You can edit this synth quite much. It has a big screen (well, big screen compared to many others), user interface is very well organised. I was happy about the four knobs. You can assign them to any midi program change. I had Trinity hooked up my midi set, and when I started to turn the N1R:s preset knobs, Attack/Decay/Cutoff changed like the two synths were one machine. Multi effects processors (two of them) are much like in NS5R, but there is a weird Resonance Filter effect that you can run sound through. Two processors can be routed in many ways. Distortion->Resonance with a proper sound and parameters gives a good digital 303 (don't hang me) bassline kind of results.

Check

wwwedu.oulu.fi/phase2

has some mp3:s where I have used N1R.

It lacks in programability, resonant filters missing in a big way. However for the number of useful sounds and presets to edit from there is enough to recommend the N1r to new users and pros looking for additional sounds.

I enjoy Korg's dark sound. I wouldn't want to use them as my sole instrument but I wouldn't want to use a Roland because of it's bright, in your face sound.

It's a sample playback unit, you're not going to create killer sounds and the dance crowd probably won't like it because there isn't a sweepable filter. But it sounds good, has more flexibility than the other low end Korgs and at it's price ($399) is a great deal.

Since 90% of the synth users never program their synths - I would recommend this to them because there are sounds for everything.

For people who do edit - be prepared. You can edit every parameter under the sun, including how your drum sets are tunes. (I have tuned its beat box sounds to match the key that I was playing in... not bad...) It also supports alternative tunings - which is a plus.

It has 4 assignable knobs that can modify its own sound, or the sound of an attached keyboard.

It has an arpegiator that can actually transmit and control an external sequencer - isn't that rare. (See Yamaha CS1X/CS2X)