KORG Nu:Tekt NTS-1 Digital DIY Synthesizer

Pros: - This was fun to assemble and easy to use. - It created amazing effects on the instruments I ran through it. Multiple reverb, delay, and chorus options. I ran a guitar signal through the reverb, making it essentially an affordable pedal option. - The synth sounds are surprisingly good, especially with some tweaking and internal effects added. Cons: - This does not have a standard MIDI-in — it's a 3.5mm MIDI-in. So you can operate the synth sounds from another device, but you'll likely need to pay an extra $20 or so for the adapter. - There is no MIDI out, which was a bummer because I was hoping to use it as an arpeggiator for my devices that do not have built in arps. - Speaking strictly for myself (since I have not heard this from anyone else), I returned mine after just one day because the stereo signal stopped working. It seemed to send 2 signals out at first, and then it started sending a single signal out. I checked the cables to make sure that wasn't the problem. And I had been treating this very, very carefully. No drops or dings. Final Verdict: On the surface this is a great item for the price, but it broke down on me quickly. I recommend shelling out a little extra for a more solidly built synth and/or effects unit, depending on what you're buying it for.

This is basically the digital oscillator and effects component from the MinilogueXD and Prologue. At this street price, it's a no-brainer to add one to almost any music rig. This is a very affordable way to take advantage of the Korg 'logue SDK and the growing ecosystem of useful oscillators and stereo effects. There is already a big selection of free and paid plugins to easily install over a USB connection. It does require some basic assembly, but don't let that scare you away. You can easily get up to speed and find a sweet spot in your setup. With the latest 1.10 firmware, makers can further create custom control panels and add microcontroller-based features of their own design. Note that the build is a little flimsy. Use care plugging and unplugging jacks as the surface mount connections may not hold up to repeated abuse.

Great sounds for production.

Putting it together was fun. It took about 30-45 minutes while drinking beer and watching a movie. The design is great, from assembly, to sound design, to hack-ability. The sound is awesome stock and you can download new sounds or code your own! If you're fancy, you can make your own panels. This thing is like a really well designed Arduino made especially for musical synthesis.