TAL Software has introduced TAL-Pha, a new instrument – for Linux, Max & Windows – that emulates the sound of the analog 80’s synthesizer Alpha Juno II and the MKS-50 rack-mount equivalent.
In addition to recreating the original’s sound in software, the plugin can read and convert sysex information from the original hardware and can be used as a MIDI controller.
Features:
- Emulation of the 80’s hardware synthesizer.
- Resonance boost for filter self-oscillation.
- Detune, modulate, and sync the pulse part of the DCO.
- 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 (when supported by your DAW).
Here’s a head-to-head comparison with the original hardware:
Pricing and Availability:
TAL-Pha is available now, with an intro price of $64 USD + VAT (normally $80).
The idea of having two instances of this panned left & right in my DAW is appealing. I’ve always liked DCOs more than VCOs. You can dirty them up if you need to, so it’ll be a challenge to detune these by a hair and see what happens. The Juno-2 was the Swiss Army synth of my old hardware rig, perfect between any two or three other synths.
I don’t think it’ll be a challenge at all. It seems the main difference is the voices won’t share a common clock, making it easier to stack them for maximal beef. Besides, is it not a feature you’ll be able to turn on and off?
Is there an alpha dial hardware controller for this?
I did find that Audio Realism’s ReDominator VST sounded identical to my hardware Alpha Juno 2 back when I did some testing before. What was great about that VST too, is that I was able to dial in the exact settings on my AJ2 into the VST and I would get the exact same sound, no need to tweak.
The TAL demo does look very impressive though, excited to try it out.
If TAL hadn’t done this, it probably would have been a Cherry Audio instrument at some point. There are fewer un-emulated synths left all the time. I’d forgotten about the ReDominator, though. Oops! The more famous Junos never thrilled me much, but this one is an excellent enhancer module.
very cool, i love all the TAL stuff.
Sounds really good ! Here is a nice Demo:
https://youtu.be/iiozsfbUNOo