Dedicated Emulation Plug-in of Revered '80s Synths
A veritable blast from the past with modern currency, the TAL-Pha from TAL Software is an instrument plug-in emulating the coveted sound of the analog '80s synthesizer Alpha Juno 2 and its rack-version MKS-50 counterpart. Sweetwater synth scholars who have used both agree: TAL really knocked this plug-in out of the park! Not only does it arm you with the classic analog factory sounds of both units, but TAL added a wealth of contemporary, flexible features such as 2-way sending/receiving of Sysex and MIDI that enable the plug-in to be used as a controller for your hardware devices. Additionally, TAL provides more than 380 brand-new presets from esteemed producers and designers. Support for MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) and Aftertouch round out this sizzling software synth that’s sure to become a staple in your productions.
Related Videos: TAL-Pha Virtual Synthesizer Plug-in
WhatThe what?!
In 1985, Roland debuted the Alpha Juno 1 and Alpha Juno 2 synthesizers. While both featured the same sounds, the latter offered additional performance options such as an additional octave, Aftertouch, and velocity sensitivity. Then, in 1987, the MKS-50 hit the scene as a rackmount version of the Alpha Juno, sporting improvements that enabled users to store volume, panning, and other information for each patch. Speaking of patches, the factory preset entitled “WhatThe” later became known as the “Hoover sound” and featured heavily in rave and jungle music immediately upon the Alpha Junos' release — though you probably know this sound from contemporary viral hits such as Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” or Rhianna’s “Birthday Cake.”
Voice Tuning plus micro-tuning support
The so-called imperfections of analog equipment are a big reason why the “analog sound” continues to be favored by many musicians and producers, even today. With the TAL-Pha synth’s capability to detune and pan its individual voices, as well as microtune via imported .tun files, you’ll be able to create realistic analog-style synth sounds that no one would ever guess were created by a software synth!
Keep those settings on lock
Among the many things our Sweetwater synth gurus love about the TAL-Pha, the handy Lock function for FX settings, MIDI settings, and voice tunings is arguably at the top of the list. Dial in each setting the way you want, lock them, and then browse through presets without worrying about anything being changed.
Read from, or control, your hardware synths
The TAL-Pha is much more than a fancy synth plug-in. This little beauty also reads Sysex files and Sysex MIDI signals from your hardware device, so you can play your actual synths through it — or vice versa! The PAL-Pha can also be used as a controller for your hardware synths, provided that your DAW supports sending Sysex data through the plug-in’s MIDI output.
TAL Software TAL-Pha Virtual Synthesizer Plug-in Features:
- Authentic emulation of 2 of the ’80s most iconic hardware synthesizers — the Alpha Juno 2 and the MKS-50
- Self-oscillating filter via Resonance boost
- The DCO’s Pulse can be detuned, modulated, and synced
- FX section with Delay, Reverb, and a Bell EQ, plus FX Lock that keeps your FX settings the same when changing presets
- Arpeggiator with different modes and 4-octave range
- Stereo Unison mode with up to 7 voices
- Support for Aftertouch and MIDI Polyphonic Expression
- Includes original factory banks from the hardware synths plus more than 380 new presets by Electric Himalaya, The • Unfinished, Saif Sameer, emptyvessel, and TAL
- Microtuning support via .tun file import and Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) Client
- Voice Tuning (VT) for each Individual voice converts the synths DCO into a VCO, plus a Lock function that keeps the current voice tuning
- MIDI Learn and MIDI Lock
- Reads Sysex files and Sysex MIDI from the hardware device
- Can also control a hardware device by sending Sysex data through the plug-in’s MIDI output (if supported by your DAW)
