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The modern musician's multi-tool

The Nu:Tekt NTS-2 oscilloscope kit is a DIY multifunctional tool for musicians. Building on a 4-channel oscilloscope - monitoring control voltage (CV) and audio signals alike - NTS-2 also packs a flexible waveform generator, a spectrum analyzer, and tuner functionality into a build-it-yourself device which fits in the palm of your hand!

Originally released in a bundle with the critically acclaimed “PATCH & TWEAK with KORG”, the NTS-2 is now available as a stand-alone kit.

The NTS-2 is perfect for musicians and creators of all backgrounds and levels of experience navigating their musical journey, providing solid tools and precise references to cultivate your craft.

Synth beginners and seasoned musicians alike will find the journey not just educational, but also inspirational and full of new discoveries.

Important Notice: The “PATCH & TWEAK with KORG” book on its own (*) is readily available for purchase at www.bjooks.com and from resellers internationally.

An interactive bundle experience

The NTS-2 Kit and “PATCH & TWEAK with KORG” book were conceived and developed to complement each other, providing not only fundamental knowledge, but also the tools to guide and inspire synth lovers through their music journey.

The Nu:Tekt NTS-2 is a DIY multifunctional tool for musicians. Building on a 4-channel oscilloscope that makes it easy to monitor and analyze audio and Control Voltage signals alike, the NTS-2 also includes a flexible waveform generator and spectrum analyzer, as well as tuner functions that make it the ideal addition to any studio.

“PATCH & TWEAK with KORG”' is the latest title in the “PATCH & TWEAK” series from noted publisher Bjooks. It’s a comprehensive guide to semi-modular synthesis and the music that it has inspired, presented with a focus on the MS-20 Mini, the groundbreaking volca modular, the reimagined ARP 2600 M, and the SQ-1 and SQ-64 sequencers. Dozens of tutorials, tips, and tricks cover everything from the basics to advanced sound design methods. Interviews with famous and emerging artists, insights from KORG and ARP engineers, and detailed timelines of KORG synthesizers and ARP’s legendary keyboards, make this book a must-have for any synth enthusiast.

The book features a wide variety of tips and tricks that use the NTS-2’s many functions to expand the power of your studio – just look for the NTS-2 icon!

NTS-2: The modern musician's Swiss Army knife

The NTS-2 kit is compact and easy to assemble (*), but don’t let its size fool you – it packs a real punch! The NTS-2 is an oscilloscope, tuner, FFT, and spectrum analyzer that is accurate, intuitive, and incredibly useful. But that’s not all – using its dual stereo IN, dual stereo THRU/OUT, and two separate OUTPUTs, you can wire it into your synth rig and use its dual waveform generators to give yourself an extra pair of oscillators or LFOs! It’s the ideal tool for every synth lover and modular user – from beginner to pro.

(*) No soldering needed, the assembly process requires less than 20 minutes

The best companion for synth learners

Even though synthesizers are musical instruments first and foremost, learning about them is easier and more intuitive if we can use our eyes to supplement our ears. Studying waveforms, frequency and time relationships, audio signals, and control voltages become clear and immediate if we can see how they change and interact, not just listen to what they’re doing. Seeing these signals come alive in full color as we patch and tweak gives our learning process a huge boost!

The oscilloscope, a tool for visualizing signals and voltages, has been around for many years – but as scientific instruments, they might not seem like something a musician could easily use. Not anymore – for the first time, an oscilloscope has been designed with the musician in mind! The NTS-2’s interface is simple, clean, and easy to use; rather than twiddling knobs and trying to understand obscure parameters, you can look at your signals and understand them in a matter of seconds. That way, your artistic focus can remain where it belongs: on making your music.

A useful toolset for musicians

The NTS-2 includes a variety of useful studio functions, all in a pocket-sized, elegant package that you can take anywhere.

4 CHANNEL OSCILLOSCOPE

With its dual stereo inputs, you can study up to four signals at once, comparing and overlapping them with ease. A variety of display modes let you see your data in color, a huge advantage over the old oscilloscopes you’ve seen in science fiction movies! Its user interface is clear and quick, thanks to its dedicated menu buttons and clickable encoder knob, and its 240 x 320 pixel 2.8” color LCD is a joy to watch.

FFT / SPECTRUM ANALYZER

To further dive into analyzing any signal, the NTS-2 also comes with a dedicated FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) mode with a real-time Spectrum Analyzer. These handy tools have always been out of reach for the synth musician because they either required expensive hardware or a nearby computer. Now you can carry them in your pocket!

DUAL WAVEFORM GENERATOR:

But the NTS-2 is much more than just an oscilloscope. The flexible Wave Generator mode has 2 oscillators with dedicated outputs, so you can test your synth rig or just get creative! Each oscillator can create a variety of waveforms – sine, square, triangle, sawtooth, pulse, and noise – whose shape and phase can be adjusted to suit many applications.

These sounds can be used in the audio range or as control voltage sources, and they can be set to cycle continuously or act as one-shot impulses; that means you can turn them into LFOs, envelopes, triggers, and control voltage generators, as well as sound sources. Attaching the NTS-2 to any patchable synthesizer instantly expands its power in useful ways, making it an analog synth player’s dream tool.

TUNER

And of course, coming from KORG, this multi-functional utility kit wouldn’t be complete without a precise and easy-to-use Tuner with multiple display modes!

Being able to receive and monitor up to 4 input signals at the same time, the NTS-2 is an analog synth player’s dream tool.

Connectivity and ease of use

The NTS-2 offers plenty of ways to connect to your studio, despite its small footprint. Besides its 4-channel input and dual waveform output features, its dual stereo THRU/OUT ports let you leave it wired into your system. It’s much easier to understand what you’re doing if you can see the signals and use them at the same time, rather than constantly plugging and unplugging cables. This handy function lets you maintain your signal flow at all times – even when the NTS-2 has been powered off.

Speaking of power, the NTS-2 maximizes portability and flexibility by using either batteries or a USB-C power supply, depending on your needs.

Nu:Tekt DIY fun

As with other Nu:Tekt products, the NTS-2 is a DIY (Do It Yourself) kit that is extremely easy and quick to assemble (see assembly video below). When you open the bundle with “Patch & Tweak with KORG”, you’ll find something extra: an exclusive set of transparent side panels for your NTS-2, letting it stand up at one of two different mounting angles for easy use in any studio or stage rig, as well as a BJOOKS and KORG Sticker set.

Assembly video

Meet Bjooks and the “PATCH & TWEAK” series

Bjooks is known for the highly-acclaimed industry-standard books such as “PUSH TURN MOVE”, “PATCH & TWEAK”, “PEDAL CRUSH”, “PATCH & TWEAK with Moog”, and “SYNTH GEMS 1”. Each of these books received rave 5-star reviews and have become go-to references within electronic music. Combining a high-quality design with diverse artist interviews and overviews of gear, these books have earned their place in the hearts, hands, and studios of musicians and producers all over the world.

“PATCH & TWEAK with KORG” is part of Bjooks’ acclaimed “PATCH & TWEAK” series. These uniquely designed titles give a clear explanation of the fundamental building blocks of synthesis through the lens of a particular set of musical instruments, presenting patch ideas, gear setups, artist interviews, and valuable historical knowledge.

What is “PATCH & TWEAK with KORG”?

“PATCH & TWEAK with KORG” is a detailed look at semi-modular synthesis. It is based around KORG and ARP’s popular range of patchable synthesizers – the MS-20 mini, ARP 2600 M, and volca modular, as well as the SQ-1 and SQ-64 sequencers and the NTS-2 Oscilloscope. You can explore the principles of semi-modular synthesis through these beautiful machines, and supercharge your creativity with dozens of tips, techniques, and patches. Synth novices, experienced professionals, KORG enthusiasts, and ARP lovers alike will find this book an essential resource.

MODULAR SYNTHESIS CONCEPTS & IDEAS

Going through the basic concepts of oscillators, LFOs, envelope generators, sequencing, etc., each chapter ramps up to more advanced tips and tricks. The designs and features of the different KORG semi-modular synths are explained and visualized, with clearly-labeled patch diagrams and useful color-coding that makes it easy to follow along.

CREATIVE & MUSICAL TIPS

Come up close with artists and their relationship with the KORG semi-modular products: their creative processes, patch tips, and integration with their other gear. These interviews will ignite your imagination and inspire you to explore new sonic territory.

FEATURES & EXPANSION

This book creates a deep understanding of how these instruments interface with the outside world – ideas largely unexplored in manuals and online demos. Now that you have these instruments, how do you integrate them effectively with the gear you already have? What should your next steps be to maximize their power? You’ll learn lots of these strategies, and much more.

KORG & ARP HISTORY

Here’s your opportunity to get the full story of the KORG and ARP synthesizers, with detailed timelines, beautiful pictures, and plenty of information. Interviews with members of the KORG and ARP teams will shed light on the product creation process, and you’ll enjoy their never-heard stories, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes information.

“PATCH & TWEAK with KORG” covers:

• Analog and semi-modular synthesis basics
• The three Korg semi-modulars, with plenty of tips and techniques
• Extending the power of your rig with external gear
• Techniques and tricks for the Korg sequencers
• The powerful NTS-2 and all of its studio tools
• Interviews, favorite tricks, and patches from artists and producers
• Insider interviews with KORG engineers
• The history and synthesizers of ARP Instruments
• A photo tour of KORG synthesizers through the years

25+ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS:

Unlock the creativity and techniques of artists including Pete Townshend, Jean-Michel Jarre, Richard Devine, Andrew Huang, Panic Girl, Legowelt, Red Means Recording, Maude Vôs, Kabuki, Moe Shop, Kristin Hsiao, TALsounds, Robby Stambler, ALOO, ChrisLody, Olga Prudey, On High Mountains, and Loopop. Meet the creative minds of KORG’s great history, from Fumio Mieda and Junichi Ikeuchi to Tatsuya Takahashi and the new generation of KORG engineers, as well as the keepers of the ARP legacy: Dina Pearlman, David Friend, and David Mash.

Official BJOOKS Website