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Comments
With what I know today I'd pick Moog Wekstatt or Moog Mavis over the NTS-1...
...it can be pretty 'noisy' (USB-Noise and RF-Interference) and I really wish it was an 'AUv3 App' instead.
I have an NTS-1. Bearing in mind you can download other oscillators and fx for it, it is potentially much more versatile. But the Werkstatt and Mavis sound - like a Moog!
NTS-1 doesn’t have CV, apart from sync. I have one and haven’t used it much, but just checked the connections. It has MIDI (USB and 5-pin via an adapter that comes with it). Amazing little unit, but if you want something CV capable, it probably isn’t it.
The Werkstatt has basically been superseded by the Mavis, and from a couple of things I’ve seen on YouTube (can’t remember precisely which as I’ve watched a bunch), seems to be better all round. One major difference is that it has a proper patch bay, whereas the Werkstatt has a kind of add-on board for the CV connections that looks a bit flimsy (I could be wrong, mind). Mavis looks a bit more robust, and you get the wave folder.
Disclaimer: I’m seriously getting to the brink of buying a Mavis, so my opinions may be skewed.
If I remember correctly one of the mods for the NTS-1 can give CV inputs.
It's one of the DIY thingies.
I saw the Mavis and quite liked it but for my purposes I would like something
that I could eventually mod and I need to practice with "real" CV hence looking
at the Werkstatt.
No worries, I know the feeling very well.
My sympathies there.
What are the effects like on the NTS-1 because I can adjust for the noise.
Yeah,...it does like it could be a very cool Auv3 for sure.
What about the Kastle?
I'd pick Mavis as well.
I was tempted but the offerings I heard sounded thin.
I would get the Kastle more as a learning tool than
something I could potentially perform with.
The Werkstatt caught my eye because of it's CV expander
but it only has one oscillator, granted it is a Moog oscillator and
analogue synth heads swear by the sound of the Moog oscillators
and to get external audio into the VCF requires a mod to separate
the VCO from the VCF.
The NTS-1 on the other hand has external stereo inputs
albeit on a 3.5mm stereo Jack, which is the same as it's outputs,
and to get the NTFS-1 to filter external audio requires
third party code.
It apparently has quite good effects, a multitude of oscillator types
due to it's compatibility with the Prologue and Minilogue XD.
The other thing is to get CV inputs into the NTS-1 requires
getting the components, printing out a PCB and a case top
and programming an Ardunio which is a mammoth project in itself
though challenging.
@Gravitas Have you considered any of the lower cost Behringers?
Like a K-2, a Pro-1, a Neutron or a Model D for example?
A second hand Neutron is massive bang for buck. (I’ve got one, probably the best cheap synth Behringer has produced to date.)
@rs2000 @Svetlovska
I did consider them but they don't seem attractive to me at this moment in time.
Basically I'm looking for things to add to sounds rather the synths themselves.
The Werkstatt because of the Moog oscillator and filter and
the NTS-1 for it's stereo effects in a small package.
I've also been looking at the Zoom MS-70CDR.
Last night whilst deliberating I thought to hook a couple of my
distortion pedals up to the external audio interface and sent signals out
to the pedals and then routed the signals back in and suddenly the kick drum
had this grit to the sound so after that I maybe going in another direction as I
have plenty of oscillators available.
If you stick the the default effects on the NTS-1 they use the same algorithms as those found in Gadget's IFX effects.
Gadgets FB Rvb uses the same algorithms as the NTS-1 but the 'Horror' is missing on the NTS-1.
There's some nice free 3rd party effects for the NTS-1 but adjusting/correcting the the buzzing RF & USB-Noise can get tricky.
It can somewhat reduced by using those ferrite lumps on the audio-cable and providing all USB-Power from the same source.
This (CHIPS 2.0) is my ABSOLUTE favorite NTS-1 custom oscillator...
...it's at a point where I'm still drooling of the Monologue XD
And yes, it would be a totally awesome AUv3 with plenty of polyphony to boot
The effects are great, but @Samu is right about the noise. One of the reasons I haven’t used it much is that the noise is a pain in the situpon. Using an audio cable with an earth loop breaker improves it, but doesn’t totally eliminate it. I should probably get back on its case and do a bit more troubleshooting.
@Gravitas Here's a good 'Bad Gear' review of the NTS-1 the highlights some of the issues...
Have you considered a DIY norns or the app Covariant?
I hadn't heard of Monome Norns until now.
After reading blurb, the apps that I already have
on my iPad cover most of what that offers.
I'm using dRambo and MiRack for all of my Midi to CV needs.
Hi Gravits, it’s not what you asked but what about Bastl Softpop2 - wild euro rack patch bay, audio and midi in - I think it’s a great cv controllable route for adding texture/glitch to existing sounds - saying that mines still on order!
@danimal
That’s a nice suggestion.
I’ll look into it.
One another note does anyone know how to replace a potentiometer for a CV input?
Not that simple, but vactrols (a light sensitive resistor coupled to a LED in a sealed container) or a clever arrangement of transistors are two common ways from what I’ve gathered…
I’ve come across threads that mentioned vactrols
or transistors and agreed it isn’t that straightforward.
I think I’m going to need to talk to an electrical engineer for that one
because I’m thinking to mod a couple of distortion pedals for CV input.
Sounds like you’ve got fun in mind there. I’d be less troubled about modding a distortion pedal in that way than a synth - much less to damage and not as complex a circuit to break for the most part - keep us informed!
I’ve already routed signals out to my current distortion pedals and back and corrected for latency.
I’ve got a couple more distortion pedals turning up in the next couple of days
in the meanwhile I’m going to find out how difficult it is to replace the potentiometers.
It’s sounding promising for sure.
As @Krupa suggested, Vactrols are fairly straightforward to use, although there are a few pitfalls like resistance range, nonlinearity and aging.
A fairly useful rundown on them:
http://denethor.wlu.ca/pc300/optoisolators/analogoptoisolatorintroduction.pdf
I came across this whilst searching.
https://store.synthrotek.com/Vac_Pak_PCB
Looks good. Not sure if it will run on 5V though. Might not work with a USB power bank.
If you're going to try it, make sure you choose the right vactrol!
It would be a good idea to measure the min and max resistance values of the pots on your pedals and compare them with what the different Vactrols can do.
That looks like maybe a more foolproof/controlled way of doing it. Might be a bit more involved than just bodging a vactrol in, but I’m guessing it’ll have protection of some sort both for the CV side of it, and the synth/controlled bit… I think that’s just the PCB they’re selling though as they lost a bill of materials suggesting that you’ll need to source the components separately - vactrols aren’t the cheapest either, probably another fiver or so…
Yeah plus what @rs2000 says 😁
That's what I thought as well.
They offer a complete kit which doesn't seem to expensive at all.
https://store.synthrotek.com/Vac_Pak_Kit
The instructions mentioned that the circuit is designed to accept 6-18v DC.
Good suggestions.
@Gravitas @Krupa Had a look at the schematic and it looks like easily capable of producing LED currents far above the Vactrol spec so I'd say there's no protection.
I'd probably run the whole circuit at 5 Volts and increase R2 to at least 82 Ohms. More hacks might be necessary.