The Korg NTS-3 kaoss pad kit is a compact DIY effects unit that puts the Kaoss XY pad, the touch interface Korg made famous on its Kaoss Pad line, into a kit you assemble yourself. Instead of knobs and footswitches, you control effects by sliding a finger across the pad, with your finger position driving the effect parameters in real time1.
Korg describes the NTS-3 kaoss pad kit as a build-it-yourself effects unit whose built-in KAOSS effects "range from essential filters and compressors to immersive delays, reverbs and imaginative modulation effects"2. It is part of the Nu:Tekt range of kits, which also includes the Korg NTS-1 digital kit mkII. A System Updater v1.4 firmware update is available1.
What it does
The NTS-3 carries the built-in Kaoss effects, which Korg says "range from essential filters and compressors to immersive delays, reverbs and imaginative modulation effects"1. The effect categories break down as follows3:
| Category | Effects |
|---|---|
| Filter | 5 effects |
| Modulation | 6 effects |
| Mastering | 7 effects |
| Other | Looper, grainshifter, vinyl break and more |
| Also included | Delay, Reverb, OSC |
Up to 4 effects can be played at the same time, and each combination can be saved and toggled, with various routing configurations available1. The unit holds 200 programs in total: 100 preload and 100 user programs3.
How it is controlled and powered
The Kaoss XY pad is the main control surface. Effects are selected and edited through the pad and the unit's panel, with deeper editing handled through Korg's editor software. A System Updater, v1.4, was released on 12 May 20251.
Power comes over USB bus power through a Type-C port, drawing 500 mA or less3. There is no battery option in the specifications, so it needs a USB power source wherever you use it.
The audio jacks are 3.5 mm stereo mini-phone jacks, not the 1/4 inch jacks most guitar pedals use. To run a guitar or amp through the NTS-3 you need adapter cables, and the headphone output doubles as the main audio out3.
Where it came from
The NTS-3 belongs to Korg's Nu:Tekt range of DIY kits, which pairs small USB-powered hardware with software editing. Its Kaoss effects and XY pad come out of the Kaoss Pad family, which Korg extended in 2026 with the full-size Korg KAOSS PAD V, announced at NAMM 2026 as the first traditional full-size Kaoss Pad since the KP3+ in 2013. Earlier compact members of the family include the Korg Mini Kaoss Pad 2S and the Korg Kaoss Pad Quad.
Videos
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KORG
loopop
Questions
Does the Korg NTS-3 kaoss pad kit need soldering?
No. Korg describes the NTS-3 as a DIY assembly with no soldering needed, requiring less than 20 minutes to put together. It is a build-it-yourself kit in the Nu:Tekt range, but the assembly is tool-light and does not involve a soldering iron.
How many effects can the NTS-3 run at once?
Up to four effects can be played at the same time, and they can be saved and toggled with various routing configurations. The effect categories include filter, modulation, delay, reverb, mastering and others such as a looper, grainshifter and vinyl break.
Can I plug a guitar straight into the NTS-3?
The NTS-3 has an AUDIO IN jack, but it is a 3.5 mm stereo mini-phone jack rather than a standard 1/4 inch guitar jack. A player wanting to feed a guitar straight in would need an adapter cable or a small interface.
Is the NTS-3 powered over USB?
Yes. The unit runs on USB bus power through its USB Type-C port, with a current draw of 500 mA or less. There is no battery option listed in the specifications.
What is the Nu:Tekt range from Korg?
Nu:Tekt is Korg's line of compact DIY kits that players assemble themselves. The NTS-3 kaoss pad kit is part of it, alongside kits such as the NTS-1 digital kit mkII. The range pairs small, USB-powered hardware with deep editing software.
Sources (3)
- NTS-3 kaoss pad kit, KORG (USA), 2025-05-12
- NTS-3 kaoss pad kit, KORG
- Specifications, KORG (USA)
