Main Page

• To open this page, click the Main button in the top right of the window.

For easy editing, the layers of the HALion Symphonic Orchestra VST Sound Instrument Set have a defined set of controls. In the list at the top left, you find the available expressions of a layer. Typically, an expression is a specific playing style of an instrument. In the lower window section, you find the Voice & Pitch and Amplifier settings.

Expressions Section

The Expressions list has four columns: On, Expression, Sw, and Mute.

• To load an expression, activate the corresponding checkbox in the On column.

  Note

  • You can reduce the amount of used RAM by deactivating individual expressions.

  • You can only use loaded expressions.

• The Expression column displays the name of the expression.

• The Sw (Key Switch) column provides you with different controls depending on the selected key switch mode.

  By default, you see the internal key switch that is assigned to the expression.

• If you activate the corresponding button in the Mute column, the expression will not play back. Click the button again to make the expression audible.

Key Switches

The key switches of HALion Symphonic Orchestra are set to low keys to maximize the playable range. They cannot be changed internally. However, in some cases you need to shift the key switches into another keyboard range to get access to them. You may also want to select the expression using a MIDI controller. You can do this by switching to one of the alternative key switch modes Remapped or Controller. The internal key switch assignments are unaffected by the selected key switch mode and always work. The last received key switch always has priority.

Options Menu

To define which key switch mode you want to use, open the Options pop-up menu by clicking the triangle at the top right of the Expression section and select a mode.

Key Switch

This mode uses the internal key switch assignments. The key switches are displayed in the list.

Remapped

This mode allows you to transpose the fixed, internal key switch assignments into the playable range of your MIDI keyboard.

• To transpose the internal key switches, set the mode to Remapped and enter the MIDI note to which you want to reassign the expression. The MIDI notes that you use for key switches cannot be used to trigger samples any more.

Controller

This mode allows you to define a MIDI controller that remotely controls the internal key switches. The specified MIDI controller switches only between the active expressions.

• To assign a MIDI controller, set the mode to Controller, open the Options pop-up menu, select Learn CC, and use the hardware controller.

Temporary KS Mode

If this option is activated, other expressions than the default expression are only active for as long as the corresponding key switch is held. This allows you to throw in notes with other expressions by pressing a key switch and return automatically to the default expression when releasing this key switch.

Default Expression

Sets the default expression for the Temporary KS mode and the expression that is active after loading a program or layer.

Voice & Pitch

This section gives you access to the tuning of the expression.

Octave

Adjusts the tuning in steps of octaves.

Coarse

Adjusts the tuning in steps of semitones.

Fine

Adjusts the tuning in steps of cents.

Expression Mode and Expression Controller options

The layers of HALion Symphonic Orchestra consist of several velocity sublayers to capture the full dynamic range of the instruments. These sublayers can be accessed by sending different velocity values or a specific MIDI controller. The Expression Mode allows you to specify whether the sublayers are switched (abrupt change between sublayers) or crossfaded (blending between sublayers).

The settings Expression Mode and Expression Controller can be combined as follows:

Switch + Velocity

In this mode, only velocity controls expression. Technically, the velocity value selects the corresponding layer, that is, high velocities play fortissimo layers. While this is not the way instruments are used normally, keyboard players who use orchestra sounds from samplers or other keyboards are used to this way of playing orchestra sounds.

Note

In this mode, continuous expression control is not possible.

Fade + Velocity

In this mode, only velocity controls expression. However, there are velocity regions where two layers are played and crossfaded to create a smoother transition.

Fade + MIDI Controller

In this mode, you can blend through the different layers using a specific MIDI controller, for example, from pianissimo to fortissimo. This gives the most authentic sound and behavior. However, it also puts the highest load on CPU and hard disk because all layers have to be played at the same time – audible or not. This means that in the violin programs, for example, up to four stereo voices are played for each note.

Switch + MIDI Controller

In this mode, the expression controller switches from layer to layer rather than blending them into each other. Volume, however, is controlled continuously. The disadvantage of audible transitions yields an unbeatable advantage: Only one stereo voice per note is used, so these programs can be used on slower systems.

Amplifier Section

The Amplifier section gives you access to the level and pan settings of the expression. All samples have been recorded in stereo, therefore, you can also adjust the stereo width before placing it in the stereo panorama.

Furthermore, you can adjust the attack and release times of the amplifier envelopes individually.

Level

With this parameter, you adjust the loudness of the expression.

Pan

With this parameter, you specify the position of the expression in the stereo panorama.

Width

This parameter allows you to control the width of the stereo image of the samples.

Attack

Offsets the attack time of the amplifier envelope. Positive values decrease and negative values increase the attack time.

Release

Use this parameter to offset the decay time of the amplifier envelope. Positive values decrease and negative values increase the decay time.