The new ISOGRID kit turns your Korg NTS-1 into a super powerful Eurorack stereo synth and multi-fx processor with swappable algorithms
With the NTS-1, Korg has one of the most innovative and powerful mini synthesizers on the market. What they did back then with the Monotrons in analog, now in digital. The strength of the NTS-1 is the price of 99€ and the uber flexible internal engine. On paper, it’s a single oscillator synth with a filter, envelope… and three FX slots.
The innovative thing is the internal engine. The users can swap the oscillator as well as the effects algorithms and replace them with new ones. For this, Korg has created the SDK multi-engine platform where you can download for free or purchase new algorithms from third-party developers such as Sinevibes.
Thanks to its audio input, the NTS-1 can also be used as a stereo effect processor. In many setups, you can see the NTS-1 as a synth but also as an effect pedal replacement.
A developer called ISOGRID goes one step further and has developed a kit with which you can bring the NTS-1 power into your Eurorack system.
Eurorack Kit For Korg NTS-1
The Korg NTS-1 Eurorack conversion kit transforms your NTS-1 into a 26HP 3U module. According to the developer, the conversion is straightforward and requires no soldering. So also perfect for my two left hands. You have just to connect the TRS cables, that’s all. It follows the plug & play principle.
The module gives you dedicated stereo inputs and outputs on Eurorack mono jacks, sync in/out + MIDI in from the original hardware, and on top a new 1-to-3 passive multiple. Then, it also comes with a custom noise isolator and a power supply. Very important because the NTS-1 is very susceptible to noise.
You also have full access to all previous features of the NTS-1, including the display, the touch keyboard, the buttons for the menu operation, and three knobs.
On the back, you can see that the whole thing is not witchcraft. Everything is connected with simple TRS cables. The most important thing is that it fits, is not noisy, and works.
ISOGRID says that the faceplate is crafted from durable 1.6mm FR-4 PCB material. With this kit, you can use the NTS-1 as a complete synth voice, and multi-fx. A bit more cumbersome as a synth voice because you have to work with MIDI. CV/Gate is not included. But I can very well imagine the NTS-1 in the rack as a powerful multi-FX processor. Just having the Sinevibes algorithms in the rack would be excellent.
First Impression
The ISOGRID Eurorack kit for the Korg NTS-1 is currently sold out but will be available again soon. It costs 147,89€ incl. VAT + shipping and doesn’t include the NTS-1.
More information here: Reverb Shop
Korg NTS-1 is available at my partners
I guess the price includes royalty for Korg for use of their logo? No? 150% price of the original unit just to fit it in a case? Wow.
It’s worth mentioning that all the necessary files to create custom NTS-1 hardware have been available for a long time on Korg’s Github.
Strangely enough, my comment mentioning this on their Youtube video has been deleted twice 🙂
only the front panel pcb design is published. the core logic of it isn’t.
Must be ghosts…
They could at leats have implemented cv -> midi for this absurd price
Wow, what a price tag for a milled PCB and some mini-jack adapters…
dude is right, a CV/gate to midi interface would have been mandatory for a eurorack integration.
But thanks for the inspiration.
15$ worth of stuff. Passive multi is just 4 Jack’s in parallel. 1$ tops. I am just going to make my owne. Very simple.
If I draw it up, I will let you know.
😉
Here’s my take on the subject for free:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6191590
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/gadget/korg-nts-1-eurorack-adapter-mikkovihonen