Patrick's new baby... TAL- J-8X

[wagtunes]

Don't we already have a half dozen of these? I honestly don't need another one.

[Vortifex]

For me the colour dialogue screen seems to be cutting off part of the list on the left without a way to scroll down to see them

Screenshot 2026-03-31 165948.png

[beely]

For me the colour dialogue screen seems to be cutting off part of the list on the left without a way to scroll down to see them
Screenshot 2026-03-31 165948.png

It's fine for me in the Mac/AU version, no matter the GUI size.

[loctune]

I contacted Patick about the concern about registration etc.
he has amended the FAQ:

The plug-in will ask for your license key when you open the user interface. Registration and use of the plug-ins are possible even if the TAL server is unavailable or you are offline.

From time to time the plug-ins connect to the server to verify the license and register the device, if necessary. If the server cannot be reached, nothing happens. This means you can continue using the plug-ins even in the future, whether or not the TAL server still exists.

The license can be registered on up to four different computers. You can remove registered computers at any time by logging into your account.

Hopefully this quells any concerns.
https://tal-software.com/FAQ

rsp

So, the bad part of the story is it does phone home. The good part is it doesn’t do anything if it cannot reach the server.

Still 1000x better than RCM, maybe I can just block it in my firewall…

[zvenx]

though I personally find the hardware look very bland.
rsp

The hardware looks much nicer with the PG-800 controller. Here is mine.

EH.. I did not know you had the hardware... lovely.
rsp

[zvenx]

...

Still 1000x better than RCM, maybe I can just block it in my firewall…

I really am curious, what is the concern about phoning home occasionally?

I understand why some systems have to be air gapped or at least offline, but I am not sure I follow why an occasional call home is problematic.

rsp

[jamcat]

Don't we already have a half dozen of these? I honestly don't need another one.

No, we don’t. Move along, then.

[zvenx]

For me the colour dialogue screen seems to be cutting off part of the list on the left without a way to scroll down to see them
Screenshot 2026-03-31 165948.png

sorry.. not seeing that here.
mac apple silicon 26.4, cubendo 15

what are you on?
rsp

[wintoid]

Thanks for explaining so clearly!

I don't understand the copy protection issue, perhaps someone could explain it properly?

TAL used to have fully offline activation. A while back, they quietly switched to online challenge-response.

Software that requires internet access for activation is not possible to set up on an airgapped studio machine. Always-online software is not possible to use on such machines, at all.

TAL gained a following among people who maintain airgapped studio setups (or just use laptops while traveling). Many of these customers were upset by the change, especially because it wasn't announced.

[Seafire Mk2]

Don't we already have a half dozen of these? I honestly don't need another one.

Only 2 I know of . The Roland Clound version, and the old PG8X, which hasn't been updated for years/no longer supported.

Are there more (that are not free SE/SM) ?

[SAGG]

Yeah, you wanna take that chance instead of Patrick? Will pay the legal fees too, if anything comes up? You will not

A lot of bla bla from you, sweetie. I asked if you are indeed willing to bet your house and your car and your savings on your 101% dead-on assurances that a certain "R" company will never ever get involved? You really frankly don't, so no points for you, bubba

What if RC ultimately releases JX-8P and they decide they don't like something about your "dead on" JX-8P look that you so obtusely insist on?

And then they pull the exact same stint they did with Arturia, calling TAL and making them change your "dead-on, dead mice with funky colors, as close to hardware as possible" look? Maybe them Noland arseholes are merely getting a knack from doing this to companies, just painting the town red for their amusement and getting their rocks off?

You wanna bet that won't happen too? No? Figures.

Now hugs and kisses, sweetheart, I send some warmth your way, it might not be all good for you, but it is what it is

[zvenx]

Thanks for explaining so clearly!

I don't understand the copy protection issue, perhaps someone could explain it properly?

TAL used to have fully offline activation. A while back, they quietly switched to online challenge-response.

Software that requires internet access for activation is not possible to set up on an airgapped studio machine. Always-online software is not possible to use on such machines, at all.

TAL gained a following among people who maintain airgapped studio setups (or just use laptops while traveling). Many of these customers were upset by the change, especially because it wasn't announced.

except like many (I have to admit the original FAQ was a bit ambiguous), parts of it is not enitrely correct.

See the new FAQ on the topic.
rsp

[seangm]

...

Still 1000x better than RCM, maybe I can just block it in my firewall…

I really am curious, what is the concern about phoning home occasionally?

I understand why some systems have to be air gapped or at least offline, but I am not sure I follow why an occasional call home is problematic.

rsp

For me it's all about the timing. If you are at a gig using a plugin host or in the middle of a session and the plugin decides to stop working because it can't phone home then you lose the use of the plugin (in a gig scenario) or you need to stop what you are doing and connect your machine to the internet (for a studio session). So either way not an ideal situation. But fortunately it sounds like the TAL stuff isn't going to stop working if it can't phone home so no issue there.

[zvenx]

Thanks for the explanation..
rsp

[jamcat]

where's jamcat? he got his BF-2 and JX-8P at last. this March it's yours, baby!

Well now, with the release of Audiority’s BF-2 emulation and TAL’s JX-8P emulation, I’m done. I don’t need any more plugins. They said it was impossible, but we have finally reached Peak Plugin.

It’s over. Everyone can go home now. Thanks.

LOL! I'm happy for you! I actually hated the JX-8P I had in hardware. Believe it or not, I gave it away. I "may" get this one in software though.......who knows. At any rate, you've waited a long time for this, so I hope it's everything you wanted.

The JX-8P was always used as a factory preset machine. It is rightfully known as the “King of Strings” because of the HI STRINGS and LO STRINGS presets. The JX-8P replaced the ARP Solina as the “goto string sound” in the mid ‘80s. It’s also notable for its brass, which is the sound of Europe’s The Final Countdown.

My interest in it is almost exclusively for those staple string presets.