Steinberg Halion 5 Manual

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Editing Programs and Layers in the Sound EditorThe Voice Management Section
Voice Mode
The Voice Mode parameter determines which notes are stolen during playback and 
whether new notes are triggered when the Polyphony setting is exceeded. The 
following settings are available:
Trigger Mode
The Trigger Mode parameter defines the trigger behavior for new notes.
The following settings are available:
OptionDescription
Low Note PriorityLow 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. 
High Note PriorityHigh 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. 
First Note PriorityOlder 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.
Last Note PriorityNew notes have playback priority over the first played notes.
- If you exceed the maximum number of notes, the first played 
notes are stolen in chronological order (First in/First Out) and 
the new notes are triggered.
Steal Lowest AmplitudeNew 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 NotesNew 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.
OptionDescription
NormalTriggers 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 
(see 
“Voice Fade Out” on page 50). 
						

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Editing Programs and Layers in the Sound EditorThe Voice Management Section
ÖWhen Resume or Legato is selected, you might hear an unnatural attack, depending 
on the sample. To avoid this, activate the “Use Start Range” option for the sample 
zone (see “Use Start Range” on page 102).
Voice Groups
By assigning zones to a voice group, you can set their polyphony individually. In 
addition, you can manage the polyphony across zones that are not part of the same 
layer. Furthermore, zones can steal notes from each other, regardless of whether they 
are in the same layer.
The voice group parameters are shown below the Voice Management settings.
The maximum number of notes that you can play in a voice group is limited by the 
Polyphony setting of the corresponding program or layer.
Assigning Zones to Voice Groups
Proceed as follows:
1.In the Program Tree, select the zones that you want to add to a voice group.
2.Open the Sound editor for the zones.
3.In the Voice Control section, select the Trigger tab.
4.On the Voice Group pop-up menu, select a voice group.
Usually, the voice group numbers relate to the voice groups of the program. If the zone 
is part of a layer with active voice groups, the numbers relate to the voice groups of 
the layer instead.
Editing Voice Groups
The Voice Management parameters of voice groups are edited using the columns in 
the table below the Voice Management section.
Exclusive Groups
When voice groups belong to the same exclusive group, they cannot be played back 
simultaneously. The last triggered voice group has priority over the previously playing 
voice groups. Any previously playing voice groups of the same exclusive group are cut 
off.
A typical example for assigning voice groups to an exclusive group is a drum set 
where the closed hi-hat cuts off the open hi-hat.
•To assign a voice group to an exclusive group, click the “Excl” field of the voice 
group, and select a number from the pop-up menu.
ResumeDoes not always trigger a completely 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.
LegatoDoes not always trigger a completely new note:
- If the new note stays within the same zone, the envelopes keep 
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.
Option Description 
						

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Editing Programs and Layers in the Sound EditorThe Voice Management Section
The Poly Tab
The Poly tab contains the polyphony settings for programs and layers.
Mono
The Mono parameter activates monophonic playback. For solo instruments, this 
usually results in a more naturally sounding performance.
Mono can also be used for programs that use dedicated note-off layers. When the 
played note is released, the note-off layer is triggered.
Retrigger
The Retrigger option is only available in Mono mode. When Retrigger is activated, a 
note that was stolen by another note is retriggered if you still hold the stolen note 
when releasing 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
When you play a note, one or multiple zones can be triggered. Each triggered zone 
equals a voice. The number of voices you trigger with each note is displayed in the 
Voices field of the program. Use this parameter to set an upper limit for the number of 
notes that can be played simultaneously in polyphonic mode. 
If a program has a lower Polyphony value than its layers, the maximum number of 
notes you can play is limited by the Polyphony value of the program.
Key Poly
With Key Poly (Key Polyphony), you can specify an upper limit for the number of notes 
that can be played for a key. The last played notes have priority. For this parameter to 
have an effect, the polyphonic mode needs to be activated.
Key Polyphony is limited by the Polyphony setting. If the Polyphony setting is lower, 
this value is used instead.
Low Amp
By default, the “oldest” note is removed first when notes are stolen due to a Key Poly 
limitation. Activate Low Amp if you want the note with the lowest amplitude to be 
removed instead.
Min Low Notes
Defines the number of low notes that cannot be stolen, regardless of the Voice Mode 
setting.
The Sus/Rel Tab
The Sus/Rel tab contains the sustain and release settings for programs and layers.
Ind Sustain
Activate “Ind Sustain” to use individual sustain settings for the selected programs or 
layers. 
						

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Editing Programs and Layers in the Sound EditorThe Variation Groups Section
Sustain Mode
While holding the sustain pedal, HALion plays back notes that you play repeatedly up 
to the Key Polyphony value. When you lift the sustain pedal, the notes of the keys that 
are no longer held enter the release phase. Depending on the selected Sustain Mode, 
the notes of the keys that are still held either keep playing, or also enter the release 
phase.
The following settings are available:
Play Release
By default, the release phase of stolen notes is not played back and the notes fade out 
in the time specified by the Fade Out parameter of the zone. Activate this option to 
fade out the notes with their normal release phase instead.
The Variation Groups Section
To avoid the so-called machine gun effect that occurs when the same sample is 
triggered repeatedly, you can create programs that use several samples for the same 
key and velocity range. These samples can then be triggered alternately as variations. 
To define which samples are triggered as variations, you can assign them to one the 
variation groups. In the Variation Group section you can also specify the alternation 
mode for each variation group.
•To use the Variation Group feature, activate the Enable button and select one of 
the available modes for each group.
The following settings are available:
If no variation groups are activated, all zones play simultaneously. To avoid this, 
activate the variation groups for the program or layer containing the zones and assign 
the zones to the different variation groups.
OptionDescription
Hold LoudestThe loudest note keeps playing.
Hold LastThe last note you played keeps playing.
Hold FirstThe first note you played keeps playing.
Hold AllAll notes keep playing.
Release AllAll notes enter the release phase.
OptionDescription
OffAll variations are triggered simultaneously.
Round RobinAll variations are triggered alternately in a fixed order.
RandomAll variations are triggered randomly. Individual variations can 
be triggered repeatedly.
Random ExclusiveAll variations are triggered randomly. No variation is directly 
repeated. 
						

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Editing Programs and Layers in the Sound EditorThe Quick Control Assignments Section
Assigning Zones to Variation Groups
Proceed as follows:
1.In the Program Tree, select the zones that you want to add to the variation group.
2.Open the Sound editor for the zones.
3.In the Voice Control section, select the Trigger tab.
4.On the Variation Group pop-up menu, select a variation group.
Usually, the variation group numbers relate to the variation groups of the program. If 
the zone is part of a layer with active variation groups, the numbers relate to the 
variation groups of the layer instead.
The Quick Control Assignments Section
The Quick Controls Assignments section allows you to manage and edit the assigned 
quick controls. It is described in detail in the section 
“Managing Quick Controls” on 
page 56.
The Note Expression Section
Cubase’s Note Expression technology is essential for creating realistic instrument 
performances. Note Expression allows you to create automated modulations for each 
note. In general, HALion supports Note Expression for volume, pan, and tuning. With 
any of HALion’s programs you can automate these parameters in Cubase for each 
note. But HALion can do more: In programs that give you access to the modulation 
matrix, you can assign up to eight so-called Note Expression controllers to any 
available modulation destination. These work in addition to the preassigned pitch, pan, 
and level modulations. When the Note Expression controller is assigned, you can 
specify a name for it to make it available in Cubase.
The eight Note Expression controllers of a program are shared by all zones. This 
means that the Note Expression controller data affects all zones simultaneously. 
Depending on how the Note Expression controllers are set up in the modulation 
matrix, each zone might react differently.
ÖWhen you use HALion with older versions of Cubase or other host applications that 
do not support Note Expression, you still have access to the Note Expression section 
and you can see Note Expression controllers in the modulation matrix. However, they 
will not have any influence on the program. 
						

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Editing Programs and Layers in the Sound EditorThe Note Expression Section
The Note Expression section shows the eight Note Expression controllers on the left 
(NE1 to NE8) and the assigned modulation destinations on the right. This gives you a 
quick overview of how Note Expression controllers are routed in the modulation matrix 
and what their influence on the sound will be. One Note Expression controller can be 
assigned to several destinations.
Naming Note Expression Controllers
By default, a Note Expression controller is given the name of the modulation 
destinations it is assigned to. However, you can also rename them. After this, any 
further assignments will not change the name.
•To rename a Note Expression controller, click in the Name field of the selected 
controller and enter the new name.
Bypassing the Note Expression Controller
Each Note Expression controller has a Bypass button that allows you to deactivate the 
effect of the controller.
ÖThe Bypass button is linked to the Bypass button of the corresponding modulation 
destination in the modulation matrix.
Changing the Modulation Depth
The Depth slider adjusts the intensity of the Note Expression modulation. This allows 
you to change the modulation without having to go to the modulation matrix first.
ÖThe slider is linked to the Depth slider of the corresponding modulation destination in 
the modulation matrix. 
						

							97
Editing Zones in the Sound Editor
Introduction
The Sound editor for synth and sample zones contains the zone parameters in 
HALion. It allows you to modify the settings for a single zone, for multiple selected 
zones, or for all zones at the same time.
If not expressly stated, the functions described in this chapter apply to both synth and 
sample zones.
All functions and parameters described here also apply to the Zone Editor.
Global Zone Settings
The global section at the top of the Sound editor allows you to set up basic zone 
parameters.
Focused Zone
On the Focused Zone pop-up menu, you can select a zone for editing when several 
zones are selected in the Program Tree.
Low Key/High Key
These parameters determine the lowest key and the highest key on which the zone is 
triggered.
Low Vel/High Vel
These parameters determine the lowest velocity and the highest velocity on which the 
zone is triggered.
Root Key
The root key determines the pitch of the zone. Samples can contain root key 
information embedded in the file, which means that when loaded, they are 
automatically mapped to the corresponding keys.
Zone Type
HALion allows you to change a sample zone into a synth zone and vice versa. If you 
switch a sample zone to a synth zone, the sample oscillator is replaced by the synth 
oscillators. You can select the zone type from this pop-up menu. 
						

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Editing Zones in the Sound EditorEditing Selected Zones or All Zones
Editing Selected Zones or All Zones
When working in the Sound editor, you can apply your editing either to the selected 
zones (SEL) or to all zones (ALL), depending on the setting of the corresponding 
button on the toolbar.
All zones are 
affected by 
the editing.
Absolute and Relative Editing
When editing multiple zones, you can either change values absolutely for all the zones 
(ABS) or make relative changes (REL), depending on the setting of the corresponding 
button on the toolbar.
•When you use absolute editing and you change a parameter from 50 % to 60 % for 
one zone, all other zones will also be set to 60
 %.
•When you use relative editing and you change a parameter from 50 % to 60 % in 
one zone, another selected zone that was set to 70
 % is set to 80 %. 
ÖRelative changes can be made for all parameters that can be adjusted continuously. 
Changes of parameters that select one of multiple modes or switch between two 
states are always absolute. 
HALion 3 compatibility
The button to the left of the REL/ABS button lights up when you load an FXP file from 
HALion 3 to indicate that HALion is in compatibility mode. This way, FXP files sound 
like they did in HALion 3. If you deactivate the compatibility button, some modulations 
will sound different.
Managing Sections
The Sections toolbar allows you to customize the section display and to facilitate 
navigating between sections. It contains one button for each section.
The buttons have the following three states: activated, deactivated, and locked.
The first button is activated, the second button deactivated, and the third button is locked.
When you activate a button, the corresponding section is shown. As soon as you click 
another button, the section is automatically hidden and the new section is shown. 
						

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Editing Zones in the Sound EditorThe Voice Control Section
When you lock a button, it cannot be deactivated and the corresponding section is 
always visible in the editor. Clicking another button shows the new section, scrolling 
the view, if necessary.
Click the button to the left of the Sections toolbar to toggle between showing and 
locking all sections, and showing only the first section.
Examples
•When only one button is active, but not locked, you can click another button to 
switch exclusively between the sections.
•Having one section locked while showing others dynamically can speed up your 
work considerably. 
For example, you can lock the Filter section, and then switch between the different 
modifying sections, such as Envelope, LFO, Step Modulator, and Modulation 
Matrix.
•You can also use these buttons to set up views for different contexts, showing 
exactly those sections you need for a given workflow, and save them in a screen 
set. For more information, see 
“Configuring the Control Panel” on page 12.
The Voice Control Section
The Voice Control section of the Sound editor has two tabs: Trigger and 
Unison/Glide.
The Trigger Tab
On the Trigger tab, you can specify the triggering of a zone.
Voice Group
You can set the polyphony of a zone individually, by assigning it to one of 128 voice 
groups. The settings of voice groups can be edited in the Voice Management section 
of the program or layer. For more information on voice groups, see 
“Voice Groups” on 
page 92.
Variation Group
To avoid the so-called machine gun effect that occurs when the same sample is 
triggered repeatedly, you can create programs that use several samples for the same 
key and velocity range. These samples can then be triggered alternately as variations. 
To define which samples are triggered as variations, you can assign them to one of 16 
variation groups. Use the Variation Group pop-up menu to specify the alternation 
mode for the different variation groups. 
						

							100
Editing Zones in the Sound EditorThe Voice Control Section
Priority
Each zone you trigger corresponds to a voice. When the number of played voices 
(zones) exceeds the “Maximum Voices” setting of the plug-in instance, zones are cut 
off and replaced by other voices. This is called “voice stealing”. Use this parameter to 
specify a priority for this behavior. Zones with higher priority can steal zones with 
lower priority, but not vice versa. If there are no zones with lower priority, zones of the 
same priority are stolen. Zones with the priority Hold steal only from lower priorities, 
but not from themselves.
ÖTo specify how fast the zones are stolen, use the “Voice Fade Out” parameter in the 
Options editor.
Fade Out
Whenever a voice is stolen because a polyphony limit is reached, it is faded out. You 
can specify this fade out time for each zone, which allows you to adapt it to different 
signal types. For example, you might want to cut a stolen crash cymbal zone less 
abruptly than a stolen hi-hat zone.
Key On Delay
With this parameter, you can delay the playback of the zone by a specified time or a 
note value. 
•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.
With Sync deactivated, the delay is specified in milliseconds. With Sync activated, 
the delay is specified in fractions of beats.
Release Mode and Amount
The parameters Release Mode and Amount determine how loud the release samples 
are played back. Release samples play back the sound of an instrument when the 
note ends. For example, this can be the noise of the damper touching down on the 
piano string, or the reverb tail of an instrument that was recorded in a concert hall. By 
setting the release mode, the level of the release samples can be controlled from 
different sources, for example. The Amount parameter adjusts how much the selected 
option affects the level of the note-off samples. 
To set up the playback of release samples, proceed as follows:
1.In the Program Tree, place the note-on and note-off samples into separate layers.
2.Add a MegaTrig Module to the note-off layer and set the playing condition to 
“Note-off”.
3.Select all note-off samples.
4.In the Sound editor, open the Voice Control section, and make settings for 
Release Mode and Amount.
The following settings are available:
OptionDescription
OffDeactivates the Release Mode. The level of the note-off sample is 
controlled only by the amplifier section of the zone.
Note-on EnvThe level of the note-off sample is controlled by the Amplitude 
Envelope of the associated note-on sample: The note-off sample 
is played back with the level that the amplitude envelope has at 
the moment when the note-off sample is triggered.
In order to find the associated note-on sample, the mappings of 
the note-on and note-off samples must overlap. HALion takes the 
last running note-on sample as the associated one.