Steinberg HALion Symphonic Orchestra Operation Manual

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All this can easily be controlled using key switches, putting a control in 
your hands that is unmatched by any other sample library:
Switch key assignments in alternate bowing programs (spiccato):
Here’s a little exercise for you to check out this impressive function: 
1. Load the program “Vlc spicc B Alt1 Vel KS”. 
2. Hit the lowest A on an 88 key keyboard (A-1). 
Hitting notes will produce down bows only, with the timbre changing with velocity.
3. Now hit B-1 and...

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True string release
The sound of a string bowed or plucked doesn’t rapidly stop at the 
end of a note (i.e. when you release the key). It rings on, some open 
strings resonate (sympathetic vibrations), and most importantly the 
room reverberates. This adds up to a typical “key off” behavior that is 
essential for the listener to perceive a string sound as realistic.
In HALion Symphonic Orchestra, we have captured these effects in 
special string-release samples that kick in...

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Don’t overdo this effect although it’s tempting – real orchestras use it 
sparingly.
Crescendo/Diminuendo
Musicians playing a bowed instrument have continuous control over 
the loudness and timbre of the sound. To realistically reproduce this 
effect, we have provided the Crescendo controller. In HALion Sym-
phonic Orchestra you can select a MIDI controller from a list of four 
options: Modulation, Breath Controller, Foot Controller or Expression.
In the Xfade and...

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Expression controls overview
Here is an overview of all expression controls provided in HALion 
Symphonic Orchestra:
The table does not include standard MIDI controllers like Volume, Pan or 
Sustain Pedal which are supported as well.
cc# Name Program type Function
1ModulationXfade, Xswitch
all othersCrescendo (if assigned)
Vibrato
2Breath Xfade, Xswitch
all othersCrescendo (if assigned)
no function
4 Foot Xfade, Xswitch
all othersCrescendo (if assigned)
no function
11...

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Content structure and program reference
The HALion Symphonic Orchestra content is supplied in the form of 
.hsb files. Every Program and .hsb file is available in two variants: one 
16-bit and one 24-bit version. The 24-bit content totals 16.3 GB, while 
the 16-bit content comes to a total of 11 GB. The following sections 
provide an overview of the available programs for each instrument and 
articulation.
Demo Content
Included on the program DVD is a demo project...

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Instruments
The following instruments have been used to record the HALion Sym-
phonic Orchestra samples:
Vln Violins
Vla Violas
Vlc Cellos (Violoncelli)
DB Double Basses
Flt Flutes
Ob Oboes
Cl Clarinets
Bsn Bassoons
Pic Piccolos
EH English horns
Bcl Bass clarinets
Trp Trumpets
Trb Trombones
Tub Tubas
Hrn Horns
Timpani same
Glockenspiel same
Vibraphon Vibraphone
Xylophon Xylophone
Tubular bells same
Small bell pitched same
Snare Snares
GranCassa Gran Cassa (Bass Drum)
Tamb...

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Articulations
The following articulations were recorded:
Vibraslap same
TmplBlk Templeblocks
Cym Cymbals
Piatti Piatti a due (pair of cymbals)
Tam-Tam Tam-Tam (Gong)
Triangle same
Cowbell same
Small Bell same
Sleighbell Sleigh Bells
FingCym Finger Cymbals
Dobatchi Dobatchi (Cup Gong)
CampDiMessa Campane di messa
tutti Large instrument section
solo Only one player
8vb  One octave lower than written
Acc Accent
cresc ctrl  Crescendo Controller
combi  Combination Program...

HALion Symphonic Orchestra
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short Single bows, unlooped
leg X trem Crossfade from normal legato to tremolo
oct Octave
pizz Pizzicato
port/porta Portamento
spicc  Spiccato (short notes)
stacc Staccato (short notes)
trem Tremolo
HT trill Half Tone Trills
WT trill Whole Tone Trills
HT orna Half Tone ornament
WT orna Whole Tone ornament
uni Unisono
up Up-bow
dn Down-bow
Alternating Alternating between multiple samples or different bowing
(updown)
ALT 1 Multiple alternations of all...

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Programs
The following tables list, for every instrument, the available programs.
Violin solo
Programs  XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch
Vln Combi  X  X  X  X
Vln Combi fast X  X  X  X
Vln long X  X  X  
Vln long fast X  X  X 
Vln short Alternating  X  X X X
Vln short down X  X  X
Vln short up X  X  X
Vln tremolo  X  X  X
Vln tremolo+accent  X  X  X
Vln trill HT  X  X X
Vln trill WT  X  X X
Vln trills WT-HT  X  X  X
Vln ornament HT  X  X X
Vln ornament WT  X  X X
Vln...

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Violins tutti
Vln stacc Alternating2  X  X X X
Vln stacc down Alt X  X X
Vln stacc up Alt X  X X
Programs  ECO XFade  XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch
Vln I Combi  X  X  X  X  X
Vln I Combi espressivo X  X  X  X  X
Vln I espressivo X  X  X  X 
Vln I A legato  X  X  X  X  X
Vln I A legato+porta  X  X  X  X  X
Vln I A legato soft    X  X  X  X
Vln I A legato loud   X  X  X  X
Vln I A legato loud+port   X  X  X  X X
Vln I A legato + accent   X  X  X  X
Vln I B legato  X  X X X  X...