NAMM 2024: Korg’s first Nu:Tekt synth, the NTS-1, was an unexpected treat. A ‘build-it-yourself’ instrument with a single monophonic digital oscillator and the ability to host custom ‘Logue ones, it also sported a multimode filter, envelope generator, three LFOs and an arpeggiator, with the addition of an audio input meaning that it could be used as a handy effects processor, too.
On the downside, the built-in ribbon keyboard wasn’t particularly playable, but this is one of the issues that’s been addressed in the mkII model, which has just been announced. This offers an 18-key multitouch keyboard that’s capable of “polyphonic MIDI messaging”, and immediately looks less fiddly and more fun.
