Steinberg Halion 3 Manual

							Global Functions and Settings
Options Page 
31•If MIDI controller changes cause audible artifacts, turn the control
towards slower settings. This way, MIDI controller changes do not occur
immediately, but are spaced over a period of time (in milliseconds).
•If you want more immediate MIDI controller changes, turn the control
towards faster settings. Note, however, that this may introduce audible
artifacts.
FlexPhraser
Hold Reset sends a global hold reset message to all FlexPhraser modules that
are used.
The Reset Controller pop-up menu allows you to assign a dedicated MIDI
controller to the Hold Reset button for remote-controlling it. 
						

							Editing Programs
32The Edit page is where you edit your program, load different layers for a program, and edit
the layers. A program contains up to four layers that can all be mapped to different velocity
and key ranges. Each of the layers can use a FlexPhraser and can be routed freely to one of
the available outputs.
To edit a program, click the Program button at the top of the Edit page.
Program Page Parameters
The Program page is divided into two sections. The section at the top is used to load
and save layers, and to set up the mix parameters such as level, pan, and FX sends. The
bottom section is used to display layer ranges, program FlexPhraser editors, quick control
assignments, or Note Expression parameters.
On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the corresponding layer. If a layer is deactivated, it does not
use any processing power.
Mute
Mutes the corresponding layer.
Solo
Solos the corresponding layer. You can solo multiple layers at the same time.
NOTE
The Mute and Solo buttons at the top of the page mute the entire program.
FlexPhraser On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the FlexPhraser for a layer.
You can edit the FlexPhraser on the edit page for the corresponding layer. 
						

							Editing Programs
Program Page Parameters 
33NOTE
This button is only available for layers that support the FlexPhraser functionality.
Layer Slots
The layer slots allow you to load up to four layers for a program.
Right-click a slot to open the context menu with the following options:
•Load Layer opens the Load Layer dialog. Select a layer and click OK to load
it into this slot.
•Save Layer saves the layer in this slot with the current settings, under the
same name.
NOTE
Write-protected content can only be saved under a new name.
•Save Layer As opens the Save Layer dialog where you can save the layer
under a new name.
•Remove Layer removes the layer from the slot.
•Init Layer loads a neutral synth layer.
•Copy Layer copies the layer to the clipboard.
•Paste Layer pastes the copied layer into the current slot.
Level
Adjusts the loudness of the layer.
Pan
Sets the position of the layer in the stereo panorama.
FX1–4 Send Levels
These four sliders adjust the send levels for the global AUX FX busses for each
layer.
Output
Sets the output for each layer. If you do not change this setting, the signal is sent
to the output that is specified for the program. But you can also select the main
output or one of the plug-in outputs.
Ranges Tab 
						

							Editing Programs
Program Page Parameters 
34Poly
Specifies how many notes can be played at the same time.
NOTE
Polyphony is part of the layer settings and is therefore restored when you load a
layer.
If a layer is monophonic, this setting has no effect.
Octave
Allows you to shift the octave of a layer by ±5 octaves.
Coarse
Allows you to shift the pitch of a layer by ±12 semitones.
Fine
Allows you to detune a layer by ±100 cents.
Key Range (Low Key, High Key)
Allows you to limit the key range for a slot.
Velocity Range (Low Vel, High Vel)
Allows you to limit the velocity range for a slot.
Controller Filter
Allows you to filter out the most commonly used MIDI controllers.
FlexP, QC, and NoteExp Tabs
The FlexP, QC, and NoteExp tabs are described in separate sections.
RELATED LINKS
FlexPhraser on page 76
Quick Controls on page 18
Note Expression on page 264
Editing the Key Range on page 34
Editing the Velocity Range on page 35
Filtering Controllers on page 35
Editing the Key Range
Each slot can be limited to a specific key range.
To show the key range, activate the Key button above the range controls.
You can set the key range in the following ways:
•Set the range with the Low Key and High Key value fields or by dragging the ends of
the keyboard range control.
•To move the key range, click in the middle of the range control and drag. 
						

							Editing Programs
Program Page Parameters 
35•To set the range via MIDI input, double-click in a value field and play the note.
Editing the Velocity Range
Each slot can be limited to a specific velocity range.
To show the velocity range, activate the Vel button above the range controls.
•Set the velocity range with the Low Vel and High Vel value fields or by dragging the
ends of the velocity range control.
To move the velocity range, click in the middle of the range control and drag.
Filtering Controllers
You can filter out the most commonly used MIDI controllers for each slot separately.
For example, if you set up a keyboard split with bass and piano playing on the same MIDI
channel, both sounds receive the same MIDI controllers. However, you usually do not want
the bass to receive the sustain pedal. To avoid that all sounds on the same MIDI channel
receive the same MIDI controllers, use the controller filter.
Filtering out control change messages can also be used to avoid unwanted program changes
on MIDI channel 10 (drums), for example.
PROCEDURE
1.Activate the Ctrl button above the range controls.
2.For each slot, activate the MIDI controllers that you want to filter out.
You can filter out the following MIDI controllers: Sustain Pedal #64, Foot Controller #4,
Foot Switches #65-69, Pitchbend, Modulation Wheel #1, and Aftertouch. 
						

							Editing Layers
36A program contains up to four layers. Each layer can be edited separately. The available
parameters and tabs vary depending on the type of layer.
On the Edit page, you can select which layer to edit by clicking the corresponding button at
the top of the page.
Voice Tab
Mono
Allows you to switch between monophonic and polyphonic playback.
•Activate Mono to switch to monophonic playback. Usually, this allows a
more natural sounding performance for solo instruments.
•Deactivate Mono to play polyphonically with the number of notes specified
by the Polyphony control.
Retrigger
This option is only available in Mono mode. If Retrigger is activated, a note that
was stolen by another note is retriggered if you still hold the stolen note when
you release the new one.
This way, you can play trills by holding one note and quickly and repeatedly
pressing and releasing another note, for example.
Polyphony
Sets the upper limit for the number of notes that you can play if Mono is
deactivated. 
						

							Editing Layers
Voice Tab 
37NOTE
If the program has a lower value for polyphony than any of its layers, the
maximum number of notes is determined by the program.
Trigger Mode
Defines the trigger behavior for new notes.
•Normal triggers a new note when the previous note gets stolen. The
sample and the envelope of the new note are triggered from the start.
To minimize discontinuities, use the Fade Out parameter of the zone.
•Resume does not always trigger a new note.
If the new note stays within the same zone, the envelope is retriggered, but
resumes at the level of the stolen note. The pitch of the zone is set to the
new note.
If the new note plays in a different zone, the sample and the envelope of the
new note are triggered from the start.
•Legato does not always trigger a new note.
If the new note stays within the same zone, the envelope keeps running.
The pitch of the zone is set to the new note.
If the new note plays in a different zone, the sample and the envelope of the
new note are triggered from the start.
•Resume Keeps Zone does not trigger a new note upon note stealing. The
envelope resumes at the level of the stolen note and the pitch of the zone is
set to the new note, even if the new note plays in a different zone.
•Legato Keeps Zone does not trigger a new note upon note stealing. The
envelope keeps running and the pitch of the zone is set to the new note,
even if the new note plays in a different zone.
Voice Mode
Determines which notes are stolen during playback and whether new notes are
triggered when the Polyphony setting is exceeded.
•Last Note Priority – New notes have playback priority over the notes that
were played before them.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes, the notes that were played
first are stolen in chronological order (First in/First Out) and the new notes
are triggered.
•First Note Priority – Older notes have playback priority over newer notes.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes while older notes are still
being held, no notes are stolen. New notes are only triggered if a free voice
is available.
•Low Note Priority – Low notes have playback priority over higher notes.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes by playing a lower note than
the ones that are held, the highest note is stolen and the new note is
triggered.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes by playing a higher note than
the ones that are held, no note is stolen and no new note is triggered. 
						

							Editing Layers
Voice Tab 
38•High Note Priority – High notes have playback priority over lower notes.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes by playing a higher note
than the ones that are held, the lowest note is stolen and the new note is
triggered.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes by playing a lower note than
the ones that are held, no note is stolen and no new note is triggered.
•Steal Lowest Amplitude – New notes have playback priority over notes with
a low amplitude.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes, the note with the lowest
amplitude is stolen and the newest note is triggered.
•Steal Released Notes – New notes have priority over notes that enter the
release phase.
If you exceed the maximum number of notes, the oldest note that is in its
release phase is stolen and the new note is triggered.
If no note is playing in release and you exceed the maximum number of
notes, the first played notes are stolen in chronological order and the new
notes are triggered.
Key Poly
With this parameter, you can specify an upper limit for the number of notes that
can be played for a key. The notes that were played last have priority. For this
parameter to have an effect, the Mono button must be deactivated.
NOTE
Key Poly is limited by the Polyphony setting.
Low Amp
By default, the oldest note is removed first when notes are stolen due to a Key
Poly limitation. If you want the note with the lowest amplitude to be removed
instead, activate Low Amp.
Min Low Notes
Defines the number of low notes that cannot be stolen, regardless of the Voice
Mode setting.
Make sure that the polyphony of the program is high enough for your specific Min
Low Notes setting and allows to play additional higher notes.
Key On Delay
With this parameter, you can delay the playback of the layer by a specified time or
a note value.
If Sync is deactivated, the delay is specified in milliseconds. If Sync is activated,
the delay is specified in fractions of beats.
To synchronize the delay time to the host tempo, activate the Sync button and
select a note value from the pop-up menu. To change the selected note value to a
triplet, activate the T button. 
						

							Editing Layers
Voice Tab 
39Unison
Allows you to trigger multiple voices simultaneously with each note that you play.
If you activate Unison, the following parameters become available:
•Voices determines the number of voices that are triggered simultaneously
(max. 8).
•Detune detunes the pitch of each unison voice in cents. This produces a
fatter sound.
•Pan spreads the unison voices across the stereo panorama. The higher the
value, the broader the stereo image.
•Delay allows you to introduce a small random delay for each unison voice.
With a value of 0 %, all unison voices are triggered at the same time. Values
from 1 % to 100 % add a random delay to each unison voice. The higher the
value, the more random the delay. This is especially useful to avoid comb
filter effects with two or more slightly detuned samples.
Glide
Allows you to bend the pitch between notes that follow each other. You achieve
the best results in Mono mode. If you activate Glide, the following parameters
become available:
•Time specifies the time needed to bend the pitch from one note to the
other.
•Activate Sync to synchronize the delay time to the host tempo. Select a note
value from the pop-up menu. To change the selected note value to a triplet,
activate the T button.
•Mode determines the glide time.
Set this parameter to Constant Time to keep the glide time constant and
independent from the note interval.
Set this parameter to Constant Speed to change the glide time with the
note interval. Larger intervals result in longer glide times.
•Curve allows you to select one of three curve types to define the glide
behavior.
With the Linear curve, the pitch glides at continuous speed from the start
to the end pitch.
With the Exponential curve, the pitch starts gliding at higher speed and
decelerates towards the end pitch. This behavior is similar to the natural
pitch glide produced by a singer.
With the Quantized curve, the pitch glides in semitones from the start to
the end pitch.
•Fingered allows you to glide the pitch only between notes that are played
legato.
NOTE
If you use Cutoff Key Follow, Level Key Follow, and Pan Key Follow, the
corresponding parameters also change with the Glide effect. 
						

							Editing Layers
Pitch Tab 
40Pitch Tab
Pitchbend Up/Pitchbend Down
Determines the range for the modulation that is applied when you move the
pitchbend wheel.
Octave
Allows you to shift the octave of a layer by ±5 octaves.
Coarse
Allows you to shift the pitch of a layer by ±12 semitones.
Fine
Allows you to detune a layer by ±100 cents.
Pitch Envelope Amount
Determines how much the pitch is affected by the pitch envelope.
Random Pitch
Allows you to randomly offset the pitch with each played note. Higher values
cause stronger variations. At a setting of 100 %, the random offsets can vary from
-6 to +6 semitones.
Pitch Key Follow
Allows you to adjust the pitch modulation by MIDI note number. Set this
parameter to positive values in order to raise the pitch the higher you play. Use
negative values to lower the pitch the higher you play. At a setting of +100 %, the
pitch follows the played note exactly.
Center Key
Specifies the MIDI note that is used as the central position for the Pitch Key
Follow function.
Oscillator Tab
The Oscillator tab offers six sound sources: three main oscillators, the sub oscillator, the
ring modulation, and the noise generator. To create interesting electronic spectra, you can
mix any of these sound sources. The resulting signal is sent to the Filter and Amplifier tabs
for further sound shaping.
The three main oscillators (OSC 1, OSC 2, and OSC 3) offer several wave shapes and
algorithms.
•To activate an oscillator, click its On/Off button.