KORG Nu:Tekt NTS-4 Performance Mixer, A Small Mixer for a Small Setup

I’m still working on a smaller and more portable setup that I can put in a corner of the living room. 

Nothing too complicated, just something I can use to work out small ideas, experiment with patches, or figure out new modules before they find a place in my main system.

So when KORG announced the NTS-4 Performance Mixer Kit in July of this year, it immediately caught my attention. 

It's a compact analog performance mixer, designed for setups using things like the volca series, NTS instruments, Eurorack modular gear and desktop synths.
And that was pretty much what I was looking for...

I was too late for the first batch, but ToneControl in Haarlem had put me on the waiting-list and they shipped it (sooner than I expected!) last week.
The NTS-4 is designed as a kit, and putting it together was surprisingly easy. No soldering required. In my case, it took me less than half an hour.

The small but robust Performance Mixer has six channels: two mono inputs and four stereo inputs, all using mini-jacks, and can handle up to 10 audio signals, which is quite a lot for such a small mixer.

Each channel has its own CUE and MUTE button, which is especially useful when experimenting with different sounds. There are also dedicated stereo SEND and RETURN connections if you want to use an external effects unit. The main left and right outputs are standard unbalanced ¼” jacks.

But the built-in effects are probably the most interesting part for me.
Every channel has its own SEND FX control, with seven effects to choose from: delay, ping-pong delay, two hall reverbs, two slap reverbs and chorus.

There is also a second effects engine on the main output. The TOTAL FX section has ten options, including low-pass and high-pass filters, isolator, flanger, phaser, decimator, drive, distortion, compressor and limiter.

So you actually have two independent stereo effect engines running at the same time.

SEND FX adds some space or depth to individual channels, while the TOTAL FX can be used to shape the complete mix.

Another nice feature is the USB-C connection that can handle both power and audio, with 48 kHz / 24-bit audio to a Mac, PC or mobile device.
That means I can also record a performance directly to my phone, stream a live set, or use the NTS-4 as part of a computer-based setup. There is even a dedicated MIDI OUT connection for sending MIDI from my DAW to other hardware. 

And you know you can never have enough extra MIDI outputs....

For my little living-room setup, that combination of small size, multiple inputs, effects and USB audio makes a lot of sense.

I don't need a huge mixer sitting there permanently. 

I just want to be able to connect a few pieces of gear, switch things around and start making sounds.
And that is exactly what I’m hoping to do with the NTS-4.

For more information about the NTS-4, visit KORG NTS-4.

Doepfer A-198-2: The Ribbon Controller Gets an Upgrade

After a bit of delay... Doepfer has finally released the new A-198-2 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller module.

The original A-198 was released in early 2003, and  this re-design is a big improvement from that first version.
The new module features a clear backlit screen, and in performance mode you can easily select one of the 9 user programmable Quantize modes that are stored in memory by pressing buttons that will light up when selected. This looks pretty useful in the dark.

Although the new version is 2 HP smaller than the old one, Doepfer still managed to put 2 more connections on the frontplate.
Besides the CV and Gate-signal for the pressure-sensor and the CV and Gate output from the position-sensor there are two more sockets; 
Switching between quantized/not quantized can be performed on the module or via external control voltage input Qnt, which can be controlled from for example a foot switch (module A-177-2) or any other trigger, for dynamic quantize switching while playing.
Switching between retrigger on/off can also be done on the module or via external control voltage input Rtr.

The position CV range across the 60 cm ribbon controller manual is adjustable in 5 steps from 1 octave up to 5 octaves range, while the pressure sensitivity is also adjustable in 7 steps.

The direction of the manual is also selectable.

There is an optional Midi output signal available (instead of the input socket Rtr or via passive breakout module).... I will probably build a simple 2 HP wide breakout panel with a MIDI out socket after my holiday break next week.
All parameters can also be stored nonvolatile (incl. 9 quantizations), but i haven't figured out if there is a way to re-call the factory-settings yet.

The Ribbon manual itself hasn't changed since the update it got in 2005 (it has a more sensible pressure sensor and the improved sensor works even along the entire manual since then).
The (1Kg heavy) metal ribbon controller bar with the pressure-sensitive ribbon feels solid, but the USB connection on it still feels a bit wobbly... I was hoping a new kind of USB connector would be used in newer models. (this is my third Ribbon already)

I don't know yet if there will also be a new version of the (stand-alone) R2M.

The old (left) and the new A-198 

The main reason why I bought this module was mainly because of the space it saves in my mobile eurorack setup. The 2HP less width is a plus, but I also do not need an external Quantizer anymore. I did have the A-156 (Dual) Quantizer in combination with the old Ribbon controller manual, but this combo seems obsolete now.

Ofcourse I do like the new A-198-2, the bright screen, the hands-on control and easy switching between modes, but the settings menu's feel a bit overkill (to me), although these fine-tune settings will probably improve the precicion of the module) .
I would have rather seen a A-156- style quantize selection menu, perhaps even extended with a few new options? (... a 24 steps per octave (24TET) setting is/was the first thing that slipped into mind.) Microtonal music seems to be getting pretty mainstream lately.... and how about an adjustable slew limiter...

All I wanted...
A-156 Quantizer controls 

So, in the end, I’m quite happy with the new A-198-2. 

It does exactly what I was looking for: It saves a little precious space in my portable rack and eliminates the need for a separate quantizer. The extra features and deeper settings may be more than I personally need, but they certainly make the module more versatile.

And the best part is that I now have two Ribbon Controller modules. :) 

The new A-198-2 will stay in the portable rack, while the original A-198 gets a permanent place in the main studio system. That means I can simply move the controller between the two rooms and plug and play, which, for me, is probably the most useful upgrade of all.

Source: https://www.doepfer.de/a1982.htm
....more A-198 posts by PatchPierre HERE