NAMM 2024: KORG Nu:tekt NTS-1 MkII and NTS-3 kaoss pad

Posted on January 29, 2024 by pj

KORG NTS-1 MkII

If you’re like me, you don’t have time to watch a zillion product videos in order to learn even the most basic information about a shiny object. Here’s a quick take on the new KORG NTS-1 MkII programmable synthesizer kit. Check out my first look at the NTS-1 Mk1, too.

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…

NAMM 2024: KORG-fest

Posted on January 19, 2024 by pj

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?”

Missing the NTS-2 oscilloscope? Look here.

Apologies

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! 🙂

NAMM 2023: Korg want to sell you (a) kit

Posted on February 27, 2023 by pj

Korg have announced the ARP ODYSSEY FS synthesizer kit.

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.

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.

I hope the ODYSSEY FS kit is not a ghost. Where is the NTS-2, Korg?

NAMM 2023: Korg HD-S and TR-S Nu:tekt

Posted on January 27, 2023 by pj

Korg Nu:Tekt have two new offerings:

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.

I do have a bone to pick with Korg. Where is the Korg Nu:tekt NTS-2+ synth/oscilloscope combo? It’s still on pre-order. The heck, Korg? Tick-tock.

Superbooth 2019

Posted on May 10, 2019 by pj

Most of my days are now spent prep’ing our house for sale and an eventual move. If you’ve been there before, you know quite well why my blog posts have become infrequent!

Rest assured, my eyes are still gazing at new music technology and, especially, the gizmos announced at Superbooth 2019.

Korg’s recent announcements caught my attention. You’ve no doubt heard about the Korg Minilogue xD module and the Korg Volca nubass vacuum tube synthesizer. The xD module and the nubass will hit the streets at $549.99 USD and $199.99, respectively. The Minilogue xD module looks pretty sweet and gets around the issue of mini-keys.

The other little gem slips out from Japan. Korg have a line of do-it-yourself kits: Nu:Tekt. (I wonder what search engines will do with that punctuation.) The line already includes headphone amplifier (HA-KIT) and nutube overdrive kit (OD-KIT). Soon, there will be a digital synthesizer kit! From the pictures, it will have a 3.5mm MIDI IN, SYNC IN, SYNC OUT and AUDIO IN.

This kit looks like a heck of lot of fun!

Back to the grind. Unfortunately, the lab is packed up, so hands-on electronic investigations will have to wait.

Sand, software and sound

Electronics and computing for the fun of it

Tag Archives: Korg nu:tekt