Is TAL copy protection Challenge/Response now?

[sprig]

I found out that I can still download the latest old version for which the key files work. That's good

https://www.tal-software.com/products/tal-bassline-101 Under the "Old Downloads"
"v3.4.0 works with the old serial key"

Well no updates anymore for this versions, but at least I'll have my 'no-CR-installers' back. At least for the 101, MOD, and Sampler. Not for the drum, but maybe he didn't implement CR for it? His silence is deafening

AFAIK it's still works with a key file, but it's a new key file which you get in your account if you create one.... none of the TAL plugins I own (Sampler/DAC/U-NO-LX/Bassline101/DUB-X) have needed anything like a C/R yet. My DAW is offline/air gapped.

Thanks! I shall test it today by a transfer of the latest installer of TAL-BASELINE-101 with it's key file to another computer which has never seen a TAL plugin.

[sprig]

No unfortunately this doesn't work. When I use the latest version. 4.0.1 and try to add the key (not connected to the internet). I got this message:

Registration failed: Network error! Please try again later or log-in to create and download the offline registration key.

When you login to your TAL account for off-line registration key. It asks for the device-id. Since TAL is tracking the number of registrations, there is no other way then to be connected. That means if TAL goes out of business there is no way anymore to install your plugins on a new machine.

Not being dependent on an internet connection for registration was an important reason to be committed to TAL. But now I can't anymore. Silently they changed the conditions. Well, I keep using the older ones.

[audiojunkie]

I found out that I can still download the latest old version for which the key files work. That's good

https://www.tal-software.com/products/tal-bassline-101 Under the "Old Downloads"
"v3.4.0 works with the old serial key"

Well no updates anymore for this versions, but at least I'll have my 'no-CR-installers' back. At least for the 101, MOD, and Sampler. Not for the drum, but maybe he didn't implement CR for it? His silence is deafening

AFAIK it's still works with a key file, but it's a new key file which you get in your account if you create one.... none of the TAL plugins I own (Sampler/DAC/U-NO-LX/Bassline101/DUB-X) have needed anything like a C/R yet. My DAW is offline/air gapped.

Then you are us in an old version. From the TAL-Software FAQ:

You can register the plug-in on up to 4 systems at the same time. Our portal tracks the number of activations and they show up in your user account.
You can delete registered computers / activations in your user account.

Offline activation is also possible. Choose Register Offline Device... from your user account and paste the offline Device ID from the plugins registration dialog on the computer where you want to register the plug-in. After that, you can download a special offline registration serial key. Paste it like the normal key to activate the product.
Our products validate the computer registration from time to time.

[sprig]

No unfortunately this doesn't work. When I use the latest version. 4.0.1 and try to add the key (not connected to the internet). I got this message:

Registration failed: Network error! Please try again later or log-in to create and download the offline registration key.

When you login to your TAL account for off-line registration key. It asks for the device-id. Since TAL is tracking the number of registrations, there is no other way then to be connected. That means if TAL goes out of business there is no way anymore to install your plugins on a new machine.

Not being dependent on an internet connection for registration was an important reason to be committed to TAL. But now I can't anymore. Silently they changed the conditions. Well, I keep using the older ones.

A small addendum. For the old versions u can use just a simple serial number. that's different than the key file. I never noticed it, but when they changed the serial number to a key file, from that moment was probably an internet connection required.
You can find the serial number in the "thank you order mail"

[Kr3eM]

I found out that I can still download the latest old version for which the key files work. That's good

https://www.tal-software.com/products/tal-bassline-101 Under the "Old Downloads"
"v3.4.0 works with the old serial key"

Well no updates anymore for this versions, but at least I'll have my 'no-CR-installers' back. At least for the 101, MOD, and Sampler. Not for the drum, but maybe he didn't implement CR for it? His silence is deafening

AFAIK it's still works with a key file, but it's a new key file which you get in your account if you create one.... none of the TAL plugins I own (Sampler/DAC/U-NO-LX/Bassline101/DUB-X) have needed anything like a C/R yet. My DAW is offline/air gapped.

Then you are us in an old version. From the TAL-Software FAQ:

You can register the plug-in on up to 4 systems at the same time. Our portal tracks the number of activations and they show up in your user account.
You can delete registered computers / activations in your user account.

Offline activation is also possible. Choose Register Offline Device... from your user account and paste the offline Device ID from the plugins registration dialog on the computer where you want to register the plug-in. After that, you can download a special offline registration serial key. Paste it like the normal key to activate the product.
Our products validate the computer registration from time to time.

Well, that's what the FAQ says but I'm not sure that is obligatory for everyone, if I choose to "Download Actual Key" in my account i get a file in txt format... no device ID pasting or anything... actually don't even see that in my account at all... perhaps I get it if I click on "offline registration" ... which I have never done.

I don't know if this the case because I have owned them for quite a long time and newer customers don't have the option... however I had a look at the TAL-EQ page which is the latest release AFAIK and at the bottom it says

"Registration

The plugin will run in demo mode without registration. You will receive a key after the payment. The plugin will ask for the key if you open the UI. You need to be online, but offline registration is also possible. You can always login and download the key. "

...so, even if I'm not sure exact which versions I have installed I'm pretty sure they aren't THAT old..

[Kr3eM]

I never noticed it, but when they changed the serial number to a key file, from that moment was probably an internet connection required.

You are assuming...

Does the window look like this?

Screenshot from 2026-03-09 14-56-52.png

Do your account have a button saying "Download Actual Key" ?
Download that open it with notepad or anything that reads plain text format..
It should look like it's formated the same way as the grey text in picture... copy and paste it into the windows.

[sprig]

It's not a problem to get it working...
Latest version with the new key. Indeed "Download Actual Key". This key is connected to your physical computer.

Old version with a serial number. Not connected to anything.

It's a problem about future use on a new computer, after a going-out-of-business of TAL.
Transfer to a new computer of the latest versions won't be possible.

With the plugins from U-he (I got them all) you just got a serial number (nowadays a license card). You're not dependent of an internet connection to get it working.

See @audiojunkie's signature—I stand behind it

[Kr3eM]

It's not a problem to get it working...
Latest version with the new key. Indeed "Download Actual Key". This key is connected to your physical computer.

Old version with a serial number. Not connected to anything.

It's a problem about future use on a new computer, after a going-out-of-business of TAL.
Transfer to a new computer of the latest versions won't be possible.

With the plugins from U-he (I got them all) you just got a serial number (nowadays a license card). You're not dependent of an internet connection to get it working.

See @audiojunkie's signature—I stand behind it

Oh okay, my bad...
Still though... how is the key connected to your physical computer? have you entered your computer ID somewhere?

[audiojunkie]

It's not a problem to get it working...
Latest version with the new key. Indeed "Download Actual Key". This key is connected to your physical computer.

Old version with a serial number. Not connected to anything.

It's a problem about future use on a new computer, after a going-out-of-business of TAL.
Transfer to a new computer of the latest versions won't be possible.

With the plugins from U-he (I got them all) you just got a serial number (nowadays a license card). You're not dependent of an internet connection to get it working.

See @audiojunkie's signature—I stand behind it

Oh okay, my bad...
Still though... how is the key connected to your physical computer? have you entered your computer ID somewhere?

It's built into the CPU.

[loctune]

Does this mean the TAL plugins will still try to phone home even after activation?

I am leaving RCM and I don’t plan to have plugins that phone home any more.

[sprig]

Does this mean the TAL plugins will still try to phone home even after activation?

I am leaving RCM and I don’t plan to have plugins that phone home any more.

I don't think so, but not 100% sure. From the FAQ (https://tal-software.com/FAQ):

How does our registration process work?

You can delete registered computers / activations in your user account.

Offline activation is also possible. Choose Register Offline Device... from your user account and paste the offline Device ID from the plugins registration dialog on the computer where you want to register the plug-in. After that, you can download a special offline registration serial key. Paste it like the normal key to activate the product.
Our products validate the computer registration from time to time.

That last sentence is a bit ambiguous. My interpretation that is just checks the machine activation on the machine itself and does not phone home. Again, I am not sure.