How to Sync NTS-1 with Pocket Operators!

[@machinehum2]

NOTE FOR THOSE ONLY GETTING SOUND ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT stereo channel -- this walkthrough is incomplete. First, note that POs are mono. When you plug in headphones, you're getting the same mono signal on both sides. The splitter he's using is commonly called a "tip ring splitter" or TRS splitter, because it splits the "tip" and "ring" contacts of a stereo connecter into separate lines, each carrying a single signal on ONLY ONE contact - the tip/right contact goes to black, and the ring/left to red. Now on to the video and the issue. When the PO is 'master' in the setup shown in the vid, it's sending the sync signal on the tip/right/black and the audio signal on ring/left/red, as mentioned. When you plug a standard stereo aux cable into 'red', the stereo cable is only receiving a signal on the 'ring' contact, the left channel. So it gives the NTS-1 the audio signal on the ring and nothing on the tip, so you only get audio on the left. You won't notice this if you're playing around with the NTS-1 built-in speaker, but if you're using audio out it's a problem. By not plugging the aux line all the way in to the splitter, you can create a bad contact that can give you audio on the right instead of left, or both, but it won't be stable. It's an ok emergency workaround, but the real fix is cheap and easy. Essentially what you need to do is convert that left/ring-only signal on the red end of the TRS to both ring and tip before it inputs to the NTS-1 audio in. There are a ton of ways to do this, some nicer than others, but the cheapest and easiest is probably always going to be fine for this purpose: get an adapter that's 3.5mm male mono to female 'stereo'. This sends the single channel (left in our case) out on both left and right. Plug the male mono end into the red female of the TRS splitter, and connect the stereo female end to the NTS-1 audio in with your aux line. Here's an example of such an adapter: www.amazon.com/Monoprice-107128-Stereo-Adaptor-Plated/dp/B002N1XMPO

[@ricknorris1466]

Yes! That’s the way I got both sides to give audio.

[@machinehum2]

@@BigCockClub sorry, no. You can clearly see from around 3:00 to 3:20 that the male connector has two black rings, not three. That’s TRS, not TRRS. And while people usually call the black separator “rings”, that’s not what the “ring” in “tip ring sleeve” or “tip ring ring sleeve” refers to. Those refer specifically to the contacts. “Tip” is the contact at the tip, “sleeve” is the contact at the cable sleeve”, and “ring” is the 0, 1, or 2 contacts that are SILVER rings demarcated by a black ring on either side. A mono cable is TS - which has tip and sleeve contacts, but no ring contact because it’s only two currents (mono audio and neutral). It has a black ring to separate the tip and sleeve contacts, but no “R” in the designation because there is no silver ring contact. There is always one more black separator than “R”s in the designation, because the “R” refers to the silver “Ring” contact between two separators, not the separators.

[@machinehum2]

Also, using TRRS wouldn’t have done anything even if he were - an extra conductor doesn’t magically make signal appear from a source that has no contact for that conductor. The device at one end is TS (mono) and the other TRS (stereo). Neither has a contact for the second ring in TRRS, so that conductor would end up carrying part of the current for the another channel (which is now getting split between THREE contacts and conductor) and then getting combined again on the other side.

[@cookiebuster652]

How can I get rid if the delay I have when pressing keys on the PO-33 when its connected to my pc and playing the audio through the pc into my headphones?

[@matred3538]

Thanks loads. You're my goto man for straightforward Pocket Operator videos! I only mess around with mine occasionally, with an Nts1 and Volca Keys. But forget a lot, so have to come back for a refresh. Once again many thanks for all the help. ☺👍👍👍

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you so much for the kind words, I'm glad to help!

[@hovermotion]

Superb how to. These two devices are utterly amazing...

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@oliverbutterfield9844]

My NTS-1 arrives later today, and I’ll be doing exactly this. I’m so excited :))))

[@FreeBeat]

How're you liking your NTS-1?

[@kmk4960]

Great video! Different from other because you show how to sync both as masters. Thanks! (Two years late but I just picked up a Korg NTS-1 and can't wait to jam)!

[@FreeBeat]

Glad you enjoyed the video, I hope you love your NTS-1!

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

At the risk of putting on a cape and miniskirt and becoming Incredible KissAss, just want to say, the first thing I do is Like your videos; *then* I watch. Because no matter how much I like or don’t like (I Like this one!) a video, I know you put a lot of thought into creating-realizing daily ideas for us and so, you’re awesome. I look forward to your videos, Mr. Freebeat. I dig ya. THANK YOUUU!

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you so very much!

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

@@FreeBeat you’re most welcome and thank you. It’s funny how your channel is like. Short tv show I look forward to. Holler if you happen to be in WI.!

[@onetenthhero]

Thanks! I’d been trying to figure out how to synch my PO33 with my NTS1 and this video makes it really clear.

[@oliverbutterfield9844]

Also, if you were happy with the sound coming out of the PO and the Korg, just for a quick jam, I guess it would work to just directly connect sync on the Korg directly to the input on the PO (stereo or mono cable) and select SY2 mode on the PO. Or use one more cable and route the PO sound back to the Korg line in and get the effects too :)

[@ptngptng]

i dont have nts-1, but needed similar cable for syncing my behringer crave with po-33. i didnt wanna spend 20$ on hosa splitter shipment from amazon and thought of alternative. i found little rca to mono 3.5 mm jack adapters and 2 × rca to stereo 3.5 mm jack Y-cable in a local electronic store. and it worked! i hope it may be useful for somebody. thank you for this tutorial

[@FreeBeat]

That's awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@minalist7139]

You lured me in with the "Monotron Delay: Worth It?" video and then I stumble across you pairing one of these with a pocket operator. DAMMIT AGAIN MAN. NTS-1 has been purchased. Glad I saw this video before buying the monotron. lol. I still blame you and feel free to take full credit. again. Next step, keystep...

[@FreeBeat]

You are going to love it, great purchase!

[@drummymo216]

So both of these have speakers also? Thats is a groove anywhere and anytime

[@FreeBeat]

They both have speakers :)

[@catmastertrash369]

Headphone splitter actually works, PO -> [SPLIT] -> A to AUDIO IN, B to sync in. Set PO to SY1 and bada boom the arp hotsteppin on time

[@bumboclat]

umm... then your getting the sync clicks from the PO through the NTS into your headphones.

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

The arp notes sounded like Game Show sound effects! 👍🏻

[@rodmcaldas]

you save my day!

[@FreeBeat]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@delmeteor717]

Still new to your channel but it’s been invaluable in helping me learn how to use the PO’s and Volca. I’m a guitarist by profession but love anything synth and you do super videos. By the way, your concerts are terrific. Delmeteor.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much for the kind words :) happy jamming!

[@patricioabate8023]

Amazing video,can you make one adding the microfreak? Thank

[@KeyDyer]

I am only getting left side audio from my PO when I have it setup how you show. Any ideas why? I’m in SY1

[@FreeBeat]

Plug your headphones or audio interface directly into the line out of your splitter and see what it sounds like first. Something probably just needs to be swapped around

[@KeyDyer]

Got it figured out !! Thank you so much. Have you ever messed with the p0k3t0 sync splitters by tindie? Would love a video on that if so!

[@FreeBeat]

@@KeyDyer I have not yet, but I might in the future. Glad you got it figured out!

[@dillkil]

@@KeyDyer I’m having the same problem you did only hearing the PO in the left channel, same when I plug my headphones directly into the red splitter. How were you able to fix this?

[@Emenut]

Does any TRS-double mono cable work? Mine doesnt have the red/black color code and not any indication of diferences between the inputs. When i connect it it just doesnt work and i dont know why

[@FreeBeat]

You just need something that can split the stereo signal into two separate left and right signals.

[@levibillyattley9906]

Hey, cool vid. I'm just wondering, as you've done videos on all three devices: Is there a way to sync a Korg Volca Keys with a Pocket Operator, and a Korg NTS-1? And not only having them all synchronized, but using the NTS-1 as an effects processor for all 3??? I have all three devices myself -just trying to get my head around how to go about it!

[@FreeBeat]

You should be able to start with the Volca, run the sync out and audio out into a splitter. Run that splitter into the pocket operator. Then run another splitter out of the pocket operator so you can plug into the sync in and audio in of the NTS-1. That should have everything playing nice, and all the audio routed through the NTS-1 :)

[@levibillyattley9906]

@@FreeBeat Nice one, I'll give it a shot! Now time to order myself another splitter :)

[@smashhead9728]

Really super helpful! I love your Chanel. I would like to use the second sync version but found a problem. I'm only getting the PO on both headphone side's if I'm having the mod on ensemble. Do you know any solution to this???

[@FreeBeat]

Interesting, you're sure you have the sync modes set properly? Thanks for watching!

[@DubWang]

Interesting video, I have both, never knew I could sync them. I take it the same applies with the korg volcas?

[@FreeBeat]

Correct!

[@kylerharris4246]

Does anything terrible happen if I mix up the ring and tip connections when connecting the NTS and pocket operator together? It wasn't mentioned in the video and I'm trying to be real careful about not blowing up expensive electronics.

[@FreeBeat]

As far as I know you'll be fine, it just won't work properly :) Thanks for watching!

[@PulzarTZ]

Nice video! I’m struggling to find the right L R splitter cable.. where did you get yours? Or how should I search for it? Thanks

[@FreeBeat]

The link is in the description :) thanks for watching!

[@PulzarTZ]

@@FreeBeat Wow thanks! Only place I havent checked:) Keep up the good work, this is quality content!

[@jongenboren]

Can i then use this combination i co ju ction with a novi groovebox to sync into? I currently have po33 synced tonit but want a nts1 too

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

Can this be used for an SR16 drum machine?

[@FreeBeat]

I don't believe the SR-16 uses a sync signal like both of these instruments do, I could be wrong though.

[@DJbace1]

Trying to sync two pos. my Paripi Destroyer to sync i have a ring tip splitter as well as a dude 5ch mixer and an nts1 what cord goes to what from my paripi into the inputs of pos in order for it be synced? The paripi has a sync output and headphone jack

[@FreeBeat]

If the Paripi is the master then just run the sync out into the sync in of whatever your second device in the chain would be.

[@gertschmidt932]

I can't hit "play" on my pocket-operator - if I sync my PO with my OP1 I just hit play on the op1 as a master. If try to get my PO as a Master I have no sound from the NTS1 but left-channel PO-sound. Any ideas?

[@FreeBeat]

Sounds like you're in the wrong sync mode! If you change it back to zero you should be able to play it as normal.

[@ricknorris1466]

I’ve got everything working (using the stereo to mono adapter on the audio red jack) but I’m having 2 issues. One is that the Sequencer on the NTS-1 gets stuck when I stop the PO-33 (master clock) and the other issue is that the Sequence is in 1/8 note mode and I’m not sure if it can be set to 1/4 note mode. Maybe with the Korg Editor?

[@cookiebuster652]

Lol ignored

[@jeroenpeeters8938]

Hey! I’m planning on buying an nts1 for a live rig, and i was wondering if you’ve ever tried this with the NTS1 as master receiving midi from an op-z, whether the clock it sends to the PO33 would come from the op-z midi or from the NTS1? Would be a nifty daisy chain :o

[@FreeBeat]

I haven't tried that unfortunately. I never really did anything midi wise with the op-z though. In theory, what you described should work just fine though!

[@justing5155]

are you able to input midi and audio at the same time?

[@FreeBeat]

Yes you are :)

[@MrStevem121]

Hi dude. Cheers for the video. Aside from the cool effects, this little device seems handy to have as a bridge at the very least. I have a Boss Rc 505. Annoyingly there doesnt seem to be an obvious way for me to sync up pocket operators with it. If i had a NTS-1 do you think it would be possible for me to daisy chain- sync the NTS-1 with the RC505 and then sync the NTS-1 with the pocket operator? I realise the cabling would be different to this video but just wondering if it makes sense. I've never daisy chained anything before.

[@FreeBeat]

I'm honestly not sure. I've never used the nts-1 as a bridge before like that. Hopefully someone else can answer your question better than I can. Thanks for watching!

[@MrStevem121]

@@FreeBeat Fair enough. Cheers

[@ekubik1]

@@MrStevem121 did you try that? I am hoping it will work as you said. Master clock Boss 505 > midi > nts 1 > po

[@MrStevem121]

@@ekubik1 Hi Erik I only had the 505 briefly so I I didn't get to test the chain properly. On my first few attempts I wasn't successful but I was rushing. Apologies about being of no use.

[@ekubik1]

@@MrStevem121 Thanks, I just tried it myself, works great. Boss midi cable to 3.5mm on the nts, then the nts set to external clock, then nts to pocket operators. Syncs great and have no problems so far :)

[@dauhloweme8127]

With the nts1 as the master is it possible to run sound into a mixer and the clock into the po or do both have to run through the po?

[@FreeBeat]

That should work just fine, the nts-one has separate sync and audio out jacks.

[@lordofthe6string]

Wait... can't you just sync out the Korg into the PO and then audio out from PO into Korg? You wouldn't need a splitter if that works.

[@FreeBeat]

That will work as well, the method shown in this video is for when you want to use the pocket operator as the master :)

[@Pyatnica12]

I have strange pulsating sounds when I turn on syn1 ((( may be SMB have the same issue

[@djpastiche]

SO I did all this to a T and all the effects work on the PO but the filter cutoff is that normal or is something wrong?

[@FreeBeat]

The nts-1 doesn't run external audio through the filter, which is a bit of a bummer.

[@djpastiche]

@@FreeBeat thanks it’s odd that you know this and Korg didn’t I emailed them and they said they never tested POs with the NTS-1 and I should ask teenage engineering😬 anyways thanks again love your channel I consult your channel when looking at some of the gear I am interested in🙌🏼👍🏼

[@neonpop80]

Im trying to sync my KO33 to my Yamaha Reface CS but not sure how. Instructions for CS says its looper syncs through MIDI but I obviously cant connect that to my KO33. Can it work through the CS's AUX IN or headphone jack or is that stupid of me to ask? Thanks

[@FreeBeat]

Unfortunately the po-33 can't sync via MIDI.

[@neonpop80]

@@FreeBeat The CS has a AUX input, can I sync through that? Also has a stereo Audio out. I've never used syncs so I dont know much on how to do this.

[@FreeBeat]

@@neonpop80 I don't believe it can :(

[@PANTA-Music]

Why not using the way without splitter? Making the NTS the master, yet with the effects from the NTS possible on the PO too. Just a cable from sync out NTS -> Input PO Output PO -> Input sound NTS. Set PO to SY2. Get mixed main audio out from NTS Audio out. Done.

[@dillkil]

I got this exact splitter from the link, but when I try to use the PO as the master in sync mode 1 I’m only hearing it in the left headphone, same for when I plug the headphones directly into the red end of the splitter. I can hear the PO fine in stereo with the nts-1 as the master so I don’t think the splitter is the problem, but then I can’t run the PO through the nts-1’s effects. Any idea what I’m doing wrong? Do the sync modes in the global settings on the nts-1 matter?

[@cookiebuster652]

Its a known issue you need another jack to female jack stereo plug thingy, one of the most liked comments on this video shows how to do it

[@promethiousb1489]

Just been trying this,,it doesnt work for me,,i followed video to the letter,,,,the second method works a bit,,but NTs too loud on one channel and PO12 too quiet on other....I think my NTS is faulty....as i cannot get it to sync via MIDI either,,i have a load of different midi connectors including the specific one for Korg,,but still no luck,,never mind i just do what i normally do and comp it by hand in DAW.

[@promethiousb1489]

This wont work if the cable splitter one is using is a STEREO splitter,IE stereo output on BOTH sockets,,thats why this wont work for me,,my adaptor cable isnt black?red,,,,(syncsygnal/audio,,its twin stereo....

[@MrBlowncat]

🌟💪🏼

[@dadren687]

oh heck i forgot to send you this. hope its not some malware or something. got it to work on touchscreen laptop and android phone for nts-1. wish it would play more than one sequence at a time like a PO. nts.linclip.com/

[@FreeBeat]

Oh wow that's pretty neat! I might have to do a video on that in the future, thanks for sharing!

[@christof5416]

amazon amazon amazon

[@FreeBeat]

What about it?