The new Korg NTS-4 is a DIY performance mixer that combines flexible routing, onboard effects, and modern USB connectivity into a streamlined hub built for electronic musicians.
Small Size, Serious Flexibility
Despite its compact footprint, the NTS-4 accommodates up to 10 audio signals through six input channels, comprising two mono inputs and four stereo mini-jack channels.
The mono channels can be configured to accept either standard line-level or modular-level signals via an internal attenuator, allowing the mixer to integrate directly with Eurorack systems. Dedicated stereo send and return connections also make it easy to incorporate external effects processors into a live or studio setup.
Standard quarter-inch main outputs provide dependable connections to monitors, interfaces, or PA systems, helping the NTS-4 serve as the central hub of even surprisingly sophisticated hardware rigs.
Built for Hands-On Performance
Rather than functioning solely as a utility mixer, the NTS-4 places live performance at the forefront of its design.
Every channel features dedicated Send FX controls that feed a stereo effects engine loaded with time-based processing such as delay, reverb, and chorus. A separate Total FX processor operates across the master output, adding filters, modulation, drive, and compression to shape the overall mix.
Each input also benefits from dedicated Cue and Mute buttons, allowing performers to audition sounds privately through headphones before introducing them into a live mix or instantly cut channels for breakdowns and transitions.
Modern Connectivity
USB-C enables 48kHz/24-bit digital audio streaming between the NTS-4 and computers or mobile devices, making it equally comfortable in production, livestreaming, or content creation environments. Hardware instruments and software sources can be mixed together, while performances can be recorded directly to a smartphone without additional interfaces.
USB MIDI functionality further expands the mixer’s role by allowing MIDI messages from a DAW to be passed through the dedicated MIDI Out connection, providing a convenient bridge between software-based production and external hardware.
DIY for Days
Like previous entries in the Nu lineup, the NTS-4 arrives as a self-assembly kit, giving users the satisfaction of building their own hardware without requiring advanced technical knowledge.
Once assembled, however, the unit is anything but lightweight in construction. Its steel chassis provides enough mass to remain firmly planted even when fully connected, making it well suited to demanding studio sessions and live performances alike.
Get the Korg NTS-4 for $279.99 here at Sweetwater, here at Guitar Center, and here at Musician’s Friend.
