. I thought i can use the electribe 2 as a brain for my Setup but that doesnt work like i hoped. New Problem: that Microfreak is connected via Midi. I can use it on that pattern/Chanel which i selected in the setting but i can use the Microfreak only as Midi Keyboard without effects. There is for example on pattern 1 a saw synth and that i can Play with the Keyboard of the Microfreak and nothing else. I thought i can the Microfreak as an external source to create melodies... There is an preset in the electribe "Audio in" but that doesnt work- there is no sound then. I tried almost each setting of both menus but. I also tried to connect the Microfreak to the nts-1 and use this as Hub via synth in the Microfreak and audio Out the electribe but also no sound of the Microfreak. Isnt it possible to use the Microfreak on the electribe? do i need a Splitter/ midisplitter/ Interface and Play both next to each other? I guess its very hard for you to follow my thoughts cause of my bad english and the easiest for me would be to get Manuals of all my Gear. I googled for that. Problem: korgs electribe 2 Manual is short and explaines only technical things. Microfreaks Manual is huge but doesnt solve my Problem even the Manuals for both Korg Gears. I cannot find Something to read even Videos in UA-cam so i dont know where to get the Information and even dont know who i could ask... So im very sorry for my looooong and hard to read message and im so thankful for any Help (especialy Urs in this Case)!!!!!!
I'm not having any luck getting the microkorg and freak sync using the builtin sequencer on the Microfreak. I noticed you didn't use the sequencer (blue botton) but you used the arp (white button) Microkorg arp is out of sync, and there's not sound when the External clock is selected.
Hmmm, I'm not too sure as I've never used the Microkorg. Is the firmware on your Freak up to date?
@@FreeBeat Thank you for your immediate reply.
Soooooo, I did this and got some insane tempos from the nts-1. It sounds almost like old arcade videogame noises... Can't seem to tame it down. I've tried lowering the tempo on the freak and I tried changing some stuff on the nts-1.... Maybe try to reinstall some firmware for them?
Yeah that sounds like a glitch somewhere, I'd definitely reinstall some firmware. Good luck!
did you get this sussed - thats what mine is doing? appreciate any help
@@jasonferdinando7786 nah not yet, I've been busy with some other stuff and haven't sat down to re download firmware
@@jasonferdinando7786 let me know if you solve tho
@Jason Ferdinando It sounds like one of your sync settings is wrong. The NTS-1 syncs with 1/8th notes or, in synth jargon, 2 pulses per quarter note (2PPQ). In the microfreak utility menu select Sync - Clock - make sure 2PPQ is selected and push the knob. My micro freak was set to 24PPQ default.
The second issue could be that the Arp speed division is too high. Normally, when there is nothing plugged into the sync in on the NTS-1, holding Arp and turning knob B will set the Arp tempo in BPM. When an external sync is plugged in, holding Arp and turning B lets you set the notes anywhere from 1/16th notes to 1/64th notes.
I try to setup my nts1 with the model d but it don't work ..I put the main out from model d into audio in in nts1 but it still don't work ...what I'm doing wrong..can someone help please
Can you describe the full setup? Are you not getting sound from the Model D when you play it?
@@FreeBeat thx for the response..I solved it...wrong midi settings in the MPC and the cable is damaged
Will a 1/8" cable sync the midi MF out to NTS1 in?
I'm actually not sure on this one, I'll get back to you!
That's the big question! It seems that there are two types of midi-trrs: type A and B (A is standard, but arturia uses B). so by inverting L-R on audio jacks you would be able to control midi without problem, like in this video!
ua-cam.com/video/djR5-23pwgU/v-deo.html
i try my Microbrute + Volca Beats + Keystep + Nst 1 ... Love it.
Killer combo right there!
my nts went really fast jajaja thank u
hi can I use de irig keys 2 mini to use or replace the ribbon keyboard of the nts1?? it to small to my ball fingers
saludos desde chile.
Unfortunately I'm not sure about that, sorry!
thanks for this! what's your audio interface? where would you send the master output?
I use a zoom h5 for my interface actually. A lot of the time I will actually record straight to the SD card rather than into the computer.
I just got the microfreak and I think it’s a little bit over my head now. There’s things that I did yesterday that I cannot do today anymore LOL
Haha I know that feeling! There's a ridiculous amount of depth in the Freak. Just keep playing and you'll start to get a handle on it :)
trying to figure this out with an mpc one if anyone know. i can control the MF arp on the mpc pads but if i trigger it from the MF only the first few notes play then stop. MpC doesnt have a sync in. im doing this through midi
That seems odd, I'm not sure what's going on. I'll play around a bit and see what I can do.
Nice 👍
Thanks for watching!
Sort of confused. Can't you do all of that with just the microfreak?
Trying to get into music production, don't know what all these things do.
The microfreak does have and arpeggiator built-in but some people do like to be able to sync it's clock with other devices.
Guess I'm a little late but the one reason for people to pair these two devices is to have the effects from the NTS-1 make the Microfreak sound much bigger/stronger/better. The other one is making something more sounding like music (as opposed to "sound") when e. g. you have an arpeggio (or sequence) going on one of them and adding something different from the other. At least these are my reasons to have those two.
Nice video. Verry usefull for green people like me in te hardware world. Can you make a video how to connect and sync the micro freak to a korg volca sample/keys?
I certainly can, stay tuned in the next week or so. Thanks for watching!
@@FreeBeat nice to hear😀 great channel to follow👍keep up the good work
So hang on, where is the noise coming from, you haven't got an amp plugged in and you say korg usb to where to get power what are you attaching it to
If you look in the description, you'll see I list the Zoom H5 as my audio recorder for this video :)
What about midi sync thou!!?!
They don't sync just by plugging them in. You have to go in to utility and change a few things. You forgot that part.