Steinberg Halion Sonic 2 Manual

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EditingEditing Layers
X/Y Control
The X/Y control allows you to adjust two parameters simultaneously. This is especially 
useful with the morphing filters where the X/Y control adjusts the blend between the 
filter shapes. For the other filter modes, the X/Y control adjusts cutoff and resonance. 
Depending on the selected filter type, the X/Y control adjusts different parameters:
Resonance
This parameter emphasizes the frequencies around the cutoff. For an electronic 
sound, increase the resonance. At higher resonance settings, the filter self-oscillates, 
which results in a ringing tone.
Distortion
This parameter adds distortion to the signal. The effect depends largely on the 
selected Filter Type. At higher settings, it creates a very intense distortion effect.
ÖThis parameter is only available for the Tube Drive, Hard Clip, Bit Red, Rate Red and 
Rate Red KF filter types.
CF Offset
For the dual filters, this parameter allows you to offset the cutoff frequency of the 
second filter (filter shape B). 
Res Offset
For the dual filters, this parameter allows you to offset the resonance of the second 
filter (filter shape B). 
Velocity
This parameter adjusts the cutoff modulation from velocity. Set this parameter to 
positive values to increase the cutoff with higher velocities. Use negative values to 
decrease the cutoff with higher velocities.
Env Amnt (Envelope Amount)
Use this parameter to adjust the Cutoff modulation from the filter envelope. Setting 
negative values inverts the direction of the modulation from the filter envelope.
Key Follow
Here you can adjust the cutoff modulation using the note number. The range is from 
-200
 % to +200 %. Set this parameter to positive values to raise the Cutoff with notes 
above the Center Key. Use negative values to lower the Cutoff with notes below the 
Center Key. At +100
 % the Cutoff follows exactly the played pitch.
Center Key
This parameter determines the MIDI note that is used as the central position for the 
Key Follow function.
Selected filterDescription
Single, Dual Serial 
& Dual ParallelThe X/Y control adjusts the cutoff frequency on the horizontal and 
resonance on the vertical axis.
Morph 2 and 4The X/Y control adjusts the morphing between the filter shapes on 
the vertical (Morph Y) axis. The horizontal axis adjusts the cutoff 
frequency.
Morph XYThe X/Y control adjusts the morphing between the filter shapes AD 
and BC on the horizontal (Morph X) and AB and DC on the vertical 
axis (Morph Y). 
						

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EditingEditing Layers
The Amplifier Subpage
The Amplifier subpage of synth and sample layers gives you access to the level and 
pan settings of the layer. With level you adjust the loudness of the layer. With pan you 
specify the position of the layer in the stereo panorama. Both level and pan can be 
modulated by the MIDI note number. In addition, the pan position can be modulated 
with each keystroke randomly or left-right/right-left in alternation.
Level
Here you can you can adjust the loudness of the layer. 
Key Follow
Here you can scale the loudness across the MIDI keyboard. Set this parameter to 
positive values to raise the loudness the higher you play. Use negative values to lower 
the volume the higher notes you play.
Center Key
This parameter determines the MIDI note that is used as the central position for the 
Key Follow function.
Pan
Here you can set the position of a sound in the stereo panorama. A setting of -100 % 
corresponds to hard left and a setting of +100
 % to hard right.
Mode
With this option you can specify how the loudness changes across the stereo 
panorama. You can select between the four modes 0
 dB, -3 dB, -6 dB and Off:
•The 0dB option works like a balance control: Setting the pan control towards the 
left fades out the right channel and vice versa. At the center position, the loudness 
is not cut.
•The -3dB option uses the cosine/sine pan law: The loudness is cut by -3dB at the 
center position, but the energy is preserved when moving the source signal across 
the stereo panorama. The -3dB option sounds more natural. The transition from 
hard left to hard right sounds much smoother than with the 0dB or the -6dB 
setting.
•The -6dB option uses the linear pan law: The loudness is cut by -6dB at the center 
position, and the energy is not preserved when moving the source signal across 
the stereo panorama. The -6dB option sounds more synthetic. The transition from 
hard left to hard right sounds more abrupt than with the -3dB setting.
•When set to “Off” no loudness correction is applied when a signal is panned 
across the stereo panorama.
Random
This parameter allows you to offset the pan position with each played note randomly. 
The strength of the randomization can be adjusted within a range from 0
 % to 100 %. 
Higher values cause stronger variations. At a setting of 100
 %, the random offsets can 
vary from fully left to fully right. 
						

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EditingEditing Layers
Alternate
This parameter allows you to alternate the pan position each time you play a note. For 
example, a value of +100
 % means the first note plays hard right, the second note 
hard left, and so on. You can specify the pan position for the first time when you hit a 
note with the algebraic sign: For negative values the initial pan position will be left and 
for positive values it will be right. With the value in percent you determine the deviation 
across the stereo panorama. 
Reset
The initial pan position is set once after HALion Sonic is loaded. Then, HALion Sonic 
counts each note you played to determine the next pan position. To reset this counter, 
click the Reset button next to the Alternate control.
Key Follow
Here you can adjust the pan modulation from MIDI note number. Set this parameter to 
positive values to offset the pan position towards the right for notes above and 
towards the left for notes below the Center Key. Use negative values to offset the pan 
position towards the left for notes above and towards the right for notes below the 
Center Key. At the maximum setting of +200
 % the pan position moves from hard left 
to hard right within two octaves: Fully left is reached one octave below and fully right 
is reached one octave above the center key.
Center Key
This parameter determines the MIDI note that is used as the central position for the 
Key Follow function.
The Envelope Subpages
You can find the envelope subpages in the bottom section of the Edit page. The 
envelope subpages of the synth and sample layers give you access to the four 
envelopes of the layer, i.
 e. Pitch (P), Filter (F), Amp (A) and User (U) envelope. Each of 
these is a multisegment envelope with up to 128 nodes. The nodes specify the overall 
shape of the envelope with their Time, Level and Curve parameters. The times and 
levels of the envelope can be modulated by velocity. The Key Follow parameters 
modulate times via MIDI note number. Curve allows you to adjust the curvature 
between two nodes from linear to logarithmic or exponential behavior. The Sync 
option allows you to synchronize the envelope times to the tempo of your host 
application and you can set up a loop between two definable nodes. You can select a 
second envelope that is displayed in the background of the edited envelope, serving 
you as an optical or snap reference.
The Amp, Filter and Pitch envelopes are pre-assigned to the amplitude, the filter cutoff 
frequency and the pitch of the layer. You can adjust the pre-assigned modulations in 
the corresponding section of the layer. The purpose of the User envelope is freely 
definable. You can select the User envelope as a source in the modulation matrix. 
However, you can also use the Amp, Filter and Pitch envelopes as sources in the 
modulation matrix.
To access the envelopes, proceed as follows:
1.Go to the Edit page and select the synth or sample layer you want to adjust.
2.In the lower section of the editor, click the button of the corresponding envelope 
subpage. 
						

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•P: Click “P” to display the parameters of the pitch envelope. The pitch envelope 
modulates the pitch over time. The pitch envelope is bipolar, which means it allows 
for negative and positive values to bend the pitch up and down.
•A: Click “A” to display the parameters of the amplifier envelope. The amplifier 
envelope shapes the volume over time.
•F: Click “F” to display the parameters of the filter envelope. The filter envelope 
controls the cutoff frequency to shape the harmonic content over time.
•U: Click “U” to display the parameters of this free assignable user envelope. It is 
bipolar, which means it allows for negative and positive values, for instance, to 
modulate the pan from left to right.
Presets
Presets for different envelopes can be loaded and saved at the top right of the 
corresponding subpage.
•To load a preset, click in the “Select Preset” field and select the preset from the 
pop-up menu. 
						

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•To delete the selected preset from your system, click the trash icon. Then, you will 
be asked to confirm the deletion.
•To save a new preset, click the disk icon. A file dialog opens where you can name 
and save your preset file.
Navigating in the Graphical Envelope Editor
The vertical axis of the graphical envelope editor displays the level. The horizontal axis 
displays the time. 
To zoom, use the following possibilities:
•To zoom in on the horizontal axis, use the “+” button to the right of the scroll bar 
below the graphical editor.
•To zoom out, click the “-“button to the right of the scroll bar.
•In the timeline, click and drag up or down to zoom in or out at the current position.
•To zoom to a certain region, hold [Alt]/[Option] and drag the mouse over the 
region.
To scroll, use the following possibilities:
•Drag the scroll bar to the left or right to scroll the envelope editor to a new position.
•Click in empty space next to the scroll bar to jump to the corresponding position in 
the envelope editor.
•Click the triangles to the left and right of the scroll bar to scroll through the 
envelope step by step.
Envelope Zoom Snapshots
Envelope zoom snapshots save the current state of the graphical envelope editor. For 
example, by saving two envelope zoom snapshots, one for the beginning and one for 
the end of the envelope, you can conveniently switch between editing the attack and 
release of the envelope.
Saving and Loading Envelope Zoom Snapshots
To the right of the scroll bar you find three numbered buttons which allow you to save 
and load envelope zoom snapshots for the current envelope editor (Amp, Filter, Pitch, 
or User). When saving an envelope zoom snapshot, it remembers the zoom factor and 
scroll position of the graphical envelope editor. The zoom factor and scroll position will 
be restored when loading the envelope zoom snapshot.
•To save the current state of the graphical envelope editor, [Shift]-click one of the 
numbered buttons to the right of the scroll bar.
•To load a previously saved envelope zoom snapshot, click the corresponding 
button. The button color changes to green indicating the snapshot is active. 
Zooming or scrolling with the graphical envelope editor deactivates the Envelope 
Zoom Snapshot. The button indicates this by turning gray.
Editing the Envelope
Each multisegment envelope has up to 128 nodes with the Time, Level and Curve 
parameters. The nodes and their parameters specify the overall shape of the 
envelope. You can edit one or multiple nodes using the graphical envelope editor or 
by typing in values. Before you can edit nodes, you must select them. 
						

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Selecting Nodes
•Select a node by clicking the node in the graphical editor. Selected nodes turn 
light blue in color. The focused node is indicated by an orange frame color. The 
focused node displays its parameters in the text fields to the left of the graphical 
envelope editor.
•With multiple nodes selected, use the Node pop-up menu above the text fields to 
set the focus to a different node without losing the current selection.
•[Shift]-click on a node to add it to the selection. Selected nodes will be edited 
together.
•In addition, you can select multiple nodes by drawing a rectangle with the mouse 
around the nodes.
•With a single node selected, use the left or right arrow key to select the next or 
previous node. In a multiselection, the focused node will change instead and the 
previous or next node within the multiselection will be focused.
•Click in empty space in the background of the envelope to cancel the current 
selection.
Adjusting the Time Parameter
The Time parameter specifies the duration between two nodes. The change in level 
from the selected to the following node will be carried out in the duration set by the 
Time parameter (0
 ms – 30.000 s). Depending on the Sync mode, the Time parameter 
is displayed in milliseconds and seconds, or fractions of beats (when Sync is 
activated).
To adjust the Time parameter with the graphical envelope editor, proceed as follows:
•In the graphical envelope editor, select the nodes and drag them left or right to 
decrease or to increase the times.
•For a higher resolution, hold [Shift] while moving the nodes.
•Hold [Ctrl]/[Command] while dragging to limit the movement to the time-axis 
(horizontal positioning only).
To set the Time parameter by entering values with the keyboard, proceed as follows:
•In the graphical envelope editor, select the nodes you want to edit. Use the Env 
Node pop-up menu to change the focus if necessary. Enter a value in the Time text 
field to the left of the graphical envelope editor, and press [Enter].
Adjusting the Level Parameter
The Level parameter specifies the amplitude of the envelope at the position set by the 
Time parameter. The Amp and Filter envelopes are unipolar. Therefore, the value 
range for the level is 0
 % to +100 % (positive values only). The Pitch and User 
envelopes are bipolar, the value range for the level is from -100
 % to +100 % 
(negative and positive values) for these envelopes.
ÖYou can change the polarity of the envelopes in the modulation matrix, for instance, to 
map the range of the Amplifier Envelope (unipolar) to Pan (bipolar). However, the 
envelopes always display their values with their default polarity.
To adjust the Level parameter with the graphical envelope editor, proceed as follows:
•In the graphical envelope editor, select the nodes and drag them up or down to 
decrease or increase the levels.
•Hold [Alt]/[Option] while dragging to limit the movement to the level-axis (vertical 
positioning only).
•For a higher resolution, hold [Shift] while moving the nodes. 
						

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To set the Level parameter by entering values with the keyboard, proceed as follows:
•In the graphical envelope editor, select the nodes you want to edit. Use the Env 
Node pop-up menu to change the focus if necessary. Enter a value in the Level text 
field to the left of the graphical envelope editor, and press [Enter].
Adjusting the Curve Parameter
The Curve option allows you to adjust the curvature between two nodes from linear to 
logarithmic or exponential behavior. The range is from -10 to +10.
To adjust the Curve parameter with the graphical envelope editor, proceed as follows:
•In the graphical envelope editor, drag the curvature of the envelope segment up or 
down to adjust the curvature towards logarithmic or down towards exponential 
behavior.
•[Ctrl]/[Command]-click a curvature to reset it to linear behavior.
To set the Curve parameter by entering values with the keyboard, proceed as follows:
•In the graphical envelope editor, select the nodes you want to edit. Use the Env 
Node pop-up menu to change the focus if necessary. Enter a value in the Curve 
text field to the left of the graphical envelope editor, and press [Enter].
•Positive Curve values change the curvature towards logarithmic and negative 
values towards exponential behavior.
Adding and Removing Nodes
The envelopes Amp, Filter, Pitch, and User can have up to 128 nodes. All nodes 
added after the sustain node always affect the release stage of the envelope, i.
 e. after 
the key is released.
•To add a node, double-click at the position where you want to add the node.
•To remove a node, double-click the node you want to remove.
•[Delete] or [Backspace] removes multiple selected nodes.
ÖYou cannot remove the first, the last or the sustain node.
Adding Nodes Using the Fill Function
The Fill function allows you to add multiple envelope nodes after the currently selected 
nodes:
1.From the pop-up menu located to the right of the Fill button, select the number of 
nodes you want to add.
2.In the graphical envelope editor, select the node after which you want to add 
nodes. If several nodes are selected, the new nodes will be inserted after all 
selected nodes.
3.If the Fixed function is deactivated, the added nodes are placed with the time 
interval specified by the Time parameter of the currently selected node. If multiple 
nodes are selected, the interval is specified by the focused node.
By activating Sync, you can specify the interval with the Sync note value. For 
example, if 1/4 is selected, new nodes will be added at exact quarter note 
intervals.
4.If the Fixed function is activated, the added nodes fill the space between the last 
selected node and the following one.
5.Click the “Fill” button.
The nodes are added. 
						

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Positioning Nodes Using the Fixed Function
When Fixed is activated, only the selected nodes will be moved on the time-axis. With 
Fixed deactivated, nodes that follow the currently edited nodes will also be moved on 
the time-axis.
•Click “Fixed” to activate or deactivate the function. 
Positioning Nodes Using the Snap Function
You can select a second envelope that is displayed in the background of the edited 
envelope serving you as an optical or snap reference. Nodes you position with Snap 
activated will snap to the nodes of the envelope that is shown in the background.
•From the pop-up menu located to the right of the Snap button, select the envelope 
to be displayed in the background.
•Click “Snap” to activate or deactivate the function.
Using Sync
You can synchronize the envelopes to the tempo of your host application. This allows 
you to set envelope times that relate to musical time intervals (for example 1 bar), 
regardless of tempo changes made later on.
1.Click “Sync” to activate the envelope’s synchronization mode. Sync is active when 
the button is highlighted. A grid spaced in fraction of beats appears in the 
graphical envelope editor.
2.From the pop-up menu located to the right of the Sync button, select a note value. 
This sets the resolution of the grid, i.
 e. the minimum note value the nodes will snap 
to when moved.
For example, if you specify a 1/4 note value, the nodes will snap to 1/4 note steps. 
If the “T” button is activated, the note values correspond to triplet values.
•The Time text field of a node displays times in fractions of beats. The fraction will 
always be reduced to the smallest possible value. For instance, “2/16” displays as 
“1/8”.
•Envelope nodes that do not exactly match a note value display the note value 
which they are closest to.
•Nodes that exactly match a note value are indicated by a red dot inside the handle 
of the node. This can be useful, for example, when you switch the grid between 
triplets and normal note values: The triplet nodes still indicate that they match a 
note value, even if the grid shows normal note values.
You can also enter times by entering note values as fractions of beats. Proceed as 
follows:
1.Select the nodes you want to edit.
2.Enter a note value as fractions of beats such as “1/4”. Type the letter “T” behind 
the note value to enter triplet note values such as “1/8T”.
3.Hit [Enter].
The selected nodes will be set to the entered note value.
Selecting an Envelope Mode
You can select one of four envelope modes to specify how the envelope is played 
back each time you hit a note. These modes can be selected from the Mode pop-up 
menu. The following options are available:
•Sustain: The envelope plays from the first node to its Sustain. The Sustain level is 
held as long as you play the note. When you release the note, the envelope 
continues with the stages behind the Sustain. This mode is ideal for looped samples. 
						

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•Loop: The envelope starts playback from the first node to the loop nodes. The loop 
will be repeated as long as the key is held. The envelope plays the stages behind 
the Sustain when you release the note. This mode is ideal for adding motion to the 
Sustain (which would be steady in Normal mode).
•One Shot: The envelope will be played from the first to the last node, even if you 
release the note. The envelope has no Sustain stage. This mode is ideal for drum 
samples.
•Sample Loop: This mode allows you to preserve the natural attack of the sample. 
The decay of the envelope does not start until the sample has reached the sample 
loop start. Set the second node to the maximum level. Then, use any of the 
following nodes to shape the decay during the loop phase of the sample. This way, 
the envelope only affects the level during the loop phase of the sample. The attack 
of the envelope is still executed.
ÖThe Sample Loop mode is only available for sample layers.
Setting up the Loop
You can set up the envelope to repeat its playback between the nodes you select. 
Proceed as follows:
1.Set the envelope mode to “Loop”.
2.Adjust the loop with the graphical envelope editor:
•The loop is indicated by the green region in the graphical envelope editor. You can 
specify the loop start and end by dragging the borders of the region.
•Drag the left border to the node where the loop should start.
•Drag the right border to the node where the loop should end.
ÖThe loop region can only be set up in the Decay of the envelope, i. e. after the first and 
before the sustain node.
Level Velocity Curve
You can select one of eight curves to specify how the incoming velocity translates to 
the level of the envelope. The characteristic of each curve is displayed by a small icon.
The menu offers the following mathematical functions for velocity:
- 1 = Linear
-2 = Squared
- 3 = Squared Inverse
-4 = 2 Poles Squared
- 5 = 2 Poles Squared Inverse
-6 = Cubic
- 7 = Quadric
-8 = dB
-9 = Logarithmic
- 10 = Constant (127)
Level Velocity (Vel>Lev)
Use this parameter to adjust how the velocity affects the level of the envelope. The 
level of the envelope depends on the setting of this parameter and how hard you hit a 
note: Positive values increase and negative values decrease the level of the envelope 
the harder you hit a note.  
						

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Velocity to Time (Vel>Time)
Use this parameter to adjust the influence of velocity on the times of the envelope. 
Positive values decrease the times for higher velocity values. Negative values increase 
the times for higher velocity values.
Segments
From the Segments pop-menu, you can select which stages of the envelope will be 
affected by the Velocity to Time parameter.
Key Follow and KeyF Rel
With Key Follow and KeyF Rel (Key Follow Release) you can scale the envelope times 
across the keyboard. Key Follow scales all times before the Sustain node. KeyF Rel 
scales all times after the Sustain node (which equals the Release of the envelope). 
You can set a Center Key for the Key Follow and KeyF Rel functions. The envelope 
times depend on the position where you play the keyboard and on the corresponding 
Key Follow setting: Positive values decrease the times for notes above and increase 
the times for notes below the Center Key; the envelope becomes faster the higher you 
play. Negative values increase the times for notes above and decrease the times for 
notes below the Center Key; the envelope becomes slower the higher you play.
Center Key
This parameter determines the MIDI note that is used as the central position for the 
Key Follow and KeyF Rel functions.
The LFO Subpages
LFO is an abbreviation for low frequency oscillator. The synth and sample layers offer 
four LFOs: LFO1 and LFO2 are polyphonic, LFO3 and LFO4 are monophonic. 
Polyphonic means the LFOs are calculated per voice allowing for independent 
modulations with each triggered note. You can use this to create a richer sound, for 
example, with an independent pitch modulation per note. Monophonic means the 
LFOs are calculated only once per layer. The same modulation will be sent to all 
voices simultaneously. Monophonic LFOs are often used for modulations such as 
tremolo and vibrato. LFO1 to LFO4 can be assigned freely in the modulation matrix.
For each LFO you can select from eight different waveforms with an additional shape 
parameter. Frequency adjusts the speed of the modulation and Phase sets the initial 
start of the waveform when the LFO is retriggered. In addition, you can synchronize 
the LFO Frequency to the tempo of the host application. Furthermore, you can define 
how the LFO is retriggered playing your keyboard. The polyphonic LFOs have an 
additional envelope with Fade In, Hold and Fade Out that allows you to shape the 
modulation intensity over time. Finally, the start of the modulation can be delayed.
To access the LFOs, proceed as follows:
1.Go to the Edit page and select the synth or sample layer you want to adjust.
2.In the bottom section of the editor, click the button of the corresponding page.
OptionDescription
AThe velocity affects the attack time only.
A+DThe velocity affects all times until the sustain.
DThe velocity affects all times until the sustain but without the attack.
A+RThe velocity affects the attack and the release times.
AllThe velocity affects all times.