KORG NUTEKT NTS-1: Full review // Here's everything it can do
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- Breaking news! Check out my Phase Looping plugin for the NTS-1 and logue platform here!
► bit.ly/PhaseLoopop
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► NTS-1 on Amazon: amzn.to/2FpaSCV
► NTS-1 on Thomann: bit.ly/NTS-1-Thomann
► You'll need a TRS-A type MIDI adapter for this: amzn.to/2K8NgVd
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TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Building NTS-1
1:10 Hardware overview
3:40 Oscillator
6:00 Osc parameters
7:10 Filters
8:15 Env generator
9:45 Mod effects
10:35 Delays
11:20 Reverbs
12:30 Arpeggiator
14:25 Audio in
15:20 Pros & cons
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NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
Breaking news! Check out my Phase Looping plugin for the NTS-1 and logue platform here! bit.ly/PhaseLoopop
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!
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!!
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.
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.
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:
czcams.com/video/gJTBsC1AAsI/video.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...
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.
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.
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
Thank you for a very clear demonstration and explanation of this unit - one of the best reviews I've seen on CZcams.
Great vid! I love the Keystep in black! ❤️️
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.
felt well educated with the live graphs to the sounds, thank you
I ve been waiting this for my volca set... Thanks for the detailed work man!
It's a beautiful thing when a CZcams video actually inspires musical creativity. And your videos do...fairly often! Thank you!
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 ...
When I heard the effects on the MinilogueXD I was sold, then found out there wasn't and audio input....now I can get those same effects in my mixer with stereo returns from this little device...for $100.00. I'm Sold. The synth is just a beautiful bonus. Korg does it again.
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.
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!
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!!!
How does Loopop NOT have a million subs yet? Always informative and to the point.
it makes no sense, right?
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.
Want... it.... immediately! Thanks for this awesome review!
Best synth reviews out there...
The gateway to the custom oscillator. It will be hard to resist.
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 🤓
just got a NTS-1 and your vid was invaluable!
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.
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 CZcams 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
You’re reviews are the best! Thank you...
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.
11:20 Oh my! I need this!
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
Completely impressed! This little sucker gets down to the very basics of all of it's waveshapes! Everyone can have fun from there!!!
From Hydra to NUTEKT in one day. it will be a NTS-1 for me. 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
A friend just bought me this- thanks for getting me excited about learning how the hell to use it 😅
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.!
Wow! The Reverb on that thing is EPIC! Wow!
That's a lot of synth for the money.
Like the Pocket Operators... only, incredible sound!
Wow very cool little synth! Thanks for video!
Well done review of a very interesting product! 👏
I usually don't post on youtube but 2 videos in a day?!?!?!? The blessings are real!
Thanks! Tomorrow will be slightly crazier
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.
Aw cool. I got this piece recommended to start experimenting with live setups. Seems like a great starting point.
I've been watching your video's for some time now and finally subbed to your channel! Cheers..
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)
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!
Great review as always.
Thanks for this review!
Can't wait till someone makes the inevitable Eurorack conversion kit ;)
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
Great review. Thank you.
great review as usual
12:00 Please do a full set off that!
great features on a tiny box
Hi and thanks for the review, it was very well done!
W O W. I love this little thing. thanks for the great review!
Great ... only in it for the FX TBBH. So Korg kills it with a 'Strymon Blue Sky' for 99 quid, cheers! 😎🎶🎹👍
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
Totally digging the virtual hologram screen!
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!
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.
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!
Excellent as usual! 😎👍🏼
The coolest cheap synth/fx.
Thank you korg.😊
How the hell is this tiny thing so awesome! Korgs little synths are amazing!
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.
Really worth it just for the effects! Awesome.
Semitotal I agree 100%!
Excellent review , thank you I had to buy one after watching it! This thing is unreal, so much better than I anticipated. Really deep and versatile, my new favourite synth. Until I buy the Minilogue XD, that is...
12:10 Had me.
BlaBlog101 exact moment I decided
aliens landed right there
"its easy to get carried away here"
😂👌
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 👍
I think it's really cool you have to build it ! Dope :)
For a moment I thought you were going to play Pop Corn :)
When they make one for VJ's, it'll be the NTS C ; - )
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
Excellent - as always... Thanks!
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
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 :(
This was super helpful. Thanks!
Awesome that looks easy to build.
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.
And now we can contact the alien space ship with such a small device.
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
what a great travel box , pair it wit the DT or OT and you are good to go, anywhere
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.
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.
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!)
This upstream of a Kastle 1.5 is freaking awesome.
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.
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. 😂😂😂
Minor chord arps and filter sweeps.... that is BLISS! ;)
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 :)
Please
tell korg to make a new Kaoss pad with all this on on it. THAT. would be really cool .
Yes!!
For some reason after 10 minutes this suddenly became a Tron: Legacy soundtrack simulator
This will be a fantastic addition to the XD to add in an additional oscillator
This is insane. Might get it for a project to do with my daughters.