Moog Minitaur Analog Synthesizer

Moog Minitaur Analog Synthesizer, New, Rear

Featuring Moog's one-knob-per-function design, this tiny analog bass synthesizer generates huge, fat sounds. Plug in a MIDI controller and make some noise!

Overview -

The Moog Minitaur is a super-fat compact analog bass synthesizer that you can control with MIDI, a USB interface, or with your computer. The design is fundamentally old-school -- intended for those who want an authentic analog alternative to synths with long digital menus and parameter settings. To that end, the Moog Minitaur is specifically one-knob-per-function, which means that you come to understand and use the knobs as part of the instrument. It's built rock solid, feels great, measures a wee 8.5 x 5.25 inches and weighs in at less than 3 pounds. The Minitaur is a great way to get in touch with a true analog circuit flow and create killer patches, while still integrating seamlessly with your digital production and/or live rig.

Hear what's new with the Minitaur's v2.2 firmware update -- oscillator hard-sync, new LFO wave shapes and more:

Analog Output, Digital Control When You Want It

The sound aside, what really distinguishes the Moog Minitaur is the ease with which it interfaces with both analog and digital signal inputs and outputs. The LFO is completely MIDI-syncable via the standard DIN MIDI input on the back, and can be MIDI-controlled not only for Pitch, but for Rate, VCO LFO Amount, and VCF LFO Amount. There is also a USB input for plug-and-play interface with USB-driven controllers and keyboards. Just plug in your controller and start tweaking knobs!

The Analog Control section on the rear panel gives you four TRS jacks that allow you to use a… read more 0 to +5V signal to control Pitch, Filter, Volume and Gate. You can use the Moog EP2 or CV to connect and control your Minitaur with everything else in the Moog line.

Moog specialist Marc Doty demos some of the Minitaur's amazing capabilities:

Sounds Moog-y In Here!

The Minitaur's sound is pure Moog: rich, complex, ethereal, and searing by turns. The two Moog oscillators onboard deliver the famous punchy sawtooth and square waveforms that have made these synths integral for decades of music making. The oscillators can be blended on the fly, and then manipulated with the two Mixer VCAs for VCO level control over the individual oscillators.

The VCA is outfitted with a Minimoog-style ADSR envelope generator used to modulate the VCA. The time length on the Attack, Decay, and Release can be set anywhere been 0 and 30 seconds, yielding some intensely rich and long-evolving waveforms.

The fat Moog Ladder Filter has an adjustable resonance that sets the gain off the output of the VCF, fed back to the input of the VCF. This yields a peak at the Cutoff Frequency that can be increased to generate everything from microbursts of tone to repeating rhymthic groove type sounds.

Features:

- One-knob-per-function interface
- Two oscillators with Sawtooth (Original Taurus) and Square wave-shapes
- 2 x Mixer VCAs
- Moog Ladder Filter
- Two Minimoog style ADSR Envelope Generators for modulating VCF and VCA
- MIDI-syncable LFO with Controls for Rate, VCO LFO Amount, and VCF LFO Amount
- DIN MIDI and MIDI over USB inputs
- Analog Control inputs for Pitch, Filter, Volume and Gate
- External audio input for processing external audio through the Mixer and Filter sections
- Headphone output
- Rugged steel construction

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Specs +

Front Panel Controls:

- VCO2 Frequency - Sets the frequency offset of VCO2 from VCO1 from -1 Octave to +1 Octave. Center is unison with VCO1.
- Oscillator 1 & 2 Saw/Square Waveform Selector - Selects a Sawtooth wave (LED OFF) or Square wave (LED ON) Signal for VCO1 and 2.
- VCO1 Level - Sets the level of VCO1
- VCO2 Level - Sets the level of VCO2
- VCF Cutoff - Sets the Cutoff Frequency of the 4-pole Moog Lowpass VCF from 20Hz to 20KHz
- VCF Resonance - This sets the gain for the amount of signal from the output of the VCF fed back to the input of the VCF. This creates a peak in Frequency response at the Cutoff Frequency that can be increased all the way to self-oscillation.
- VCF EG Amount - Bi-polar control sets the (+) or (-) Amount of Envelope Generator modulation of the VCF. Center is no Envelope Generator modulation.
- LFO Rate - Sets the frequency of the LFO. Range is from 0.01Hz to 100Hz
- LFO VCO Amount - Sets the Amount that the LFO modulates the VCO
- LFO VCF Amount - Sets the Amount that the LFO modulates VCF
- VCA EG Attack - Sets the attack Time of a Minimoog-Style ADSR Envelope Generator used to modulate the VCA. Time ranges from 1 msec to 30 seconds.
- VCA EG Decay/Release - Sets both the decay time to the sustain level and release time of a Minimoog-Style ADSR Envelope Generator used to modulate the VCA. Time ranges from 1 msec to 30 seconds. The Release segment of the EG is enabled by the Release On/Off switch.
- VCA EG Sustain - Sets the sustain level of a Minimoog-Style ADSR Envelope Generator used to modulate the VCA.
- VCF EG Attack - Sets the attack Time of a Minimoog-Style ADSR Envelope Generator used to modulate the VCF. Time ranges from 1 msec to 30 seconds.
- VCF EG Decay/Release - Sets both the decay Time to the sustain level and release time of a Minimoog-Style ADSR Envelope Generator used to modulate the VCF. Time ranges from 1 msec to 30 seconds. The Release segment of the EG is enabled by the Release On/Off switch.
- VCF EG Sustain - Sets the sustain level of a Minimoog-Style ADSR Envelope Generator used to modulate the VCF.
- Release On/Off Switch - Enables (LED On_ or Disables (LED Off) the Release segments of both Envelope Generators.
- Glide On/Off Switch - Enables/ Disables the Glide function
- Glide - Sets the rate of Glide when the note controlling the MINITAUR changes.
- Volume - The Master Volume of the MINITAUR's synth Engine.
- Fine Tune - Adjusts the frequency of the VCOs +/- 1 semitone.
- MIDI Indicator LED - Indicates incoming MIDI activity
- LFO Rate Indicator LED - Indicates the rate of the LFO.

Back Panel:

- Audio Out - 1/4" Unbalanced jack.
- Headphones -- Jack for stereo headphone output.
- Audio In - 1/4" Unbalanced jack accepts line-level input.

Analog CV Inputs:

- Pitch CV - 1/4" TRS Jack accepts 0 to +5V signal (internally processed for 1 V/Octave) via passive Expression Pedals or CVs.
- Filter CV - 1/4" TRS Jack accepts 0 to +5Vsignal via passive Expression Pedals or CVs.
- Volume CV - 1/4" TRS Jack accepts 0 to +5Vsignal via passive Expression Pedals or CVs.
- Gate - 1/4" Jack accepts a 0 (Off)/ +5V(On) Gate signal to trigger the unit's EGs.

MIDI:

- MIDI (DIN) - Standard DIN MIDI input for MIDI Control of the MINITAUR
- MIDI (USB) - Type B USB connector for connecting MINITAUR to host for USB MIDI.

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Base Item: Shipping Weight: 3.75 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 9 x 8 x 6 in; Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): TBP-002-01

Warranties and Docs +

Moog Warranty

If you have additional warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer at 828-251-0090

Moog Music's Description +

Moog Minitaur Analog Synthesizer

The Moog Minitaur is a powerful, compact Analog Bass Synthesizer that features a classic one knob per function design. It is the first instrument in the Taurus family that does not have foot pedals. At only 8.5 x 5.25 inches and less than 3 pounds, the Minitaur puts legendary analog Moog bass into a package designed to fit seamlessly into today's performance and production environments. There are no confusing or convoluted menus to dig through. Plug in a MIDI controller or hook it up to your computer and start playing immediately.

Don't be fooled by its size. Minitaur delivers all the growl, snarl and low end associated with the Taurus family of Bass Synthesizers in a rugged performance package that is small enough to take with you anywhere.

Features

- One knob per function interface for tweaking and creating sounds on the fly. It also makes live performance a blast.
- Two oscillators with Sawtooth (Original Taurus) and Square wave-shapes for each VCO. Recreate sounds of the original Taurus with sawtooth waves, or create sounds with square waves or a combination of both.
- 2 Mixer VCAs for VCO levels control of Oscillators 1 and 2.
- Moog Ladder Filter with adjustable resonance delivers classic Taurus 1 and 3 bass and boom.
- Two Minimoog style ADSR Envelope Generators for modulating VCF and VCA. The Decay and Release segments are controlled by the Decay knob, while the Release segment is enabled or disabled via Release On/Off switch.
- Midi-syncable LFO with Controls for Rate, VCO LFO Amount, and VCF LFO Amount
- DIN MIDI and MIDI over USB offer complete control of the Minitaur's sound engine.
- Analog Control inputs for Pitch, Filter, Volume and Gate. Use an EP2 or CV to connect and control MInitaur with everything from Modulars to Moogerfoogers.
- External audio input for processing external audio through the Mixer and Filter section of Minitaur.
- Headphone output with 1/8-inch connection.
- Compact rugged steel chassis that is built like a tank.

Reviews -

(3 ratings)

Submitted January 7, 2015 by Michael J in Harleysville, PA

"Great 5th voice for Elektron A4"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

I do not own any CV gear but do own an Elektron A4. I wanted something affordable to use with the A4's CV channel. I saw the Moog Minitaur on zZounds as open box at a reasonable price. The Minitaur looked flawless and had ALL the documentation. It took a short time to get it registered with Moog and install the editor. At first the editor did not work well but once the Minitaur Firmware was updated it worked perfectly. It also works well using CV with the A4. Very happy with the sounds it offers when combined with the A4.

Musical Background:

Playing music just for fun since 1979.

Musical Style:

Experimental, ambient.

3 of 3 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?