Let’s get the price out of the way, first. The MkII is $170, up from the Mk1’s $100 USD MAP. That’s a modest increase, but we better get something for the extra 70 bucks!
KORG upped the processor to an ST Microelectronics STM32H725IET6: ARM® Cortex®-M7 STM32H7 Microcontroller IC 32-Bit 550MHz 512KB (512K x 8) FLASH 176-LQFP. The original MkI uses an ST Microelectronics STM32F446ZET6, which is an ARM® Cortex®-M4 STM32F4 Microcontroller IC 32-Bit Single-Core 180MHz 512KB (512K x 8) FLASH 144-LQFP. The main difference is M7 vs. M4 and the higher CPU clock speed. Nice.
The downside: logue SDK MkII is not backward compatible to MkI NTS-1. The MkII SDK is reported to have new capabilities, but no one has seen the spec.
Below is a quick list of new features and enhancements:
8 step sequencer
Arpeggiator with different chord scales
A new noise oscillator
USB-C and MIDI IN/OUT (TRS-A dongle)
Keyboard is multitouch and sends chords through MIDI OUT
Controls send MIDI CC through MIDI OUT
KORG Kontrol Editor support (librarian)
New effects: Soft Clip, Hard Clip, Fuzz, One Repeat Delay, Smooth reverb, Arena, Room, Early reflections, Horror
Tempo sync delay options
External audio can be used as a modulator
Built-in mini speaker
That’s worth the extra $70, I’d say. KORG have invested time and money on the logue SDK — a worthy trend — and that needs to be rolled into the asking price.
I thought about blowing off the NTS-1 MkII. Now I’m not so sure! The MkII has a number of useful refinements and I especially like the MIDI OUT capabilities.
KORG NTS-3 kaoss pad kit
The KORG NTS-3 really caught my attention as I always wished I had a kaoss pad!
Unfortunately, detailed information is sketchy at this stage. KORG claim four effect slots and deep editing. Features include:
XY pad (duh!)
FX depth touch slider/strip
Tap BPM and tempo sync
Filter, modulation, delay, reverb, lo-fi and mastering effects
3 oscillator “effects”
200 Performance program slots (100 preloaded, 100 user)
Dedicated librarian app (coming soon)
Sync IN/OUT re-assignable to MIDI IN/OUT
TRS-A MIDI convention
USB-C communication and power
KORG music software bundle
Guessing, the NTS-3 will probably require the MkII logueSDK. Judging from the KORG NTS-3 assembly video, the NTS-3 uses the same higher-spec STM32H725IET6 ARM processor.
Same $170 USD MAP asking price and same pre-order status as the NTS-1 MkII. KORG have sent out NTS-1 demo units, but no NTS-3 joy yet. Might have to wait a while for this one…
Unless you’ve been stuck in a snowdrift with no cell service, KORG have dropped a truckload of products in last few days. KORG have heard the call for “modules” and have announced:
These aren’t baby modules — full 19″ rack-mount, MIDI 2.0 Property Exchange and Polyphonic Aftertouch (PAT) support. If you don’t want to rack and stack, then prop them up on their ears. No tiny knobs for mouse-sized paws.
Buy all three for $2,100 USD MAP (includes a Gator Frameworks 12U metal desktop rack).
More so, my pulse is racing for new KORG Nu:Tekt offerings:
I’m happy that KORG continues to improve and expand the Nu:Tekt product line.
The NTS-1 MKII updates the original NTS-1 adding an 8-step sequencer and an improved 18-key, multi-touch keyboard. The original’s keys are mouse-sized and sensing is ribbon-based, so a better keyboard is much obliged. KORG have also moved up to USB-C. The synth engine is still logue-compatible mono.
I use my NTS-1 as a sound mangling effects box. Thus, I’m super-excited to see the NTS-3 DIY KAOSS Pad. And, it’s very reasonably priced! This one is a no-brainer, impulse purchase. Of course, both of the new NTS models are available for pre-order now. Hope they roll out faster than the NTS-2.
The NTS-3 has four effects slots. KORG are providing a logueSDK API for the NTS-3. The SYNC port can be switched to MIDI, which makes me wonder, “Can I craft MIDI mangling plug-ins, too?”
Sorry that I’m not issuing as much NAMM content as I did last year. A bunch of physical ailments have conspired to knock the tar out of me. Low energy has reduced my production efforts to playing the same loop over and over, again, while wondering, “Why do that sound like arse?” Take care of you health, including your teeth! 🙂
I’m happy to make a first report about the Korg NTS-2 Oscilloscope kit. The NTS-2 is bundled with the book “PATCH & TWEAK with KORG”, by Kim Bjorn. Whatever the reason for the delay, it took Korg several months to deliver after the NTS-2 was first announced. Fortunately, the bundle finally hit my doorstep. 🙂
Korg NTS-2: The box bundle
The NTS-2 kit and book are a fairly hefty package, mainly due to the weight of the enclosed book. The book looks, feels and weighs like a “coffee table” book. Tain’t light.
Korg NTS-2 Book and kit
The NTS-2 kit itself is packed in an unmarked white box. All the components are lovingly protected by bubble wrap. In addition to the printed circuit boards (PCB), you get the now-familiar corner and side pieces, hardware, USB Type-C cable, a way-too-short 3.5mm stereo cable and two acrylic stand pieces.
Printed circuit boards
The Nu:tekt manufacturing concept is rather clever. Korg design and manufacture one (or more) large-ish, break-apart PCBs for each kit. The PCBs are loaded with surface mount (SMT) components and other random stuff like the display and battery holder. No soldering is required. Thus, one gets all of the benefit of SMT without the grief of soldering components made for mice. [My old hands and developing cataracts can barely handle work at this fine level.]
Korg NTS-2 main electronics board
The main board consists of four subboards to be broken apart.
Korg NTS-2 screen and interface board
The color display (240×320 pixel 2.8″ LCD) is mounted on the flip-side of the main board. A second fully-assembled PCB has the jacks, ON/OFF switch and other gizmos needed for interfacing. The interface board plugs into the main board.
Korg NTS-2 main board detail (the money shot)
The image above is a close-up picture of the main electronics, including the ARM processor. Thank you, Korg, for wave-soldering this!
Assembly
The NTS-2 follows the pattern established by the rest of the Nu:tekt product line. The NTS-2 arrives disassembled and you do the work of putting the major components together. The kit includes assembly instructions, and “1, 2, you know what to do.” [Apologies to Junior Wells.]
The kit includes the cutest little screwdriver I’ve ever seen. Keep the screwdriver and use it to repair your eyeglasses. Yep, the kit screws are freaking small.
Korg NTS-2 bottom assembly
The image above shows the bottom assembly. You can see how the metal corner and side pieces tie everything together. Note the orientation of the interface board. Getting the orientation right is the only step that requires any real thought. Don’t forget to connect the battery lead to the interface board.
Korg NTS-2 top assembly
Screws secure the main board, AKA “the top”, onto the metal corners — after you’ve plugged the interface and main boards together, of course.
Assembly time is roughly the length of the Skye & Ross album (one hour). Overall, it was a fairly pleasant way to spend the morning, including coffee.
PATCH & TWEAK
The PATCH & TWEAK with KORG book fits the cliche, “richly illustrated.” If you want to know about synths — KORG synths, in particular — this is a fantastic book.
If you want to learn how to operate the NTS-2, not so much. The book has a few basics, however you must download the NTS-2 Owner’s Manual from the Korg web site to get the real dope. The Owner’s Manual (4 pages) isn’t much to look at although it does list the basic control parameters for each of the four operating modes:
The NTS-2 operates on either USB power or two AAA batteries. I put in two AAA batteries, hit the switch, and no smoke. 🙂 No idea about real-world battery life at this point.
The user interface is menu-driven and is a lot easier to understand than my old Gabotronics oscilloscope. The front panel buttons line up with the on-screen menus. Simply press the appropriate button to rotate (navigate) through the menu items.
I wanted to see what happens if I just put a (mono) audio signal into the NTS-2 without any set-up or prep. This seems like the most typical first use scenario. I’ll bet the NTS-2 was inspired by the Korg Minilogue scope; people love to watch signals dance around.
First, you need to know that the INPUT and signal THRU jacks are stereo and the OUTPUT jacks are mono. I connected the NTS-2 INPUT to the MONO out from Yamaha MODX, selected an organ patch and taped down a key to form a simple tone generator. 🙂 Select SCOPE mode and press VERTICAL to select Input 1L.
And, flat line. What the? Well, out of the box, the vertical voltage range is set too high, 10 volts. The MODX is line out (approximately 1V max). Turn the parameter knob and change the vertical range to 0.1V. (The current range is shown in the status bar at the top of the display.) Now, we got picture!
Korg NTS-2 first signal and no smoke!
Thanks to the simple NTS-2 menu system, I had fun playing with the function generator, too. I did have trouble grokking the FFT spectrum analyzer and need to revisit FFT mode after reading up.
I’m quite pleased with the NTS-2 and it should handle audio and control voltage analysis, no prob. I don’t know what to expect when analyzing high speed digital signals. The old Gabotronics does OK with digital and it has a logic analyzer capability which the NTS-2 does not. I use the Gabotronics with its Windows app because the Gab is absolutely horrible as a stand-alone scope. The NTS-2, on the other hand, does not have a personal computer-based app (at least not yet).
Thus, if you intend to do a lot of digital troubleshooting, you may want to consider one of the many inexpensive bench oscilloscopes that have popped up in recent years. If you want to do audio only and want easy fun, try the NTS-2.
In case you’re Rip van Winkle, the ARP ODYSSEY is a classic 2-VCO duophonic synthesizer played by the greats like Herbie Hancock. Korg have been manufacturing and selling the ARP ODYSSEY Full Size (FS) and will now offer the FS as a kit.
The Korg ODYSSEY FS has all of the ARP basics: 2 VCOs, sync, sample and hold, pulse width modulation, high-pass filter, two envelope generators and proportional pitch control (PPC), which was ARP’s take on modulation control. Korg extends the original spec covering all three generations of VCF circuitry: Rev1 12 dB/octave, Rev2 24 dB/octave and Rev3 resonance stable filter.
Korg ARP ODYSSEY FS synthesizer kit
Like other Korg kits, the ODYSSEY FS requires assembly, but no soldering. Judging from the picture, assembly will be more involved than the NTS-1, for example, due to the number of components and printed circuit boards. It does look manageable, however.
Korg also kick in a bundle of music software. European prices are £1,699 and €1,889 recommended retail price (RRP). I’m still waiting for official USA pricing. Update: And that will be $1,800 USD street. Ouch.
The Harmonic Distortion kit was developed by Fumio Mieda. It consists of three different distortion circuits which can be combined “to create harmonic modulation that goes beyond the traditional concept of distortion.” So, there.
Korg Nu:tekt HD-S and TR-S distortion pedal kits
The Power Tube Reactor purports to “deliver the responsiveness, the feel, of a vacuum tube guitar amp.” The TR-S is Nutube-based and it simulates the sag of a vacuum tube power amp. This achieves a natural-sounding compression effect (or so claim Korg). I’d like to try this one with keys.
Don’t forget the Nu:Tekt OD-S Nutube Overdrive kit. All three pedals are housed in a sturdy chassis and expect to be under foot. Don’t do that with your NTS-1.
Like other Nu:Tekt kits, no soldering is required, just assembly. My NTS-1 synth was easy to assemble and is still going strong.
I haven’t found any USA price information as yet. The available OD-S sells for $300USD street ($420USD MSRP). I expect similar pricing for the HD-S and TR-S kits. UK sites are saying 200GBP.
Roland’s new Aira Compact modules are a license to print money. Korg have successfully mined the low-cost, small module field with its Volca series. Now Roland have joined the fun. (“Aira” is pronounced “eye-ra”. OK.) These suckers are tiny!
Roland Aira Compact: T-8, J-6, E-4
There are three initial modules in the range:
T-8 Beat Machine
J-6 Chord Synthesizer
E-4 Voice Tweaker
I recommend Roland’s overview video. All of the modules have a built-in Li-ion battery (4.5 hour estimated operational time) charged via the micro-USB port. Throw in MIDI and SYNC, too, through mini-jacks.
Roland are smart to capitalize on their reputation in drum machines. The T-8 is a seven track machine: six rhythm tracks plus a TB-303 bass track.
The J-6 has a host of in-built chords and chord patterns organized into “Genres.” The interface seems to be well-thought out, especially for those less interested in theory and actually jamming black and whites. The J-6 has a 4-voice Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) Juno-60 synth engine. The J-6 can be played from an external controller.
The E-4 Voice Tweaker is designed for voice mangling, but one should be able to run either signals into it, too.
The modules are hitting the street at $200 each. Somehow these kinds of modules find a way onto the studio. Almost by themselves…
Korg
As cute and colorful as the Rolands may be, The new Korg NTS-2 is at the top of my short-list.
The Korg NTS-2 joins the NTS-1 mono synth in the Nu:Tekt product line. The NTS-2 is an attractive looking four channel oscilloscope. Punters are complaining about the price — $230 USD — but the this is a nicely featured oscilloscope plus tuner, plus FFT, plus spectrum analyzer. The NTS-2 has dual waveform generators which can act as add-on synth oscillators or LFOs. There’s some real development cost behind this thang.
Korg NTS-2 Oscilloscope
In terms of function, screen size and build quality, it beats my Gabotronics Xminilab Portable. The NTS-2 has a larger color screen and five soft function buttons. I’ve never been very successful with the Gabotronics as a stand-alone test instrument, so I’m hoping for better out of the NTS-2.
Unlike the NTS-1, the NTS-2 OSC can run on two AAA batteries (estimated two hours of operational time).
The NTS-2 will be bundled with a book: “Patch & Tweak With Korg” by Kim Bjørn (BJOOKS). The bundle is stamped “Limited Edition,” so Korg may eventually release NTS-2 on its own. Other books in the Patch & Tweak series cost about $45 USD. Maybe the NTS-2 alone will run $180?
Another consideration is test leads and probes. Korg assume the NTS-2 will be connected into your rig with patch cables. Korg do not mention probes, so if you need in-circuit measurements, you’re on your own. (Minor bummer.)
If you have watched the Korg video assembly instructions, you know that there isn’t much to the actual assembly process. The printed circuit boards (PCBs) are fully populated, tested and ready to go. All you need to do is to break the boards down, to stick on and connect the ribbon controller, and to insert and tighten a few screws.
Assembled Korg NTS-1 Digital Synthesizer Kit
Overall, the assembly process took about 40 minutes. I kept an iPad with the assembly instructions nearby, pausing the video at the end of each major step. Assembly was easy and if a small modest amount of labor keeps the kit cost low, I’m all for it!
Here’s a few short comments.
Breaking the boards apart was the step that I feared most. One needs to be firm when snapping boards apart at the seems, but no major issues with flex. Be bold!
Those silver screws are tiny!
Inserting the ribbon controller cable was the biggest issue. The locking tabs were closed and I didn’t suss the direction in which they slide. (They slide in the same direction as the cable, not perpendicular to it.) Thus, I used needle nose pliers to insert the ribbon cable, using more force than necessary.
Keep the tiny screwdriver. You may need to fix your eyeglasses some day. 🙂
Once everything was assembled, I rushed upstairs and connected the NTS-1 to the Yamaha SHS-500 Sonogenic. When I bought the NTS-1 from Sweetwater, their site recommended the Make Noise O-Coast 5-pin to 3.5mm TRS adapter cable as an add-on accessory. Fortunately, I went for it and didn’t have to search through storage bins looking for an appropriate adapter. The MIDI cabling looks baroque with a 5-pin MIDI adapter on each end.
Sonogenic to NTS-1 over 5-pin MIDI
The wiring rat’s nest makes me wish for a wireless solution. Someone needs to invent a Bluetooth MIDI board that 1. plugs into a USB-B device connector and 2. connects to an advertising Bluetooth MIDI peripheral. With the current state of things, most (all?) devices act as a peripheral, assuming that they will connect to a central tablet-based application. Currently, there isn’t a general way to replace a 5-pin cable with a Bluetooth MIDI link (i.e., you can’t connect a keyboard to a keyboard!)
It’s ugly, but everything worked! The NTS-1 is a single oscillator, monophonic synthesizer. Its user interface is easy to navigate. I soon had the classic Chameleon synth bass dialed in. The single oscillator by itself sounds a little bit thin, but the Ensemble effect is a good thickener.
The filter is decent, especially the 4-pole low pass filter (LPF). It isn’t difficult to push the filter hard into ringing self-oscillation. It truly is a shame that the external audio input bypasses the filter. I would love to put the Sonogenic’s signal through the filter.
Korg NTS-1 signal flow
My final experiment for the day involved connecting the NTS-1 to my iPad Air 3. Immediately, I got the dreaded:
Cannot use assessory. NTS-1 digital kit: This accessory requires too much power.
Oddly, the iPad Air 3 continued to power the NTS-1, just killing data communication. The NTS-1 specifications claim 500mA or less power consumption. So, what the what, Apple?
I was hoping to unlock a few more instruments in Korg Module. I guess that experiment will wait for another day.
Just received the Korg NTS-1 Digital Synthesizer kit. Here’s the first pictures including a close-up look at the main logic board.
Korg NTS-1 kit
The kit arrives in a plain grey box with simple line graphics.
Inside the box, you’ll find the circuit boards to be broken apart and assembled, the ribbon strip, the corner brackets (spacers) and a short USB cable. There’s a short manual, a link to assembly instructions and the download code for the Korg software bundle. Sorry, you’ll have to buy your own kit to get a bundle code. 🙂
Korg NTS-1 kit contents
The NTS-1 hardware and Korg software bundle are well-worth the purchase price ($100 USD).
Korg NTS-1 front panel (pre-assembly)
We’ve all seen snaps of the front panel. This is a close-up. BTW, click on images in order to get full-res.
Korg NTS-1 front panel (rear view)
Yep, that’s an ST Micro STM32F030 (R8 LQFP-64, 64KB flash memory) on the back side of the front panel board. It’s an Arm® Cortex®-M0 core with a 12-bit ADC and other integrated peripheral interfaces. No doubt, it handles pot and button scanning, including the kit’s little ribbon control strip. The STM32F030 is part of ST’s “Value Line” and costs about $1.00 USD in quantity.
Korg NTS-1 main logic board
Ah, the money shot that we’ve all been waiting for. The main VLSI components are:
ST Micro STM32F446ZET6: Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit RISC featuring a single precision floating point unit (FPU), DSP instructions and a memory protection unit (about $5.00 in quantity) . The IC is a “system on a chip” with integrated flash memory and SRAM. Three low resolution ADCs and two low resolution DACs are included.
Integrated Silicon Solution Inc. (ISSI) IS42S16400J-6TL: 4Mx16 bit word 166MHz SDRAM (about $1.10 in quantity).
That’s a 24MHz crystal by the ARM processor. I haven’t done the maths, as yet, to compute the operational clock speed. Should be near the top-end for the chip, tho’.
There are two Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) components:
AK 5358BET: 96kHz 24-bit stereo ADC (about $0.52 in quantity)
AK 4384ET: 106dB 192kHz 24-bit 2-channel DAC (about $0.63 in quantity)
Nice to see decent quality converters. Not high-end, but decent. Overall, it’s rarily about the component cost anymore — software and hardware development costs dominate.
The Texas Instruments TPA6138 is a pop-free stereo headphone amplifier.
As David sang, “If you want it, boys, get it here, thing.” Technology uncut.
