You can load, save, and manage different kinds of sound files.
You can use the MediaBay and the Browser to manage, navigate to, load, and preview different file types.
The MediaBay enables you to access presets, such as multi-programs, programs, and layers.
The results list shows all files that have been found based on your filter settings.
The following list informs you about the most important improvements in HALion and provides links to the corresponding descriptions.
This is the Operation Manual for Steinberg’s HALion. Here you will find detailed information about all the features and functions in the application.
Operation Manual
HALion provides flexible and highly customizable window management options. You can arrange the available editors in the window, structure the window sections using tabs, and configure several separate windows for your work. The size of each window and window section is individually adjustable. This allows you to make the most of the available screen space.
Some common controls and concepts exist throughout the program. For example, presets can be used in several different sections and contexts, but their handling is always the same.
In the plug-in functions section, on the toolbar, and on the Options Editor, you can find global functions and settings for HALion.
You can automate most of the HALion parameters from within your host application, whether these are parameters of a program or global parameters such as AUX effects.
HALion comes with a wide range of factory content and allows you to load other Steinberg content, user-generated content, or third-party libraries.
To be able to use the content of VST Sound containers, the containers must be registered in the MediaBay.
You can load programs and layers via the Program Tree, the MediaBay or the Browser, via drag and drop onto the Slot Rack, and via various context menus in different areas of the plug-in.
The Load dialog allows you to load programs, layers, and multi-programs.
The Slot Rack has 64 slots. Each slot can contain a program, that is, you can work with 64 programs at the same time.
The MediaBay allows you to browse for and load files.
By default, the MediaBay library selector displays user libraries with a generic library icon, but you can also set up your own icons for your libraries.
You can specify which file attributes to display in the results list and set up the column order so that these attributes are visible without scrolling. This allows you to quickly find files with particular attributes.
The context menu of the results list offers additional options for managing the selected presets. Different options are available for factory presets and for user presets.
Assigning General MIDI program change numbers to sounds allows you to use MIDI program change messages to load the sounds into the slot of the corresponding MIDI channel.
You can look inside multis, programs, and layers. This allows you to exclusively load specific components, for example.
You can import program presets from any file location using the File Explorer/macOS Finder.
Program, layer, and multi-program presets can be described by using a predefined set of attributes.
The Tagging Editor allows you to set up or edit the attributes for your programs.
You can load HALion 3 presets from HSB container files, VST Sound files, or FXP/FXB files.
In the Browser, you can search your system for files.
Multi-programs, or multis, can load multiple sounds or programs and combine them.
HALion can play back files in the General MIDI (GM) format.
You can manually edit the sample mapping via the Mapping Editor. The mapping functions are based on information like key range, root key, and velocity range.
In the Sound Editor for programs and layers, you can find the parameters that are set globally for an entire program or layer. For example, you can transpose the pitch, adjust level and pan, and limit the playback to a specific area on the keyboard.
You can edit zones in the Zone Editor.
The Sample Editor allows you to view and edit samples. If a sample zone is selected, the Sample Editor shows the corresponding sample.
HALion’s wavetable synthesis offers you a wide range of possibilities, from the re-synthesis of samples to the creation of entirely new sounds.
You can make MIDI and MIDI controller settings in the MIDI Editor, the MIDI CC editor, and the Options Editor.
You cam perform your mixing operations in the Mixer.
HALion allows you to load a virtually unlimited number of programs into the Program Table. This allows for quick access to these programs and for preloading the program samples for faster changes between programs.
The Program Tree is the main area for navigating and making selections. It shows the active program with all its layers, zones, and modules and allows you to add, load, import, or delete elements.
The Parameter List gives you a detailed overview of the parameters of the element that is selected in the Program Tree.
The Sample Recorder allows for live sampling in HALion. You can sample the sounds of another plug-in and map them to the keyboard, reduce CPU load by writing processing and fades directly in the sample file, or quickly create sounds from events in your sequencer projects and edit them further in HALion, for example.
HALion comes with a factory library containing powerful instruments. For each instrument, an intuitive macro page is available, offering a rich palette of presets.
HALion allows you to build your own sample and synthesizer instruments and to customize them using the integrated Lua script engine. Via the Macro Page Designer, you can create your own user interface for these instruments.
The Library Creator allows you to create your own instrument libraries.
HALion comes with a collection of high-quality studio effects.
The MIDI modules in HALion range from standard arpeggiator modules to more dedicated modules that trigger specific events or deliver specific modulation signals.
Below, the default key commands are listed according to category.
You can use HALion independently of a host application.
