What it is and what it was built for
A foot-operated analog synthesizer introduced in 1975. Built for bass players and keyboardists who needed a dedicated, hands-free analog bass voice — not a keyboard extension, but a rhythmic and tonal anchor.
How it works, in terms a player would use
You play it with your feet on an organ-style pedal board. Each note triggers a single voice: two oscillators, one VCA, and a 24dB/octave resonant low-pass filter with key tracking. Taurus I and III give only a distorted sawtooth wave. Taurus II adds pulse. Only Taurus III has an LFO — routable to oscillator pitch or filter frequency.
What it does better than anything else
It delivers bass that anchors a mix physically — felt through floorboards and chest cavity. Its pedal-board layout frees hands for other instruments. Its 24dB/octave filter with key tracking keeps low-end tight across the range. Its monophonic discipline prevents clutter in dense arrangements.
What it does badly
It offers no polyphony. It gives no access to waveform selection on early models. It lacks an LFO until the Taurus III. It cannot layer voices or modulate beyond its fixed signal path. Its interface forces foot-only articulation — no aftertouch, no velocity, no expressive hand input.
What people made with it
Bands used it to lock basslines into drum patterns — especially in progressive rock and early electronic-influenced rock. Its sound appears in recordings where bass must be both foundational and texturally distinct from guitar or synth leads.
Who should use it, and who should not
Bass players wanting analog weight without picking up an instrument. Keyboardists needing a second, foot-controlled voice while playing keys or pads. Producers seeking a monophonic bass that cuts through dense mixes. Not for anyone needing chords, fast runs, or real-time timbral variation.
Is it worth your time
Yes — if you need deep, physical, monophonic bass that locks into rhythm sections without competing for hand space. No — if you need polyphony, timbral flexibility, or hands-on real-time control beyond pedals and front-panel knobs.