The Moog Taurus 3 is a bass pedal synthesizer with a one octave pedal board, played with the feet while the hands stay on the guitar or bass. Its sound engine circuitry is entirely based on the original Taurus 1's circuitry, the unit Moog has brought back as the Taurus 31. MusicRadar's review summed up the verdict: "Nails the original Taurus 1 sound and mojo. Plenty of hands-free foot control. New MIDI/USB/CV inputs."1
A Taurus 1 sound in a new case
The Taurus 1 was prized for its deep, fat bass tones, and Moog rebuilt that engine rather than redesigning it. MusicRadar's reviewer was happy to report "it really nails the original Taurus 1 nicely. It has the moody lows, the rumbling subs, the growl"1. Part of that character comes from the circuit design itself: the VCOs are coupled to the filter circuit in a unique way, creating a feedback-type effect that enriches the signal and reinforces sub-sonic frequencies1.
The Taurus 3's sound engine circuitry is entirely based on the original Taurus 1's circuitry1. Moog says the VCOs are coupled to the filter circuit in a unique way, creating a feedback-type effect that enriches the signal and reinforces sub-sonic frequencies1. Players who want a related Moog bass sound in a smaller box can look at the Moog Minitaur, and Moog also re-released the original design as the Taurus Bass Pedals (2009 limited edition).
The case is built for life on stage: "the main case and chassis are tough metal topped off with solid wood end panels"1. The pedal contacts are no longer exposed to the elements like the Taurus 1's, so they should hold up much better1. It is not light, though. MusicRadar called it "a weighty beast too, at over 20kgs"1, so plan for how you will transport and lift it.
The controls and footswitches
The upper level functions are the main sound shaping controls for oscillators and filter: Osc Beat, Beat Freq, Glide, Octave, Osc Mix and Amp Envelope, plus Filter Envelope Amount, Cutoff, Resonance and Envelope1. That covers the same kind of oscillator and filter shaping a player would find on a classic Moog synth, laid out for foot-operated bass work rather than synth pedal duty.
The bottom section carries the foot controls:
- Nine unlatching metal foot stomp switches, each with its own yellow selector light1
- The first four switches access the four presets in each bank1
- The fifth footswitch selects banks by foot, so preset changes happen hands-free1
The lights in the wheels can be on permanently, flash with the LFO speed, or be turned off1, a small thing that matters on a dark stage.
MIDI, USB and outputs
Where the original Taurus 1 was a purely analog unit, the Taurus 3 adds modern connectivity: MIDI In and Out, and USB which can send and receive MIDI1. MusicRadar also counts new CV inputs among the additions1. For players running a MIDI rig, that means the pedal board can be sequenced or slaved alongside other gear, and it sits naturally among MIDI pedals on a larger setup.
For output, there are two mono jack outs: one Hi-Z for connecting to amps, and one Lo-Z for connecting to line level inputs1. That means the same unit can drive a bass amp directly or feed a mixing desk or interface at line level.
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Questions
What is the Moog Taurus 3?
It is a bass pedal synthesizer made by Moog, with a one octave pedal board played with the feet. Its sound engine is entirely based on the original Taurus 1's circuitry, and MusicRadar's review found it nails the original's moody lows, rumbling subs and growl. It adds modern MIDI, USB and CV inputs that the original never had.
How many footswitches does the Taurus 3 have?
Nine. The bottom section carries nine unlatching metal foot stomp switches, each with its own yellow selector light. The first four access the four presets in each bank, and the fifth selects banks by foot.
Does the Moog Taurus 3 have MIDI?
Yes. It has MIDI In and Out, plus USB which can send and receive MIDI. MusicRadar's review also notes new CV inputs among the modern additions.
How much does the Taurus 3 weigh?
MusicRadar describes it as a weighty beast at over 20kgs. It is a substantial unit with a tough metal main case and chassis topped off with solid wood end panels.
Is the Taurus 3 analog or digital?
It is analog. The sound engine uses two sawtooth wave VCOs running through an ADSR amp envelope, a Moog 904a low-pass filter and an AD filter envelope, all based on the original Taurus 1 circuitry.
How do the presets work on the Taurus 3?
There are four presets per bank. The first four footswitches access the four presets in each bank, and the fifth footswitch selects banks by foot, so you can change sounds hands-free while playing.
Sources (1)
- Moog Taurus 3 review, MusicRadar, 2010-04-22
John Myung