TAL-Pha is an instrument plug-in that emulates the sound of the analog 80's synthesizer Alpha Juno II (MKS-50 is the rack version). The plug-in produces the classic analog sound, combined with modern flexibility and many additional functions.

20% Intro Discount = 64$ + VAT

• Authentic emulation of the 80's hardware synthesizer.
• Resonance boost for filter self-oscillation.
• The possibility to detune, modulate, and sync the pulse part of the DCO.
• Simple but powerful FX section with delay, reverb, and a bell-eq.
• Arpeggiator with different modes.
• Stereo UNISON mode with up to seven voices.
• Aftertouch and MPE support.
• Microtuning support (tun file import and MTS Client).
• Original factory banks included.
• More than 380 fresh presets by Electric Himalaya, The Unfinished, Saif Sameer, emptyvessel and TAL.
• Individual tuning for every voice converts the synths DCO into a VCO.
• Reads Sysex files and Sysex MIDI from the hardware device.
• Can also control a hardware device. If enabled, it sends Sysex through the plug-in MIDI output (only possible when supported by the DAW).

EDIT:
The VST is updated now with a new filter option, and if the parameters are tweaked a bit, it sounds almost identical to the HW.

Disregard my first impressions

--------------------------

The original synth is dear to my heart, i still have mine, though it's packed away.

I played with the demo for an hour or so, but unfortunately it absolutely did not invoke any feelings from me.
It does not have the gratifying fatness and watery squelchiness of the filter, even with just one saw wave and an envelope. Neither that creamy chorus.

To me it sounds like how software synths have been sounding for the last 8-10 years.

I did not compare side-by-side, so i'm just rambling from a romantic memory, take this with a grain of salt. But i can tell you this: When i load up any of the Softube synths, i instantly get into that unmistakable zone, that i'm controlling an unpredictable, living analog synth, and i couldn't care less if it sounds like the original.
This? Sadly nope.

It has that special PWM saw wave, that is never to be found on any other synths, so it has something going for it.

@ highvoltage : same impression here. It does not quite exactly sound like an Alpha Juno (probably because of the filter).

That being said, Pha is a great synth on its own and it was an insta-buy for me (no regrets). Well, and despite the critique, it _is_ the best Alpha Juno simulation I've heard so far.

EDIT: and before I forget: There is one important "feature" missing from the HW: instant patch switching (i.e. hold note + change programs without interruption). Maybe this can be added in future updates ? (the FX probably have to be off for this to work)

If you remove the nostalgia goggles. The original version doesn't have a particularly good sounding filter. They were budget 80s synths.

He also published a direct comparison with the modelled HW unit

Yep indeed it's still the best one so far.

In my view this is absolutely untrue. That filter is comparable to their full analog Juno lines EASILY.
Granted it has it's own sound, full of life.

I had a modular setup with ms-20, moog filters, i had a Telemark (SEM clone) from Audio Solutions, an Arp Odissey, a Minibrute, and a Dave Smith Evolver.
I never once in those time thought of the Alpha as a lesser synth in any way. The filter is just as "good" as any of those. It is way more "analog", vibey and fat than the Microbrute for example.

I think the Alpha got a bad reputation back in the day, "the poor man's Juno-106" and people criticizing the DCOs, it's all rubbish methinks.

I agree with what's been said. It doesn't sound like my AJ2, especially with the filter at resonance. But it sounds really, really good and I might even grab it.

The filter on the hardware is its own thing, but it still sounds like a Juno filter and holds its own with the rest of the line. It's absolutely awesome.

Wow it's much closer than i remembered.
They nailed the OSCs.
It's really just that little squelch and bubbliness missing, when the reso is half-way or more: 3:30, 5:14

I always had the urge to do the filter mouth when the HW demo was playing after the VST :D

But it's indeed very close. Good job.

Demo'd an hour. Not impressed by the sound.

OK, Patrick did Juno 60, did Jupiter-8, did Alpha Juno... Would it be fair to assume Patrick loves Roland to death? He Roland fanboi or somethin'?

I donno I'm not a believer unless Patrick does JX / MKS-70. Anybody wanna see TAL do JX?

Provided Eric Persing doesn't get a cardiac arrest. Well, as long as his patches are intact.

This thing is very painful to demo. That frequent noise burst is no joke.

My last Alpha Juno1 I sold 1 year ago orso, was total overhauled and recapped etc, and next to the REdominator it was almost spot on, only the filteraction on the audiorealsism one was a bit on the edge of glitching/desintegration (with both versions of it, with the roland model the most). Better said the feel was almost there.

The core DCO sound of the TAL version is much better though. Havent had the chance to fully ride the filter on some self made patches. But I found it a lot better than the Redominator one in my short time with the TAL version.

One downer, my DT300 doesnt map too well on the TAL version due to the tweaks made to the synth.

Well maybe Soundforce can make one alpha controller

Pretty clear at least since the J8 release
All 4 emulations in TAL's catalogue are Roland synths (there's also the SH-101).

Like, what could ever give it away, right? I'm pretending I didn't get the memo the first time

Giving Patrick the benefit of the doubt.

Right up until he does the JX synth and lays all of his cards on the table.

Then I will go Pontius Pilate on him, calling him out on his blatant Roland worship

Have you tried Redominator? Curious how it compares.

Small thing, but I wish the Reverb and Delay had a bypass. Could be a switch or just double click the word.

Agreed. I remember we had Alpha Juno2's in stock at the music store I worked in during the 80's. Not only did the synth sound unimpressive (compared to my Prophet T8, which I had at that time), we never sold ONE. I think the store owner sent them back to Roland.

I wish it included emulation of the analog stage with noise floor. I guess I have to pull out my old Alpha Juno 2 with multiple keys that don't work anymore and compare but my memories are of it sounding much more smeared and soft. Just all around less clear and exact. This sounds like an emulation of an ideal perfect pristine copy which is definitely not how I remember the Alpha Juno or what I miss of it.

With all respect to the efforts made by Tal to me this one sounds like a softsynth.

I always wanted a real Alpha Juno 2 but never got one, this is perfect. I love it.

Was an instabuy for me.

It sounds great to me, I can't compare to the hardware obviously, but I have used Redominator and I hated it, it sounded plastic like in its sound.

This sounds organic at least.

And of course, as all good hard dance producers, the What The patch is very close indeed. (Someone did me a recording of the original from their AJ2 and this is almost identical)

Patrick is such a good guy too, was trying everything to get the webshop to work properly which it didn't wasn't his fault, but he was in constant email touch.

+1 :-)

its freaking awesome

It is a fantastic-sounding synth way above "just usual soft synth. The demo noise does not do it justice. But it is a fantastic synth.

As usual, those who complain without any tangible sound example of how it is not "what they remember" should not be taken with a grain of salt but with a tanker with hundreds of tons of salt.

It is awesome.

It does not have a chain of 80 FX units (which is likely why some find it "as usual synth"), it doesn't do grainshitabble transformers stuff but it sounds very very much like an Alpha - wery convincing.

Holy moly, I like this one!

All TAL synths are phonomenal.
TAL Juno is my favourite. For some reason Arturia or Roland Cloud are not very fun to tweak. TAL emulation is great and sweetspot.
TAL-PHA is definitely sounding like Juno family.
Different waveforms and filter. Amazing new color for my tracks. Bass is very Rolandish, reminds me TX and V-Synth.
ARP and Pluck presets immediately reminds me goa trance classic tracks.
That demo noise is annoying, yes )))

LOL. This tells me I suck at finding plugins. A while ago I looked for VST alpha clones (besides what I have in Diva). Did not find much (well, did not check in the roland cloud world since I am really not willing to get there).

That said, I already purchased this one. I like TAL, they work fine and no reason to look for something else.

--
Curious about your initial impressions about the filter. Which often times is the weak spot (esp in extreme settings) for analog emulations.

TBH the HW comparison was interesting. The "formalities" seem spot on (freq graph and impulse). They do not really tell me that much on the sound alone. In the sound comparison I noticed that the second sound (which I believe to be the HW) is always ever so slightly more bodied and has a little bit more punch on the envelopes.

Not complaining though, albeit I always liked it a bit better (the body could actually be partly the effect of the converters), the differences were something I could easily offset with trivial processing (like a touch of compression and saturation). So in my book it's a win because it takes no space, no audio card inputs and does the job.

I will not look for a hardware clone. I will not look for a hardware clone. I will not look for a hardware clone.

Albeit I would love those waveforms in some synth that does other stuff as well. I have long phantasized about loading Alpha inspired waveforms in the Summit. Sooner or later I will convince myself that it's a better option than looking for another synth.

Do you have a good example of something that it should do and it does not? Or something where it's more evident its shorcomings?

So far I have only some time playing with it (works fine) and the HW comparison. Which seemed good enough.

That and a dollar will get you a small coffee at McDonald's.

I love Patrick's attention to Roland synths of the '80s. I've asked Patrick to make a JX-3P "plus" that might nicely pair with my Kiwi Matrix 3P (could you imagine a JX synth with two αJuno oscillators, three of those envelopes and a multimode filter from a Jupiter 6? I sure can...)

If Patrick is going to do nothing but Roland synths, I have zero problem with that. In fact, I highly encourage him to do whatever the hell he wants for as long as he's able. As long as he does what he loves and loves what he does, that's true happiness and we just happen to be along for the ride. An extremely small shop doing a few things extremely well is far better than trying to keep up with a lot of products -- Native Instruments couldn't even manage that feat.

And not for nothing, Pontius Pilate found no fault in Jesus, so...

Anyone who is familiar with Tal knows the updates will keep coming. So it's only gonna get better. Anyway the noise bursts was so annoying I bought it, lol.

Looks great, sounds great! TAL is great!