Korg AUS-NTS1-COMBO-STD Nu:tekt DIY Synthesizer Kit

The Korg Nu:tekt NTS-1 is a compact, build-it-yourself digital synthesizer that packs a surprisingly capable monophonic synth engine and multi-effects processor into a unit smaller than a smartphone. Assembly requires no soldering — just a screwdriver and about 20 minutes — making it one of the most approachable DIY electronics kits available for musicians. Once built, the NTS-1 offers a digital oscillator with multiple waveforms, a resonant multimode filter, an envelope generator, and three LFOs, all controlled via a handful of knobs and a touch-sensitive ribbon keyboard. The built-in effects section includes modulation (chorus, ensemble, phaser, flanger), delay, and reverb, each with adjustable parameters.

What sets the NTS-1 apart from other budget synths is its full compatibility with Korg's logue SDK, the same open platform used by the Minilogue XD and Prologue. This means you can download or program custom oscillator algorithms and effect types and load them onto the NTS-1 via USB, giving it a sound palette that extends far beyond its factory options. The unit also functions as a multi-effects processor for external audio via its stereo input jack, and it integrates with other gear through MIDI IN and analog sync in/out ports. Powered entirely by USB Micro-B, it runs from a laptop, phone charger, or portable battery, making it genuinely pocket-portable. This bundle includes a MIDI cable and an Austin Bazaar polishing cloth alongside the NTS-1 kit itself.