Steinberg Halion Sonic 2 Manual

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EditingUser Phrases
Adjusting the Pattern
•To reverse the pattern, click the Reverse button.
•To duplicate short phrases, click the Duplicate button. The maximum number of 
steps is 32, therefore, if you copy a phrase that contains more than 16 steps, it 
cannot be copied entirely.
•To shift the rhythm of the user pattern, use the arrow buttons in the lower left 
corner of the edit section.
If you shift the rhythm of the user pattern to the left, the first step is moved to the 
end. If you shift the pattern to the right, the last step is moved to the beginning.
Mode
With this parameter, you define how the notes are played back. 
The following modes are available:
Activating Steps
You can activate steps by clicking the corresponding On/Off buttons. This can be 
necessary if you change the gate length of one step so that it overlaps the following 
step, thereby deactivating it.
ÖWhen you activate a step that was inactive because of an overlapping previous step, 
the previous step is shortened.
Step Length
Determines the gate length of a step.
Transpose
Transposes the note by the specified number of semitones.
Key Replace
With this parameter, you can switch the Key Select function off or specify how 
missing keys are replaced. 
For example, if Key Select is set to “1 - 2 - 3 - 4” and you play a chord with 3 notes, 
key 4 is considered “missing”.
OptionDescription
StepThe last note that is received triggers a monophonic sequence.
ChordTriggers the notes as chords.
UpArpeggiates the notes in ascending order.
DownArpeggiates the notes in descending order.
Up/Down 1Arpeggiates the notes in ascending, then in descending order.
Up/Down 2Arpeggiates the notes in ascending, then in descending order. 
Depending on the Key Mode, the highest and lowest note (Key 
Mode = Sort) or the first and last note (Key Mode = As Played) is 
repeated.
Down/Up 1Arpeggiates the notes in descending, then in ascending order.
Down/Up 2Arpeggiates the notes in descending, then in ascending order. 
Depending on the Key Mode, the highest and lowest note (Key 
Mode = Sort) or the first and last note (Key Mode = As Played) is 
repeated.
RandomArpeggiates the notes in random order. 
						

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EditingUser Phrases
The following settings are available:
ÖThe Key Replace setting can be set differently for each variation.
Key Select
When the FlexPhraser scans the keyboard, it writes the pressed keys into a note 
buffer. Depending on the selected Key Mode, this note buffer is sorted by pitch or in 
the order that you played the keys. The Key Select feature allows you to play back a 
defined key from the note buffer. You can set up Key Select for each step separately, 
which allows you to create very elaborate user phrases. 
ÖKey Select cannot be used in Step or Chord mode.
•To access the Key Select values of the steps, click the “Show Key Values” button 
to the left of the editor.
•To switch between the available Key Select values for a steps, click the value and 
use the scroll wheel.
The following options are available:
Wrap Parameter
For all modes except Step and Chord, you can use this parameter to restart the 
arpeggio after a specified number of steps.
If the Octaves parameter is active, the arpeggio traverses the octaves and restarts 
from the original octave after the specified number of steps.
ÖDeactivated steps are taken into account.
ÖIn Step and Chord mode, the Wrap parameter only affects the Octaves setting.
OptionDescription
OffDeactivates Key Replace and Key Select. The selected arpeggio 
plays back normally.
ArpThe missing keys are replaced with the note that the arpeggio 
would normally play.
RestThe missing keys are not replaced. The arpeggio plays a rest 
instead.
1stThe missing keys are replaced by the first note in the note buffer.
LastThe missing keys are replaced by the last note in the note buffer.
AllThe missing keys are replaced by all keys in the note buffer. The 
notes are played as a chord.
OptionDescription
P (Phrase)Plays the note that the user phrase would play according to the 
selected mode, for example, Up, Down, Up/Down 1, etc.
1 - 8Plays the corresponding key from the note list. Which key is played 
depends on the Key Mode setting. For example, when Key Mode is 
set to “Sort”, the setting 1 plays the lowest key.
L (Last)Always plays the last key from the note buffer. Depending on the 
Key Mode, this is the highest note or the last note in the note buffer.
A (All)Select this to play all keys from the note buffer as a chord. 
						

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EditingWorking with FlexPhraser Variations
Managing User Phrases
•To load a phrase, click the phrase selector and select a phrase from the pop-up 
menu. 
•To save a phrase, click the disk icon.
•To delete a phrase, select it and click the trashbin icon. 
ÖSaved phrases include the Mode, Key Replace, and Wrap parameters, as well as the 
steps with their Level, Length, and Legato settings. The selected MIDI controllers or 
any settings on the main FlexPhraser page are not saved.
Groove Quantizing User Phrases
To adapt the timing of a phrase to an external MIDI file, you can drop this MIDI file on 
the Groove Quantize drop field. You can quantize the playback of the user phrase to 
the timing of a sliced loop by dragging its MIDI file from the MIDI export drag field to 
the Groove Quantize drop field.
The “Groove Quantize Depth” parameter to the right of the drop field determines how 
accurately the phrase follows the timing of the MIDI file.
Exporting MIDI Phrases
The phrases played by the FlexPhraser depend on the notes that are played and 
therefore cannot be exported directly. However, it is possible to generate exportable 
phrases by recording the MIDI output of the FlexPhraser.
Proceed as follows:
1.Click the Record button.
The small arrow in the MIDI export field starts blinking to indicate record mode.
2.Play some notes.
3.When you are done, click the Record button again.
Recording stops and in the MIDI export field, the arrow remains lit to indicate that 
a MIDI phrase can be exported.
4.Click the MIDI export field and drag the phrase on a MIDI track in your host 
sequencer application.
Working with FlexPhraser Variations
Each FlexPhraser features eight variations that allow you to set up different phrases or 
variations of phrases or loops. You can switch between them with the variation 
buttons at the top right of the FlexPhraser. You can also remote-control the Variation 
buttons using HALion Sonic‘s trigger pads. This also gives you the possibility to 
switch between variations by playing the trigger keys assigned to the trigger pads.
ÖTo avoid that the variation switches in the middle of a beat or measure, use the trigger 
modes “Next Beat” or “Next Measure”. 
						

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EditingEditing Drum and Loop Layers
Creating Variations
You can either create a variation starting from scratch or by copying an existing one.
To start from scratch, proceed as follows:
1.Click a Variation button at the top right of the FlexPhraser.
2.Assign a phrase and edit the FlexPhraser settings.
The variation is instantly modified and can be recalled by clicking the Variation 
button.
To copy an existing variation, proceed as follows:
1.Right-click the Variation button you want to copy.
2.From the context menu, select “Copy FlexPhraser Variation”.
3.Right-click the Variation button to which you want to paste the variation.
4.From the context menu, select “Paste FlexPhraser Variation”.
ÖThe parameters Loop, Sync, Hold, Trigger Mode, Restart Mode, Key Mode, Vel Mode, 
Low/High Key and Low/High Vel are not part of the variations. You set them up only 
once per FlexPhraser.
Switching Variations With the Trigger Pads
You can switch between variations with the trigger pads of the performance section 
(see 
“Switching Between Variations” on page 175).
Editing Drum and Loop Layers
Drum and loop layers have the same set of controls. In the key map at the bottom of 
the editor, you see the drum instruments or loop slices the layer contains, and how 
they map across the keyboard. In the top section, you find the Pitch, Filter, Amplifier 
and Output settings of the currently selected drum instrument or loop slice. The 
bottom section also gives you access to the FlexPhraser, the monophonic LFO and 
the layer quick control editor.
Using the Key Map
The key map indicates how the drum instruments or loop slices are mapped across 
the keyboard.
To access the key map, proceed as follows:
1.Go to the Edit page and select the drum or loop layer you want to adjust.
2.Go to the bottom section of the drum or loop editor and click the Key Map button.
When using the key map, the following applies:
•Keys with a drum instrument or loop slice assigned display in normal white and 
black.
•The names of the drum instruments or loop slices display vertically above the keys. 
						

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EditingEditing Drum and Loop Layers
•Keys with nothing assigned are disabled and are displayed in gray.
•In case of a loop layer, the pitched part of the keyboard is displayed in orange.
•Hidden parts of the keyboard can be accessed with the scroll bar below the 
keyboard.
•Clicking a key plays and selects the corresponding drum instrument or loop slice.
ÖThe key map is used for indication and selection only. The mapping of the drum 
instruments and loop slices cannot be changed.
Editing Drum Instruments or Loop Slices
To edit a drum instrument or loop slice, you must select it first. You can select drum 
instruments or loop slices with the key map or your MIDI keyboard.
Selecting With the Key Map
To select a drum instrument or loop slice with the key map, proceed as follows:
1.Go to the Edit page and select the drum or loop layer you want to adjust.
2.Go to the bottom of the drum or loop editor and click the Key Map button.
3.On the key map keyboard, click the key of the drum instrument or loop slice you 
want to adjust.
4.The drum instrument or loop slice is selected and the parameters at the top will be 
updated accordingly.
Multi Selection Editing
To edit multiple drum instruments or slices at the same time, you can use the 
multiselection functionality of the key map:
•Select one key, press [Shift] and then click a second key to select all keys in 
between.
•Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and click keys to add or remove them from the current 
selection.
•Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and drag the mouse over the keys that you want to use to 
draw a selection rectangle.
•Press [Shift]-[Ctrl]/[Command] and drag the mouse over the keys to add additional 
keys to the current selection.
As soon as you start selecting multiple slices or drum instruments, changes may occur 
on certain settings. In such cases, the changes are indicated on the corresponding 
controls. The backgrounds of combo boxes turn red, value fields display their values in 
red, switches turn red (or dimmed red if the focused slice/instrument is set to off) and 
knobs show a red corona indicating the value range. Changing a parameter sets all 
selected loop slices or drum instruments to the same value and the red indication for 
that control disappears.
Selecting With the MIDI Keyboard
To select a drum instrument or loop slice with your MIDI keyboard, proceed as 
follows:
1.Go to the Edit page and select the drum or loop layer you want to adjust.
2.In the title bar of the top section, activate the “Select Zones via MIDI” button.
3.On your MIDI keyboard, press the key that plays the drum instrument or loop slice 
you want to adjust.
4.The drum instrument or loop slice is selected and the parameters at the top are 
updated accordingly. 
						

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EditingEditing Drum and Loop Layers
ÖBy default all parameter changes are only applied to the currently selected drum 
instrument or loop slice. Click the “Sel” button at the right of the title bar of the top 
section to switch to the “All” mode if you want to apply changes to all drum 
instruments or loop slices. You can also play multiple keys at a time to create a 
multiselection.
Accessing the Pitch, Filter, and Amplifier Parameters
To access the Pitch, Filter, and Amplifier parameters of a drum instrument or loop 
slice, proceed as follows:
1.Go to the Edit page and select the drum or loop layer you want to adjust.
2.Go to the bottom section, open the Key Map subpage and select the drum 
instrument or loop slice you want to edit. Alternatively, use your MIDI keyboard to 
select the drum instrument or loop slice.
3.Go to the top section, select Pitch, Filter, or Amplifier and adjust the parameters to 
your liking.
ÖOnly the currently selected drum instrument or loop slice will be edited.
The Pitch Subpage
This subpage gives you access to the tuning of the drum instrument or loop slice. 
With the parameters Octave, Coarse and Fine, you can adjust the tuning in steps of 
octaves, semitones and cents. In addition, you can adjust the amount of pitch 
modulation from the Pitch envelope or randomly with each keystroke. Furthermore, 
you can set the pitchbend range for the up and down direction of the pitchbend wheel 
separately.
The parameters on the left of the Pitch subpage correspond to the Pitch subpage 
parameters of synth and sample layers. For a description of these parameters see 
“The Pitch Subpage” on page 33.
The pitch envelope parameters on the right of the Pitch subpage correspond to the 
envelope parameters of synth and sample layers. For a description of these 
parameters see 
“The Envelope Subpages” on page 43. 
						

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EditingEditing Drum and Loop Layers
The Filter Subpage
The Filter subpage offers settings to adjust the tone color of the drum instrument or 
loop slice.
The available parameters correspond to the parameters on the Filter subpage for 
synth and sample layers. For a description of these parameters, see 
“The Filter 
Subpage” on page 38.
For a description of the filter envelope parameters, see “The Envelope Subpages” on 
page 43.
The Amplifier Subpage
The Amplifier subpage gives you access to the level and pan settings of the drum 
instrument or loop slice. In addition, you can activate One Shot and Reverse playback. 
With Level you adjust the loudness of the sound. With Pan you specify the position of 
the sound in the stereo panorama.
In addition, the pan position can be modulated with each keystroke randomly or left-
right/right-left in alternation. Finally, you can select the output for each drum 
instrument or loop slice separately.
Apart from the One Shot and Reverse parameters, all other parameters correspond to 
the parameters on the Amplifier subpage for sample and synth layers. For a 
description of these parameters, see 
“The Amplifier Subpage” on page 42. 
						

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EditingEditing Drum and Loop Layers
For a description of the amplifier envelope parameters, see “The Envelope Subpages” 
on page 43.
One Shot
Activate this to ignore any MIDI note-off messages. The release segments of the 
envelopes will not be played while this is active. Instead, the envelopes play until the 
Sustain is reached and remain on that level as long as the sample plays back. Any 
loop settings of the sample will be ignored. For normal playback without ignoring MIDI 
note-off messages, deactivate this. The release segments of the envelopes and any 
loop settings the sample might contain will be played back again. One Shot is active 
when the button is lit.
Reverse
Activate this to play the sample in reverse (from end to start). Any loop settings the 
sample may contain will be ignored while this is activated. For normal playback (from 
start to end), deactivate this. Reverse is active when the button is lit.
The AUX Subpage
Each drum instrument and loop slice has individual send levels that feed the four 
global AUX FX busses. This allows you, for instance, to add more reverb to the snare 
drum and less effect to the bass drum.
AUX FX1 – 4
This adjusts the send levels for the four global AUX FX busses for each drum 
instrument or loop slice separately.
Using the LFO of Loop Layers
In addition to the parameters described above, loop layers offer a monophonic LFO 
with adjustable Depth for Pitch, Cutoff and Pan.
To access the LFO of loop layers, proceed as follows:
1.Go to the Edit page and select the loop layer you want to adjust.
2.Go to the bottom of the loop editor and click the LFO button.
When using the LFO of loop layers, the following applies:
•The modulation of Pitch, Cutoff and Pan goes to all slices simultaneously. The 
modulation depth cannot be set separately per slice.
•The filter must be activated to hear the modulation of the Cutoff. 
						

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EditingEditing Drum and Loop Layers
•With a Resonance of 100 % you might hear clicks because the slice ends abruptly, 
but the filter still produces a sound from self-oscillation. In such a case, go to the 
corresponding FlexPhraser and reduce the Gate Scale until the clicks are gone. In 
addition, you can adjust the amplifier envelope of the slices, for example, to 
increase the release of the envelopes.
Apart from the Pitch, Cutoff, and Pan parameters, all other parameters correspond to 
the parameters on the LFO pages for sample and synth layers. For a description of 
these parameters, see 
“The LFO Subpages” on page 50.
Pitch
This adjusts how much the LFO affects the pitch of the slices.
Cutoff
This adjusts how much the LFO affects the cutoff of the slices.
Pan
This adjusts how much the LFO affects the pan of the slices.
FlexPhraser for Loop Layers
When using loop layers, the FlexPhraser offers the following features:
Loop
This option defines whether the loop sequence is played once or continuously in 
cycles. When activated, the loop sequence plays in cycles.
Hold
With Hold you can prevent the loop to stop or change when the keys are released. In 
addition, the Gated mode plays silently in the background when you release the keys, 
and resumes playback at the current position when you press the keys again.
You can select one of the following options:
Trigger Mode
The Trigger mode defines when the FlexPhraser scans for new keys you play on the 
keyboard.
You can select one of the following options:
OptionDescription
OffThe loop stops immediately when releasing a key.
OnThe loop plays to end even when the keys are released. When the 
Loop option is activated, the loop plays continuously in cycles.
GatedThe loop starts playback with the first key being played. It plays 
silently in the background even when the keys are released, and 
resumes playback at the current position when you press any of the 
keys again. This way, you can gate the playback of the loop.
OptionDescription
ImmediatelyThe FlexPhraser scans for new keys all the time. The loop changes 
immediately in reaction to your playing.
Next BeatThe FlexPhraser scans for new keys upon new beats. The loop 
changes in reaction to your playing on each new beat.
Next MeasureThe FlexPhraser scans for new keys upon new measures. The loop 
changes in reaction to your playing on each new measure. 
						

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EditingEditing Drum and Loop Layers
Restart Mode
Depending on the selected Restart mode and your playing, you can restart playback 
from the beginning of the loop.
You can select one of the following options:
Sync
To synchronize the loop to the tempo of your host application, activate Sync. The 
Tempo control is disabled when Sync is activated.
ÖIn addition, you can set the Restart mode to “Sync to Host”. This aligns the loop with 
the beats and measures of your host application.
Tempo
When Sync is deactivated, use the Tempo control to set the internal playback speed 
of the loop. The playback speed of the loop is specified in Beats Per Minute (BPM). In 
addition, Tempo Scale gives you further control over the playback speed. The Tempo 
control is inactive when Sync is activated.
Tempo Scale
This parameter defines the rate at which notes will be triggered, in other words, the 
speed at which the loop is running. A value of 1/16 corresponds to the original speed 
as specified under Tempo. Setting the value, for example, to 1/8 cuts the speed to 
half. Setting it to 1/32 doubles it. Other values increase or decrease the speed 
accordingly.
Swing
Use this parameter to shift the timing of notes on even numbered beats. This way, the 
loop gets a swing feeling. Negative values shift the timing backward and the notes will 
be played earlier. Positive values shift the timing forward and the notes will be played 
later.
Start
This allows you to shift the start of the loop in steps of 1/4 notes. The length of the 
loop is shortened accordingly.
Length
This parameter allows you to shorten the length of the loop in steps of 1/4 notes.
ÖThe control range of Start and Length varies with the original length of the loop.
Gate Scale
This parameter allows you to shorten the notes that play back the slices. At a value of 
100
 % the slices play with their original gate length.
Quantize 
This allows you to set up a quantization grid. You can force the timing of the slices to 
play back only at the note value you select here.
OptionDescription
OffThe loop runs continuously and will not restart upon note changes.
First NoteThe loop restarts when a note is triggered and no other notes are 
already held.
Each NoteThe loop restarts each time a note is triggered.
Sync to HostSelect this to align the loop with the beats and measures of your host 
application. The loop aligns to the beats and measures each time you 
start the transport.