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 play some notes.
Now you hear up bows, distinguishable by the softer attack.
4. Finally hit the Bb-1 key, activating the alternate bowing feature.
Now you get the full realism – bows change with each note played.
Key Note # Articulation Description Key Mode
A-1 21 down bows All notes are played with down 
bows.ks
Bb-1 22 down->up Bowing alternates between 
down and up, starting with 
down.
Press again to reset.ks
B-1 23 up bows All notes are played with up 
bows.ks
C#0 25 up->down Bowing alternates between up 
and down, starting with up.
Press again to reset.ks 
						

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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 when you release a key, 
creating the sensation of actually hearing the decaying tone of the 
resonating strings and the room ambience. This actually puts you in 
the place where we recorded the instruments, creating a depth and 
ambience response no artificial reverb can produce.
Best of all: You can still add any reverb you like to put the HALion Sym-
phonic Orchestra sounds in other or larger environments. The true 
string release samples will add realism to the secondary reverb.
String release samples also allow you to play realistic detaché notes 
using legato programs. Apply a bit of bowing with the crescendo con-
troller (Xfade or Xswitch programs) for added realism.
Portamento
Portamento (a “gliding” transition between two notes rather than an 
abrupt change or a new note played) sounds best when the interval is 
at least a minor third. For very expressive phrases use the octave-up 
portamento to “slide” to a note in the top range.
Three different portamento modes are available, controlled via key 
switches (just like bowing variations).
Switch key assignment in portamento programs:
Key note # Articulation Description Key Mode
A-1 21 slide down Downward portamento kr + Play
Bb-1 22 octave slide up Upward slide of one octave, 
only available for top registerkr + Play
B-1 23 slide up Upward portamento kr + Play 
						

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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 Xswitch programs, this controller blends between 
the layers (e.g. from pianissimo to fortissimo) and in parallel smoothly 
adjusts the volume, creating a realistic crescendo/diminuendo effect. 
Diminuendo is often referred to as decrescendo.
From our experience, the modulation wheel yields the most realistic 
performances.
Vibrato
All legato notes have been recorded with a moderate amount of vibrato. 
You can add more vibrato in realtime:
 In the Xfade and Xswitch program types, vibrato is added using aftertouch.
 In the Velocity and Velocity/Pitchbend programs vibrato is assigned to the 
modulation wheel.
The vibrato created by HALion Symphonic Orchestra is created by 
LFO pitch modulation. It is very subtle to avoid a synthetic character, 
and it is only intended to be added for weight and expressiveness. 
						

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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 Expression Xfade, Xswitch
all othersCrescendo (if assigned)
no function
Pitch Bend Xfade, Xswitch
Vel, VelPBPitch bending
Volume expression
Aftertouch all program types Vibrato
Velocity Xfade, Xswitch
Vel, VelPBno function
Crescendo 
						

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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 from Cubase SX. 
This project is an example of how you can use HALion Symphonic Or-
chestra and demonstrates its excellent sound quality (see page 117 
for more information).
Program reference
The following tables provide you with an overview of all available pro-
grams. The program names indicate the instrument used, what cate-
gory the program belongs to, and the articulation played.
Program Categories
The following program categories have been defined:
Vel Velocity (Pitchbend on Pitch)
Vel PB Velocity + Volume on Pitchbend
Xfade Crossfade of all respective layers 
Xswitch Cross-switch of all respective layers 
						

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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 Tambourines
WoodBlk Woodblocks 
						

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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 with multiple articulations
combi KS Articulations switched via Key Switch
combi Keys Articulations in different octaves on keyboard
cresc-decr Crescendo followed by decrescendo
espressivo More intense natural vibrato
fast Fast attacks
legato Legato 
						

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58 long Long bows, looped
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 variations, no change via Velocity or 
Cresc-Ctrl
ALT 2 Simple alternation between up and down bows, variations 
changes via Velocity or Cresc-Ctrl 
						

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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 cresc-decresc X  X  X
Vln pizzicato X  X X
Vln stacc Alternating1  X  X X X 
						

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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 
Vln I A+B  X  X  X  X 
Vln I 16 to 32 players  X  X  X  X 
Vln I legato X tremolo X  X  X  X 
Vln I legato + octave X  X  X  X 
Vln II Combi  X  X  X  X  X Programs  XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch