Tal J-8

[DuX]

Well, these kind of videos are inevitable..

Interesting that the Arturia one has so many more little harmonics in the basic waveform shapes. The Tal version has a much more perfect shape. Are these the types of differences between hardware units? Or is the Arturia one just weird?

Well, Arturia's oscillators look more proper analogue oscillators. I'm not a fan of Arturia, but I think the oscillators alone sound better on Jup 8V. I was especially displeased with what a pulsewave on J-8 looked and sounded like. It seems like its DC offset is too big [upwards], losing bass too much in comparison to Jup 8V. However, J-8s filter sounded better to my ears.

I think Patrick's J-8 could use a bit more work on oscillators, especially pulsewave, to look more like Arturia's and that would make it sound awesome instead of "just" great.

Some of you know that I'm not an Arturia fan, but I am and always will be just honest and impartial as I can be. If something sounds better, I'll say it, no matter how much I like or not like a certain developer. Fanboism is a poison. Of course, trying to be impartial still makes it just my opinion. But take in account that I have excellent ears and excellent monitors and headphones, too. That kinda counts, right?

[himalaya]

Those 4 oscillators can give such lush sounds with such ease. I can't stop making sounds in J-8. Pure joy. Makes me want to start a Synth Pop band.

https://soundcloud.com/electric-himalay ... -nostalgia

[Halonmusic]

I wouldnt hate If you started a synth pop band. Sounded really nice

[zvenx]

Well, these kind of videos are inevitable..

Interesting that the Arturia one has so many more little harmonics in the basic waveform shapes. The Tal version has a much more perfect shape. Are these the types of differences between hardware units? Or is the Arturia one just weird?

Well, Arturia's oscillators look more proper analogue oscillators. I'm not a fan of Arturia, but I think the oscillators alone sound better on Jup 8V. I was especially displeased with what a pulsewave on J-8 looked and sounded like. It seems like its DC offset is too big [upwards], losing bass too much in comparison to Jup 8V. However, J-8s filter sounded better to my ears.

I think Patrick's J-8 could use a bit more work on oscillators, especially pulsewave, to look more like Arturia's and that would make it sound awesome instead of "just" great.

Some of you know that I'm not an Arturia fan, but I am and always will be just honest and impartial as I can be. If something sounds better, I'll say it, no matter how much I like or not like a certain developer. Fanboism is a poison. Of course, trying to be impartial still makes it just my opinion. But take in account that I have excellent ears and excellent monitors and headphones, too. That kinda counts, right?

My first question is what is your history with a real Jupiter 8.
It will give me at least some perspective of your opinion above.
rsp

[Teksonik]

Those 4 oscillators can give such lush sounds with such ease. I can't stop making sounds in J-8. Pure joy. Makes me want to start a Synth Pop band.

Great tune ! Thank you for focusing on what Tal J-8 can do when it's actually used and not just discussed to death......

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

There's a lot of problems with videos like the one linked to, but the two big ones are: 1) no point of references or basis of comparison, and in that particular video, 2) no context or analysis. I could understand if someone wanted to shoot out the Roland Cloud, Arturia, and TAL versions and doing some comparisons and maybe drawing conclusions without the hardware, and I might even watch that video, but holy crap, listening to buzzing oscillators playing a note at a time with no context or analysis seems like torture. I made it about 30 seconds into that video, skipped ahead and found everything was the same. No thanks.

For someone who does it much better (IMO), I quite enjoy Starskey Carr's comparison vids, and while he may not get everything perfect or spend a bit too much time on open filter waveform compares for my tastes (he's gotten better recently at cutting these shorter), his videos are excellent, he gives you personality, analysis, opinion, doesn't come across as biased, will usually throw in some little tips or tricks and generally knows what he's talking about. Sometimes he gets some things wrong, but that's ok too. Wouldn't mind a Starskey Carr video comparing Jupiters even without the hardware because it'll at least be entertaining and I'll probably learn about the differences between them with a guided comparison, even if I'm not sure which one is most authentic.

[e-crooner]

That audio sounds nice, maybe Tal could use it on their site

The drums from 1:00 on sound a bit harsh, though, they almost hurt on the headphones...

[teilo]

If you limit yourself to the base hardware capabilities, it's a wash. Both of them sound great. If that's all you care about, buy the J-8 because it's cheaper. Beyond that, it depends what you are after:

J-8 Pros:

• Multi-timbral and keyboard splits
• MPE (but limited to volume and filter control)
• Per-voice imperfection tweaks
• Unison stereo pan has a wider range
• Constantly responsive developer
• Great value in the long term

J-8 Cons:

• 12 voices
• Limited modulation, no aftertouch
• Only effects are Delay and Juno Chorus
• No sequencer

Jup-8 V Pros:

• 16 voices
• Effects suite
• Modulation system with two extra LFOs that can also work as envelopes; along with aftertouch, velocity, mod wheel, and keyboard tracking which can be targeted to anything, including effects.
• Better appregiator
• Note and Mod sequencer
• Automatable multi-destination Macro controls

Jup-8 V Cons:

• No MPE
• Single-timbral
• Fewer imperfection tweaks
• Expensive
• Years between significant updates

[DuX]

Well, these kind of videos are inevitable..

Interesting that the Arturia one has so many more little harmonics in the basic waveform shapes. The Tal version has a much more perfect shape. Are these the types of differences between hardware units? Or is the Arturia one just weird?

Well, Arturia's oscillators look more proper analogue oscillators. I'm not a fan of Arturia, but I think the oscillators alone sound better on Jup 8V. I was especially displeased with what a pulsewave on J-8 looked and sounded like. It seems like its DC offset is too big [upwards], losing bass too much in comparison to Jup 8V. However, J-8s filter sounded better to my ears.

I think Patrick's J-8 could use a bit more work on oscillators, especially pulsewave, to look more like Arturia's and that would make it sound awesome instead of "just" great.

Some of you know that I'm not an Arturia fan, but I am and always will be just honest and impartial as I can be. If something sounds better, I'll say it, no matter how much I like or not like a certain developer. Fanboism is a poison. Of course, trying to be impartial still makes it just my opinion. But take in account that I have excellent ears and excellent monitors and headphones, too. That kinda counts, right?

My first question is what is your history with a real Jupiter 8.
It will give me at least some perspective of your opinion above.
rsp

Well, my history with analogue hardware is pretty long, since 1987, however, I never had Jupiter-8, only heard it and played with it some [and with Jupiter-6, loved them both a lot] in the early 90s. I personally had Jupiter-4, Promars, Juno-106, SH-101, TR-808, and TB-303 when it comes to Roland, and I used them throughout the 90s, until I sold them in 2001, for personal reasons [needed money]. I still regret selling all my analogue gear. You would be surprised with the list of what I had. I'm avoiding thinking about it... just move on.

[EvilDragon]

J-8 Cons:

• 12 voices

It's actually 2x12 voices on J-8 if you're in dual or split modes, so not really terrible.

• Only effect is Juno Chorus

Errrrm delay is there to, like taking up a solid part of the GUI...

[zvenx]

.......I still regret selling all my analogue gear. You would be surprised with the list of what I had. I'm avoiding thinking about it... just move on.

Ouch.. sorry.
rsp

[zvenx]

Those 4 oscillators can give such lush sounds with such ease. I can't stop making sounds in J-8. Pure joy. Makes me want to start a Synth Pop band.

https://soundcloud.com/electric-himalay ... -nostalgia

Go EH, Go EH
rsp

[teilo]

J-8 Cons:

• 12 voices

It's actually 2x12 voices on J-8 if you're in dual or split modes, so not really terrible.

• Only effect is Juno Chorus

Errrrm delay is there to, like taking up a solid part of the GUI...

Even 12 voices is not terrible, and not really even a limitation. It's just a difference so I noted it. But yes, with multi-timbral you have 24. Although 12 voice 2x multi-timbral is not quite the same as 24 voices. Depends on what you are doing. On long pads, for example, you really don't get 24 (separately triggered notes) unless you do a split. But without doubt, the multi-timbral is the single biggest advantage of the J-8.

Duh on the delay. Fixed.

[zvenx]

I *think* you also get 24 if you go into Dual mode too.
Also i don't believe it is mulit-timbral. Still one midi channel at a time.
It has two layers which can or wont' respond to the same midi channel depending if you are in dual, whole or split mode.
rsp

[teilo]

I *think* you also get 24 if you go into Dual mode too.
rsp

No, in dual mode you get two 12-voice engines triggered simultaneously. It's more like having 12 voices with 4 Oscs (presuming you use the same envelopes in both layers).