Steinberg Halion 5 Manual

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Global Functions and SettingsThe Options Editor
Multi Loading
Normally, when loading multi-programs, the previous multi is kept in the RAM until the 
new multi has been completely loaded. Therefore, replacing a large multi by another 
can lead to RAM overload on 32-bit systems. 
•To clear a multi before loading a new one, select “Clear before” on the “Multi 
Loading” pop-up menu.
ÖWhen “Clear before” is selected and you cancel the loading process, an empty multi 
is loaded.
Multi-Core
On the Multi-Core pop-up menu, you can specify how many of the available CPU 
cores of your system can be used by HALion. This allows HALion to compute each 
program on a different core, for example. The best setting here depends on multiple 
factors, and varies from system to system, and project to project. A good starting 
point is to set this value to one core less than the available number of cores. 
If problems occur, reduce the number of cores, or set the pop-up menu to Off to 
deactivate multi-core mode and load multiple instances of HALion instead. This way, 
the host application distributes the work load across the available cores.
Streaming Section
Some of the programs include up to 1 GB of samples, such as the acoustic piano. This 
is a large amount of data and your computer cannot load all samples into the RAM, 
especially if you are using all slots. Instead, HALion only loads the first milliseconds of 
each sample into the RAM and constantly loads more manageable portions from the 
hard disk while you play. With every additional note you play, the hard disk load 
increases, therefore, it is a good idea to load as much material as possible into the RAM 
beforehand. This, of course, leaves less RAM for other applications. For an optimum 
performance of your system, you can balance the hard disk versus RAM usage.
Balance
With this slider, you can balance the hard disk versus RAM usage.
•If you need more RAM for other applications, drag the slider to the left towards the 
Disk setting.
•If your hard disk is not supplying data fast enough, drag the slider to the right 
towards the RAM setting.
The memory displays are updated accordingly.
The Balance setting always applies to all plug-in instances. It is not saved with the 
project. You have to set it up only once for your computer system.
Max Preload
This slider determines the maximum amount of RAM that HALion uses for preloading 
samples. In most cases, the default values are sufficient. However, it may become 
necessary to reduce this value, for example, when working with other applications or 
plug-ins that require a lot of memory.
Used Memory and Available Memory
These displays provide information of the memory load in MB according to the current 
Balance slider setting. 
						

							52
Global Functions and SettingsThe Options Editor
Edit Section
This section contains some common settings of HALion and you can specify an 
external wave editor that you want to use for editing your samples.
The settings in the Edit section are not saved with a particular project, but affect 
HALion as a whole.
Show Tooltips
Activates and deactivates the tooltips.
Show Value Tooltips
When this is activated, parameters without a value field indicate their value in a tooltip 
when you use the control.
Auto Collapse Sections
By default, all collapsable sections can be freely collapsed and expanded. Activate 
“Auto Collapse Sections” to automatically collapse all other sections when expanding 
a specific section.
ÖYou can also right-click on the title bar of a section and select the “Auto Collapse 
Sections” option.
Restore Screen Set
This option restores the corresponding screen set when loading a multi.
ÖIn a VST 2 or AU environment, screen sets and windows are always restored when 
loading a multi.
Solo Mode
You can choose between two solo modes: Standard and Exclusive.
•In Standard mode, you can solo multiple programs or layers to hear them 
combined. 
•In Exclusive mode, only one program or layer can be soloed at a time.
Undo Steps
This option determines the number of undo steps that are memorized in the undo 
history. Set this value to infinite (Maximum) to realize unlimited undo. Keep in mind that 
the more undo steps in the history, the more RAM is used up.
Key Commands
This opens the Key Commands dialog. For detailed information, see “Using Key 
Commands” on page 61.
External Wave Editor
HALion allows you to specify an external sample editor application that can be used to 
perform destructive offline editing on a sample, for example applying EQs, filtering, or 
denoising.
Here, you can specify which application to use. You can either type in the path 
manually or click the Browse button to navigate to the corresponding application 
folder. For more information, see 
“Editing Samples in an External Editor” on page 151.
Temp Folder
Here, you can specify a temp folder for exchanging samples between HALion and the 
external editor. 
						

							53
Global Functions and SettingsThe Options Editor
Update Sample
Here, you can specify the behavior of HALion when a sample is saved in the external 
editor. The following options are available:
Temp Cleanup
After a certain period of time, HALion removes temporary sample files from the temp 
folder. The Temp Cleanup option allows you to specify how HALion handles these 
samples. The following options are available:
Import Section
Here, you can specify which zone templates to use when importing samples. For 
example, by specifying different headroom settings for single and multiple samples, 
you can import single drum loop samples without headroom and multiple instrument 
samples including their headroom settings, which are required for polyphonic 
playback. 
MIDI Controller Section
Here, you can make MIDI controller settings.
Controller Assignment
•To restore the factory MIDI controller assignments, click the “Reset to Factory” 
button.
•To save the current MIDI controller assignments as default, click the “Save as 
Default” button. 
“Save as Default” does not include any of the MIDI controller assignments of the 
AUX effects.
The MIDI controller mapping is saved with each project. This allows you to transfer 
your settings to other systems. The project includes the MIDI controller assignments 
of the AUX effects as well.
Receive Program Changes
Activate this option if you want HALion to respond to program change messages. 
These are generally used by General MIDI (GM) files, for example.
OptionDescription
AskWhen switching back to HALion, you are asked whether the changed 
sample should replace the current sample.
AlwaysHALion accepts the modified sample.
With BackupHALion accepts the modified sample and automatically creates a 
backup of the old sample file.
NeverModified samples are never accepted automatically. You have to 
import the modified sample manually from the temp folder.
OptionDescription
AskYou are prompted to confirm the cleanup of the temp folder.
AlwaysAlways removes temporary files without further notice. If a file cannot 
be deleted, an error message is shown.
Ignore ErrorAlways removes temporary files without further notice. If a file cannot 
be deleted, no error message is shown.
NeverTemporary files are never deleted. You have to delete them manually. 
						

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Global Functions and SettingsThe Options Editor
Receive RPNs 0/1/2
GM files can contain information about pitchbend range, coarse tuning, and fine 
tuning. This information is transmitted as RPNs (Registered Parameter Numbers). 
Activate this option if you want HALion to respond to RPNs.
Smoothing
MIDI controllers have a maximum resolution of 128 steps. This is rather low. When 
you use a MIDI controller as a modulation source in the modulation matrix or to 
remote-control a quick control, the parameter does not change smoothly, which can 
produce an effect often referred to as “zipper noise”. To avoid this, HALion offers MIDI 
controller smoothing.
•Turn the control to the left to increase controller smoothing.
Parameter changes triggered by MIDI controllers are less immediate.
•Turn the control to the right to decrease controller smoothing.
This way, parameters respond faster to MIDI controllers.
Velocity Note-On to Note-Off
Some keyboards do not transmit note-off velocity messages. If this option is activated, 
the played note-on velocity value is also used as note-off velocity for the notes.
FlexPhraser Hold Reset
Sends a global Hold Reset message to all FlexPhraser modules that are used in 
HALion.
The Reset Controller pop-up menu allows you to assign a dedicated MIDI controller 
to the FlexPhraser Hold Reset button for remote-controlling it.
Performance Meter Section
The Performance Meter section provides a variety of performance relevant information. 
Each meter displays the current value, the peak value, and a curve showing the changes 
over time. To reset all peaks, click the reset button (the lightning icon) in the title bar of 
the section. The following values are displayed:
OptionDescription
VoicesThe number of played voices.
Streamed MB/sThe quantity of sample data that is streamed from the hard 
disk.
CPU Avg LoadThe average CPU load.
CPU Peak LoadThe CPU peak load.
Dropout/sThe number of dropouts per second. (This can be an indicator 
for hard disks that are too slow.)
Preload MemoryThe quantity of samples loaded into the RAM of your 
computer. 
						

							55
Global Functions and SettingsQuick Controls
Quick Controls
Quick controls allow you to remote-control any parameter inside the program. For 
each program and layer, eight quick controls are available. Furthermore, “Sphere H”, 
“Sphere V”, and the modulation wheel can also serve as quick controls.
The quick controls can be accessed via the Quick Controls editor for a program or 
layer.
Assigning Quick Controls
You can assign quick controls to a parameter of the program or one of its layers, to 
zones inside a program or layer, or to parameters of a MIDI module or an effect. 
Proceed as follows:
1.In the Program Tree, select the element that you want to remote-control via a quick 
control.
2.Open the Sound editor.
3.Right-click the control to which you want to assign a quick control and open the 
Assign Quick Control submenu.
4.On the submenu for the program or layer, select the quick control that you want to 
assign.
ÖYou can assign the same quick control to different parameters. This allows you to 
make complex sound settings with a single control. However, you cannot assign 
different quick controls to the same parameter.
•To remove a quick control assignment, right-click the control, and select “Forget 
Quick Control”.
Single Assignment vs. Multi Assignment
You can assign a quick control to a single parameter of a zone or module (single 
assignment) or to the same parameter of all zones inside a layer (multi assignment).
•Single assignments override multi assignments. For example, if a quick control 
remote-controls the cutoff of all zones inside a layer and you assign the cutoff of 
one of these zones to another quick control, the multi assignment is overridden by 
this single assignment.
•If you remove a single assignment from a parameter of a zone that is part of a layer 
that has a multi assignment on the same parameter of all other zones, the zone 
becomes part of the multi assignment again. 
•If you add another zone to a layer that has a multi assignment, the added zone gets 
the same quick control assignments as the other zones of that layer. 
						

							56
Global Functions and SettingsQuick Controls
Managing Quick Controls
The Quick Control Assignments section in the Sound editor for programs and layers 
allows you to manage and edit assigned quick controls. The eight quick controls are 
listed on the left. The assignments of the selected quick control are listed on the right. 
Each assignment is displayed in a separate row with parameters to adjust the 
behavior of the quick control assignment.
ÖIf the selected quick control has no assignments, the list on the right is empty.
Naming Quick Controls
1.Open the Quick Control Assignments section of the program or layer that holds 
the quick control.
2.In the Name column in the section on the left, click the quick control you want to 
rename, and enter a new name.
ÖYou can also enter the name for a quick control in the Quick Controls editor.
Duplicating Quick Controls
You can duplicate a quick control assignment using the “Duplicate Assignment” 
command on the context menu for the quick control.
Changing the Order of Quick Control Assignments
Drag an assignment between two other quick controls. When a line is shown, release 
the mouse button to insert the quick control assignment.
Replacing Quick Control Assignments
Drag an assignment onto another quick control. When a rectangle is shown, release 
the mouse button to replace the quick control assignment. 
Assigning Quick Controls to Another Parameter
In the Quick Control Assignments section, you can reassign a quick control to another 
parameter.
Proceed as follows:
1.Select the quick control that you want to edit.
2.In the list on the right, click the parameter name to open the pop-up menu, and 
select a parameter from the menu.
You can only select parameters within the same layer, zone or module. In other words, 
if the quick control is assigned to a layer parameter, you cannot reassign it to a zone 
parameter.
Removing A Quick Control Assignment
•To unassign the selected quick control, open the context menu and select 
“Remove Assignment”.
Removing All Quick Control Assignments
•To remove all assignments of the selected quick control in the quick control 
assignments editor, open the context menu and select “Remove All Assignments”.  
						

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Global Functions and SettingsQuick Controls
Removing All Assignments of All Quick Controls
To remove all quick control assignments of all quick controls that belong to the 
selected layer in the Program Tree, open the context menu and select “Remove All 
Assignments of All Quick Controls”.
Forwarding All Quick Controls Assignments to the Program
To transfer all quick control assignments of a layer to the program, select the layer in 
the Program Tree, open the context menu of the Quick Control Assignments editor 
and select “Forward All Assignments to Program”.
Setting the Scope of Quick Control Assignments
By default, all zones inside the layer that the quick control belongs to respond to the 
quick control. To prevent zones inside a program from responding to the quick control, 
you can change the scope of the quick control for a single layer or zone.
The pop-up menu in the middle of each assignment row displays which part of the 
program is affected by this quick control assignment. If the name of a zone or module is 
displayed here, only that zone or module is affected by the quick control assignment. If 
the name of the program or one of its layers is displayed, all zones inside the program or 
layer are affected. You can change which part of the program is affected by selecting 
the corresponding option from the pop-up menu.
When a quick control is assigned to a parameter of the program or one of its layers, 
the scope of that assignment is always that program or layer only. Any layers from 
deeper hierarchy levels are not affected by the quick control. This behavior is different 
to assignments that apply to zone parameters: Assignments for all zones inside a 
program or layer always affect the zones that are on a deeper hierarchy level, too.
You can also deactivate the “Receive Quick Controls” button for certain layers, see 
“Receiving Quick Controls” on page 58.
Setting the Minimum/Maximum Range
You can set the minimum and maximum range for each assignment separately. This 
gives you better control over the parameter change.
You can set the range for a control either by specifying a minimum and maximum value 
on the context menu of the control itself, or by using the corresponding value fields in 
the Quick Control Assignments section. To edit the range graphically, click and drag 
the blue handles in the curve display.
Trimming the Range
The Trim Range function allows you to optimize the quick control range depending on 
the current parameter value.
Proceed as follows:
1.Right-click the assignment in the list on the right.
2.To trim the range of a single assignment, select “Trim Range”. To trim the range of 
all quick controls, select “Trim Range of all Quick Controls”.
3.The minimum and maximum values are set automatically.
Whenever you change the original parameter, you have to apply the Trim Range 
function again to guarantee the best control range. 
						

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Global Functions and SettingsQuick Controls
Setting the Default Range
This function sets the quick control to the maximum possible range.
Proceed as follows:
1.In the Quick Control Assignments section, right-click the assignment on the right.
2.To set the default range of a single assignment, select “Set Default Range”. To set 
the default range of all quick controls, select “Set Default Range of all Quick 
Controls”.
As soon as you change the original parameter in the editor section again, the Set 
Default Range function has to be reapplied to guarantee the best control range.
Adjusting the Curvature
You can adjust the curvature of each assignment separately.
Proceed as follows:
1.On the left of the Quick Controls Assignment section, select the quick control you 
want to edit.
2.On the right, specify the curvature in the value field between the minimum and 
maximum value field. 
Positive values change the curvature towards logarithmic and negative values 
towards exponential behavior. 
You can also edit the curvature graphically in the display on the right by dragging it up 
and down.
Setting the Behavior of Quick Control Assignments
A quick control behaves either as continuous control or as a switch. In addition, it 
remote-controls a parameter either in relative or absolute mode. Relative mode changes 
the values of the assigned parameters without loosing their relative settings. Absolute 
mode changes the assigned parameters by overwriting them with the current quick 
control value. You can specify a mode for each assignment. You can set the behavior in 
the context menu for the control itself or via the pop-up menu in the Quick Control 
Assignments section.
The following options are available:
Receiving Quick Controls
In the upper right corner of the Quick Control Assignments section the Receive Quick 
Controls button is located. Use this button to determine whether zones inside a layer 
respond to quick controls. This includes any single and multi assignment to zones. 
Quick control assignments belonging to the layer itself are not affected. 
This is useful if you assigned quick controls to the whole program and you want to 
exclude parts of it, such as the layer containing the instrument noises.
OptionDescription
RelativeRemote-controls the parameter values continuously. 
Parameter changes can still be heard.
AbsoluteRemote-controls the parameter values continuously. 
Parameter changes are overwritten.
Switch RelativeSwitches between the minimum and maximum value. 
Parameter changes can still be heard.
Switch AbsoluteSwitches between the minimum and maximum value. 
Parameter changes are overwritten. 
						

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Global Functions and SettingsAI-Knob Support
Proceed as follows:
1.In the Program Tree, select the program or layer that you want to respond to the 
quick controls.
2.In the Quick Control Assignments section, click the “Receive Quick Controls” 
button (the antenna icon).
When the Antenna button is activated, zones inside a layer respond to quick 
controls from outside.
Specifying the Neutral Setting for a Quick Control
If you adjust the range of a quick control assignment, the resulting sound can change, 
for example, if the assignment uses the “Switch” or “Switch Relative” mode. If you 
adjust the range of a quick control that has only one assignment that uses Absolute or 
Relative mode, HALion adjusts the setting of the quick control automatically so that 
the sound does not change. Likewise, if you assign multiple parameters to the same 
quick control, HALion sets the range of this quick control assignment automatically. 
However, if a quick control has multiple assignments and you change the range of one 
or more assignments, the neutral setting cannot be set automatically. In this case, you 
can specify the neutral setting manually.
Proceed as follows:
1.Open the Quick Control Assignments editor.
2.Right-click the quick control assignment that you want to edit.
3.On the context menu, select “Set Quick Control to Neutral Setting”.
Bypassing Quick Controls
To hear a sound without quick control assignments, bypass them temporarily by 
clicking the corresponding Mute button in the Quick Control Assignments section.
Assigning Quick Controls in the Modulation Matrix
In addition to assigning the quick controls directly to parameter controls, you can also 
assign them as source or modifier in the modulation matrix. This way, you can combine 
the quick control with other modulation sources.
Proceed as follows:
1.In the Program Tree, select the zones you want to edit. Make sure that the zones 
are part of the program or layer with the quick controls you want to use.
2.In the Sound editor, open the Modulation Matrix section. 
3.On the pop-up menu in the Source/Modifier column, open the Assign Quick 
Control submenu, and select the quick control.
The submenu lists only the quick controls that belong to the same layer or that are 
on a higher hierarchy level.
AI-Knob Support
HALion can be controlled with the ai-knob of Steinberg’s CC121, CI 2, and CI2+ 
controller units.
•To change a parameter value, move the mouse pointer over the control you want to 
change and turn the ai-knob to set the value.
ÖCertain parameters cannot be controlled by the ai-knob due to internal differences in 
parameter resolution. For example, sample marker positions cannot be changed with 
the ai-knob because their ranges vary too much. 
						

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Common Editing Methods
Introduction
This chapter describes common editing methods in HALion.
Using Controls in HALion
Knobs and Sliders
Most of the editing methods are the same for knobs and sliders. The following applies:
•You can adjust the value by clicking on a knob or fader, and dragging up and 
down, or by using the mouse wheel.
•When you press [Alt]/[Option] and click on a knob, a small fader appears, allowing 
you to set the parameter.
•Press [Shift] and move the knob or use the mouse wheel to make fine adjustments.
•Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and click on a control to restore the default value.
•Knobs and sliders can be unidirectional or bidirectional. Unidirectional values, for 
example level values, start at a minimum value and go up to the maximum. 
Bidirectional controls start from the middle position and go to the left for negative 
and to the right for positive values.
•To navigate to the next parameter, press [Tab]. To jump backwards to the previous 
parameter, press [Shift]-[Tab].
ÖWhen no parameter is selected inside a focused view, pressing [Tab] always jumps to 
the very first parameter.
Multi Selection and Parameter Controls
When several zones are selected and they do not share the exact same values, most 
of the controls indicate this by turning entirely or partially red. This is true for knobs, 
On/Off buttons, combo boxes, value fields and text faders.
For example, if you have selected 3 zones with cutoff frequency values of 1200, 1400, 
and 2500
 Hz, the corona of the frequency knob shows a range from 1200 to 2500. 
The corresponding field shows the value of the focused zone in red.
ÖMore complex controls (for example the envelope editors) only show the values of the 
focused zone.
You can adjust the value range of a parameter using the corona of the knob. The 
values for the zones are distributed within the new range, keeping their relative 
distances.
•Drag the corona to compress or expand the value range.
•[Ctrl]/[Command]-drag the corona to adjust the upper limit of the range.
•[Alt]/[Option]-drag the corona to adjust the lower limit of the range.