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MINITAUR Congratulations on your new Minitaur Analog Bass Synthesizer, a powerful, compact IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE READ BEFORE USING THIS PRODUCT When using the Minitaur, these basic precautions should always be followed. Moog synthesizer with a classic one knob per function design. At only 8.5" x 5.25" and less than 3lbs, the Minitaur puts legendary analog Moog bass into a package designed to fit seamlessly into all of your performance and production environments.
CONTENTS UNPACKING AND INSPECTION THE BASICS CHECK THE CONTENTS IN THE SHIPPING CARTON The Minitaur is shipped with the following items: Unpacking & Inspection••••••••••••••••••••• 4 Setup and Connections•••••••••••••••••••••• 4 Overviews and Features••••••••••••••••••••• 6 1. The Minitaur Analog Bass Synthesizer Signal Flow••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 2. A 12VDC Power Adaptor Basic Operation•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3. A “Getting Started” Guide 9 4.
POWER UP Apply power to the Minitaur and to your MIDI controller. CONNECT TO AMPLIFIER Set the Minitaur’s volume control to minimum before connecting to an amplifier, mixer, or headphones. Set the amplifier volume to a comfortable listening level, and then slowly bring up the volume on the Minitaur as you play a few notes. NOTE: Use caution when adjusting initial volume levels, especially if connected to a subwoofer.
SIGNAL FLOW BACK PANEL To understand how the Minitaur generates sound, take a look at the diagram below. It shows the flow of Audio, Control Voltage and Modulation signals in the Minitaur. Heavy lines indicate audio signals, which flow from left to right. Lighter lines indicate Control Voltages (CV’s), which flow from the top and from the bottom. Dotted lines indicate Modulation routings. AUDIO INPUT PITCH CV INPUT FILTER CV INPUT VOLUME CV INPUT HEADPHONE OUT 1/8” Stereo Headphone Output.
BASIC OPERATION The Minitaur responds to MIDI messages on both DIN and USB MIDI Inputs. In addition, Minitaur’s knobs and switches transmit MIDI Control Change (CC) commands via MIDI USB, allowing parameter adjustments to be captured by any MIDI-recording device. Minitaur has an LED MIDI indicator that indicates MIDI activity on either the DIN MIDI or USB MIIDI connector. To further extend the Minitaur’s capabilities, there are additional parameters that can be accessed via MIDI control.
GLIDE GLIDE (AKA ‘portamento’) is a musical effect that makes smooth changes in pitch between notes. The Minitaur’s GLIDE RATE is adjustable from instantaneous to extremely long. VCO 2 LVL (CC# 16): Sets the level of VCO 2. MIDI ACCESSIBLE CONTROL EXTERNAL INPUT LEVEL (CC# 27): Adjusts the External Audio Input level. By default, the level is set for unity gain, but the level can be adjusted up to 200% Default = 64.
way to self-oscillation. ENVELOPES EXTERNAL CONTROL The FILTER CV jack on the back panel is an input for external control of the Filter Cutoff parameter. A voltage applied to this jack is added to the setting of the Filter Cutoff control. A one-volt change in the Control Voltage will change the cutoff frequency of the filter by about one octave. The jack accepts 0 to +5 volts, or an expression pedal like the Moog EP-2.
note is released, the EG moves back to zero at the rate set by this control. The time ranges from 1 msec to 30 seconds. The Release segment of the Envelope is determined by the state of the RELEASE switch (ON/OFF). AMPLIFIER SUSTAIN (CC# 30): Sets the Amplifier EG level after the Decay and before the Release portion. A note must be held longer than both the Attack and Decay time to reach the Sustain level. The level is adjustable from 0 to 100%.
VOLUME (VCA) INPUT/OUTPUT PANEL The Minitaur features a monophonic Audio Output and a Headphone Output; both outputs appear on the back panel. Both ouputs are adjusted simultaneously by the VOLUME control. The back panel provides all of the input and output connections. In addition to AUDIO INPUT/OUTPUT jacks, there are CV and GATE inputs, connections for MIDI, and the Power Connector. The Minitaur does not have a power switch.
PERFORMANCE TIPS: • You can use the Minitaur to process any audio signal simply by plugging into the AUDIO IN jack. To hear the external audio signal, you will need a MIDI NOTE ON message. To hear the external audio signal without issuing a MIDI NOTE ON message, apply +5V to the GATE jack. This will leave the Gate open, and the Amplifier Envelope will remain at its Sustain level until the Gate closes.
NOTES: • The Minitaur sends 7-bit MIDI CC messages for all parameters. It can receive either 7-bit or 14-bit values for the parameters controlled by knobs, but only 7-bit values for parameters controlled by switches. SECTION FILTER ALL SOUNDS OFF/ALL NOTES OFF (CC# 120 or 123): Both of these parameters are MIDI ‘panic’ functions that are used to silence hung MIDI notes. Controllers or DAWs may send one or the other command which is why the Minitaur will respond to either.
SECTION CONTROL/ PARAMETER CONTROL (SEE NOTE 1) MOD KEYBD PITCH WHEEL WHEEL RESPONSE RESPONSE RESPONSE VOLUME ENVELOPES VCF ATTACK FUNCTION CC Adjusts the filter envelope attack time.
APPENDIX A - MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART FUNCTION TRANSMITTED RECOGNIZED REMARKS BASIC CHANNEL Default Changed 1 1-16 1 1-16 Default Messages Altered NO NO NO 4 NO NO NO 0-72 User Selectable MODE NOTE NUMBER Note Priority MIDI CC# 91 VELOCITY Note On Note Off NO NO YES NO AFTER TOUCH NO NO PITCH BEND NO YES Programmable from 0 ± 24 Semitones CONTROL CHANGE YES YES 1,3,5,7,12,13,15-25, 27-30,33,35,37,39, 44,45,47-57,59-62, 65,70-73,81-83,86, 87,89-92,107,108, 120,122,123 PROGRAM CH
APPENDIX C - CARING FOR THE MINITAUR Clean the Minitaur with a soft, slightly moist cloth only – do not use solvents or abrasive detergents. Heed the safety warnings at the beginning of the manual. Don’t drop the unit. If you are shipping your Minitaur to the factory for servicing, we recommend using the original shipping carton, or an ATA approved Road Case. ! AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SAFETY: Do not open the chassis. There are no user serviceable parts in the Minitaur.
APPENDIX E - SPECIFICATIONS APPENDIX E - SPECIFICATIONS TYPE: Programmable Monophonic Analog Bass Synthesizer REAR PANEL: •12VDC POWER INLET: Accepts +12VDC, tip positive •MONOPHONIC AUDIO IN (1/4” TS-UNBALANCED) Accepts +4dBu line level signal •MONOPHONIC AUDIO OUT (1/4“ TS-UNBALANCED) •HEADPHONE JACK (1/8” TRS STEREO MINIJACK) •CONTROL VOLTAGE INPUTS: Pitch CV: 0 to +5V Filter CV: 0 to +5V Volume CV: 0 to +5V Gate: +5V trigger •DIN MIDI: MIDI Input •USB MIDI: MIDI input, MIDI Output SYNTH ENGINE: Osci
MOOG MINITAUR FIRMWARE v2.1 ADDENDUM PRESETS Your Minitaur comes loaded with 94 presets in its internal memory. Up to 128 presets can be saved and loaded using the free Minitaur Editor, or via any sysex utility. Register your Minitaur at Moogmusic.com/register to get the free plugin and standalone editor. Minitaur also supports MIDI Program Change messages to change presets.
MOOG MINITAUR FIRMWARE v2.1 ADDENDUM CV MAPPING In Firmware v2.0 and above, the PITCH, VOLUME, and GATE Controller Inputs on Minitaur can be re-mapped to control other parameters. This allows you to use voltage control in new and creative ways. The PITCH and VOLUME inputs provide continuous control, like the panel knobs, while the GATE input only provides on/off type control.
