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Tau Pro

Tau Pro
Tau Pro by Muon Software is a Virtual Instrument Audio Plugin for macOS and Windows. It functions as a VST Plugin and an Audio Units Plugin.
Product
Version
2.0.2
Product
Version
2.0.2
Instrument
Formats
Copy Protection
None
My KVR - Groups, Versions, & More
30 KVR members have added Tau Pro to 7 My KVR groups 31 times.
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KVR Rank

Overall: 1570   1246   1534

30-Day: 1456; 7-Day: 4176; Yesterday: 8752

Tau Pro is more than just an acid bassline synthesiser. Its flexibility means that it is equally happy delivering seriously chunky lead riffs, deep junglist sub-bass or dubby textures.

Features:

  • Dual 64-bit waveform oscillators: 11 waveform shapes with 2x oversampling for totally alias-free sound. Width modulation, sync & ring mod on all waveforms.
  • Multi-mode filter: 18dB Classic, 24dB Hi-Q and 36dB Phat modes.
  • Built-in FX unit: warm overdrive, chorus, flange and delay effects.
  • Full MIDI control: fully assignable MIDI CCs mean you can just right click on the user interface and link up to your hardware controller straight away.

Latest User Reviews

Average user rating of 3.96 from 25 reviews
Tau Pro

Reviewed By tommyzai [all]
June 5th, 2016
Version reviewed: 2.02 on Mac

INTRO
Tau Bassline Pro by Muon Software Ltd. is an excellent monophonic synth bass plugin.

TB-303
The Roland TB-303 was a "transistor bass" synth with a built-in sequencer. It was produced from 1982 to 1984. This synth is often credited for launching several EDM genres, i.e., house, acid, etc. It's interesting to note that the original launch of this product was a failure. It became famous and heavily sought after much later. The unit featured a single envelop gen, osc with only two waveforms — saw and square. Probably the most noteworthy feature was the lowpass filter, which was lively and wet. This, combined with the built-in sequencer (accented notes, portamento, etc.) made this a legendary synth workstation.

EMULATION
Many online ads and reviews claim this plugin to be the ultimate acid bassline synth and/or excellent TB-303 emulation. Well, I rarely drop acid or do acid house, and I've never owned or used a TB-303, but I am a bass player, songwriter, producer, and educator. I know the difference between a good bass and a not so good bass — Tau Pro is a great bass plugin that is capable of all kinds of wet sounds as well as deep sub rumbles. It can also produce wonderful leads.

MORE MORE MORE
This pro version features two alias-free oscillators with a choice of 11 waveforms (sine, sawtooth x5, and square x5). The waveforms can be pulse-width modulated to expand the basic timbre. This adds a great deal of versatility of previous versions and even the original Roland hardware unit. Tau Pro provides users with the capability to create an array of tones that range from comfy warm to edge-of-your-seat suspenseful.

EFFECTS
This virtual unit includes overdrive, chorus, flange, and delay.

FEATURES I DIG
• Straightforward GUI that doesn't get in the way
• Easy to program
• Surprisingly flexible (basslines, lead riffs, subs, textures)
• Great sound
• Juicy resonant filter
• Alias-free
• Stable (if running 32-bit)
• CPU efficient
• Responsive, supportive developer
• Price.

THOUGHTS
• Where are the presets? I heard there are 32 of them, but I can't locate them.
• 64-bit is needed.

TEST OF TIME?
Software, in general, comes and goes at a faster rate than hardware; yet, a rare few can withstand the test of time. Tau Pro could continue to thrive with a some upgrates, i.e., 64-bit, new presets, etc. While there are other emulations out that may be more true to the original, this plugin has proven to hold its own as a synth.

SUMMARY
Tau Pro is a naughty little plugin that is more than capable of supplying users with an assortment of throbbing basses and unforgettable leads. It's more than a two-trick pony by virtue of the added waveforms and FX. I highly recommend this fine virtual instrument to any eMusician, songwriter, producer, DJ, etc., who wants to add a sweet acid or low boom to a track. I give Tau two subsonic thumbs up.

FINAL QUESTION
Is this a timeless vintage soft synth or a legacy plugin? Only time will tell. ..

Read Review
Tau Pro

Reviewed By Sendy [all]
September 13th, 2010
Version reviewed: 2.02 on Windows

I bought this a few months ago, partly because I fancied it as a 303-ballpark synth, and partly because of the rare and to me, coveted, wavceform features. The 11 waveforms include sine wave, and 5 variations of sawtooth and square. All of these waves sound different from eachother and are PWM-able. I know some synths can do this, but it's a rarity and EVERY synth should be able to do it! Static oscillators are a crime. PWM is achieved on the other waveforms by pinching the wave at the beginning and end of it alternately, and it even brings the sine wave to colourful life.

Hard sync and ring modulation round out the tricks of the dual oscillator section, but without a way to sweep osc. 2's pitch, they're of limited value, providing only static timbral variation (though there's always automation ;). Overall the oscillators sound fantastic.

The filters are juicy and come in three flavours, all lowpass, but with different steepness and characteristics. You'd never guess this synth was made when it was, judging from the sound. Control is limited for the most part to the parameters available on the tb-303, but this is so good at doing what it does, I don't really care. If you really want to play pads on it, multitrack it. It was made to make mono lines (of the bass or lead variety) which cut thru the mix, and it does that beautifully.
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Tau Pro

Reviewed By djastroboy [all]
October 26th, 2005
Version reviewed: 1.1 on Windows

The Tau Pro definately does what it's supposed to, and it does if very reliably.
This is a good synth, but it doesn't justify its price in today's VST environment. For $35, you can get much, much more. Unfortunately it's not a very flexible general synthesizer. There are no envelopes, for example, making swelling-type sounds impossible to create.
If you're looking for a 303 emulation, there is at least one VST available that is much more convincing. Search the forums for the latest if you're looking for a 303.
If you a want general synth, you can get dozens of freebies that sound just as good, are much more flexible, better supported, and well, are free.
This synth is also missing some convenience features that are assumed on typical VSTs nowadays: patch management, midi learn for CC control.
The Tau was amazing in its day, but that time has passed and the developer has not continued improving it to keep up with the competition.
One nice thing is that there are tons of presets available, a testament to the Tau's ease-of-use.
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Tau Pro

Reviewed By dburgan [all]
February 8th, 2004
Version reviewed: 1.1 on Windows

One word: WOW.

This synth is supposed to be 303-like, but I find it to have nothing to do with that infamous silver box. Instead, this is an aggressive, uber-powerful monosynth made for but one purpose:

Nasty Aggressive Bass

Well, okay, it also makes nasty aggressive leads too. In fact, it reminds a lot of the Waldorf Pulse in that regard. It has one of the thickest, fattest sounds in a soft synth that I've ever heard. Power.

Is it a one-trick pony? You bet. You can't even control the envelope of the thing. But at that one trick, this synth is better than any other.
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Tau Pro

Reviewed By Spe3D [all]
June 11th, 2003
Version reviewed: 1.1 on Windows

Hi!

I got this a while ago at version 1.0 useful and often used one in my collection. Included presets are… well put another way there are some cracking good ones to download in the patch area here if you want to see this synth at its best.

Small tweaks big differences, nice big lofty full and rich bass, that’s its real strong point (as it should be) and cuts through the mix very well.

Lovely bit of Virtual Nostalgia that’s is going to be the Software classic of the future ;)

It’s good value for money and well worth the addition to any one wanting a really rich sounding bass line.

Rock Solid Stability,

Cool stuff,

Spe3d
:O)
Read Review

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