Your videos are REALLY impressive ... most importantly, they're easy to understand for just about anybody, and incredibly informative too ... but I also love how you don't muck about with any "faff" ... you're to the point, concise and honest. You're probably doing more for the music industry than you any of us realise, and I thank you ... sincerely.
I've bought this used for like 40€ thinking of buying a toy, but instead i've been surprised by the quality reserved for such a cheap piece of equipment. loving it much more than i expected to!
What a cool review. I like the industrial design of the synth, even if it's not what I'd call ideal for my needs. Still, I like that Korg is pushing the bounds of what we'd traditionally call a synthesizer. It's reminiscent of those tiny little electric keyboards you could buy in the 80s, with terribly digital piezo speakers and rubber keys. It's like the 2010's version of one of those, meaning cheap and portable, but WAY more advanced. Thanks for the upload, Loopop.
Here's a quick method for Eurorack mounting: ua-cam.com/video/gJTBsC1AAsI/v-deo.html orchardelica.com/wp/?p=804 You can also get more compact with some DIY designs: www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-nts-1-eurorack-conversion
Omg I'm now seriously considering getting this and the Korg Volca Sample 2, and making a custom metal chassis to rehouse them into a single unit. You could send the headphone output from the Sample into the audio input of the NTS-1, and process your drums on it. Plus they both have midi sync. Then send the audio to speakers or a guitar amp. That would be such a crazy dawless minimalist setup, and for so cheap too. In the 70s, this would've cost a million dollars and all of your internal organs. Subbed, thank for making this!!!
Just ordered one. I have a very generic keyboard MIDI controller from around 2009. It is worth nothing and it's lack of even basic functions essentially made it little more than a prop - until I got an NTS-1. With the addition of the NTS-1, that otherwise useless controller is now a monophonic 49 key KORG synthesizer. This thing is great.
I love your channel for many reasons. The in depth overview of the features, the scope/spectrum analyzer, and of course your calming, reassuring and soothing voice! Keep em coming :) my favourite channel for this type of content.
However you don't learn anything about the underlying electronics by just putting a preassembled board into a kit case. School music classes could learn the same about synthesis by using any simple analog synth, e. g. a Volca Bass.
@@thamessinclair2010 I was referring more to the satisfaction gained by each student from building their own and even possibly keeping it for themselves to use. They could then use it in subsequent lessons with their teachers.
@@thamessinclair2010 I wish when i went to school, that there would be a class about building my own synth from components. Luckily there are UA-cam videos on the subject ("Look Mum No Computer" is good inspiration) - and even repair/service manuals that you can download and see what components they used; and how to make your own copy of it. Would be really cool to make lots of small boxes like in this video, so i could expand a modular synth rack with extra oscillators or modifiers or whatever, to put up on a big rack at home, and could just pick out the essential modules i wanted to bring with me if i was going over to a friend or on a vacation or something
Legendary Loopop as always! One thing that I must say about the NTS-1 is, it is a bit challenging to use it live due to the fact that the knobs work, not saying it is a bad thing but is good to note. Say you have set the OSC , then you switch to EG, you may need to remember the knob settings for the last parameter modified for OSC before playing with the EG settings because once you hit OSC again and start turning , it 'jumps' to the value of the knobs right away , which was set for the EG settings .. Carefully planning and setting them one by one ( like OSC shape alt, then FILTER, then EG, etc) usually helps
I'd say that with 25+ years of professional sound design and synth design (Yamaha R&D etc) experience, your (and Starsky Carr/Bad Gear)'s videos are really superb. They cover so much. and are an excellent watch
What an impressive piece of kit and a really good review, so many thanks. As an effects processor this really stands out with its flexibility and customisation with other imported oscillators. I also like that you have to build it yourself! Very 1970s "Tandy" electronic style ...
Excellent review. In-depth and lots of useful information that is hard to find in the NTS-1 "manual" which is more a cheat-sheet. The NTS-1 is a really interesting device but without some in-depth knowledge and experimentation it is just a squeak box. I liked his suggestion to use the NTS-1 as a delay-reverb module in an audio chain.
Well damn. That's pretty cool. As the owner of an OG Minilogue, I've lusted over the new one with the user osc input. Yeah this is monophonic, but it might scratch the itch. My kid would have fun building it with me. Thanks for the review.
ya... it's a hundred bux and sounds pretty fucking awesome for something that costs as much as a guitar pedal. (don't really think it sounds digital or harsh... maybe a tad)
This is a must have just as an effects processor. Why buy a guitar pedal(s) at this point when you have a really nice effects range out the door, and the fact that custom plugins are going to meet or exceed the $350 reverb/delay boxes. Good lord this is amazing. This is also small enough to be in-line for ALL my external gear. I'll buy a dozen of them.
Agreed. As far as guitars I'm guessing it's a solid maybe. It probably needs to be a line level signal which means you probably need some kind of a preamp as well as the adapter down to an eighth inch input and then an adapter back out from the output if you wanted to run it on a pedal board.
This little thing is sooo underrated! As you said; the FX-part makes it worth it alone. The synth is in many ways even more powerful than the Volca Bass, for example. (And the Bass is no toy at all when it comes to sound and versability!)
Wow, just found out about this maybe a day or two ago and also found out about Hydrasynth today. Just so happens you have in-depth reviews on both of them. Great job!
I decided to purchase one on the strength of your review. I absolutely love it. Thank you for your always clear and concise analysis; it is very much appreciated.
this device is totally worth buying for the reverbs alone. they really are showstoppers. i remember watching nick batt's review a few years back and feeling the exact same way. it surprised me here again!... they were impossible to find at the moment.... they sold out pretty quickly. your videos are superlative. thank you.!
this is sooo cool !! I have a monologue ( as "my" mono synth ) so I'll wait for the polyphonic version of this !! the fact that it supports MIDI is really super!!!
Another excellent review. This would be good, space-friendly, low-cost way to introduce digital synth sounds into my analog, semi-modular rig. I've have heard similar Eurorack digital modules that cost over 3X the price that don't sound as good as this. The Nutekt would be worth the price of admission just for its nice effects section. Thanks for your through review.
Superb video showing what this can do.. I was confused when I got this little box thinking it was a bit of a toy until I started to understand and explore what it can do . Utterly amazing device.. I just wish it could store presets.
Thanks again. Your videos are the absolutely the best quality, well presented and visually informative instruction videos on the synths and music boxes I own which often far surpass the provided manuals. But the thing I appreciate the most is how efficient and easy to listen to your commentary is. I often get frustrated with other presenters trying to be 'fun' or 'authoritative' meanwhile waffling on with very little structure. This can be so frustrating when I am in the middle of a session and just need 1 bit of information to let me understand where I've gotten stuck. For the amount of times I've been helped out of an annoying impasse or discovered a brilliant new thing from your videos, I feel it's only fair to sign up to your patreon for a while and support your extremely professional service. I know how much work will have gone into each one of these videos. Look forward to checking out some of your tips and tricks. :)
This thing sounds/looks fantastic! Thank you for this useful review. I would love Korg to put four or so of these in a small box with a better (yet simple) user interface along with an USB connector for a full GUI via iOS, or PC based programmer. Your vids are great - now supporting through patreon.
In reality, another small synth I’d buy..play with for a brief time...then send to the paperweight repository. Learnt my lesson too many times with the Electribes, Volcas etc etc.
Ordered this little fellow today to mostly act as programmable effect processor for Minilogue OG. That said it being full fledged programmable digital synth with its own (tiny and limited but still very useful) keyboard makes this device pretty amazing programmable effect processor :)
hoohoo2you2 Hi, I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionaly I’ll use scopes by VCV
I think it would be useful to go through the connections set up between the keystep and the nts-1. It may be obvious to many but not to all and it would really help.
Ordered mine in October, only just now received it! Wow...is this thing fun! And like you said...it's worth the price just for the effects! I plugged in my Think Geek BlipTronic 5000 and had a blast! Then I grabbed my Korg Kaossilator and ran that through the effects processor and it makes the Kaossilator a completely different animal!
It took several months for mine to turn up too. I've just put mine together and have been using it with my OP-1. I love the 'ensemble' effect - very Boards of Canada. I like what the waveshaper does to the sawtooth wave too.
@@metascrawlmusic Agree. Now All I wish for is some kind of online group that I can get tips and hints from. I am having a bear of a time getting this thing to talk midi. I purchased a USB Midi keyboard and a USB-5DIN host converter and nothing....very frustrating!
@@ekummel That I can help with. It will be because the keyboard doesn't act as a MIDI host, it just sends out data for a host to interpret - I've run into exactly the same thing with my OP-1. You need to have something inbetween that will interpret USB MIDI signals into standard MIDI. That can be your computer, with the MIDI in & out channels set up in your DAW, which is what I do. The alternative is the USB MIDI host that Kenton makes - it does the same hosting job of a computer + DAW but it's just a small box. Only problem is that it's pretty expensive, which is the only reason I haven't bought one so far. It is annoying - I think every piece of MIDI gear should natively host, but most USB-only devices don't. EDIT: Sorry, you did say you had a host, I misread. Are you sure it's a host and not just a USB to MIDI adapter? The latter are inexpensive but still rely on a computer to do the actual hosting. What is the make/model of the one you have?
@@metascrawlmusic I picked up a MidiPlus Midi Host. It has 5 pin din in and out, and a USB with an LED. The LED's supposed to be red when there's no USB signal, and green when there is a USB signal. I discovered that the TRS to MIDI on the NTS-1 is not standard. My existing TRS adapters wouldn't work. Looking at the Midi spec document on Korg's site, it says that it must be a TRS Type-A. So I purchased one of those, verified the pin-outs with my multimeter and hooked everything up again. Nothing. I know that the USB midi keyboard works. I downloaded the Midi Keyboard App on my Windows laptop and plugged the keyboard into my laptop and I can play all day long. But I cannot get the NTS-1 to talk with the USB keyboard. I'm suspecting that there's something wrong with the USB to Midi host in that the LED won't turn green like the manual says. Thanks for any help you can give me.
@@ekummel I've not heard of that host before, but I looked it up and it does seem like it should work for what you're trying to do. What I would do in your position is plug the USB host into my PC and see if it's recognised by my DAW. If you don't have one installed on your laptop, you could install LMMS, which is free - or maybe even the MIDI keyboard app you have could do it? If the host shows up as a MIDI device, you could try sending it some notes from the DAW/app and see if that light goes green. If you can get it to work that way, at least you can rule out that the host is faulty, as you've already done with the keyboard. Apologies if you've tried this, or if it's no help - the fact that you even own a multimeter makes me suspect you're more knowledgeable than I am!
I've been keeping an eye on this, but i can't find any info for a release date or price. I thought your review meant it was out! My wallet has blue balls now :(
This little box looks to me a lot like a cheap way of adding a decent extra oscillator to another synth... :-) Loopop, I notice the number of views and subscribers has recently skyrocketed. That’s great. You’re an A-list you-tuber now! :-)
I would like to se a small oled display instead of the led one. You can fit much more information on it, and you don't have to remember all those shortcuts . I think it's worth the extra 10or so $.
i like that they get you to make it yourself. that’s a great gift for a teen, get them into music or making or both. that’s the only think i like. hidden features and menu diving make me tired
*LOOPOP* What was the most difficult piece of equipment you’ve had to learn for a demo? I’m wondering how long it takes to learn your average demo? You seem to be a master in all of these and this must take up a stretch of your time to learn! Just to say, I appreciate your videos so much! Your efforts become so interesting, fun and in-depth and they’re quite enjoyable and educational. Thank you! 🎉 Sarah
Thanks! I wouldn't say difficult, but it's certainly more time-consuming to learn instruments with more features (Maschine, Ableton Live, the Zencore engine, Octatrack...). Making a video takes anywhere between 5-14 days on average
Thanks this was helpful! The paper that comes with it seemed like an Ikea instruction booklet. I missed the part about snapping those corners off the bottom board, so maybe that's why I had a hard time getting it seated right. And you showed how to use all the features very well too1
If you're handy you can use an Arduino Nano as a CV to Midi converter. Can be powered by 5 volts, just like this device (if you take a chinese knockoff of the revision 3 model). You can probably fit the Arduino in this NTS-1. Or just attach it on the back. You'd still have to find a way to mount it, get ports in the front, make a way to power it with a normal Eurorack power supply, but it all seems doable.
The best thing about this thing is it's ability to pass the effects through to a polyphonic keyboard. I mean the wave forms are cool and all but only so much you can do with a single note mono synth.
You can MORE than just save sounds using a PC: www.korg.com/us/products/dj/nts_1/librarian_contents.php Also this: www.synthanatomy.com/2020/03/new-korg-nts-1-editor-gives-you-full-access-to-all-sound-parameters.html
At this price I'm gonna buy it new while crossing my fingers hoping that polyphony can find its way with some snazzy firmware update/hack or additional $30-40 cable
@@donjaved Duet ( hammondeggsmusic.ca/logueplugins/duet.html ), Extra ( hammondeggsmusic.ca/logueplugins/extra.html ), and Souper ( hammondeggsmusic.ca/logueplugins/souper.html ) all add paraphonic voices to the NTS-1. He wrote those before the NTS-1 came out, but they all work, I use them often! This still isn't true polyphony, but it is better than nothing!
If anyone can share with me a way of getting visuals without using VST i'd be really grateful. I'm working completely DAWless and to my knowledge can't use the VSTs :(
👍💯👍 Thanks Loopop. Great review as usual! Maybe it's an interesting addon for a Monologue or a Minilogue OG but... does it have a patch memory (accessible via ProgramChange)? 🤔
12:25 "It's easy to get carried away here..." I just received my NTS-1, looking forward to getting lost in this little gem 😎 That being said, I did not order a DIN->TRS-MIDI-Cable #ouch Anyways, THANKS for this informative video!
Breaking news! Check out my Phase Looping plugin for the NTS-1 and logue platform here! bit.ly/PhaseLoopop
1. Pick a waveform
2. Put a fast arpeggiator on it
3. Add space reverb and crank the settings
4. Set the reverb to full wet
Instant pad
No need for the Arp - just crank chorus, delay and Space Reverb! A high release also helps. NTS-1 is amazing!
MONOPHONIC PADS FTW!!!!
AFX BABY
This thing is crazy for the price I bought it as an effects unit for microkorg but now it's a giant midi expander for microkorg........ amazing!!
Your videos are REALLY impressive ... most importantly, they're easy to understand for just about anybody, and incredibly informative too ... but I also love how you don't muck about with any "faff" ... you're to the point, concise and honest.
You're probably doing more for the music industry than you any of us realise, and I thank you ... sincerely.
I've bought this used for like 40€ thinking of buying a toy, but instead i've been surprised by the quality reserved for such a cheap piece of equipment. loving it much more than i expected to!
Korg makes most of their equipment for tokyo apartments
Or Britain houses.
I live in an apartment in a suburb of Tokyo and you are correct.
Oh..then its too BIG.
@@st0rmchild my old boss at hp had a huge house there paid by ho. He was not allowed to bring workers over cause theyd be pissed off.
I live in a British house. You are wrong.
What a cool review. I like the industrial design of the synth, even if it's not what I'd call ideal for my needs.
Still, I like that Korg is pushing the bounds of what we'd traditionally call a synthesizer. It's reminiscent of those tiny little electric keyboards you could buy in the 80s, with terribly digital piezo speakers and rubber keys.
It's like the 2010's version of one of those, meaning cheap and portable, but WAY more advanced.
Thanks for the upload, Loopop.
If Korg put all of these features into a build-it-yourself Eurorack module, I would literally scream in excitement.
Put the NTS-1 into a eurorack module! It's open source and theres plenty of documentation for modding :)
Sounds like you just need the right size faceplate. Off to the hardware store you go!
Here's a quick method for Eurorack mounting:
ua-cam.com/video/gJTBsC1AAsI/v-deo.html
orchardelica.com/wp/?p=804
You can also get more compact with some DIY designs:
www.modulargrid.net/e/other-unknown-nts-1-eurorack-conversion
There was a kit for that somewhere on Reverb...
Omg I'm now seriously considering getting this and the Korg Volca Sample 2, and making a custom metal chassis to rehouse them into a single unit. You could send the headphone output from the Sample into the audio input of the NTS-1, and process your drums on it. Plus they both have midi sync. Then send the audio to speakers or a guitar amp. That would be such a crazy dawless minimalist setup, and for so cheap too. In the 70s, this would've cost a million dollars and all of your internal organs. Subbed, thank for making this!!!
Damn that's a killer idea, I might have to do something like that. 😎
Did you do it? If so, give some details!!
@@SretepK I upgraded to an SP404MK2, it's wild lol
Just ordered one. I have a very generic keyboard MIDI controller from around 2009. It is worth nothing and it's lack of even basic functions essentially made it little more than a prop - until I got an NTS-1.
With the addition of the NTS-1, that otherwise useless controller is now a monophonic 49 key KORG synthesizer.
This thing is great.
I love your channel for many reasons. The in depth overview of the features, the scope/spectrum analyzer, and of course your calming, reassuring and soothing voice! Keep em coming :) my favourite channel for this type of content.
felt well educated with the live graphs to the sounds, thank you
Imagine distributing these to school music classes for students to build and learn about synthesis!
@@fernandoruiz2719 Saved by the headphone jack.
However you don't learn anything about the underlying electronics by just putting a preassembled board into a kit case. School music classes could learn the same about synthesis by using any simple analog synth, e. g. a Volca Bass.
@@thamessinclair2010 I was referring more to the satisfaction gained by each student from building their own and even possibly keeping it for themselves to use. They could then use it in subsequent lessons with their teachers.
@@thamessinclair2010 So "learn the same" on a box costing 50% more? That does sound like the schools in my town...
@@thamessinclair2010 I wish when i went to school, that there would be a class about building my own synth from components. Luckily there are UA-cam videos on the subject ("Look Mum No Computer" is good inspiration) - and even repair/service manuals that you can download and see what components they used; and how to make your own copy of it. Would be really cool to make lots of small boxes like in this video, so i could expand a modular synth rack with extra oscillators or modifiers or whatever, to put up on a big rack at home, and could just pick out the essential modules i wanted to bring with me if i was going over to a friend or on a vacation or something
Thank you for a very clear demonstration and explanation of this unit - one of the best reviews I've seen on UA-cam.
Legendary Loopop as always!
One thing that I must say about the NTS-1 is, it is a bit challenging to use it live due to the fact that the knobs work, not saying it is a bad thing but is good to note.
Say you have set the OSC , then you switch to EG, you may need to remember the knob settings for the last parameter modified for OSC before playing with the EG settings because once you hit OSC again and start turning , it 'jumps' to the value of the knobs right away , which was set for the EG settings .. Carefully planning and setting them one by one ( like OSC shape alt, then FILTER, then EG, etc) usually helps
I'd say that with 25+ years of professional sound design and synth design (Yamaha R&D etc) experience, your (and Starsky Carr/Bad Gear)'s videos are really superb. They cover so much. and are an excellent watch
How does Loopop NOT have a million subs yet? Always informative and to the point.
it makes no sense, right?
It's a beautiful thing when a UA-cam video actually inspires musical creativity. And your videos do...fairly often! Thank you!
Watching this video, I'm pretending it's the size of a Minilogue and that you have GIANT FINGERS!
cchoge 😂
Can't unsee
It's Andre the Giants synth vid
and giant TRS cables
Bigboi knobs
Thank you for this review. Because of it, I bought a couple of these, and they've put me into the mood to make music whenever I have free time.
What an impressive piece of kit and a really good review, so many thanks. As an effects processor this really stands out with its flexibility and customisation with other imported oscillators. I also like that you have to build it yourself! Very 1970s "Tandy" electronic style ...
The gateway to the custom oscillator. It will be hard to resist.
Excellent review. In-depth and lots of useful information that is hard to find in the NTS-1 "manual" which is more a cheat-sheet. The NTS-1 is a really interesting device but without some in-depth knowledge and experimentation it is just a squeak box. I liked his suggestion to use the NTS-1 as a delay-reverb module in an audio chain.
I didn’t want this. Now I want this 😐
:) I didn't like it. Now I like it.
Didn't know that I *needed* one.
Well damn. That's pretty cool. As the owner of an OG Minilogue, I've lusted over the new one with the user osc input. Yeah this is monophonic, but it might scratch the itch. My kid would have fun building it with me. Thanks for the review.
It should come with the midi breakout cable like the SQ-1 did.
I agree 100%. Korg should not turn into Apple.
@@SyncdAlien Oh God, no one should turn into Apple haha.... they get worse every day no matter how impossible you think that is.
You can hack that cable together for next to nothing tho.
dongle madness
From Hydra to NUTEKT in one day. it will be a NTS-1 for me. Thank you
just got a NTS-1 and your vid was invaluable!
What a cheap, shrieking box of digital harshness.
😂😂😂
daveother 😂
:)
Question to salesman: How many can I put in my rack on a chain?
Answer: How much money do you have? How big is your rack?
ya... it's a hundred bux and sounds pretty fucking awesome for something that costs as much as a guitar pedal. (don't really think it sounds digital or harsh... maybe a tad)
This is a must have just as an effects processor. Why buy a guitar pedal(s) at this point when you have a really nice effects range out the door, and the fact that custom plugins are going to meet or exceed the $350 reverb/delay boxes. Good lord this is amazing. This is also small enough to be in-line for ALL my external gear. I'll buy a dozen of them.
The only downside is it's an effects pedal you stomp on ONCE, and once only.
would you be able to connect a guitar to the audio in?
Agreed.
As far as guitars I'm guessing it's a solid maybe. It probably needs to be a line level signal which means you probably need some kind of a preamp as well as the adapter down to an eighth inch input and then an adapter back out from the output if you wanted to run it on a pedal board.
Great vid! I love the Keystep in black! ❤️️
This little thing is sooo underrated! As you said; the FX-part makes it worth it alone. The synth is in many ways even more powerful than the Volca Bass, for example. (And the Bass is no toy at all when it comes to sound and versability!)
Just take my money Korg. Just take it all goddamit
They cant have it...Ive given it all to Behringer!
wtf this thing is nothing someone serouis would need ^^
Did Korg pay you to say that?
Snowman PLEASEEE!!!
@@xdeville1 perfect combo with the microfreak!
I ve been waiting this for my volca set... Thanks for the detailed work man!
Wow! The Reverb on that thing is EPIC! Wow!
That's a lot of synth for the money.
Wow, just found out about this maybe a day or two ago and also found out about Hydrasynth today. Just so happens you have in-depth reviews on both of them. Great job!
I decided to purchase one on the strength of your review. I absolutely love it. Thank you for your always clear and concise analysis; it is very much appreciated.
this device is totally worth buying for the reverbs alone. they really are showstoppers. i remember watching nick batt's review a few years back and feeling the exact same way. it surprised me here again!... they were impossible to find at the moment.... they sold out pretty quickly.
your videos are superlative. thank you.!
This seems like they put the Korg edition littlebits on a board and added some features. Sounds great!
This is far more powerful than the littlebits kits, though those are cool too.
I usually don't post on youtube but 2 videos in a day?!?!?!? The blessings are real!
Thanks! Tomorrow will be slightly crazier
12:00 Please do a full set off that!
Completely impressed! This little sucker gets down to the very basics of all of it's waveshapes! Everyone can have fun from there!!!
Great ... only in it for the FX TBBH. So Korg kills it with a 'Strymon Blue Sky' for 99 quid, cheers! 😎🎶🎹👍
this is sooo cool !!
I have a monologue ( as "my" mono synth ) so I'll wait for the polyphonic version of this !!
the fact that it supports MIDI is really super!!!
Another excellent review. This would be good, space-friendly, low-cost way to introduce digital synth sounds into my analog, semi-modular rig. I've have heard similar Eurorack digital modules that cost over 3X the price that don't sound as good as this. The Nutekt would be worth the price of admission just for its nice effects section. Thanks for your through review.
Well put:)
thanks so much for the Great content
Superb video showing what this can do..
I was confused when I got this little box thinking it was a bit of a toy until I started to understand and explore what it can do .
Utterly amazing device..
I just wish it could store presets.
How the hell is this tiny thing so awesome! Korgs little synths are amazing!
A friend just bought me this- thanks for getting me excited about learning how the hell to use it 😅
Best synth reviews out there...
This was really useful thanks, I have one on the way. I love my Kronos 2 but I’m super geeked out about the fun I’ll have with this little guy 🤓
Can't wait till someone makes the inevitable Eurorack conversion kit ;)
The real innovative technology only comes from Korg. For this price it is a killer!
Like the Pocket Operators... only, incredible sound!
Thanks again. Your videos are the absolutely the best quality, well presented and visually informative instruction videos on the synths and music boxes I own which often far surpass the provided manuals. But the thing I appreciate the most is how efficient and easy to listen to your commentary is. I often get frustrated with other presenters trying to be 'fun' or 'authoritative' meanwhile waffling on with very little structure. This can be so frustrating when I am in the middle of a session and just need 1 bit of information to let me understand where I've gotten stuck. For the amount of times I've been helped out of an annoying impasse or discovered a brilliant new thing from your videos, I feel it's only fair to sign up to your patreon for a while and support your extremely professional service. I know how much work will have gone into each one of these videos. Look forward to checking out some of your tips and tricks. :)
Thanks very much for taking the time to write and much appreciated that you joined the Patreon!
And now we can contact the alien space ship with such a small device.
This thing sounds/looks fantastic! Thank you for this useful review. I would love Korg to put four or so of these in a small box with a better (yet simple) user interface along with an USB connector for a full GUI via iOS, or PC based programmer. Your vids are great - now supporting through patreon.
How awesome - thanks!
Even better is the Korg Legacy Collection 👍
Looking forward to developing with this. Will be fun to try user FX with external audio!
How do you develop for this? Is there an SDK or special software? Thanks.
Dark Side of Synth It’s compatible with the logue sdk, which was made for the prologue / minilogue synthesizers
@@hammondeggsmusic OK, thank you
Thank you, keep up the great work! I'm considering buying the NTS-1 just to play with your user osc/effects even more! (I already have the XD)
@@DarkSideofSynth drop a GitHub if you make it work!
In reality, another small synth I’d buy..play with for a brief time...then send to the paperweight repository. Learnt my lesson too many times with the Electribes, Volcas etc etc.
I hear you. Better get one mono and one poly which you really like and use every day.
11:20 Oh my! I need this!
Totally digging the virtual hologram screen!
I left my Monotron in a drawer with my Monologue over the summer and when i came back i found an NTS-1 nestled between them.
😂😂😂 That's certainly much better than finding a pool of acid from leaky batteries. 😂😂😂
Ordered this little fellow today to mostly act as programmable effect processor for Minilogue OG. That said it being full fledged programmable digital synth with its own (tiny and limited but still very useful) keyboard makes this device pretty amazing programmable effect processor :)
I kinda want it, but don't NEED it. The parts that make me want it is the "you build it" factor and the audio in feed.
I’m hugely tempted to get this if only as a portable fx-processor to pair with Blackbox & Circuit.
Korg have created something truly wantable here!
When they make one for VJ's, it'll be the NTS C ; - )
You’re reviews are the best! Thank you...
Anybody know what program he used to get visuals of the wavelengths
hoohoo2you2 Hi, I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionaly I’ll use scopes by VCV
What visuals ?
@@danielwilson6529 3:49 etc
I've wondered it, too. Thank you for your reply.
I think it would be useful to go through the connections set up between the keystep and the nts-1. It may be obvious to many but not to all and it would really help.
You need a Type A 3.5mm to MIDI adapter. 3.5 end plugs into the NTS-1. Standard MIDI cable plugs into the adapter and the Keystep.
great features on a tiny box
Ordered mine in October, only just now received it! Wow...is this thing fun! And like you said...it's worth the price just for the effects! I plugged in my Think Geek BlipTronic 5000 and had a blast! Then I grabbed my Korg Kaossilator and ran that through the effects processor and it makes the Kaossilator a completely different animal!
It took several months for mine to turn up too. I've just put mine together and have been using it with my OP-1. I love the 'ensemble' effect - very Boards of Canada. I like what the waveshaper does to the sawtooth wave too.
@@metascrawlmusic Agree. Now All I wish for is some kind of online group that I can get tips and hints from. I am having a bear of a time getting this thing to talk midi. I purchased a USB Midi keyboard and a USB-5DIN host converter and nothing....very frustrating!
@@ekummel That I can help with. It will be because the keyboard doesn't act as a MIDI host, it just sends out data for a host to interpret - I've run into exactly the same thing with my OP-1. You need to have something inbetween that will interpret USB MIDI signals into standard MIDI.
That can be your computer, with the MIDI in & out channels set up in your DAW, which is what I do. The alternative is the USB MIDI host that Kenton makes - it does the same hosting job of a computer + DAW but it's just a small box. Only problem is that it's pretty expensive, which is the only reason I haven't bought one so far.
It is annoying - I think every piece of MIDI gear should natively host, but most USB-only devices don't.
EDIT: Sorry, you did say you had a host, I misread. Are you sure it's a host and not just a USB to MIDI adapter? The latter are inexpensive but still rely on a computer to do the actual hosting. What is the make/model of the one you have?
@@metascrawlmusic I picked up a MidiPlus Midi Host. It has 5 pin din in and out, and a USB with an LED. The LED's supposed to be red when there's no USB signal, and green when there is a USB signal. I discovered that the TRS to MIDI on the NTS-1 is not standard. My existing TRS adapters wouldn't work. Looking at the Midi spec document on Korg's site, it says that it must be a TRS Type-A. So I purchased one of those, verified the pin-outs with my multimeter and hooked everything up again. Nothing. I know that the USB midi keyboard works. I downloaded the Midi Keyboard App on my Windows laptop and plugged the keyboard into my laptop and I can play all day long. But I cannot get the NTS-1 to talk with the USB keyboard.
I'm suspecting that there's something wrong with the USB to Midi host in that the LED won't turn green like the manual says.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
@@ekummel I've not heard of that host before, but I looked it up and it does seem like it should work for what you're trying to do.
What I would do in your position is plug the USB host into my PC and see if it's recognised by my DAW. If you don't have one installed on your laptop, you could install LMMS, which is free - or maybe even the MIDI keyboard app you have could do it? If the host shows up as a MIDI device, you could try sending it some notes from the DAW/app and see if that light goes green. If you can get it to work that way, at least you can rule out that the host is faulty, as you've already done with the keyboard.
Apologies if you've tried this, or if it's no help - the fact that you even own a multimeter makes me suspect you're more knowledgeable than I am!
I've been keeping an eye on this, but i can't find any info for a release date or price. I thought your review meant it was out! My wallet has blue balls now :(
if youre in the US, $99
seriously i keep impatiently throwing my tear-stained dollars at the screen hurry already korg!
Musicstore.de says 1 October 2019.
www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=CdMAVfZ1xXZ3JMpGc3wOArLYwpYPWgVeX4tDliQKu84bGpwMICRABIN7Nzx5gu76ug9AKoAG0mZL_A8gBB6kCfZmNSumutD6qBDdP0LBQ5F-oKrgFUtyFKFRVzSl8GPxr3rGjNJZyNhj-MFWSCc4UKMt5Gt97PtwyXiJAIa3egHuTwAT3gbqIQMAFBaAGJoAHtOZtiAcBkAcCqAemvhuoB9nLG6gHz8wbqAfz0RuoB-7SG9gHAbAIAcAIAdIIBBACIASaCV5odHRwczovL3d3dy5nZWFyNG11c2ljLmNvbS9LZXlib2FyZHMtYW5kLVBpYW5vcy9Lb3JnLU51VGVrdC1OVFMtMS1EaWdpdGFsLVN5bnRoZXNpemVyLUtpdC8yWVoxsQm__mssNPVyPrkJv_5rLDT1cj74CQGYCwHgEqTY3vD-xsSN4QHwFdOLTvoVCDEzODYzN2QxgRZFWjQ2YJsziYgW8y4&ctype=5&ved=0ahUKEwipzPeK7rrkAhXTlFwKHeZJDtcQsEMIDw&dblrd=1&sival=AF15MEACn1rB92G5NH-9vLWEnF7qT8Nbaf__eLubx_D3CsIHV4Is55ga0zmrJhEvOCtRLPBqnsMd1HaACN76UAEKCaoXREu988D8rjJyKSokpS5QlYqCAGDNwXdS8HDQG01pWDaAkmQl6RY-69PzIgNN4Y4G5iYcmA&sig=AOD64_32L_DfUh11f7E0R6xX4YlcY8w8MA&adurl=www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and-Pianos/Korg-NuTekt-NTS-1-Digital-Synthesizer-Kit/2YZ1%3Forigin%3Dproduct-ads%26DPLA%2BShop%2B-%2BKorg%26Dvertical_search%26network%3Dgoogle%26adgroup%3D1%2B-%2BProduct%2BLevel%2B-%2BKorg%26merchant_id%3D1279443%26product_id%3D138637d1%26product_country%3DGB%26product_partition_id%3D113695111598
"Shipping with a suite of software, the Nu:Tekt NTS-1 will be available in November priced at $99.99," (MusicRadar)
This little box looks to me a lot like a cheap way of adding a decent extra oscillator to another synth... :-)
Loopop, I notice the number of views and subscribers has recently skyrocketed. That’s great. You’re an A-list you-tuber now! :-)
I would like to se a small oled display instead of the led one. You can fit much more information on it, and you don't have to remember all those shortcuts . I think it's worth the extra 10or so $.
Could also make a cool little oscilloscope like the one on the minilogue.
Want... it.... immediately! Thanks for this awesome review!
For a moment I thought you were going to play Pop Corn :)
This is insane. Might get it for a project to do with my daughters.
12:10 Had me.
BlaBlog101 exact moment I decided
aliens landed right there
i like that they get you to make it yourself. that’s a great gift for a teen, get them into music or making or both. that’s the only think i like. hidden features and menu diving make me tired
Please
tell korg to make a new Kaoss pad with all this on on it. THAT. would be really cool .
Yes!!
One of the coolest things I played with at NAMM. Can't wait to order
Mine came yesterday! Can't wait to put it together
Can you use all three FX (Say, a phaser, a delay, a reverb)at the same time (playing live) or are you limited to one effect (say, one reverb)? Thanks
Yes, you can.
*LOOPOP* What was the most difficult piece of equipment you’ve had to learn for a demo? I’m wondering how long it takes to learn your average demo?
You seem to be a master in all of these and this must take up a stretch of your time to learn! Just to say, I appreciate your videos so much! Your efforts become so interesting, fun and in-depth and they’re quite enjoyable and educational.
Thank you! 🎉
Sarah
Thanks! I wouldn't say difficult, but it's certainly more time-consuming to learn instruments with more features (Maschine, Ableton Live, the Zencore engine, Octatrack...). Making a video takes anywhere between 5-14 days on average
For some reason after 10 minutes this suddenly became a Tron: Legacy soundtrack simulator
Thanks this was helpful! The paper that comes with it seemed like an Ikea instruction booklet. I missed the part about snapping those corners off the bottom board, so maybe that's why I had a hard time getting it seated right. And you showed how to use all the features very well too1
Can you use the midi breakout cable from the 2 pin arturia beat step, or the 3 pin cable from the microfreak? Thanks!
Want to know this too thanks
This upstream of a Kastle 1.5 is freaking awesome.
So, a Monotrogue?
And very hideable, heck, rewire the buttons/pots and you can put 5 in a box the size of a milk carton.
Ah. I too have to hide my small synths, often up to 5 of them at a time, in milk cartons.
😅
Finally got my concealed synth license so this will come in handy...
Hole.Lee.Crap. This is insanely cool. And of course out of stock everywhere.
"And of course out of stock everywhere" lol, I'm hearin ya!
Not "out of stock", just has not arrived anywhere yet. Korg has promised it for November.
"its easy to get carried away here"
😂👌
Aw cool. I got this piece recommended to start experimenting with live setups. Seems like a great starting point.
I wish they would release this as a eurorack diy. Just a diy OSC with V/Octave would be an amazing pull at this price point.
If you're handy you can use an Arduino Nano as a CV to Midi converter. Can be powered by 5 volts, just like this device (if you take a chinese knockoff of the revision 3 model). You can probably fit the Arduino in this NTS-1. Or just attach it on the back. You'd still have to find a way to mount it, get ports in the front, make a way to power it with a normal Eurorack power supply, but it all seems doable.
The best thing about this thing is it's ability to pass the effects through to a polyphonic keyboard. I mean the wave forms are cool and all but only so much you can do with a single note mono synth.
Interesting. A Digital Synth that doesn't allow you to save sounds.
You can MORE than just save sounds using a PC: www.korg.com/us/products/dj/nts_1/librarian_contents.php Also this: www.synthanatomy.com/2020/03/new-korg-nts-1-editor-gives-you-full-access-to-all-sound-parameters.html
Yamaha Reface CS...
Really worth it just for the effects! Awesome.
Semitotal I agree 100%!
If this was polyphonic I'd spend my money right away...
At this price I'm gonna buy it new while crossing my fingers hoping that polyphony can find its way with some snazzy firmware update/hack or additional $30-40 cable
Get 2 for duophonic
I get it just for the effects processor alone.
Did you hear those reverbs?
Some of @hammonddeggsmusic SDK plugins should make it paraphonic!
@@donjaved Duet ( hammondeggsmusic.ca/logueplugins/duet.html ), Extra ( hammondeggsmusic.ca/logueplugins/extra.html ), and Souper ( hammondeggsmusic.ca/logueplugins/souper.html ) all add paraphonic voices to the NTS-1. He wrote those before the NTS-1 came out, but they all work, I use them often! This still isn't true polyphony, but it is better than nothing!
Wow very cool little synth! Thanks for video!
Great info! Thanks :) Quick question though, what are you using to visualize the waveforms?
Thanks! I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle
That was my first question too :) Visualizing the waveform/spectrum is a valuable tool for learning sound design. Thanks for the pointer!
If anyone can share with me a way of getting visuals without using VST i'd be really grateful. I'm working completely DAWless and to my knowledge can't use the VSTs :(
It's cool that it comes with those 2 grey flat screens
👍💯👍
Thanks Loopop. Great review as usual!
Maybe it's an interesting addon for a Monologue or a Minilogue OG but... does it have a patch memory (accessible via ProgramChange)? 🤔
Thanks! No patch memory
@@loopop Oh. That's a little disappointing, but I guess it is only $100 and the size of a Raspberry Pi.
You can't even save a patch to pc?! That could be a deal breaker for me I'd rather pain. $110 and be able to send patches back and forth to a computer
That is what it is currently
12:25 "It's easy to get carried away here..." I just received my NTS-1, looking forward to getting lost in this little gem 😎 That being said, I did not order a DIN->TRS-MIDI-Cable #ouch
Anyways, THANKS for this informative video!
What oscilloscope vst do you use? That's very accurate
Wondering the same =o
Me too!
It looks familiar, but I'm uncertain as to what from.
Could it be a Melda plugin?
Yes scopes by Melda - just saw this now...