Steinberg VST Sampler HALION 4 Operation Manual

							41
Global Functions and Settings
MIDI Select
When this option is activated, played MIDI notes can be 
used to select zones. This also influences zone parame
-
ters displayed in the editors.
This parameter is linked to the corresponding option in the 
Mapping editor so that you can remote-control the option 
even if the Mapping editor is not visible, see 
“Selecting 
Zones with the Mapping Editor Keyboard” on page 102.
MIDI Reset
Sometimes notes can “hang”, due to the plug-in losing the 
MIDI connection, or the plug-in receiving wrong MIDI con
-
troller data. In such a case, you can “emergency reset” the 
plug-in.
•Click the MIDI Reset button (the lightning icon) to send 
an “All Sound Off” and “Reset All Controllers” message to 
the plug-in.
The plug-in stops playback immediately and resets the controllers to 
their default values.
Undo/Redo
You can click the Undo/Redo buttons to undo or redo a 
single step, or you can click the small triangles to open a 
list of the performed steps, and go back (or forward) to 
that particular step.
ÖThe Undo History can also be opened as a separate 
editor. This allows for a better overview over the undo/
redo steps.
The Keyboard Editor
The Keyboard editor contains the wheel controls, the 
sphere control and the internal keyboard.
Wheel Controls
To the left of the internal keyboard, the pitchbend wheel 
and the modulation wheel are located. 
The modulation wheel is hardwired to MIDI controller #1 
which is normally used as a source in the modulation ma
-
trix, but can be used as a quick control as well. Typically, 
you assign the modulation wheel to a parameter of an in
-
sert effect, such as the speed of the Rotary effect.
Internal Keyboard
The internal keyboard in HALion spans the entire MIDI 
note range from C-2 to G8. You can use it for several pur
-
poses. The simplest one is to trigger notes just as playing 
them on a MIDI keyboard, but you can also drop samples 
onto it to import and map samples. 
Display Options
You can resize the internal keyboard horizontally and verti-
cally. A vertical resize changes the size of the individual 
keys and a horizontal resize defines how many octaves are 
visible. When the horizontal size is not sufficient to display 
all octaves you can use the left/right arrow buttons to both 
sides of the keys to shift the visible range by octaves.
For each key, the keyboard indicates whether a sample is 
mapped to it. Empty keys are displayed in light gray.
The following color scheme is used for the keys:
Pitchbend 
wheelModulation 
wheel
ColorDescription
YellowA key switch is assigned to that key.
BeigeA remapped key switch is assigned to that key.
RedThe key is assigned to an expression in the Layer 
Alternate MIDI module.
BlueThe key is assigned to a trigger pad.
GreenA loop trigger note is assigned to that key. 
						

							42
Global Functions and Settings
Triggering Notes
The vertical position where you click the key defines the 
velocity that is used to trigger a note. Click on the lower 
end of a key to use the highest velocity, and click on the 
upper end of a key to use the lowest velocity.
•Right-click a key to open a context menu that contains 
information about the key. The “Assigned Zones” sub
-
menu displays the names of all zones that are mapped to 
this key, allowing you to select a zone. The Info submenu 
shows pitch and velocity information. Select “Clear key” to 
remove all assignments.
You can import samples to a specific key (or key range) by 
dragging them onto the keyboard, see 
“Importing and Ex-
porting Samples” on page 55.
Sphere Control
The Sphere is a two-dimensional control. It allows you to 
adjust two parameters simultaneously, by dragging the 
mouse horizontally (Sphere H) and vertically (Sphere V). 
Typically, two parameters that belong together are as
-
signed to the Sphere, such as cutoff and resonance.
ÖThe small triangles for indicating the horizontal and 
vertical axis are only available if parameters are assigned 
to Sphere H and V.
You can reset the sphere to the center position using the 
corresponding options on the context menu.
The Options Editor
The Options editor contains global settings regarding per-
formance issues, global functions, and MIDI controllers.
Performance Section
This section contains settings to optimize the overall CPU 
performance of HALion.
Max Voices
This specifies a maximum number of voices that a plug-in 
instance of HALion can play back simultaneously. As soon 
as the limit is reached, HALion starts “stealing” voices.
Max CPU
To avoid clicks caused by CPU overload, you can specify 
a maximum limit for the CPU load of the plug-in instance in 
percent. When the limit is reached, HALion automatically 
starts stealing voices. At a setting of 100
 %, no voices are 
stolen.
ÖBecause HALion needs some time to react, you can 
get CPU peaks that exceed the limit you specified, which 
can lead to artifacts such as audio drop-outs. Therefore, it 
is advisable to set the Max CPU value a bit lower than ac
-
tually needed. 
						

							43
Global Functions and Settings
Voice Fade Out
This adjusts the fade out time for voices that need to be 
stolen because the Max Voices or the Max CPU setting of 
the plug-in instance is reached.
Osc ECO Mode
When this is activated, the oscillators of synth layers run in 
ECO mode, and use less CPU. This allows you to play 
more voices, but also produces more aliasing at higher 
pitches.
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 ap
-
plications. 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.
ÖThe Balance setting always applies to all plug-in in-
stances. It is not saved with the project. You have to set it 
up only once for your computer system.
Used Memory and Available Memory
These displays provide information of the memory load in 
MB according to the current Balance slider setting.
Performance Meter Section
The Performance Meter section provides a variety of per-
formance 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 but
-
ton (the lightning icon) in the title bar of the section. The 
following values are displayed:
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.
ÖThe 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 in-
dicate 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 auto
-
matically 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.
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. 
						

							44
Global Functions and Settings
Key Commands
This opens the Key Commands dialog. For detailed infor-
mation, see “Using Key Commands” on page 51.
External Wave Editor
HALion allows you to specify an external sample editor ap-
plication 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 Ed-
itor” on page 108.
Temp Folder
Here, you can specify a temp folder for exchanging sam-
ples between HALion and the external editor.
Update Sample
Here, you can specify the behavior of HALion when a 
sample is saved in the external editor. The following op
-
tions are available:
Temp Cleanup
After a certain period of time, HALion removes temporary 
sample files from the temp folder. The Temp Cleanup op
-
tion allows you to specify how HALion handles these sam-
ples. The following options are available:
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 de-
fault, click the “Save as Default” button. 
Ö“Save as Default” does not include any of the MIDI 
controller assignments of the AUX effects.
ÖThe MIDI controller mapping is also saved with each 
project. This allows you to transfer your settings to other 
systems. The project includes the MIDI controller assign
-
ments of the AUX effects as well.
Receive Program Changes
Activate this option if you want HALion to respond to pro-
gram change messages. These are generally used by 
General MIDI (GM) files, for example.
Receive RPNs 0/1/2
GM files can contain information about pitchbend range, 
coarse tuning, and fine tuning. This information is transmit
-
ted 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.
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.
Option Description 
						

							45
Global Functions and Settings
•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 mes-
sages. If this option is activated, the played note-on veloc-
ity 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.
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 Con-
trols editor for a program or layer.
Assigning Quick Controls
You can assign quick controls to a parameter of the pro-
gram 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 sub
-
menu.
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 pa-
rameters. 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 
quick control, and select “Forget Quick Control”.
•To unassign a quick control in the Quick Control As-
signments section, select the quick control that you want 
to edit in the list on the left, right-click its assignment in the 
list to the right, and select “Remove Assignment”.
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 param
-
eter of all zones inside a layer (multi assignment).
•Single assignments override multi assignments. For ex-
ample, 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 as-
signment, the added zone gets the same quick control as-
signments as the other zones of that layer.
Managing Quick Controls
A dedicated section of the Sound editor for programs and 
layers, the Quick Control Assignments section, 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 as
-
signment 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. 
						

							46
Global Functions and Settings
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 reas-
sign 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.
ÖYou can only select parameters within the same layer, 
zone or module. In other words, if the quick control is as
-
signed to a layer parameter, you cannot reassign it to a 
zone parameter.
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 pro
-
gram or layer are affected. You can change which part of 
the program is affected by selecting the corresponding 
option from the pop-up menu.
ÖWhen a quick control is assigned to a parameter of 
the program or one of its layers, the scope of that assign
-
ment is always that program or layer only. Any layers from 
deeper hierarchy levels are not affected by the quick con
-
trol. This behavior is different to assignments that apply to 
zone parameters: Assignments for all zones inside a pro
-
gram or layer always affect the zones that are on a deeper 
hierarchy level, too.
ÖYou can also deactivate the “Receive Quick Controls” 
button for certain layers, see 
“Receiving Quick Controls” 
on page 47.
Setting the Minimum/Maximum Range
You can set the minimum and maximum range for each as-
signment 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. 
						

							47
Global Functions and Settings
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 automati-
cally.
Whenever you change the original parameter, you have to 
apply the Trim Range function again to guarantee the best 
control range.
Setting the Default Range
This function sets the quick control to the maximum possi-
ble 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 sepa-
rately.
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 be-
tween 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 assign
-
ment. 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 Assign-
ments section the Receive Quick Controls button is lo-
cated. 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.
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. 
OptionDescription
RelativeRemote-controls the parameter values continu-ously. Parameter changes can still be heard.
AbsoluteRemote-controls the parameter values continu-ously. 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. 
						

							48
Global Functions and Settings
Bypassing Quick Controls
To hear a sound without quick control assignments, by-
pass 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 pa-
rameter controls, you can also assign them as source or 
modifier in the modulation matrix. This way, you can com
-
bine 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, scroll down to the Modulation Ma-
trix 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. 
						

							7
Common Editing Methods 
						

							50
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 re-
store 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 fre-
quency 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 edi-
tors) 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.
On/Off Buttons
These controls normally know two states, Off and On. 
When you move the mouse over an On/Off button, it 
changes its appearance to show that you can click it.
Push Buttons
In contrast to an On/Off button, a push button only trig-
gers an action and then goes back to its inactive state. 
Such buttons can be found in several places for opening 
menus or file dialogs.
Value Fields
You have the following options:
•To type in a value, click in the value field, start typing, 
and press [Enter].
If the entered value exceeds the parameter range, it is automatically set 
to the maximum value.
•Click in the value field and drag up or down to change 
the value.
•Position the mouse over the value field and use the 
mouse wheel to adjust the value.
•[Ctrl]/[Command]-click a value field to set it to the de-
fault value.
•[Alt]/[Option]-click a value field to bring up a fader.
•Click the up/down triangles next to the field to adjust 
the value.
You can adjust musical values, such as key ranges or the 
root key, using your MIDI keyboard.
•To enter a value with your MIDI keyboard, double-click 
the value field, press a key on your MIDI keyboard, and 
press [Return].