What about the TAURUS?

goldphinga · Post by **goldphinga** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 7:29 am

do u have the settings for the source taurus patch? thanks.

Progger · Post by **Progger** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 7:15 pm

I am happy to hear about the Source. I have been trying to get my Mini to sound exactly like a Taurus for over a decade. Forget the suggested setting in the manual. I read that can not be done due to the idiosyncratic processing of the sound. I have tried different combinations of chorus and phasers, but have not found the perfect sound. I think of this situation as being similiar to the Solina String Ensemble. The dry sound is just that, the life comes from the processing of the sound. The Taurus II lacked this feature, I assume, and therefore it is much easier to reproduce the sound of the later generation model from other Moogs. Am I wrong to assume that a newly developed processor in a box, from MOOG, would be an aid to obtain the original Taurus sound? One could use pre-existing pedals and CV for driving a mono analog synth, saving all of that hassle of construction costs for MOOG.

Codackussell · Post by **Codackussell** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:26 pm

What about pedals that had the Taurus sounds programmed + midi capabilities???

ebg31 · Post by **ebg31** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:35 am

One thing that I'd personally like, if Dr. Moog and company could resurrect the basic innards of the Taurus I, but not on its own. They could take the equivelent of two Taurus units and group them together under microprocessor control (with 8 memory patches) in a 25-note pedalboard. A two-voice Taurus unit. That would be great.

Argyle · Post by **Argyle** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:47 pm

If the organ-style pedals themselves are too expensive, I'd be happy with guitar-pedal style foot switches, as long as they permit my EE wide foot. I have a high instep, also, but that doesn't seem to affect my pedal playing.

I've always wondered why the guitar pedalboard manufacturers (Boss, Behringer, Digitech, etc.) don't just arrange the toe switches like the white & black keys of a piano keyboard. Then you could easily use it for anything - notes, midi stuff, etc. Can't be too expensive.

ebg31 · Post by **ebg31** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:08 am

Good point, Argyle! That's something I hadn't thought of. Perhaps, the reason it would be cheaper to build a flat pedalboard, like your saying, is that it's easier to build flat, rubber-encased footswitches than the sculpted wood, or plastic of classic pedalboards.

One proviso: they could probably be slightly thinner switches than the ones found on multi-effects systems.
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[This type of system probably wouldn't be embraced by traditional organ players, though.]

tunedLow · Post by **tunedLow** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:13 am

Does anyone remember a Genesis video from the 80's where they're in a studio and Phil Collins is hitting a strange keyboard with his hands - were those Taurus pedals? (Don't know why he was using his hands...)

chihuahuaphile · Post by **chihuahuaphile** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:25 am

tunedLow wrote:Does anyone remember a Genesis video from the 80's where they're in a studio and Phil Collins is hitting a strange keyboard with his hands - were those Taurus pedals? (Don't know why he was using his hands...)

yes, it was a set of taurus I 's
that goofy bastard, got to love 'em.

DW · Post by DW » Sat Jan 22, 2005 11:11 am

The song is called "I Don't Care Anymore" and I believe it's on the About Face album.

He uses them with his hands so he can make adjustments to the cutoff foot slider while playing.

Dan Conley · Post by **Dan Conley** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:58 pm

There is such a market for the Taurus, it is time to get on with the re-issue of the beast to end all beasts. All who are interested, take the time to let the good people at MOOG know we want to give them some money.

miket156 · Post by **miket156** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:22 pm

Is 1600 to 2100 the going rate for Taurus I pedals these days? I have a set that just about MINT. Only a few scrathces on the aluminum on the right side of the unit. Besides that, they look as good as the day I bought them, and I bought them brand new. Always kept in a case.

These are GREAT bass pedals. I don't know that I would worry about midi with bass pedals. I bought them to PLAY, which I did. I like the fact that it has not only a large volume slider you can adjust with your feet on one side, but also a filter slider on the right side that you can adjust while you play too. You can get some great sounds of these pedals. A quality piece.

Mike T.

peter ripa · Post by **peter ripa** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:07 am

i never understood why anyone would want to play with their feet, and yes i did try

ebg31 · Post by **ebg31** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:23 am

Oh really?

Well, it's really a technique of organ players. I'm not proficiant with it, myself, but I'vee been "stomping" at it for a few years, now. You can hear it onl live Led Zepplin and Rush albums. Geddy Lee and John Paul Jones make the utmost use of bass pedals, and Geddy tended to favor the Taurus. Apparently, nothing else could deliver the same tone and drive of his Rickenbacker bass guitar.

And, once again, Sting used two Taurus units on the Police' Reggata de Blanc tour in 1979. There's a clear picture of them in the booklet of their double live CD.

[Sure, you have to stay still, but you can still perform without always having to jump all around.]

Argyle · Post by **Argyle** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:36 pm

Playing pedals does take practice, but it's worth it when you are playing in a three or four piece band without a lot of other instruments. The pedals can trigger synth sounds to fill out the sound behind a guitar solo or a chorus, or add a little ambience during a long intro or break. I use 'em on probably 1/3 of our cover song setlist. My band even complained about how they missed my MIDI pedals the week my power supply blew out (my Taurus stay at home where it's safe).

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 2:51 am

I think there's a point in the live version of "The Fish" from Yessongs where Chris Squire uses them. I always thought it was Rick Wakeman, but I finally realized recently that it's probably the Taurus. He steps on a low E while doing a kind of ascending line on the bass...

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What about the TAURUS?

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