Minitaur most definitely sounds like a rack-mount/table-top taurus 3. All the brains of the bull.
I would much prefer it over the pedal version.
Well, the RME could be justifiable by adding more hardware options to it. Modular, you nay be right about that. And a 4-voice Taurus poly synth… 
Does that mean I need to put my Ipad on the ground and stomp on it? 
wow, nice one
edit: source? It’s just a mock up isn’t it?
“http://aliens-project.de/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/whats-new.jpg”
Hummm, is that the hardware sequencer I shied away from mentioning? I can sense a few dollars getting ready to change hands.
If you follow the link regarding the “Minitaur” that was posted earlier, and do some reading, you’ll find this is what information is provided:
MINITAUR Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Sound frequency filters for controlling audio parameters by raising or lowering the gain of specific audio frequencies using a resonant filter
IC 015. US 002 021 036. G & S: Electronic musical keyboards; music synthesizers
Not sure what this means, but it sure is exciting 
**EDIT: IT APPEARS ALOT OF THEIR TRADEMARKS USE THE SAME DESCRIPTION, SO DISREGARD MY FIRST PARAGRAPH BELOW:
I read that description too. Just pure speculation: It sounds like part of the product could possibly be a somewhat similar design to the murfs with their seperate frequency filter bands. I have no guesses about the audio parameter control it mentions though.
Also, due to the name ‘Minitaur’, I think that the other comments are probably right to assume the sound source may be based of the Taurus III (or related to the Taurus in some other way).
Whatever it is, I agree it’s exciting!
Regards,
David Smyth
NZ
No, I think the trademark description is just a general description to satisfy the filing officers paperwork without giving away what the actual item is. They are trademarking a Name, nothing else. This has been the same description for the murf, the slim phatty and will continue as they move forward…as long as they keep trademarking names.
Eric
Looking at their other Trademarks, you are correct. Disregard my above speculation (except it still seems like it will be related to the Taurus).
David Smyth
NZ
Maybe the word “instrument” isnt to be taken literally. It just sounds better than “product”…?
To be honest, I feel like another Taurus would be pretty redundant. Do we need a rack mount edition? No, go buy a Slim! Despite what the name “Minitaur” implies, I think a Taurus RME is both unlikely, and unnecessary.
Is it any more redundant than:
Voyager Performer, Voyager RME, Voyager Select, Voyager Old School, Voyager XL
Little Phatty Stage One, Little Phatty Stage II, Slim Phatty
Etherwave, Etherwave Pro, Etherwave Plus
MF104, MF 104SD MF 104z
MF105 MF105B MF105M
MF101 (filter) MF103 (filter) Mf105 (Filter) Ladder 500 (Filter)?
I agree that the Taurus has very limited appeal, but more appeal in RME format than in Bass pedal format. If you are considering buying an analog synth, you’d definately consider it with some Slims if the price is right.
And the Voyager and Phatty…They don’t approximate the Taurus.
I’d be dissapointed if it was software.
The reason a rackmount/tabletop taurus makes sense is that most of the R&D is already done. It will not cost Moog much compared to a new synth from scratch. More users will spur on OS developments. Win-Win!
I did not have much interest in the taurus pedals (size and I can not play with my feet too well). But, I do love the taurus sound. I would seriously consider a tabletop taurus 3. The tough part is Moog coming in under the price a used set of taurus 3 pedals are selling for.
I’m going to go out on a limb and here’s my guess.
Remember the contest says that the instrument is “awesome.” I’m not sure an RME Taurus qualifies completely for the “awesome” tag.
With the apps, Moog has shown a capacity to do nice digital modeling of the analog sounds.
So I’m going back to the poly idea. But it’s not going to be pure analog poly. It’s going to be a hybrid where some part of the signal path involves DCOs or other things in software, and some other part of the signal path is analog.
But that’s just a total guess in the dark.
Question for taurus 3 users:
Wasn’t the arp on the taurus 3 more powerful than the phatties? If I remember correctly, it was most of the way to a pattern sequencer, just missing the interface?
A pattern sequencer interface on a taurus engine would meet the “awesome” moniker.
i’m aware that it is the holiday season, however, there has been a massive spike in cheap T3 eBay auctions by the big warehouse music retailers. Musicians Friend has an auction for $1699 x 10 units, etc. I would lean towards this being a rack mount T3 of some sort. Bummer for me as I have 2 sets of T3s already.
I really want a POLY MOOG !!! PLEASE !!!
Well, if you can afford 2 sets of T3s, you probably can afford 1 Little Phatty and 7 Slim Phatties connected as an 8 voices polyphonic Moog !?
Don’t wait on Moog Music to create the ultimate polyphonic Moog instrument that everyone is asking for since 10 years now… It won’t happen.
Hmm…polyphonic Taurus rig…something to consider… 
I have a phatty already, not interested in some massive wall of phattys. I want something more compact. I guess i will wait and see if Tom Oberheim follows through with his work on his new OBX and buy that. I really want to avoid the (30+ year) old gear if at all possible.