Steinberg Halion 3 Manual

							Operation Manual 
						

							Matthias Klag, Michael Ruf
Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Christina Kaboth, Insa Mingers, Matthias Obrecht, Sabine Pfeifer,
Benjamin Schütte, Marita Sladek
This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and
number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment
on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to
a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as specifically allowed in the License
Agreement. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for
any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Registered licensees
of the product described herein may print one copy of this document for their personal use.
All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. For more information,
please visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.
© Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2017.
All rights reserved. 
						

							Table of Contents
35Installation and Setup5Conventions6System Requirements7Downloading Program Files7Installing the Program7Activating Your License8Registering Your Software8How You Can Reach Us8About the Documentation8Setting Up10Introduction10Window Overview12Common Editing Methods12Dials and Sliders12Buttons12Value Fields13Using Key Commands13Presets15Global Functions and Settings15Plug-in Functions Section17Plug-in Name and Steinberg Logo17Toolbar17Performance Controls18Quick Controls24Trigger Pads26Options Page32Editing Programs32Program Page Parameters36Editing Layers36Voice Tab40Pitch Tab40Oscillator Tab43Filter Tab46Amplifier Tab48Envelopes54LFOs58Using the Keymap58AUX Tab59Expression Controls for Instrument Layers61Insert Effects62Step Modulator64Modulation Matrix76FlexPhraser77Loading Phrases77FlexPhraser Parameters81Recording the MIDI Output of the
FlexPhraser
81Phrase Playback Types82Variations82User Phrases88Managing Your Sounds88About Programs, Layers, Multis, Macro
Pages, and Presets
89Loading Programs90Load Dialog90Slot Rack92Managing and Loading Files100Automation100Automation Page100Setting Up Automation102MIDI Editing and Controllers102MIDI Page103MIDI Controllers106Mixing and Effect Handling106Mix Page107Effect Handling109Included Instruments109Auron117Trium125Voltage131Model C137HALiotron139B-Box145World Instruments149World Percussion153Anima171Skylab185Raven186Eagle188Hot Brass199Studio Strings210Effects Reference210Reverb Effects214Delay Effects215EQ Effects 
						

							Table of Contents
 
4217Filter Effects225Distortion Effects229Pitch Shift Effects230Modulation Effects241Dynamics Effects251Spatial and Panner Effects252Legacy Effects264Note Expression264Note Expression Editor266Library Manager266Library Manager Editor269Using the Standalone Version of the Plug-In269Making Preferences Settings269Preferences Dialog271Selecting the MIDI Input and the Audio
Output
271Scratch Pad273Loading a MIDI File274Saving a MIDI File274Master Volume275Index 
						

							Installation and Setup
5
Conventions
In our documentation, we use typographical and markup elements to structure information.
Typographical Elements
The following typographical elements mark the following purposes.
PREREQUISITE
Requires you to complete an action or to fulfill a condition before starting a
procedure.
PROCEDURE
Lists the steps that you must take to achieve a specific result.
IMPORTANT
Informs you about issues that might affect the system, the connected hardware,
or that might bring a risk of data loss.
NOTE
Informs you about issues that you should consider.
EXAMPLE
Provides you with an example.
RESULT
Shows the result of the procedure.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK
Informs you about actions or tasks that you can undertake after completing the
procedure.
RELATED LINKS
Lists related topics that you can find in this documentation. 
						

							Installation and Setup
System Requirements 
6Markup
Bold text indicates the name of a menu, option, function, dialog, window, etc.
EXAMPLE
In the header of the plug-in panel, click the Preset Management button next to the preset
name field and select Load Preset.
If bold text is separated by a greater-than symbol, this indicates a sequence of different
menus to open.
EXAMPLE
To save a specific layer, right-click it and select Load/Save >  Save Layer As.
Key Commands
Many of the default key commands, also known as keyboard shortcuts, use modifier keys,
some of which are different depending on the operating system.
For example, the default key command for Undo is Ctrl-Z on Windows and Cmd-Z on Mac OS.
When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are shown with
the Windows modifier key first, in the following way:
•Windows modifier key/Mac OS modifier key-key
EXAMPLE
Ctrl/Cmd-Z means: press Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on Mac OS, then press Z.
System Requirements
Your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:
Mac
•Mac OS X Version 10.11/macOS 10.12
•VST 3, AAX, or AU compatible host application for using HALion Sonic as a
plug-in
•64-bit Intel or AMD mutli-core processor (Intel i5 or faster recommended)
•4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
•40 GB of free hard-disk space
•Display resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (1920 x 1080 recommended)
•OS-compatible audio hardware*
•Internet connection required for activation, account setup, and personal/
product registration
•Downloads are required for the installation
*ASIO-compatible audio hardware recommended for low-latency performance 
						

							Installation and Setup
Downloading Program Files 
7Windows
•64-bit Windows 7*/8.x/10
•VST 2, VST 3, or AAX compatible host application for using HALion Sonic as
a plug-in
•64-bit Intel or AMD mutli-core processor (Intel i5 or faster recommended)
•4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
•40 GB of free hard-disk space
•Display resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (1920 x 1080 recommended)
•OS-compatible audio hardware**
•Internet connection required for activation, account setup, and personal/
product registration
•Downloads are required for the installation
*Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Microsoft.NET Framework 4.0 and Platform Update
for Windows
**ASIO-compatible audio hardware recommended for low-latency performance
Downloading Program Files
The Steinberg Download Assistant helps you download the required files to your computer.
1.Start the Steinberg Download Assistant.
2.On the left, select the program that you want to install.
3.On the right, select which version you want to install.
You can install a new program, update an existing program, etc.
4.Click Download to download the files.
Installing the Program
After downloading the required files, you can install HALion Sonic on your computer.
•On Windows systems, double-click the product installer  and follow the instructions
on screen.
•On a Mac, double-click the file HALion Sonic.pkg and follow the instructions on
screen.
Activating Your License
HALion Sonic uses a software-based copy protection scheme. This Soft-eLicenser is
installed automatically with HALion Sonic. It can be accessed via the eLicenser Control
Center application that is installed automatically with the product.
After installation, you must activate your product.
If you purchased HALion Sonic in a shop, the product package contains a “Download Access
Code” that allows you to download both the software and the license of the product.
If you purchased the download version of HALion Sonic, you receive an e-mail with the
activation code and a description of the activation process. 
						

							Installation and Setup
Registering Your Software 
8IMPORTANT
The process for license activation is described in detail on the Steinberg web site.
Registering Your Software
Register your product at the MySteinberg online customer portal. As a registered user,
you are entitled to technical support, you gain access to exclusive offers such as software
updates and upgrades, and more.
PROCEDURE
1.Start your software.
2.Select Help > Register now.
An online registration form opens in your web browser.
3.Follow the instructions on screen to register at MySteinberg.
How You Can Reach Us
Click the Steinberg logo in the top right corner of the control panel to open a pop-up menu
containing items for getting additional information and help.
•This menu contains links to various Steinberg web pages. Select a link to open
the corresponding page. On the web pages, you can find support and compatibility
information, answers to frequently asked questions, links for downloading new drivers,
etc.
•You also find a menu item for the registration of your product.
As a registered user, you are entitled to technical support, you gain access to exclusive
offers such as software updates and upgrades, and more.
About the Documentation
The documentation is available online and most of it can be downloaded in PDF format from
steinberg.help.
•To visit steinberg.help, enter steinberg.help in the address bar of your web
browser or open HALion Sonic, click the Steinberg logo in the top right corner and
select Help > HALion Sonic Help.
Setting Up
The following sections describe how to use HALion Sonic as a plug-in in different host
applications.
NOTE
HALion Sonic can also be used as a standalone application. 
						

							Installation and Setup
Setting Up 
9Selecting Outputs
HALion Sonic loads with a stereo output configuration by default. However, you can use up to
15 additional outputs in the Steinberg DAW. This allows you to route all 16 program slots to a
dedicated channel in the MixConsole.
PROCEDURE
1.To make the outputs available in the VST instrument, open the VST Instruments
window.
2.Click the Activate Outputs button for the instrument.
3.Activate the outputs that you want to use.
RESULT
The Steinberg DAW automatically adds an output channel for each additional output to
the MixConsole. You can now route programs or layers to these outputs for further signal
processing within the DAW.
Using the Instrument in an AU-Compatible Application
The AU version of HALion Sonic is installed in your AU plug-ins folder and lets HALion Sonic
work in an AU environment without any performance loss or incompatibilities.
For example, to load HALion Sonic as an AU instrument for Logic Pro, proceed as follows:
PROCEDURE
1.Open the Track Mixer and select the instrument channel that you want to use.
2.Click in the I/O field and select AU Instruments > Steinberg > HALion Sonic.
3.Select one of the available channel configurations.
Using the Instrument as Standalone Application
HALion Sonic can be used as a standalone application, independently of any host application.
In this case, you can connect the instrument directly to your audio hardware.
RELATED LINKS
Using the Standalone Version of the Plug-In on page 269 
						

							Introduction
10
Window Overview
The application interface follows a fixed-size single window concept.
The window is subdivided into several sections:
•The plug-in functions section at the top of the application window.
•The multi program rack on the left.
•The toolbars above the edit display.
•The edit display on the right. It contains the Load, Edit, MIDI, Mix, Effects, Multi, and
Options pages.
•The performance section at the bottom. It contains the trigger pads, the quick controls,
the performance controllers, and the sphere control.