Nu:Tekt NTS-1 MK1 Digital Synthesizer

Imagine assembling a pocket-sized powerhouse in under 30 minutes, no soldering required—this DIY kit transforms into a sonic playground that's as fun to build as it is to play.

At its core sits a digital oscillator drawn from Korg's acclaimed prologue and minilogue xd, delivering sawtooth, triangle, square, and VPM waveforms that you can morph with simple knob tweaks, plus the option to load custom ones via the logue-SDK. A versatile multimode filter offers low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass options in 2- or 4-pole flavors, paired with a snappy envelope generator, three LFOs for modulation, and three stereo effects covering chorus, phaser, flanger, delay, and reverb. Hands-on controls include two parameter knobs, a four-digit display, endless encoder, mode buttons, and a ribbon controller for expressive monophonic playing, all in a super-compact 129 x 78 x 39 mm body weighing just 124g, with a built-in speaker, 3.5mm audio I/O, headphone out, MIDI in, sync jacks, and USB power.

Players love its surprising depth and low-noise sound for sketching ideas anywhere, though some note the ribbon takes practice for precise pitch control. The arpeggiator and sequencer keep things lively, making it a gateway to deeper sound design in Korg's ecosystem.