Korg NTS-1 mk2 : best companion for Tracker mini!

[alexandrosroussos]

While reading the specs of the NTS digital kit mk2 released by Korg in January, I was astonished when I realized this is the best companion to the Polyend Tracker mini we could ever dream of.

Mk1 was already a quite suitable companion but lacked MIDI-out. Mk2 basically provides whatever the mini doesn’t have (see the full specs page here)

Now here is the list of the capabilities it brings when connected to the mini :

• a mini keyboard to live perform/record notes
• ability to send cc values from its knobs
• a full fledged arpeggiator with latch
• ability to sequence the traditional way (up to 8 steps), then record on the tracker as a sample or as a tracker sequence
• an unlimited amount of open source synth engines with sound design capabilities (including renowned ones such as Plaits, Braids ports, Volca Bass, JP8000 Saw emulation)
• an unlimited amount of open source FX (including the renowned Sinevibes FX for Korg)
• Scales & chords composer (Tweeeeeak working on porting their J6 emulation they had on the og Korg SDK)
• Clock I/O.

In case you still don’t realize, here is a list the Tracker mini posted wishes the combination with the NTS pretty-much materializes:

Tracker Mini: Play+ Synth Engines

This wish asks to bring the Synth Engines found on the Play+ to the Polyend Tracker Mini. We assume that the CPU of the Tracker Mini has sufficient resources/headroom to run these synth engines alongside the sample-based tracks currently available. Otherwise stripped down versions, or an implementation where the engine locks multiple tracks to get the necessary resources would be acceptable. What is the problem? Currently the Tracker is only a sample based groovebox. You cannot really …

Alternate Note Entry Mode

What is the problem? Currently (as of Mini Firmware 1.0.0), the only way to add Notes is by using the +/- Buttons on the Tracker Mini. This wish proposes an alternate input method that could be used for note entry. What do you want to achieve? Add an additional entry mode that could maybe make note entry more natural and quicker. This could be achieved by using the 8 screen keys to display a chromatic keyboard and using the Shift key as a modifier to show the sharps. See the mockups provided b…

Musical key and scale lock toggle for +/- buttons

For those that are not super musically inclined, it would be useful to have a quick toggle to restrict note entry to a preset scale and key to keep things in tune easily without guesswork, and to disable it in case the user is inputting non-melodic notes or for playing out of key. What is the problem? On the original Polyend Tracker, you could set the pads to a specific musical key and scale, which would allow users to keep music in key easily, and they could easily nudge notes if they wanted t…

Live-Recording directly on the Mini

Currently it is not possible to enter any notes in Live-Rec Mode directly on the Mini. While it’s obviously impossible to create a melodic part this way, it still should be possible to lay down the rhythmic progression, even if it just pastes C’s What is the problem? Live recording is only available using an external keyboard or midi controller. What do you want to achieve? The ability to live record quantized or unquantized information (microtiming) without the need for an external controlle…

Right now though, in terms of hardware, the integration will require the following :

• powering the NTS-1 through its USB-C port (probably with a small battery bank, unless the mini can provide it power, but I’m not sure of that)
• connecting the audio out of the NTS to the audio input of the mini (and the opposite if NTS is used as an FX unit)
• connecting the midi out of the NTS to the midi input of the mini.

Seems fine on a desktop usage but probably clunky on a mobile/handheld usage, so maybe some DIY hardware integration of the two could be fun, considering the Korg NTS line-up is already “assemble yourself” units which can pretty easily be modded.

[icaria36]

Thank you, @alexandrosroussos! A very interesting connection. Have you (or anyone else) tried this combination?

For those of us who don’t know every single gadget by heart:

NTS-1 digital kit mkII - PROGRAMMABLE SYNTHESIZER KIT | KORG (USA)

[Sandroid]

Couple of things to watch out for. As a previous owner of the MK1, i have my doubts that the following things have changed for the MK2:

• Korg uses MIDI TRS-A. This means you need a converter for TRS A to TRS-B if you plan on pairing it with Polyend devices.
• Korg is notorious for USB humming issues and the NTS is no exception. As long as you power it through a USB powerbank though, you should be fine.
• NTS-1 volume output was incredibly low when processing incoming audio. Hopefully they fixed that as well.

By the way - Tracker Mini does not (currently?) provide power via USB, so you have to power external devices separately.

[echoforms]

Out of all the things I’ve tried, the Roland S-1 is my favorite thing to pair with the Tracker Mini.

The key pads are decent and definitely playable. 2 octave keyboard.

Tracker Mini automatically assigns slices to notes C2 onwards, so you can play and live record drum patterns.

It’s battery powered.

4-voice polyphony and great-sounding Sh101 pads and basses to sample.

Knobs send MIDI CC.

Built-in reverb and delay.

Thinking of picking up the J6 too for simpler ways to play chords and bigger pads for tapping in live beats.

I found a super cheap TRS type A to DIN male cable and plugged that into the included DIN female to TRS type B Polyend adapter. Works flawlessly both ways.

[alexandrosroussos]

• Korg uses MIDI TRS-A. This means you need a converter for TRS A to TRS-B if you plan on pairing it with Polyend devices.
• Korg is notorious for USB humming issues and the NTS is no exception. As long as you power it through a USB powerbank though, you should be fine.
• NTS-1 volume ouput was incredibly low when processing incoming audio. Hopefully they fixed that as well.

Thanks @Sandroid for the notes and clarifications :

Haven’t received mine yet but I guess it still is TRS-A, not sure why Polyend chose to stick with B as the MIDI association has decided on TRS-A since 2018 (see article here)

On the Og NTS-1 I’ve never had this issue because I always powered with a small independent power bank.

For the output volume, it’s true that the NTS has never been very loud, let’s see if they improved it, otherwise it means we’ll have to make use of “normalize” a lot

Can’t wait for this to ship, looks like it could take a couple more months, but I’ll post back here as soon as I can test these two.

[dan.apeks]

Just adding to the mini midi keyboard recommendations: the Donner N-25 is cheap as chips, very small, USB-C and Type B midi output so just connect a mini jack cable to your tracker from its midi output. I got one off eBay for £10 and use it with my OG tracker and it’s good fun. The key feel is as expected (pretty awful) but it serves a purpose for a tiny portable setup.

[alexandrosroussos]

Just adding to the mini midi keyboard recommendations: the Donner N-25 is cheap as chips, very small, USB-C and Type B midi output so just connect a mini jack cable to your tracker from its midi output. I got one off eBay for £10 and use it with my OG tracker and it’s good fun. The key feel is as expected (pretty awful) but it serves a purpose for a tiny portable setup.

I use their 16 PAD controller and it’s pretty well built, with a TRS MIDI out as well. Would be nice if Korg updated their nanoKeys/nanoKontrol series with some USB-C and why not TRS.

Of course I don’t expect the tiny keyboard of the NTS to be the ideal performance tool but still that would let us sequence pretty easily.

[spacekid.90]

@alexandrosroussos

some DIY hardware integration of the two could be fun

Now. This would be awesome. Including a little speaker would make it even better

[icaria36]

Just making sure current and future readers see

Mini MIDI Keyboard

This is an idea I have been working on for the Tracker Mini. The Mod lever doubles as a sustain when pushed. Octave lever resets when pushed. Any feedback from this community is appreciated. [01] [02] [03] [04] [05]

[alexandrosroussos]

Yep saw that, looks really cool !

Maybe one alternative/simplified version would be just a connectivity interface to put between the mini and the NTS-1 mk2 (which happens to have all its ports on the back !)

That unit would :

• connect the midi I/O in both directions
• connect the audio I/O with a switch to be able to change the direction (for either NTS synth out to mini or mini out to NTS FX routing)
• would provide a small battery compartment for 3 or 4 AAAs under so as to power the NTS itself.

In the meantime, I will try with very short crooked mini-jacks and a tiny power-bank. Less sexy, can’t be handheld, but will do the job.

I kinda like your keyboard better, but for the sake of simplicity I can live with the NTS tiny capacitive keys.

[alexandrosroussos]

@echoforms yes the S1 can be cool too.

I do have the T8 which is similar. It’s less versatile in terms of sound design than the S1.

If this wishlist item ever comes true though :

Tracker Mini: Play+ Synth Engines

This wish asks to bring the Synth Engines found on the Play+ to the Polyend Tracker Mini. We assume that the CPU of the Tracker Mini has sufficient resources/headroom to run these synth engines alongside the sample-based tracks currently available. Otherwise stripped down versions, or an implementation where the engine locks multiple tracks to get the necessary resources would be acceptable. What is the problem? Currently the Tracker is only a sample based groovebox. You cannot really …

then even a T8 would fit perfectly

There is also this wishlist items for using the 8 under the screen buttons for keys :

Alternate Note Entry Mode

What is the problem? Currently (as of Mini Firmware 1.0.0), the only way to add Notes is by using the +/- Buttons on the Tracker Mini. This wish proposes an alternate input method that could be used for note entry. What do you want to achieve? Add an additional entry mode that could maybe make note entry more natural and quicker. This could be achieved by using the 8 screen keys to display a chromatic keyboard and using the Shift key as a modifier to show the sharps. See the mockups provided b…

would basically make the mini fully autonomous, we would then only lack a few knobs

[merlin]

I can recommend using the iphone with a music app of your choice as an external source. iphone and tracker are a very potent pairing in my workflow. Also for sampling garageband, youtube, spotify etc.

[alexandrosroussos]

I can recommend using the iphone with a music app of your choice as an external source. iphone and tracker are a very potent pairing in my workflow. Also for sampling garageband, youtube, spotify etc.

@merlin for this use case, I’ve raised the following wishlist item :

Mini: Sampling via USB

What is the problem? Currently the Tracker mini allows outputting audio as a USB audio device and through jack but audio input/sampling only works through the built-in mic or line input. What do you want to achieve? It would be very convenient if we could sample audio into the Tracker mini through it’s USB-C port; Ideally, the Tracker should be capable of sampling over USB both as a device and as a host. Sampling as a USB Audio device use case : Would make it a good pair with a USB-C smartp…

For now you need to go though minijack if you want to sample, and if you want midi in order to sequence with the mini and sample the sequence in it, you need to connect both minijack (for audio) and usb (for midi).

So that would strongly simplify the connexion with the host device (be it a mobile/tablet/computer), as the sampling would work directly with a simple USB-C cable connected.

[gkassi73]

I can attest to this. They’re a perfect pair

[paaat]

Just tested the S-1 with the tracker with the cable I got in the mail today, works great so far looking forward to experiment with that.

I found a link to https://www.designacable.com/ on another thread

Anyone using external controller to play the Tracker mini

Submit a Wishlist ?

They make custom length (and color) “crossover” cables. Both sides are 3.5mm, one is 90degrees and sleeve on the wire with “CROSSOVER” in large font on it.
I like the idea of not needing/having yet another adapter that can disconnect or something clunky… and with shipping it was about as much as getting a dongle/adapter.

[rhmtts]

This requires a USB C iOS device, correct? Or would a lightning phone with CCK work as well? Anyone tried this

[Sandroid]

From all the posts i’ve seen, USB-C devices seem to work without issues, while older devices that require the CCK kit are hit-or-miss.

[odd_sundays]

I tried doing this last night but couldn’t get it to work. I think it’s because I wasn’t using a Type-B TRS adapter on the Polyend side. can anyone confirm?

going to give it another go tonight.

[Sandroid]

Can confirm - Polyend devices are all TRS-B