Korg NTS-1

It’s a special synth. Within a tiny box I obtained many things I couldn’t be able to get out of a bigger one. I mostly use it in arpeggiation mode as the ribbon keyboard is not really responsive and sensitive (for playing notes and some melodies) and you may find yourself pressing many times the same key before a sound comes out. I don’t have an external MIDI controller for it, and I prefer the way it is, really really little space occupied for great features. The arpeggiation mode is truly complex and the best of the synth comes out when you explore it deeply.

Furthermore, the effects are amazing. All of them, but I do love the reverb ones, my favourite is the submarine and it’s marvellous.
Delays are sick as well; I love the ping pong.

I found 2 cons:
- it’s digital, but of course we wouldn’t get as many things if it wasn’t
- ribbon keyboard isn’t quite responsive (pity).
the pros may be:
- high quality effects
- many waveforms, many sounds
- complex arpeggiator
- possibility to download other effects and sounds from internet
- very, very small for what it offers

Lastly, for me it's worth the price.

- I'm a guitarist and this was my first synth.
- I'm always looking for low budget stuff with great value.
- I have a MIDI keyboard to control the NTS-1.

This synth was a revelation. It was also my introduction to synths in general. At the time of review It's 6+ months since I bought it.

You can get a wide range of different sounds. I don't think of monophonic as a downside.

This box has a very good and versatile Arpeggiator - you can set number of notes, scale in which it plays, type of note change UP,Down,Cont,Random etc. You can really get great lines just by using the arpeggiator.

This box has a very good effects processor. Oh my ... this is a whole different story altogether. There are separate MOD, Delay and Reverb modules and you can run all 3 together. The effects are really good and usable, some combinations sound great together. Like Chorus + Space reverb = instant blade runner :). I would like to mention the "riser" reverb which makes this box capable of making ambient pads and continuous noises - it's not easy to do but work with it - ensemble mod + riser reverb + arpegiattor + VCO cutoff and resonance really low.
The effects can also be used by another device! Just plug another synth in the NTS-1 input and add NTS-1 effects to your other synth. The great thing about this is that you can still play NTS-1 even if you have another synth patched through. So the NTS-1 can process effects for another synth and also adds the same effects to its own notes and you can still play its keyboard (or play it with a MIDI controller). This makes it a companion synth and FX box for any instrument - even guitar!.
And this pairs exceptionally well with Volca Bass.

Downsides. Well for me there are no downsides. There are compromises.
Compromises:
- There is a limited amount of knobs so every control shares a knob with other controls. I learned the controls pretty fast and I would say the combinations are intuitive. When you set one control with the knob and change to another control the knob remains in the same spot so the other control will jump to the value that the knob is physically set to. This means you will change the value of the control each time you switch back to it. This also means that you won't be able to have the controls at the exact place you had them before and every setting you make will be unique. This leads to the next point..
- Settings can't be saved.
- The display is small. Once you get used to it it's enough. It only has 3 (or 4?) characters. It would be nice if every control would have a number from 1-100 displayed when you turn the knob. This way you could write down the exact position for all settings.
- The volume knob is a joke. It's just a small wheel on the side and I think it's linear. You can only set volume roughly. It's hard to balance volume. If you have another synth plugged into it this small wheel becomes your main volume.
- There is some noise always present

The knobs are good and work well.
The keyboard is ok but it's hard to hit the right key and be consistent at it. Sometimes you don't press well enough and it doesn't engage. I use a pencil with a rubber eraser to press the keys. I recommend a MIDI controller. You will need a 3.5 trs to MIDI cable and it has to be Type A cable. Look up on youtube for connection instructions.

Everything works after 6 months and I use it a lot. I don't carry it around and I have it on a board together with other mini synths.

I recommend using a power bank to power it. Make a board with the NTS-1 and a power bank. I also have a mini stereo mixer with 4 inputs and a Volca Bass and Volca Sample. This setup rocks.

At first view the NTS-1 looks like a monotron, but really in terms of capabilities it's more like a Volca except with many more features!

The stock sounds and effects are already really good and the fact that you can run external audio in and use it as a tiny effects box is just fantastic.

Even though programming your own custom oscillators is not trivial this is really a nice feature. There are already quite some 3rd party vendors selling unique modules for this.

One of the earlier grievances was the automatic power-off after not touching any buttons (which would happen often when using it only for effects), but this has since been made optional in a firmware update.

The only downside I see for it at this point is the lack of sending chords to the arpeggiator. Currently it only responds to single notes, but it would be great if in the future we could send it chords and it will cycle over those.

Overall a fantastic little synth and effects processor in a tiny package for a small price!

Nts-1 is so powerful, the building process is quite easy, 30 minutes to make your synth😁. After that, do not think that this little machine has a little sound. There are different folders to set so many parameters, as lfo, filter, delay, reverb. There is an audio input, so you can apply effect ( I often use it with my Microfreak 😍).
You can find different osclitators emulations online, like Roland j-6, 808, volca bass, you also can download so many different effects like distortion, beat repeat...
I will always keep this one in my studio, why not two or three, because the price is so ridiculous in front of its power!!!

While the NTS-1 is indeed limited due to its monophonic nature, the amount of features this little beast has is amazing! The oscillators are what you expect from the Monologue's engine, the filters are really fun to play around with, and the on-board effects just make the whole thing sound even better! That + all the other features such as ADSR, LFO, Aux in and so on just make this synth so worth it for the price. Definitely recommend it!

NOTE: While it is possible to apply the FX of the NTS-1 to external sounds, it is not possible to use it as a "send" module - meaning, whatever audio you will input and process through it, it will always export the Dry + Wet signals (at least to my knowledge!). This means, if you're using the NTS-1 as an aux effect on a mixer, you will get the dry signal from the mixer, the wet signal AND the dry signal again from the NTS-1, so beware!

I recently purchased the Korg NTS-1 from Thomann, and it has exceeded my expectations. Here's why I highly recommend it:

Pros:

Build & Assembly: The DIY assembly process is simple and fun, making it a great introduction to synthesis. The components are well-made, and the final product feels sturdy for its size.
Sound Engine: The digital oscillator delivers high-quality sounds, and the compatibility with Korg's logue-SDK means you can load third-party oscillators and effects to expand its versatility.
Effects: The onboard modulation, delay, and reverb effects are surprisingly lush and rival those on much pricier gear. Perfect for sound design and live tweaking.
Portability: Powered by USB, it's lightweight and compact, making it an excellent travel companion for quick sound creation sessions.
Integration: It works seamlessly as a MIDI device and can process external audio through its effects, which is a bonus for live setups or studio use.
Cons:

Tiny Controls: The knobs are quite small, which might be tricky for larger hands during detailed adjustments.
Mono Output: A stereo output option would have been a fantastic addition, especially for the excellent onboard effects.
Verdict:
The Korg NTS-1 is a fantastic piece of gear for both beginners and experienced synth enthusiasts. At this price point, it’s hard to find something as feature-packed and enjoyable to use. Thomann delivered it promptly and well-packaged as always. Highly recommended!

ik heb hem al enkele jaren en gebruik hem eigenlijk nog het meest voor de delay/reverb effecten aangesloten op mijn Electron cycles en mijn gitaren, maar betreft Synth capaciteit is dit toch ook wel een beest. Het enige nadeel is dat er geen geheugen op zit en je dus zelden je sound terug kunt repliceren. Maar dat kan je oplossen door oefening en opschrijven welke stappen je genomen hebt. Alleen ja ik heb daar het geduld niet voor, dus als ik een goede sound heb dan sample ik die meteen. Het enige wat me wel stoort is dat het toestel vanzelf uitschakelt na een bepaalde tijd zonder signaal binnen te krijgen en dan kan je weer helemaal opnieuw beginnen. Maar hey het kost ook amper iets he.