Bass Pedal (Taurus, Roland, MIDI, etc) Club? - Page 16

**superdick2112** · #**301** 12-03-2012, 09:09 AM

I think bass amps make great Taurus amps. The PA system will handle the real amplification of the Taurus for your audience, so the only thing you really need is to be able to hear the Taurus onstage, and a bass amp will serve this purpose nicely.
For my Taurus amplification I use an SWR Headlite to drive a 15" EV speaker in a Sonic cab, and not only does it sound great, it doubles as a bass rig for small to medium size gigs. On smaller gigs I use an SWR Baby Blue II as my Taurus amp.

Indiedog · #**302** 12-03-2012, 09:53 AM

DANG!
You really do have a nice set-up! I love the keyboards!

Calaverasgrande · #**303** 12-03-2012, 03:15 PM

RE: what to play through...
I actually use an old Traynor YGL3 guitar combo with PA speakers for the 12" drivers and a compression driver tweeter. Sounds killer on everything except the Taurus.
I don't like how most of the powered PA speakers are made, so I'll stick to this for most of my synths, and pick up another bass amp for the taurus.
Probably an old GK or Traynor.
I wish the JBL EON speakers were as well made as they were 10 years ago. They look like toys now.

howardcano · #**304** 12-04-2012, 05:24 AM

Hi Terry,

I was doing some early morning web surfing and ran across this thread. Can I get a number? How about Honorary #0?

Here are a few of my creations, and creations by others using my MIDI converters and synthesizers:

http://s1191.photobucket.com/albums/z467/howardcano/

**twocargar** · #**305** 12-04-2012, 05:35 AM

Absolutely, Howard!

Welcome, and thanks for sharing! You are member #0.

I never asked you, but when and how did the Sonosaur come about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardcano

Hi Terry,

I was doing some early morning web surfing and ran across this thread. Can I get a number? How about Honorary #0?

Here are a few of my creations, and creations by others using my MIDI converters and synthesizers:

http://s1191.photobucket.com/albums/z467/howardcano/

howardcano · #**306** 12-04-2012, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twocargar

Absolutely, Howard!

Welcome, and thanks for sharing! You are member #0.

I never asked you, but when and how did the Sonosaur come about?

After I designed the Saurus, which had programmable presets for live performance, several people asked about a "knobs-only" synth-- they liked the immediacy of twiddling knobs, even for live performance. The Sonosaur was a pretty quick solution, as the circuitry is essentially a Saurus without the presets (and with a two-pole rather than four-pole filter to cut cost).

I designed it in late 2005 / early 2006. The Saurus was from early-to-mid 2005.

Someone may ask, so here's where the name came from: it's a play on "Son-of-Saurus", and conveniently also includes the prefix "sono" (from the Latin for "sound"). The name for Saurus was itself a play on "Taurus" (of course!) and "dinosaur", which they are!

Indiedog · #**307** 12-04-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardcano

Hi Terry,

I was doing some early morning web surfing and ran across this thread. Can I get a number? How about Honorary #0?

Here are a few of my creations, and creations by others using my MIDI converters and synthesizers:

http://s1191.photobucket.com/albums/z467/howardcano/

Yowsers! You have it bad, Howard! (Good on ya!)

Very impressive!
Welcome!

**twocargar** · #**308** 12-04-2012, 08:30 AM

For those who may not know, Howard Cano is the mastermind behind many cool devices, such as the Super MIDIpeds (aka the Cygnus MIDI Adapter, licensed and sold by me), MIDIpeds (aka BASYN MIDI Adapter, licensed and sold by TB member bjlevine), as well as the Sonosaur (aka Basyn Analog Synth Module also licensed and sold by bjlevine). Howard is definitely one of the pioneers in DIY MIDI conversions, including DIY MIDI pedals!

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardcano

After I designed the Saurus, which had programmable presets for live performance, several people asked about a "knobs-only" synth-- they liked the immediacy of twiddling knobs, even for live performance. The Sonosaur was a pretty quick solution, as the circuitry is essentially a Saurus without the presets (and with a two-pole rather than four-pole filter to cut cost).

I designed it in late 2005 / early 2006. The Saurus was from early-to-mid 2005.

Someone may ask, so here's where the name came from: it's a play on "Son-of-Saurus", and conveniently also includes the prefix "sono" (from the Latin for "sound"). The name for Saurus was itself a play on "Taurus" (of course!) and "dinosaur", which they are!

Flux Jetson · #**309** 12-04-2012, 10:11 AM

This is from Howard's photobucket album .. my no-doubt fave of the bunch ...

Flux Jetson · #**310** 12-04-2012, 10:20 AM

I have a full set of these that came with my 1962 Hammond A102. I've thought about doing a midi-bass conversion but I'd be limited to a seated position to use them. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I mean I could create an entire ~system~ based around the fact that I'm seated, so many other things could be added on to the mission control sitting rig. It would free-up both feet, if nothing else. Since I just ordered my own Cygnus kit from member "twocargar" I have many things spinnin' round my wooden head about exactly what I shall ultimately do with it once it's in my greasy mitts.

Another pic taken from Howard Cano's photobucket album btw. (Thanks for sharing that Howard, as well as for sharing everything else you've given the world.

)

It should be noted that these are not salvaged from a vintage organ, but were 100% scratch built by a person named Rick Murphy according to the information in Howard's photobucket album.

MPU · #**311** 12-04-2012, 01:18 PM

Howard; Nice to see you here. Last week I tried to find a way to contact you so this was a nice suprise. Do you know if the Saurus is available anywhere? I have Sonosaur synth and I'd like to try Saurus. How does these two compare?
Marko

Ezmar · #**312** 12-04-2012, 01:31 PM

I might look into getting some, what are the options I have, and the advantages and disadvantages of each? I figure you folks would know.

NOLA Bass · #**313** 12-04-2012, 02:48 PM

Taurus 3 is out for delivery!!!!!

keb · #**314** 12-04-2012, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

shweet ....

How did you t-shoot the IC?

Yikes, sorry for the late reply.

I'm no tech, but I have a little experience with electronics so it was basically poring over the Taurus's schematics, a little intuition, and a lot of luck, heh. I had a hunch it was a problem with the 4-way switching involved throughout the circuit (Variable/Taurus/Tuba/Bass), and it was the Variable setting that was giving me problems, so I swapped ICs out in what I thought were the likely spots and got lucky. I'm just glad they're socketed beasties so I didn't have to do any soldering work.

It's a temperamental instrument to be sure (36 years old and counting). I can't move the dang thing without jostling an internal pot or two (there's a bunch inside which allow you to adjust the tuning and scaling and such) which throws an oscillator out of tune on certain presets. Needless to say, it stays home and one of these days I'll gather the courage to replace those flakey pots.

**twocargar** · #**315** 12-04-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezmar

I might look into getting some, what are the options I have, and the advantages and disadvantages of each? I figure you folks would know.

For me, having pedals that only have an internal synth and no MIDI means I can't use it for triggering sounds or prerecorded bits. Something like the Moog Taurus 3 has both, as well as USB that makes it highly customizable, and gives access to presets. The downside is the price.

If you are on a budget and are fairly handy, you can build your own set of MIDI organ pedals using something like the Cygnus MIDI Adapter. The MIDI out from that can go into a rack synth, laptop or keyboard synth. Some might say the downside is looks, but it's all about what you put into it.

Somewhere in the middle price-point would be buying something like the Roland PK-5's and connecting it to the Moog Minitaur.

howardcano · #**316** 12-04-2012, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPU

Howard; Nice to see you here. Last week I tried to find a way to contact you so this was a nice suprise. Do you know if the Saurus is available anywhere? I have Sonosaur synth and I'd like to try Saurus. How does these two compare?
Marko

Hi Marko,

The Saurus is not currently available. I still have three of them here in various stages of completion, but have no plans to finish any in the near future-- I'm too busy playing with my RC cars (and designing my own transponders for them). One can never have enough hobbies!

The only real difference in the signal chain between the Saurus and the Sonosaur is the number of filter stages (four-pole on the Saurus versus two-pole on the Sonosaur). They sound quite similar, with the Saurus being a bit more "ballsy", "phat", or whatever other American slang term might apply.

howardcano · #**317** 12-04-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

This is from Howard's photobucket album .. my no-doubt fave of the bunch ...

Hi Flux Jetson,

That's funny! It was actually one of the simpler ones to make. But the contrast between the oak side pieces and the black vinyl covering does look nice.

By the way, the photos of your modular synth remind me of my college days. I made a ring modulation module for the Moog system owned by one of my professors, Roy Pritts. He liked it so much that he wrote a piece of music with it. I believe the title was "Ring Modulation 2". I got to watch and listen to him play it one evening with the Denver Symphony Orchestra. Cool!

Ezmar · #**318** 12-04-2012, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twocargar

For me, having pedals that only have an internal synth and no MIDI means I can't use it for triggering sounds or prerecorded bits. Something like the Moog Taurus 3 has both, as well as USB that makes it highly customizable, and gives access to presets. The downside is the price.

If you are on a budget and are fairly handy, you can build your own set of MIDI organ pedals using something like the Cygnus MIDI Adapter. The MIDI out from that can go into a rack synth, laptop or keyboard synth. Downside is looks. It's all about what you put into it.

Somewhere in the middle price-point would be buying something like the Roland PK-5's and connecting it to the Moog Minitaur.

Well, since this is a decidedly future purchase, price is no object. So it looks like the Taurus has the market more or less cornered for High-end gear. I'll buy what I can get when I have the money.

Flux Jetson · #**319** 12-04-2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOLA Bass

Taurus 3 is out for delivery!!!!!

So .. (if I have it right) so far it's been the Roland bass pedals, the little keyboard, the Roland rack synth, and now a Taurus III? You've sunk some serious cash-heesh into this case of gas! (since what .. June of 2011?)

Go man, Go!

You'll be building a modular before long! Hahaha

Flux Jetson · #**320** 12-04-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howardcano

Hi Flux Jetson,

That's funny! It was actually one of the simpler ones to make. But the contrast between the oak side pieces and the black vinyl covering does look nice.

By the way, the photos of your modular synth remind me of my college days. I made a ring modulation module for the Moog system owned by one of my professors, Roy Pritts. He liked it so much that he wrote a piece of music with it. I believe the title was "Ring Modulation 2". I got to watch and listen to him play it one evening with the Denver Symphony Orchestra. Cool!

I think it's actually that simplicity that attracts me to it.

Thanks for the story, good times ... good times ...