STEINBERG HALion Symphonic Orchestra Instruction Manual v1.5 [fr]

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.

All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Windows Vista is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The Mac logo is a trademark used under license. Macintosh is a registered trademark. Mac OS X is a registered trademark. Cakewalk SONAR is a registered trademark of Twelve Tone Systems. ReWire is a trademark of Propellerhead Software AB. Logic is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Version: 1.5

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

5 Welcome 7 Installation 7 The Steinberg Key 8 System Requirements (PC version) 8 Installation (PC version) 9 System Requirements (Mac version) 10 Installation (Mac version) 11 Activating the Steinberg Key 12 About HALion Content Converter 13 Register your software! 14 Preparations 14 Setting up HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a VST Instrument in

Cubase

16 Setting up HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a DXi2 Synth 18 Using HALion Symphonic Orchestra in an AU compatible

application

19 HALion Symphonic Orchestra stand-alone and ReWire 23 HALion Symphonic Orchestra details 23 About programs, banks and .hsb files 24 The 16 program slots 25 Sound editing 30 Global controls 31 Global Commands context menu 32 The Keyboard 34 The Disk LED 34 The RAM Save button 35 Performance issues 37 Content Description 37 Using the content in HALion 37 Upgrading from HALion String Edition 37 Expression and control 38 The main program types 40 Instrument-specific programs 42 Articulations in programs 50 Enhancing expressiveness and realism 54 Expression controls overview 55 Content structure and program reference

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55 Demo Content 55 Program reference 59 Programs 90 Tutorial: Arranging orchestra sections 90 Introduction of instruments 90 Score order 92 Common Articulations 94 Transposing instruments 95 Woodwinds 101 Brass 105 Percussion 109 Strings 113 Hierarchy and harmonic weight 113 Groups 113 Instruments 114 Chords 117 Reconstructing a score with HALion Symphonic Orchestra 117 The first page 118 Choosing the right programs in HALion Symphonic Orchestra 119 Distributing instruments 122 Fine tuning and mixing techniques 122 Literature

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Welcome

HALion Symphonic Orchestra is the complete, easy-to-use solution for any musician and composer looking for the vast sonic palette of an entire orchestra. You can create stunningly full orchestral masterpieces, ultra-expressive solo lines as well as beautiful smaller arrangements – with all the advantages of modern computer-based production environments.

Capturing the pure emotive power, expressiveness and sheer sonic range of an entire orchestra, HALion Symphonic Orchestra offers an enormous wealth of outstanding sound content including solo and ensemble double basses, cellos, violas and violins, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments. Each of these instruments in turn offers a wealth of expressive playing styles and articulations. The enormous 27GB library is as flexible as it is accessible, ideally suited not only to classical music but also Pop, Rock, HipHop, R’n’B and any other contemporary style.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra has been crafted to offer both exquisite playability and stunning realism. Offering the advanced features of Steinberg’s award-winning HALion 3 sampling engine, HALion Symphonic Orchestra is so much more than just another sample library, providing an exceptional virtual instrument with the quality, variety and usability needed to create arrangements on a truly orchestral scale.

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Enjoy playing with your new orchestra!

Your Steinberg Team

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About the producer of HALion Symphonic Orchestra — Claudius Brüse

Born in Germany, Claudius Brüse started his musical career in 1978 in Seattle with a scholarship from Cornish Institute. Back in Germany, he studied jazz composition and arrangement in Cologne, followed by studying composition at the Folkwangschule in Essen, where he graduated in electronic and computer composition in 1984. Over the years, he has composed a lot of contemporary concert music, ranging from chamber music to orchestral works, and a multitude of film and commercial music, including documentaries, television work and feature films on both sides of the Atlantic – frequently travelling between his two homes in Cologne and Los Angeles. He co-developed the Waldorf Wave synthesizer and has written numerous magazine articles.

Over the years, Claudius and Steinberg have collaborated on many projects, e.g. the VST instruments “The Grand“ and “HALion String Edition”.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra shows Claudius’ handwriting all over the place: The typical accuracy in the reproduction of the highly sensitive acoustic instrument sound, superior sound quality and transparency, perfection down to the tiniest detail and – last but not least – an unrivalled feel for playability and control.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Installation

The Steinberg Key

Please read the following section before installing the HALion Symphonic Orchestra software.

Included with the HALion Symphonic Orchestra package, you will find an activation code for the Steinberg Key (sometimes referred to as a “dongle”), a hardware copy protection device that is part of the HALion Symphonic Orchestra copy protection scheme. HALion Symphonic Orchestra will not run if there is no Steinberg Key and if this key hasn’t been properly activated. You can either separately purchase a new Steinberg Key for use with HALion Symphonic Orchestra, or use a key previously bought for use with a different Steinberg application.

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The Steinberg Key

The Steinberg Key is, in fact, a little computer on which your Steinberg software licenses are stored. All hardware-protected Steinberg products use the same type of key, and you can store more than one license on one key. Also, licenses can (within certain limits) be transferred between keys – which is helpful, e.g. if you want to sell a piece of software.

• If you have a Windows PC, the installation program may initiate a restart of Windows after installation of the key drivers and the program software. After the restart, make sure the key is plugged into the USB port to proceed with the key activation.

• If you have an Apple Macintosh computer, there will be no automatic restart. Be sure to read the information regarding the Steinberg Key that is displayed during the installation process.

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If you already own a Steinberg Key (e.g. for Cubase or Nuendo), you can load your HALion Symphonic Orchestra license onto that one, using the activation code supplied with HALion Symphonic Orchestra. This way you need only one USB key for both your host application and HALion Symphonic Orchestra (see below).

System Requirements (PC version)

To be able to use HALion Symphonic Orchestra you will need at least:

• Windows XP (Home or Professional)/Windows Vista Ultimate or Home Premium

• Pentium/AMD Athlon 2GHz

• 1GB RAM (2GB recommended)

• 27GB of free disk space

• Host application compatible with VST 2.0, DXi2 (32bit version only) or ReWire

• Windows MME compatible audio hardware (ASIO compatible audio card recommended)

• Steinberg Key and USB component connector

• DVD ROM drive for installation

• Internet connection for activation of the Steinberg Key.

Please also observe the system requirements of your host application! Check the Steinberg web site for recommendations on how to configure your system.

Installation (PC version)

Proceed as follows to install HALion Symphonic Orchestra:

1. Insert the HALion Symphonic Orchestra installation DVD into your DVD drive, launch the Explorer or open the “My Computer” window and double-click on the symbol for the DVD drive that holds the HALion Symphonic Orchestra DVD.

If autostart is activated, the DVD contents will automatically open in a new window.

2. Double-click on the HALion Symphonic Orchestra Installer symbol to launch the installation program and follow the instructions on screen.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

3. As part of the installation process you will be asked if you wish to install the HALion Symphonic Orchestra audio files.

Activate the radio button for the desired option, and specify a path to a location on your hard disk. Note that the content installation will proceed after installation of the program software and the key activation. See below.

4. After installation of the software, the installation program will initiate a restart of your computer.

5. If you chose to install the content files as part of the installation, you must insert the corresponding DVDs once the Steinberg Key activation has finished.

• If you decide to not install the content during installation of the program software, and simply copy the desired content files from the DVDs at a later point in time, you MUST use the Locate Content function to show HALion Symphonic Orchestra where to find the audio files.

Once the Steinberg Key is activated and the content files are available on your hard disk, you can start using HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

Content installation for Vista 64 bit

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If you install the Vista 64 bit version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra, the program content will not be installed automatically. Follow the instructions displayed on screen during the installation process to install the content.

System Requirements (Mac version)

To be able to use HALion Symphonic Orchestra you will need at least:

•Mac OSX 10.4

• Power Mac G5 2GHz/Intel CoreSolo 1.5GHz

• 1GB RAM (2GB recommended)

• CoreAudio compatible audio hardware

• 27GB of free disk space

• For using as plug-in or ReWire slave, a VST 2.0, AU (tested with Logic 8) or ReWire compatible host is required.

• Steinberg Key and USB component connector

• DVD ROM drive for installation

• Internet connection for activation of the Steinberg Key.

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Please also observe the system requirements of your host application! Check the Steinberg web site for recommendations on how to configure your system.

Installation (Mac version)

Proceed as follows to install HALion Symphonic Orchestra:

1. Quit all other applications so that you return to the Finder. Disable any system activity monitoring software or extension, in particular anti-virus software. Now, insert the HALion Symphonic Orchestra installation DVD into the computer’s DVD drive.

2. If it doesn’t open automatically, double-click the HALion Symphonic Orchestra icon to open the DVD contents window.

3. Double-click on the HALion Symphonic Orchestra Installer symbol to load the installation software. Follow the instructions on screen.

4. When the program software has been installed, proceed with the key activation (see below).

Installing the content (Mac)

To install the HALion Symphonic Orchestra audio content, proceed as follows:

1. Insert DVD 1 into your DVD drive.

2. Decide which content files you wish to install and launch the appropriate content installer.

Specify a path to a location on your hard disk, and click Choose.

3. A status bar is displayed to show the progress of the installation process.

Once the files have been copied, remove DVD 1 from the drive, and insert the next DVD. Which one you need depends on which version of the audio files you are installing. Again, launch the desired content installer, specify a path, and click Choose.

4. Repeat these steps until all the content files you wish to use have been copied to your hard disk.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

• You can also simply copy the desired content files from the DVDs to a location on your hard disk. In this case, however, you MUST use the Locate Content function to show HALion Symphonic Orchestra where to find the audio files.

Activating the Steinberg Key

Your Steinberg Key does not yet contain the license required for HALion Symphonic Orchestra. You must download this license before you can launch HALion Symphonic Orchestra!

Use the activation code supplied with the program in order to download the valid HALion Symphonic Orchestra license to your Steinberg Key. This process is the same both for existing and new keys. Proceed as follows:

1. After installation, make sure that your Steinberg Key is plugged into the USB port(on a Windows PC, you may have to restart your computer first).

If you are unsure of which port this is, consult the documentation of your computer.

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2. If this is the first time a copy protection device is plugged in, it will be registered as a new hardware device. On a Mac, drivers are found automatically without further user interaction. Windows may display a dialog asking you whether you would like to find drivers for the device manually or automatically.

Under Windows, choose to find drivers automatically. The dialog closes, and you may have to reboot your computer.

3. Make sure that your computer has a working internet connection.

License download is made “online”. If the computer on which you installed HALion Symphonic Orchestra is not connected to the internet, it is possible to use another computer for the online connection – proceed with the steps below and see the help for the License Control Center application.

4. Launch the “License Control Center” application (found in the Windows Start menu under “Syncrosoft” or in the Macintosh Applications folder).

This application allows you to view your Steinberg Keys and load or transfer licenses.

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5. Use the License Control Center “Wizard” function and the activation code supplied with HALion Symphonic Orchestra to download the license for HALion Symphonic Orchestra to your Key. Simply follow the on-screen instructions.

If you are uncertain about how to proceed, consult the help for LCC.

When the activation process is completed, you are ready to launch HALion Symphonic Orchestra!

About HALion Content Converter

The HALion Content Converter is a utility for the fast conversion of HSB files to a new high-performance version. Converted HSB files allow for faster reading by the latest version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

Please note:

• The HALion Content Converter will place the converted files in a location of your choice. The older versions of the HSB files remain at their previous location, but will be renamed (“.bak” is appended to the file name). Use the Locate Content function of HALion Symphonic Orchestra to show the program where to find the converted files.

• To be able to rename the older versions of the HSB files, these must not be located in a read-only location!

• Since the old versions of your HSB files are not automatically removed, your content will require twice as much space as before.

You can of course remove the backup versions after conversion.

• Converted HSB files cannot be read by any previous version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

Note that using the Locate Content function to find both converted and unconverted content may lead to unpredictable results and is therefore not recommended.

Proceed as follows:

1. Place the HALionContentConverter.exe file in a location of your choice on your computer and double-click to launch.

2. When the HALion Content Converter window is open, drag the HSB files you wish to convert into the window.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

3. A File dialog is displayed. In this dialog, specify the location in which the converted HSB files should be stored, and click OK.

The conversion is started. Depending on the size and amount of the HSB files to be converted, the process may take some time.

Please fill out and send in the registration card that you have received with your software package. By doing so you are entitled to technical support and kept aware of updates and other news regarding HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

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Preparations

The following sections describe how to set up HALion Symphonic Orchestra for use with different interface formats.

Setting up HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a VST Instrument in Cubase

The following information refers to the use of HALion Symphonic Orchestra within Cubase. We assume that you have correctly set up both Cubase and your MIDI and audio hardware. Should you wish to use HALion Symphonic Orchestra within another VST host application such as Nuendo, please refer to its documentation.

Proceed as follows to activate HALion Symphonic Orchestra:

1. Make sure that Cubase receives MIDI data that you generate with your external MIDI master keyboard.

2. In Cubase, open the “VST Instruments” window from the Devices menu, and select “HALion Symphonic Orchestra” from the pop-up menu of a free VST Instrument slot.

3. Clicking the “Power” button in the rack will activate/deactivate HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

By default this is automatically activated when a VST Instrument is loaded.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

4. Click on the “Edit” button (“e”) to open the HALion Symphonic Orchestra window.

The HALion Symphonic Orchestra window.

5. In Cubase, select a MIDI track and set its output setting to “HALion Symphonic Orchestra”. Make sure that the MIDI track input is set to “All MIDI Inputs” or to the MIDI track to which your keyboard is connected.

This way, HALion Symphonic Orchestra will receive MIDI data from the selected track.

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• HALion Symphonic Orchestra receives MIDI data in 16 channel multimode. It is therefore not necessary to assign a specific MIDI receive channel in HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

However, you should make sure that the currently selected Cubase track is set to the MIDI channel on which HALion Symphonic Orchestra is to receive MIDI data.

When set, you are ready to load programs and start using HALion Symphonic Orchestra!

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Setting up HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a DXi2 Synth

The following information refers to the use of HALion Symphonic Orchestra within Cakewalk SONAR. We assume that you have correctly set up both SONAR and your MIDI and audio hardware. Should you wish to use HALion Symphonic Orchestra within another DXi2 compatible host application, please refer to its documentation.

Note that DXi support is only available for the 32bit version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

Proceed as follows to activate HALion Symphonic Orchestra:

1. Make sure that SONAR receives MIDI data that you generate with your external MIDI master keyboard. You can check this visually with the “MIDI In/Out Activity” tray icon.

2. In SONAR, open the “Synth Rack” window from the View menu.

3. Click the Insert button.

The Insert button in the Synth Rack window.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

4. In the Soft Synth submenu, select “HALion Symphonic Orchestra”.

5. By default, the “Insert Soft Synth Options” dialog appears. To create one MIDI track and connect an audio track to the outputs 1 and 2 of HALion Symphonic Orchestra, activate the options “MIDI Source” and “First Synth Audio Output”. To create all available HALion Symphonic Orchestra outputs, activate “All Synth Audio Outputs”.

Note that an output routing scheme was used when programming the various instrument groups of HALion Symphonic Orchestra. Make sure that you connect all outputs of your DXi application during setup, if you wish to use more than one output during mixing. If you only connect the first audio output, you will save system resources. However, make sure to manually set the output in the Out pop-up for the program slot in HALion Symphonic Orchestra to this output, otherwise you may not hear anything.

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6. Clicking the “Connection State” button in the Synth Rack will activate/ deactivate HALion Symphonic Orchestra. By default this is automatically activated when DXi SoftSynths are loaded.

7. Double-click on the “HALion Symphonic Orchestra” entry or click the “Synth Properties” button in the toolbar of the Synth Rack to open the HALion Symphonic Orchestra window.

The Synth Properties button in the Synth Rack window.

8. In SONAR, select the previously created MIDI track “HALion Symphonic Orchestra”. HALion Symphonic Orchestra will now receive MIDI data from the selected track. Make sure that the MIDI track input is set to All or to the MIDI track to which your keyboard is connected.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra receives MIDI data in 16 channel multi-mode. It is therefore not necessary to assign a specific MIDI receive channel in HALion Symphonic Orchestra. However, you should make sure that the currently selected SONAR track is set to the MIDI channel on which HALion Symphonic Orchestra is to receive MIDI data.

When set, you are ready to load programs and start using HALion Symphonic Orchestra!

Using HALion Symphonic Orchestra in an AU compatible application

You can use HALion Symphonic Orchestra in an AU host application (e.g. Logic).

The HALion Symphonic Orchestra AU version is installed in your AU plugins folder and lets HALion Symphonic Orchestra work in an AU environment – without any performance loss or incompatibilities.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

For Logic Pro 7 proceed as follows:

1. Open the Track Mixer and choose the desired Instrument channel.

2. [Command]-click the I/O field and, in the pop-up menu that appears, choose either Multi-Channel or Stereo.

3. In the submenu that appears, select All Instruments and then HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra is now loaded as an AU instrument.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra stand-alone and ReWire

HALion Symphonic Orchestra can be used as a stand-alone application, independently of any host application. This makes it possible to use HALion Symphonic Orchestra in sequencer applications that do not support one of the provided plug-in formats of HALion Symphonic Orchestra (i.e. VST, DXi and AU), but allow for data exchange using ReWire.

Note that to use the ReWire functionality, the corresponding ReWire files must be installed. If you don’t have these files already, you can download them from www.propellerheads.se.

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ReWire2 is a special protocol for streaming audio and MIDI data between two computer applications. When using ReWire, the order in which you launch and quit the two programs is very important, as the first audio application launched will capture the audio card resources.

Proceed as follows:

1. First, launch the sequencer application you wish to use (e.g. Ableton Live, ProTools).

If your sequencer supports ReWire, it will provide a way to assign audio and MIDI channels for the exchange of data. See the documentation of your sequencer application for details.

2. Now, launch HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a stand-alone application.

You can launch the program just like any other application on your computer through the Start menu or desktop icon (Win) or by double-clicking the application symbol in the Applications folder (Mac). You can also double-click the HALion Symphonic Orchestra program file in the installation folder.

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When you are using a Mac, note that after installation of HALion Symphonic Orchestra you have to launch the program in stand-alone mode once to activate the ReWire functionality.

When you now play a sample with HALion Symphonic Orchestra, the sound is streamed via ReWire to the assigned mixer channels in your host.

Note that you are now running two completely separate applications. When you save your sequencer project, this will include the overall channel and bus configuration, but none of the settings in HALion Symphonic Orchestra! To retain your HALion Symphonic Orchestra settings, choose the Save Bank command (in HALion Symphonic Orchestra either from the File menu or from the context menu). You may want to choose a file name that indicates that the file contains settings created for a particular sequencer project.

Similarly, when you re-open a project in your sequencer application and have launched HALion Symphonic Orchestra, use the Load Bank command in HALion Symphonic Orchestra to reload the HALion Symphonic Orchestra settings pertaining to this particular project.

If you are using the Vista 64-bit version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra, please note that ReWire is not supported.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

The Preferences dialog

When running HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a stand-alone application, you will find a Preferences item in the File menu in the top left corner of the application window (Win) or in the HALion Symphonic Orchestra menu in the top left of the display (Mac). When selected, a dialog with a number of options opens.

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• This dialog is opened automatically when you launch HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a stand-alone application for the first time.

• Select an audio card driver from the ASIO Device pop-up.

• In the table below the ASIO device pop-up, click one of the entries in the ASIO Output column to change the assignment of virtual outputs of your VST Instrument to the physical outputs on your audio hardware.

Click the ASIO Control Panel button to open a dialog with advanced settings for your ASIO device.

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• When the “Enable Hybrid Rewire Mode (requires restart!)” option is activated (it is deactivated by default), you will directly access the system MIDI ports while in ReWire slave mode. Incoming MIDI data from the selected system port will be merged with the MIDI input from the host sequencer received via ReWire.

Note that when you change this setting you must restart HALion Symphonic Orchestra in stand-alone mode for the change to take effect.

• Use the MIDI Input pop-up to specify a MIDI input. Click the Reset MIDI button to reset all MIDI controllers (this has the same effect as when pressing the Panic button on a MIDI keyboard).

If “emulated” MIDI ports are listed on the MIDI Input pop-up, note that there is a simple way to force HALion Symphonic Orchestra to list Windows MIDI ports: Create a file called “ignoreportfilter” (e.g. via a simple text editor, without specifying any file extension) and place this file in the same folder as the application .dll file.

• The Tempo and Time Signature fields provide HALion Symphonic Orchestra with tempo and time signature information.

In stand-alone mode, such information is not available from a host application.

The other items on the File menu (Save/Load Bank and Save/Load Program) of the standalone version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra are the same as on the VSTi’s context menu. The “Save as Default Bank” option allows you to save the current bank as the bank to be loaded every time you open HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

HALion Symphonic Orchestra details

About programs, banks and .hsb files

HALion Symphonic Orchestra plays back the samples of the content files supplied with your HALion Symphonic Orchestra DVDs. The content files are saved as HALion Sound Bank (.hsb) files. To play the content, HALion Symphonic Orchestra provides 16 so-called “program slots” which are used to access “programs”. The idea behind programs is outlined below:

• A Program file (.fxp) can be loaded into one of the 16 program slots. A program can contain any number of samples and all associated parameter settings.

To load a .fxp file, use the Load Program option, either from the pop-up menu opened by clicking the down-arrow of the program slot, or from the global context menu. You can also save changes made to a loaded program by using the Save Program option in the global context menu.

• When selecting the Load Program option, the loaded program will replace any program previously loaded in the current program slot.

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• A Program Bank is used to load/save a particular program configuration.

If you want to save the current settings of HALion Symphonic Orchestra, including all programs and program settings currently loaded, select the Save Bank option from the global context menu.

• Program files and program bank files are lists of references to sample files, but do not contain these samples. The .hsb files, however, are “containers”, they contain both the programs and the samples referenced by these programs.

A .hsb file can contain up to 128 program files, which in turn can reference any number or samples.

• You cannot load a .hsb file directly. HALion Symphonic Orchestra needs to know the location of the .hsb file on your hard disk and then displays the programs contained in a located .hsb file in the list of programs.

See page 30 for a description of the Locate Content function. By selecting a program from the list in the Load Program pop-up menu it is loaded into the current program slot.

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The 16 program slots

A program is loaded into one of the 16 program slots of HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

The first program slot in HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

The 16 program slots in HALion Symphonic Orchestra provide a number of settings.

Column Description

Ins. Click here to select the corresponding program slot.

Category The two category pop-ups are used as filter criteria when browsing for a

Program Click on the arrow to open the Load Program pop-up menu. In the pop-

Ch This pop-up menu allows you to select a MIDI channel for each program

Vol To change the volume setting for a program slot, right-click (Win)/[Ctrl]-

Pan To change the panorama setting for a program slot, click in this field. A

particular program: when you want to load a new program into a program slot, you can set the Category pop-ups to limit the number of programs displayed in the Load Program pop-up. Note that HSB files not containing programs matching the defined categories won’t be displayed. See page 29.

up, select Load Program to load a new program and replace any currently loaded program. A file dialog is opened in which you can browse for .fxp files. You can also select a program to load from the list below the option. Note that the list is available only if you previously located a .hsb file for this slot, and that only .fxp files contained in the located .hsb file will be listed.

slot. By default, the 16 slots are logically assigned to the MIDI channels 1-16.

click (Mac) into the field and enter a new value. Note that this value affects the program slot, not the program.

slider appears allowing you to change the pan value. Note that this value affects the program slot, not the program.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Column Description

Out Clicking in the “Out” column for a channel slot opens the Output pop-

up menu. When set to Program, the output information saved in the loaded program will be used to determine the output. You can also select a specific output from the pop-up. Note that the outputs have been named to reflect the default output routing for each instrument group.

Sound editing

HALion Symphonic Orchestra is not limited to playing back programs “as they are” – you can change some of the program parameters and thus change the sound.

The Bypass button, the FX LED, the Q controls and the Options button.

Q controls

In the sound edit section below the program slots you find eight quick control knobs (or “Q controls”) allowing you to control up to eight parameters of the selected program.

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To change a parameter setting, simply turn a knob. The label above the knob displays the name of the controlled parameter, the label below shows the current parameter value.

Which parameters are controlled by each Q control is defined in the .fxp file. So, when you load a different .fxp file, the parameter names displayed above the Q controls may change.

Which parameters are assigned to the eight Q controls depends on the selected program, i.e. the assignment data is saved in each .fxp file. You cannot change the parameter assigned to a particular Q control.

The Bypass button and the FX LED

To the left of the Q controls you find a button and an LED referring to the use of HALion effects. The LED will light up whenever effects are used by the program. Use the Bypass button to bypass effects.

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Player Options

The Player Options dialog opens when you click on the “ball” icon to the right of the Q controls.

The Player Options dialog

The settings in the Player Options dialog affect the overall behavior of HALion Symphonic Orchestra. These are described below.

Disk Streaming – Memory

• The setting for Preload into RAM determines how many seconds of each sample are loaded into RAM.

It should be set depending on the number of samples that you intend to use, and the amount of RAM you want to dedicate to HALion Symphonic Orchestra. The less RAM you assign, the more often HALion Symphonic Orchestra has to access the disk.

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• The Cache Size value determines the total size of the cache, i.e. the amount of RAM available for disk streaming.

The Disk LED in the bottom left corner of the HALion Symphonic Orchestra window will light up red when samples cannot be loaded from disk in time. In such a case you can increase the cache size and/or the preload time of the samples. The bigger the cache size, the less disk streaming is required, however, a large value may mean that you are waisting RAM. You may want to experiment with this setting to find the optimum value for your system.

• The cache is divided into “pages”. The “Cache Page Size” value determines how big one of these pages is.

I. e. it sets the size of the audio data read during one disk streaming operation.

• “Memory max.” is the currrently set maximum amount of RAM available for HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

If you exceed this value, a warning message is displayed.

• If you change any of the disk streaming settings, click Apply to apply your changes, or Cancel to return to the previously set values.

Note that [Ctrl]/[Command]-clicking the Apply button will save the current setting for Preload into RAM as a global default.

See page 35 for more information on how to use these settings.

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Editing

The Knob Modes determine the behavior of the HALion Symphonic Orchestra knobs:

Option Description

Circular To move a knob, you click on it and drag in a circular motion, much like

Relative Circular

Linear To move a knob, you click on it and drag up or down (or left or right) with the

turning a “real” knob. When you click anywhere along the knob’s edge, the setting is immediately changed.

Works like the “Circular” option, but clicking does not automatically change the setting. This means you can make adjustments to the current setting by clicking anywhere on a knob and dragging, without having to click on the exact current position.

mouse button pressed – as if the knob was a vertical (or horizontal) slider.

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Crescendo Control

This controller is exclusive to Xfade and Xswitch programs.

In the Crescendo Control menu, you can select either of the four following controllers to control the crescendo function described later:

• Modulation wheel (CC 1)

• Breath Controller (CC 2)

• Foot Controller (CC 4)

•Expression (CC 11)

• To hear the Xfade programs, you have to move the set controller up after loading the program. This is because the controller’s initial value is 0.

This setting is global for all program slots in HALion Symphonic Orchestra. It is saved and loaded with your current project (when using HALion Symphonic Orchestra as a plug-in) or with bank files.

Quality

The Quality setting provides a way of balancing audio quality vs. conservation of computer power. The lower the Quality setting, the more voices are available. As a trade-off, sound quality is reduced.

The Resampling Quality pop-up provides three options: Fast, Good, and Best. Resampling removes anti-aliasing artifacts, which can be especially noticeable in high frequency areas. The higher the setting, the better these artifacts will be suppressed. The trade-off with higher settings is heavier CPU load. For samples with little high frequency content, you can safely use the “Fast” option. For programs that use different samples for every key (so that there is no resampling) you should always use the “Fast” option to conserve computing power.

This section also contains the Use Export Mode option. Some host applications do not provide loaded plug-ins with information about whether an audio mixdown (also called “bounce” or “freeze”) is made in realtime or in offline mode, which may result in incomplete exports. In such a case, activate the “Use export mode” option to allow for a complete export. Don’t forget to deselect this option again after the export is completed.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

The MIDI controller list

The MIDI controller list is a two-column table. The column on the left shows entries for the eight Q control knobs, while the column on the right lists MIDI controllers assigned to each of the Q controls. Clicking in the MIDI controller column for a Q control entry opens a pop-up menu where you can pick one of the 128 MIDI controllers. There is also a “Not assigned” entry.

To assign a MIDI controller to a Q control so that you can remote control HALion Symphonic Orchestra using a connected MIDI device, proceed as follows:

1. Click in the MIDI controller column for the corresponding Q control and pick the desired MIDI controller.

For example, to remote control the first Q control knob using the modulation wheel on your MIDI keyboard, select “1. Modulation” from the pop-up menu.

2. Switch on the Learn button and move the control of your MIDI device.

In our example, you should now move the modulation wheel.

3. Switch off the Learn button.

Now the parameter assigned to the Quick Control is controlled by the selected slider or knob on the remote device!

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Show Content by Category

When you activate this option, all installed and located .hsb content will be shown in the Load Program pop-up menu, sorted by categories. When you deactivate this option, the Load Program pop-up shows the located .hsb files as collapsed folders, and you can browse the complete content of each .hsb file by opening the corresponding folder.

If you don’t want to see all programs contained in a .hsb file, you can still use the Category pop-ups in the program slot (see page 24).

About Content

This opens a window displaying information about the located content (.hsb) files of HALion Symphonic Orchestra. Use the pop-up menu at the top to select a .hsb file (you may also click one of the tabs at the bottom of the window to display the information for the corresponding .hsb). The window displays the name, short name, manufacturer, manufacturer web site, and the path of the selected file.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 29

Locate Content

The Locate Content function is used to “show” HALion Symphonic Orchestra where the .hsb files are stored. Once the content has been located, it is displayed as a list in the Load Program pop-up menu.

To use the Locate Content feature, proceed as follows:

1. In the Player Options dialog, select “Locate content…”.

A file dialog appears. By default, the function looks for .hsb files.

2. Locate and select the desired file(s) and click “Open”.

When you now open the Load Program pop-up menu, the programs contained in the located .hsb files are displayed in the list and can be used in HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

Note that when you install new content files (.hsb) on your hard disk, or when you move installed content, or when you chose not to install the content during installation of the program software, but copied it from the DVDs at a later point in time, you MUST use Locate Content to make this moved/new content available in HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

• When your content is located on an external hard drive, you may find that switching off this external device will cause HALion Symphonic Orchestra to loose all location information referring to this device.

Therefore, always make sure that an external drive with located content on it is up and running before you launch HALion Symphonic Orchestra. Otherwise, you will have to use Locate Content again.

Global controls

Master Tune/Volume settings/Voice number indicator

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Here you can set tune and volume globally for HALion Symphonic Orchestra. You can tune up/down in Hertz, and set the master volume from silence up to +6dB. The Voices field dynamically displays the number of voices currently used. The Steinberg logo in the bottom right corner of this section provides an Internet link to the Steinberg home page. An Internet connection and a suitable browser application are required for this to work.

Global Commands context menu

You can open the Global Commands context menu by right-clicking (Win)/[Ctrl]-clicking (Mac) on the background of HALion Symphonic Orchestra. The Global commands menu provides the following options:

Parameter Description

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Clear All… This will remove all loaded programs. A warning message

Clear Current Program… This will remove the currently selected Program.

Load Bank… When you select this option, a standard file dialog will open

Save Bank… When you select this option, a standard file dialog will open

Save as Default Bank Use this option to save the current bank as the default bank

Load Program… Use this option to select a program file (.fxp) to load into one

Save Program… When you select this option, a standard file dialog will open

Reload Samples (from RAMSave)

Steinberg on the Web This submenu contains links to Steinberg’s home page, to

will be displayed.

where you can select a .fxb file to load.

where you can enter a file name for the currently loaded program bank.

to be loaded every time you launch HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

of the sixteen program slots.

where you can enter a file name for the currently loaded program.

This option is available only if you previously unloaded samples from RAM using the RAMSave function (see page 34). Use it to reload all samples that were unloaded.

the HALion and HALion Symphonic Orchestra web sites, to a product upgrade page and to the user’s forum.

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Parameter Description

Help… This brings up the online help for HALion Symphonic Or-

chestra (in .pdf format). To be able to read it, you need to have Acrobat Reader installed, which is included on the program DVD.

Version History… This opens a document describing what is new in the cur-

rent version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

IMSTA.org An Internet link to the IMSTA anti software-piracy website.

About Content… This opens a window displaying information about the lo-

About HALion Symphonic Orchestra…

cated content.

This brings up information about the program.

The Keyboard

The keyboard logically spans the entire range that you can assign samples to, from C-2 to G8. It is used to quickly audition samples by clicking a key to which a sample is assigned. A blue dot indicates the key where you last clicked.

• Use the scrollbar below the keyboard to scroll up or down the keyboard range.

• You can use the +/- buttons to the right of the scrollbar to zoom the visible range of the keyboard.

• You can audition samples with varying velocity values using the mouse.

The further down on a key you click, the higher the velocity value, and vice versa.

Click here for maximum velocity.

Click here for minimum velocity.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

• The keyboard indicates for each key whether it has a sample mapped to it by displaying a green or blue colored strip at the top of the key.

The length of the strip, i.e. the number of keys it touches, indicates the key zone range for a particular sample. The color of the strip alternates for each new key zone mapped across the keyboard, allowing you to see the start and end of each key zone.

• Right-click (Win)/[Ctrl]-click (Mac) on a key to open a little info view displaying pitch and (depending on where on the key you click) velocity information.

• When you [Ctrl]-click (Win)/[Command]-click (Mac) a key on the keyboard and keep the mouse button pressed, HALion Symphonic Orchestra will play this key and all following keys, with the same velocity, for as long as you press the mouse button. This serves as a test function for the sample mapping.

When you also hold down the [Alt]/[Option] key on your computer keyboard while clicking, each sample will be played ten times, with increasing velocities (between 1 and 127).

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• In HALion Symphonic Orchestra, so-called key switches are used by the different programs to switch between samples during play. On the on-screen keyboard, you can see which keys are used as switches.

The different switches are numbered. Note that there are two different kinds of key switches: The ones labeled “ks” are activated when you press them once and deactivated when you press them once more. The switches labeled “kr” are active only as long as you press them, and deactivated as soon as you let go of the key. Please increase the zoom factor to display the labeling. See the content description for information on which programs use key switches.

Key switches for a HALion Symphonic Orchestra combi program.

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The Disk LED

The disk LED to the left of the HALion Symphonic Orchestra onscreen keyboard will light up green when samples are streamed from disk, and red when samples cannot be loaded from disk in time. To indicate that samples could not be streamed, a red circle will be displayed around the disk LED until you click on it. In such a case you should increase the cache size and/or the preload time of the samples in the Player Options dialog.

Disk Activity LED

• The dotted line below the Disk LED is a disk activity indicator, giving an indication of the pending disk streaming operations.

The RAM Save button

To the left of the HALion Symphonic Orchestra on-screen keyboard, below the Disk LED, you find the RAM Save button.

The RAM Save function saves memory resources. It scans the MIDI notes used in the current project and unloads all other samples.

Using RAM Save

1. Click the RAM Save button. When activated, this button will blink. The function remains active until you click the button again.

2. Play the project in your host application from start to end (or to the point when no new samples will be played).

3. Click the RAM Save button again. The button will stop blinking and a dialog will appear, asking if you would like to apply the function.

4. Click Apply to confirm. The unused samples are unloaded.

• If you wish to reload previously unloaded samples, open the context menu (by right-clicking (Win) or [Ctrl]-clicking (Mac) anywhere on the program background) and select Reload Samples (from RAMSave).

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Performance issues

When handling content as big as that for HALion Symphonic Orchestra, making the most of your computer’s system resources is very important. In the following sections you will find some suggestions that should help you to optimize your computer performance.

16-bit vs. 24-bit content

All HALion Symphonic Orchestra content comes in two versions: as 16-bit files and as 24-bit files. The difference between the two is simple: the 24-bit programs provide superior sound quality, so on a very well-equipped computer, you should always use these programs to get the best quality.

Whenever sound quality is not quite as important (e.g. when playing live, or when an instrument plays in the background), you may find that using the 16-bit content is quite sufficient, not only in terms of sound quality, but also in terms of the performance advantages it offers (less CPU load, increased polyphony).

Furthermore, for some programs “ECO” versions are also available. These have a reduced number of sample layers and require significantly less RAM than the normal programs, at the cost of realism and dynamic response. Use these programs if the complete programs are too much for your computer to handle, or for live performances.

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Performance-related settings in the Player Options dialog

The settings in the Disk Streaming – Memory section of the Player Options dialog (see page 26) have a direct impact on the performance of your computer. Which settings are best depends on the configuration of your system (i.e. the amount of RAM and the speed of your hard disk), and how you wish to use HALion Symphonic Orchestra, so you may want to experiment. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

• The values set for Preload into RAM and Cache Size directly affect the amount of RAM available on your system.

To find settings suitable for your system, use the voice number indicator in the global controls section of HALion Symphonic Orchestra to determine the number of voices you will use, and set Preload into RAM and Cache Size to values that will not cause the Disk LED to light up red.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 35

Make sure you increase Preload into RAM in small steps only (not exceeding 0.1 seconds)! When setting this option to too high a value, you may “eat up” all of the RAM available to your system. The less RAM you have, the shorter the Preload into RAM time should be.

• The value for Preload into RAM also directly affects the time it takes for HALion Symphonic Orchestra to load its programs.

If it is of no importance to you how long it takes to load a program, you can set Preload into RAM to as high a value as is possible on your system. However, if you want to load your programs quickly, Preload into RAM should not exceed 0.6 seconds.

Optimizing the disk streaming performance

• When you are using a computer system with more than one hard disk, you should consider placing the content files for the different instruments on different disks, as this will boost the disk streaming performance.

Note that you need multiple hard disks – having multiple partitions on the same hard disk won’t do the trick.

• Make sure that you defragment your hard disk regularly.

Fragmentation can reduce your computer’s performance considerably. We recommend to defragment at regular intervalls. You should consider using a high-performance defragmentation tool that allows you to specify which files should be treated as belonging together.

Hyperthreading

On a computer with two or more CPUs/cores you may find that enabling Hyperthreading actually reduces the audio performance. It is therefore recommended to turn Hyperthreading off on multi-core/ multi-CPU computers. Only if you are using a single-core computer, Hyperthreading may indeed increase performance.

Energy saving

Modern operating systems provide energy saving options, to extend the operating time of battery-powered computers. Energy saving may mean to reduce CPU performance. To get the maximum CPU performance under OSX, make sure that Processor Performance is set to Highest in the OSX System Preferences/Energy Saver.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Content Description

The following sections describe the general structure of the installed content.

Using the content in HALion

You can open the HALion Symphonic Orchestra content files in HALion. This lets you take full advantage of the features of Steinberg’s modern software sampler when working with this library.

Upgrading from HALion String Edition

If you are a user of HALion String Edition 1 or 2 and purchased HALion Symphonic Orchestra using the upgrade offer, and already have sequencer projects using the string sections of HALion String Edition, you can add to these the orchestra sections provided by HALion Symphonic Orchestra. Simply use both VST instruments in your projects, or load the same sounds you used in HALion String Edition in HALion Symphonic Orchestra and remove HALion String Edition from your projects afterwards.

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If you wish to remove the HALion String Edition content files from your system after an upgrade, make sure that none of these files are used in any projects before you remove them.

Expression and control

If HALion Symphonic Orchestra is your first professional orchestra library, if you are not used to conducting, and if you’ve always used orchestral sounds from hardware samplers or keyboard workstations, you will have to forget about a couple of “bad” habits – using velocity as your main controller for controlling expression and dynamics for example. While velocity is appropriate for controlling dynamics for drums, keyboards or synthesizers, orchestra sections and especially string instruments are a totally different story.

When playing drums, pianos, guitars or other percussive instruments, the volume and intensity is defined by the attack, after that there are few options to change anything related to dynamics.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 37

With bowed instruments, this is totally different. Strings need expression control all the time, and most of it is happening after the initial attack.

We have introduced a special Crescendo controller allowing you to continuously control the expression while you are working. It not only controls the volume, but also the choice of the layer played according to the controller value (i.e. the actual pianissimo, piano, … forte, fortissimo recording).

From now on bear in mind: When playing and arranging with HALion Symphonic Orchestra, for many instruments the crescendo controller is much more important than velocity.

The main program types

In HALion Symphonic Orchestra there are four main program types, each with its specific way of controlling volume and layer crossfading/ switching.

In the most demanding and authentic programs, the crescendo controller smoothly blends between up to 4 layers at a time. This gives the best expression at the cost of the HALion Symphonic Orchestra having to play up to four stereo voices per note.

The following paragraphs describe the different program types related to expression control.

Xfade

In the Xfade programs the crescendo controller blends through the different layers (e.g. from pianissimo to fortissimo) by crossfading between the layers. This gives the most authentic sound and behavior, however it also puts the highest load on CPU and hard disk since all layers have to be played at the same time – audible or not. This means that e.g. in the violin programs up to four stereo voices are played for each note.

Availability and number of program types depends on the type of instrument. For example there are no xfade programs for the pizzicato or spiccato articulations simply because they would not make sense.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Xswitch

The Xswitch programs are the economical alternative to the Xfade versions. They behave identically but the expression controller switches from layer to layer rather than blending them into each other. Volume, however, is controlled continuously.

The disadvantage of audible transitions yields an unbeatable advantage: Only one stereo voice per note is used, so these programs can be used on slower systems.

Velocity (Vel)

In these programs, only velocity controls expression. Technically the velocity value selects the corresponding layer, i.e. high velocities play fortissimo layers.

While this is not the way instruments are used normally, keyboard players who have been using orchestra sounds from samplers or other keyboards are used to this kind of playing orchestra sounds.

Note that in these versions there’s no way of continuous expression control.

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Velocity plus Pitchbend (VelPB)

These programs are similar to the Vel versions, but are enhanced by the pitch bend controller additionally controlling expression (at the cost of no pitch bend being available). Velocity controls the “initial” expression, while the pitch bend controller adds the possibility of controlling volume while notes are held. Needless to say, pitch bending is deactivated in those programs.

You may ask why we have made an exception from the rule of using the crescendo controller. Here’s the reason: A non-centered controller would create abrupt volume changes when you turn it, and it doesn’t offer the decrescendo option which is needed when the initial volume is controlled by velocity.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 39

Instrument-specific programs

Violins A and B

For legato as well as spiccato articulations, there are always two program versions called A and B. These use completely different samples and can be used for both doubling the section size (from 16 to 32) or for doubling voices without any typical layering artefacts such as phasing or sterile sound character. Actually you will get the most realistic violin section sound when you play each violin track twice, with separate crescendo control for A and B. Alternately, you can copy the part and apply some randomizing on the copy.

If you need more than one line from the same violin section, usually the players would divide up into sub sections. That’s also a good opportunity to use the A and B variants.

Don’t overdo doubling however, too much doubling can sound artificial.

Spiccato special for violins

The two sets of spiccato articulations cover slightly different performances. The A section was taken from a played phrase and therefore sounds a bit less focussed in the attack, while B uses actual starting notes from a spiccato line. The difference is subtle, but worth noting.

Other violin specials

In the violin set you will find special portamento programs allowing you to play realistic expressive slides, i.e. where the target note is reached by sliding up the string rather than fingering the note. Use these programs when you need special expressiveness. There are both up and down slides as well as additional octave up slides (to the highest register only, from C5 upwards) for both violins A and B.

To play slides, press the key switch associated with the slide type.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Violas A and B

As in the violins, there are completely independent legato and spiccato A and B sets for violas. Use the legato A and B sets for doubling the size and achieving a smoother sound – or, even more typical, use them for creating independent divisi lines.

The spiccato A set is very nice for playing light accompaniment figures, while the B set will give you a bit more bow and directness.

Cellos A and B

Normally, the legato A and B sets would be used to play divisi parts, but of course you can double the section size here as well. The sets are completely independent, the spiccato B set is more pronounced than the A set.

Special features for double bass

Use the 8vb (octava basso) programs if you want to print out parts from your MIDI tracks – they sound an octave lower than written (resp. played), just as in real life. Also, if your keyboard has only five octaves, the 8vb programs offer you the complete bass range without transposing. All key switch programs are 8vb programs to accommodate for key switching.

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Ensemble programs

The Ensemble programs feature several sections (e.g. all string instruments: double basses, cellos, violas, violins) combined into one program and laid out across the keyboard. This is, in many cases, a good compromise between realism and ease of use. The following hints will help you to make the right choice.

Advantages compared to separate sections:

• An Ensemble program needs less RAM than separate sections

• One channel can cover a part spanning more than one section

• Ensemble programs are easier to use if you’re not yet used to arranging orchestra sections

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 41

Disadvantages compared to separate sections:

• You cannot control expression or other articulations separately for each section

• A passage created from one Ensemble program never sounds as realistic as a passage created using separate sections (each with its separate expression control)

• The variety of Ensemble programs is limited

Articulations in programs

HALion Symphonic Orchestra offers a variety of articulations assisting you in creating authentic orchestra arrangements. In other words, this library gives you both advantages: The most popular and desired orchestra sounds with as much flexibility and as little overload as possible.

The following sections provide background information on the different articulations provided by HALion Symphonic Orchestra and explain how you play, control and use them.

Legato

When playing legato, there is no gap between subsequent notes, resulting in a line with no “breaks”. True legato means that all subsequent notes are played “under one bow”, meaning without changing bow direction. In a string section, however, this is also achieved by all players changing their bow at different times thus hiding the bow changes. This is the stuff string pads are made of.

Use legato articulations for playing melodies as well as accompaniments, especially when they mainly consist of longer notes. In HALion Symphonic Orchestra, even detached notes work fine with the legato programs thanks to the true release samples and the immediate attack of the legato samples.

Keep in mind, however, that softer notes as well as larger (lower) instruments have slower attacks than loud notes on high instruments. Very fast runs will sound better here if you use a spiccato A program.

All legato programs in HALion Symphonic Orchestra come in four flavors offering variations on how to control (play) them. The preferred choice for realism is the crescendo control crossfade (attribute: xfade) versions. They allow you to control bowing for the string sections with

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

the crescendo controller, which is about as realistic as it can get. It will take a bit of practice, but is well worth the effort if your goal is superior realism.

Spiccato

Spiccato is often mixed up with staccato. It is the most commonly used staccato sound in a string section. The bow touches the string only shortly, allowing it to resonate a bit and thus creating a typical decaying sound. Spiccato sounds a bit cleaner than an “on-the-string” staccato (where the bow actually rips the string) and covers a broader range of applications from accompaniment to fast melodic lines.

Use the A sets when you want to play accompaniment-style, fast runs in the top register or even tremolo legato (use up bow for best results).

The B sets give you more “bow” and therefore more definition in the attack.

Spiccato programs are only available as velocity programs for obvious reasons. They offer up to 9 velocity layers per bowing direction (resulting in 18 layers in alternating programs) to circumvent the unwanted “machine gun” effect usual in sample based string sections. Apart from this, this extraordinarily high number of layers provides an absolutely realistic loudness response.

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Pizzicato

If a string player, instead of bowing the string, plucks the string with a finger, this is called pizzicato.These programs therefore are only available in velocity versions. The resulting sound is very different from bowed sounds and resembles a guitar rather than a legato string instrument. The sound gets thinner with increasing pitch, due to increasing string tension and decreasing string length.

In HALion Symphonic Orchestra there are both loose and tight variations for violins and violas (tight and very tight for cellos). The tight variants are more precise, while the loose programs offer more diffusion and realism, especially when used in a large section. Use a tight program for violins I and a loose one for violins II to create a very convincing big pizzicato sound.

The very tight variant for cellos is useful for precise bass lines.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 43

Tremolo

In string sections, tremolo is played by rapidly moving the bow back and forth on the string. This yields a very agitated and noisy sound used for adding thrill to a passage.

Since accents are very effective in tremolo parts for bringing out a note, HALion Symphonic Orchestra features true accent samples for the tremolo programs. In the crescendo controlled programs there are different accent samples, accessible by playing velocities above 100. In the velocity programs there is one accent at the top level.

Xfade and Xswitch programs are available like in the legato sections, allowing for far more realistic control than using velocity.

Trills

Trills are played by rapidly moving one finger on and off the string with the hand that grips the pitch, creating a rapid pitch change. Trills come in two flavors: Halfstep and Wholestep. For choosing between half and whole you have two options:

• Load a corresponding program (WT for whole tone and HT for half tone – referring to the interval played)

• Use a Key Switch (see also page 32 for a description of how key switches are displayed on the on-screen keyboard) program that includes both and allows you to switch between them using the keys A-1 and B-1. This is great for playing a trilled phrase in the correct key (and scale) by switching between halfstep and wholestep trills.

Switch key assignment in Trill programs for all instruments:

Key Note # Articulation Description Key Mode

A-1 21 Whole Tone All notes play whole step trills ks

B-1 22 Half Tone All notes play half step trills ks

Again, using an Xfade or Xswitch program offers more realism than a velocity-controlled program.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Combi programs

Combi programs combine a useful set of articulations within one program so you can use them on one MIDI channel. For example, a combi program can combine legato, trill, tremolo, spiccato and pizzicato. The number and type of available articulations depend on the instrument (refer to the Program Reference section on page 55 for detailed info).

The default articulation when you load a Combi program is legato. By pressing key switches (see also page 32 for a description of how key switches are displayed on the on-screen keyboard), you can quickly activate different articulations. Releasing the switch key takes you back to normal legato mode.

Switch key assignments in Combi programs for strings:

Key Note # Articulation Description Key Mode

A-1 21 Whole step trill Except double basses kr

Bb-1 22 Spiccato kr

B-1 23 Half step trill Except double basses kr

C0 24 Tremolo kr

C#0 25 Pizzicato Double basses only kr

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Switch key assignments in Combi programs for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

A-1 whole-tone trill kr

B-1 half-tone trill kr

Bb-1 staccato kr

C0 crescendo-decrescendo kr

C#0 Accent kr

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Switch key assignments in Combi ECO programs for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

Bb-1 staccato kr

C#0 Accent kr

Ornaments WT+HT for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet:

Key Articulation Key Mode

D0 whole-tone ornament ks

E0 half-tone ornament ks

Switch key assignments in Combi programs for Bassoon:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

Bb-1 staccato kr

C0 crescendo-decrescendo kr

C#0 Accent kr

Switch key assignments in Combi ECO programs for Bassoon:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

Bb-1 staccato kr

C#0 Accent kr

Ornaments WT+HT for Bassoon:

Key Articulation Key Mode

D0 whole-tone ornament ks

E0 half-tone ornament ks

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Switch key assignments in Combi programs for Piccolo, English Horn, Bass Clarinet:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

Bb-1 staccato kr

Switch key assignments in Combi programs for Horn solo, Trumpet solo, Trombone solo:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

Bb-1 staccato kr

C0 crescendo-decrescendo kr

C#0 Accent kr

D#0 Diminuendo kr

Switch key assignments in Combi programs for Tuba:

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Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

Bb-1 staccato kr

C0 crescendo-decrescendo kr

C#0 Accent kr

Switch key assignments in Combi programs for Horns tutti, Trumpets tutti, Trombones tutti:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: legato

Bb-1 staccato kr

C#0 Accent kr

D#0 Diminuendo kr

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Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Timpani:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: normal

C0 roll kr

Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Snare:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: normal position

A-1 mid-position kr

Bb-1 flam kr

B-1 short roll kr

C0 roll kr

C#0 snares off kr

Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Gran Cassa (Bass Drum):

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: normal

C0 roll kr

Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Tambourine:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: normal

C0 shake-roll kr

C#0 thumb-roll kr

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Woodblocks:

Key Articulation Key Mode

C0 wood-beater ks

D0 felt-beater ks

Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Templeblocks:

Key Articulation Key Mode

C0 drumstick ks

D0 leather-beater ks

E0 felt-beater ks

F0 wood-beater ks

Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Suspended Cymbals:

Key Articulation Key Mode

A-1 drumstick ks

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B-1 mallet ks

C0 Mallet Roll cresccendo ks

D0 drumstick-roll ks

E0 mallet-roll ks

Key layout:

Keys Description

c2-b2 edge/surface

c3-b3 edge

c4-b4 surface

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Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Piatti a due and TamTam:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: normal

C0 choked kr

Switch key assignments in Combi KS program for Triangle and Sleighbell:

Key Articulation Key Mode

no key pressed: normal

C0 roll kr

Enhancing expressiveness and realism

HALion Symphonic Orchestra offers a range of features for enhanced realism and authentic behavior. This section describes these features, how they work and how you make them work for you.

Bowing control in string sections

In quick passages, string players usually change the bow direction every time they play detached or spiccato notes. It is difficult if not impossible to bow a fast detached passage in one direction. Usually, a sampled spiccato program only has one or a few samples per pitch and bowing direction, resulting in a “machine-gun” sound easily detectable as sampled and unrealistic.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra addresses this problem by providing a yet unrivalled number of layers per bowing direction. To even add to realism and control, there are special alternating programs allowing you full control over the bowing direction. You can choose down, up or alternating down/up bows – which is the most realistic option. You can even choose which bow to start with and retrigger the alternating process if you want to start a passage with a specific bowing direction.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

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):

Key Note # Articulation Description Key Mode

A-1 21 down bows All notes are played with down

bows.

Bb-1 22 down->up Bowing alternates between

down and up, starting with down. Press again to reset.

B-1 23 up bows All notes are played with up

bows.

C#0 25 up->down Bowing alternates between up

and down, starting with up. Press again to reset.

Here’s a little exercise for you to check out this impressive function:

1. Load the program “Vlc spicc B Alt1 Vel KS”.

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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.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 51

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 Symphonic 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 controller (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,

B-1 23 slide up Upward portamento kr + Play

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

kr + Play

only available for top register

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 Symphonic 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

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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.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 53

Expression controls overview

Here is an overview of all expression controls provided in HALion Symphonic Orchestra:

cc# Name Program type Function

1ModulationXfade, Xswitch

all others

2Breath Xfade, Xswitch

all others

4 Foot Xfade, Xswitch

all others

11 Expression Xfade, Xswitch

all others

Pitch Bend Xfade, Xswitch

Vel, VelPB

Aftertouch all program types Vibrato

Velocity Xfade, Xswitch

Vel, VelPB

The table does not include standard MIDI controllers like Volume, Pan or Sustain Pedal which are supported as well.

Crescendo (if assigned) Vibrato

Crescendo (if assigned) no function

Pitch bending Volume expression

no function Crescendo

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

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 16.3GB, while the 16-bit content comes to a total of 11GB. 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 Orchestra 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 programs. The program names indicate the instrument used, what category the program belongs to, and the articulation played.

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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

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 55

Instruments

The following instruments have been used to record the HALion Symphonic 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

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

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

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Articulations

The following articulations were recorded:

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

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 57

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

(up<->down)

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

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

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

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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

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 59

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vln stacc Alternating2 X X X X

Vln stacc down Alt X X X

Vln stacc up Alt X X X

Violins tutti

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

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vln II A legato X X X X X

Vln II A legato+port X X X X X

Vln II A legato soft X X X X

Vln II A legato loud X X X X

Vln II A legato loud+port X X X X X

Vln II B legato X X X X X

Vln tremolo X X X X X

Vln tremolo+accent X X X X

Vln trills HT X X X X

Vln trills WT X X X X

Vln trills WT-HT X X X X X

Vln pizzicato loose Alt X X X

Vln pizzicato loose X X X

Vln pizzicato tight Alt X X X

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Vln pizzicato tight X X X

Vln spicc A Alternating1 X X X X

Vln spicc A Alternating2 X X X X

Vln spicc A down Alt X X X

Vln spicc A up Alt X X X

Vln spicc A down X X X

Vln spicc A up X X X

Vln spicc B Alternating1 X X X X

Vln spicc B Alternating2 X X X X

Vln spicc B down Alt X X X

Vln spicc B up Alt X X X

Vln spicc B down X X X

Vln spicc B up X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 61

Viola solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vla Combi X X X X

Vla Combi fast X X X X

Vla long X X X

Vla long fast X X X

Vla short Alternating X X X X

Vla short down X X X

Vla short up X X X

Vla tremolo X X X

Vla tremolo+accent X X X

Vla trill HT X X X

Vla trill WT X X X

Vla trills WT-HT X X X X

Vla ornament HT X X X

Vla ornament WT X X X

Vla cresc-decresc X X X

Vla pizzicato Alt X X X

Vla stacc Alternating1 X X X X

Vla stacc Alternating2 X X X X

Vla stacc down Alt X X X

Vla stacc up Alt X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Violas tutti

Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vla Combi X X X X X

Vla Combi espressivo X X X X X

Vla espressivo X X X X

Vla A legato X X X X X

Vla A legato soft X X X X

Vla A legato loud X X X X

Vla B legato X X X X X

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Vla A+B X X X X

Vla tremolo X X X X X

Vla tremolo+accent X X X X

Vla trills HT X X X X

Vla trills WT X X X X

Vla trills WT-HT X X X X X

Vla pizzicato loose Alt X X X

Vla pizzicato loose X X X

Vla pizzicato tight Alt X X X

Vla pizzicato tight X X X

Vla spicc A Alternating1 X X X X

Vla spicc A Alternating2 X X X X

Vla spicc A down Alt X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 63

Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vla spicc A up Alt X X X

Vla spicc A down X X X

Vla spicc A up X X X

Vla spicc B Alternating1 X X X X

Vla spicc B Alternating2 X X X X

Vla spicc B down Alt X X X

Vla spicc B up Alt X X X

Vla spicc B down X X X

Vla spicc B up X X X

Cello solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vlc Combi X X X X

Vlc Combi fast X X X X

Vlc long X X X

Vlc long fast X X X

Vlc short Alternating X X X X

Vlc short down X X X

Vlc short up X X X

Vlc tremolo X X X

Vlc tremolo+accent X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vlc trill HT X X X

Vlc trill WT X X X

Vlc trills WT-HT X X X X

Vlc ornament HT X X X

Vlc ornament WT X X X

Vlc cresc-decresc X X X

Vlc pizzicato Alternating X X X

Vlc stacc Alternating1 X X X X

Vlc stacc Alternating2 X X X X

Vlc stacc down Alt X X X

Vlc stacc up Alt X X X

Cellos tutti

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Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vlc Combi X X X X X

Vlc Combi espressivo X X X X X

Vlc espressivo X X X X

Vlc A legato X X X X X

Vlc A legato+porta X X X X X

Vlc A legato soft X X X X

Vlc A legato loud X X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 65

Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vlc A legato loud+port X X X X X

Vlc B legato X X X X X

Vlc A+B X X X X

Vlc tremolo X X X X X

Vlc tremolo+accent X X X X

Vlc trills HT X X X X

Vlc trills WT X X X X

Vlc trills WT-HT X X X X X

Vlc pizzicato tight Alt X X X

Vlc pizzicato tight X X X

Vlc pizzicato very tight X X X

Vlc spicc A Alternating1 X X X X

Vlc spicc A Alternating2 X X X X

Vlc spicc A down Alt X X X

Vlc spicc A up Alt X X X

Vlc spicc A down X X X

Vlc spicc A up X X X

Vlc spicc B Alternating1 X X X X

Vlc spicc B Alternating2 X X X X

Vlc spicc B down Alt X X X

Vlc spicc B up Alt X X X

Vlc spicc B down X X X

Vlc spicc B up X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Double Bass solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

DB Combi X X X X

DB long X X X

DB short Alternating X X X X

DB short down X X X

DB short up X X X

DB cresc-decresc X X X

DB pizzicato X X X

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DB stacc Alternating1 X X X X

DB stacc Alternating2 X X X X

DB stacc down Alt X X X

DB stacc up Alt X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 67

Double Basses tutti

Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

DB Combi X X X X X

DB Combi espressivo X X X X X

DB espressivo X X X X

DB espressivo 8vb X X X X

DB A legato X X X X X

DB A legato 8vb X X X X

DB tremolo X X X X X

DB tremolo 8vb X X X X

DB tremolo+accent X X X X

DB tremolo+accent 8vb X X X X

DB pizzicato X X X

DB pizzicato 8vb X X X

DB spicc Alt X X X

DB spicc Alt 8vb X X X

DB spicc X X X

DB spicc 8vb X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Ensemble Strings solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Ensemble solo long X X

Ensemble solo longfast X X

Ensemble solo tremolo X X

Ensemble solo pizz X X

Ensemble solo stacc X X

Ensemble Strings tutti

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Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Ensemble legato X X X

Ensemble tremolo X X X

Ensemble pizzicato X X X

Ensemble spiccato X X X

Violins octave X X X X

Vlc+Vla unisono X X X X

Vlc+Vla octave X X X X

DB+Vlc unisono X X X X

DB+Vlc octave X X X X

DB+Vlc octave 8vb X X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 69

Pads tutti

Programs ECO XFade XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Vln I A legato Pad X X X X X

Vln I B legato Pad X X X X X

Vln II A legato Pad X X X X X

Vln II B legato Pad X X X X X

Vla A legato Pad X X X X X

Vla B legato Pad X X X X X

Vlc A legato Pad X X X X X

Vlc B legato Pad X X X X X

DB legato Pad X X X X X

DB legato 8vb Pad X X X X X

Ensemble legato Pad X X X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Flute solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Flt Combi X X X X

Flt Combi ECO X X X X

Flt legato X X X

Flt legato soft X X X

Flt legato loud X X X

Flt accent X X X

Flt trill HT X X X

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Flt trill WT X X X

Flt trills WT+HT X X X X

Flt ornament HT X X X

Flt ornament WT X X X

Flt ornaments WT+HT X X X X

Flt cresc-decr X X X

Flt stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 71

Oboe solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Ob Combi X X X X

Ob Combi ECO X X X X

Ob legato X X X

Ob legato soft X X X

Ob legato loud X X X

Ob accent X X X

Ob trill HT X X X

Ob trill WT X X X

Ob trills WT+HT X X X X

Ob ornament HT X X X

Ob ornament WT X X X

Ob ornaments WT+HT X X X X

Ob cresc-decr X X X

Ob stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Clarinet (Bb) solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Cl Combi X X X X

Cl Combi ECO X X X X

Cl legato X X X

Cl legato soft X X X

Cl legato loud X X X

Cl accent X X X

Cl trill HT X X X

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Cl trill WT X X X

Cl trills WT+HT X X X X

Cl ornament HT X X X

Cl ornament WT X X X

Cl ornaments WT+HT X X X X

Cl cresc-decr X X X

Cl stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 73

Bassoon solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Bsn Combi X X X X

Bsn Combi ECO X X X X

Bsn legato X X X

Bsn legato soft X X X

Bsn legato loud X X X

Bsn accent X X X

Bsn ornament HT X X X

Bsn ornament WT X X X

Bsn ornaments WT+HT X X X X

Bsn cresc-decr X X X

Bsn stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Piccolo solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Pic Combi X X X X

Pic legato X X X

Pic stacc ALT X X X

Pic Combi 8va X X X X

Pic legato 8va X X X

Pic stacc ALT 8va X X X

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English Horn solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

EH Combi X X X X

EH legato X X X

EH legato soft X X X

EH legato loud X X X

EH stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 75

Bass Clarinet solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Bcl Combi X X X X

Bcl legato X X X

Bcl legato soft X X X

Bcl legato loud X X X

Bcl stacc ALT X X X

Ensemble Woodwind

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Ens Woodwind legato 1 X X X

Ens Woodwind legato 2 X X X

Ens Woodwind stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Trumpet solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Trp Combi X X X X

Trp legato X X X

Trp legato soft X X X

Trp legato loud X X X

Trp accent X X X

Trp diminuendo X X X

Trp cresc-decr X X X

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Trp stacc ALT X X X

3 Trumpets tutti

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Trp Combi X X X X

Trp legato X X X

Trp legato soft X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 77

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Trp legato loud X X X

Trp accent X X X

Trp diminuendo X X X

Trp stacc ALT X X X

Trombone solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Trb Combi X X X X

Trb legato X X X

Trb legato soft X X X

Trb legato loud X X X

Trb accent X X X

Trb diminuendo X X X

Trb cresc-decr X X X

Trb stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

3 Trombones tutti

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Trb Combi X X X X

Trb legato X X X

Trb legato soft X X X

Trb legato loud X X X

Trb accent X X X

Trb diminuendo X X X

Trb stacc ALT X X X

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Tuba solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Tub Combi X X X X

Tub legato X X X

Tub legato soft X X X

Tub legato loud X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 79

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Tub accent X X X

Tub stacc ALT X X X

Horn solo

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Hrn Combi X X X X

Hrn legato X X X

Hrn legato soft X X X

Hrn legato loud X X X

Hrn accent X X X

Hrn diminuendo X X X

Hrn cresc-decr X X X

Hrn stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

4 Horns tutti

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Hrn Combi X X X X

Hrn legato X X X

Hrn legato soft X X X

Hrn legato loud X X X

Hrn accent X X X

Hrn diminuendo X X X

Hrn stacc ALT X X X

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Ensemble Brass

Programs XSwitch Vel Vel PB Key Switch

Ens Trb+Trp legato X X X

Ens Trb+Trp stacc ALT X X X

Ens Trb+Trp 3Pl legato X X X

Ens Trb+Trp 3Pl stacc ALTXX X

Ens Tub+Hrn legato X X X

Ens Tub+Hrn stacc ALT X X X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 81

Pitched Percussion

Timpani

Programs Vel Key Switch

Timpani Combi KS X X

Timpani Combi Key X

Timpani normal ALT X

Timpani roll X

Timpani roll XFade

Glockenspiel

Programs Vel Key Switch

Glockenspiel X

Glockenspiel 8va X

Vibraphone

Programs Vel Key Switch

Vibraphon X

Xylophone

Programs Vel Key Switch

Xylophon X

Xylophon 8va X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Tubular Bells

Programs Vel Key Switch

Tubular Bells X

Small Bell pitched

Programs Vel Key Switch

Small Bell pitched X

Skinned Percussion

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Snare

Programs Vel Key Switch

Snare Combi KS X X

Snare Combi Key X

Snare norm-position X

Snare mid-position X

Snare flam X

Snare short roll X

Snare long roll X

Snare long roll XFade

Snare snares-off X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 83

Gran Cassa (Bass Drum)

Programs Vel Key Switch

GranCassa Combi KS X X

GranCassa all X

GranCassa normal X

GranCassa roll X

GranCassa roll XFade

Tambourine

Programs Vel Key Switch

Tamb Combi KS X X

Tamb all X

Tamb normal X

Tamb normal NoRel X

Tamb shake roll X

Tamb shake roll XFade

Tamb thumb roll X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Wood Percussion

Woodblocks

Programs Vel Key Switch

WoodBlk A Combi KS X X

WoodBlk A Combi Key X

WoodBlk A Wood-Beater X

WoodBlk A Felt-Beater X

WoodBlk B Combi KS X X

WoodBlk B Combi Key X

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WoodBlk B Wood-Beater X

WoodBlk B Felt-Beater X

WoodBlk C Combi KS X X

WoodBlk C Combi Key X

WoodBlk C Wood-Beater X

WoodBlk C Felt-Beater X

Vibraslap

Programs Vel Key Switch

Vibraslap long X

Vibraslap short X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 85

Templeblocks

Programs Vel Key Switch

TmplBlk A Combi KS X X

TmplBlk A Combi Key X

TmplBlk A Drumstick X

TmplBlk A Leather-Beater X

TmplBlk A Felt-Beater X

TmplBlk A Wood-Beater X

TmplBlk B Combi KS X X

TmplBlk B Combi Key X

TmplBlk B Drumstick X

TmplBlk B Leather-Beater X

TmplBlk B Felt-Beater X

TmplBlk B Wood-Beater X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Metal Percussion

Suspended Cymbals

Programs Vel Key Switch

Cym small Combi KS X X

Cym small Combi Key X

Cym small Drumstick X

Cym small Stick roll X

Cym small Stick roll XFade

Cym small Mallet X

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Cym small Mallet roll X

Cym small Mallet roll XFade

Cym small cresc roll X

Cym large Combi KS X X

Cym large Combi Key X

Cym large Drumstick X

Cym large Stick roll X

Cym large Stick roll XFade

Cym large Mallet X

Cym large Mallet roll X

Cym large Mallet roll XFade

Cym large cresc roll X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 87

Piatti a due (pair of cymbals)

Programs Vel Key Switch

Piatti Combi KS X X

Piatti Combi Key X

Piatti normal X

Piatti choked X

Tam-Tam

Programs Vel Key Switch

Tam-Tam Combi KS X X

Tam-Tam Combi Key X

Tam-Tam normal X

Tam-Tam choked X

Triangle

Programs Vel Key Switch

Triangle Combi KS X X

Triangle all X

Triangle normal X

Triangle normal NoRel X

Triangle roll X

Triangle roll XFade

Cowbell

Programs Vel Key Switch

Cowbell X

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Small Bell

Programs Vel Key Switch

Small Bell X

Sleighbells

Programs Vel Key Switch

Sleighbells Combi KS X X

Sleighbells all X

Sleighbells normal X

Sleighbells shake X

Sleighbells shake XFade

Fingercymbals

Programs Vel Key Switch

FingCym small X

ENGLISH

FingCym large X

Dobatchi (Cup Gong)

Programs Vel Key Switch

Dobatchi X

Campane di Messa

Programs Vel Key Switch

CampDiMessa X

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Tutorial: Arranging orchestra sections

by Martin Gerke

Introduction of instruments

The classical orchestra can be divided into four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. Each of the orchestral groups has its own distinctive qualities and functions, which must be well known when composing and arranging a piece in classical style. In this small tutorial you can read about the most important things you have to know before starting to write your own music with HALion Symphonic Orchestra.

Score order

In a typical score the instruments always have the same order from top to bottom:

1. Woodwinds

2. Brass

3. Percussion

4. Other instruments (e.g. solo violin or piano forte)

5. Strings

Within each family the instruments are again sorted from the higher to the lower pitches, from top to bottom.

Tip: Always try to maintain the traditional order of instruments, e.g. in the track list of your sequencer. This will help you to keep the score as legible as possible.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

2 Clarinets (Bb)

2 Bassoons

2 Horns (D)

2 Trumpets (E)

2 Trombones

Bass Trombone

Timpani

ENGLISH

1. Allegro Moderato

Violins 1

Violins 2

Violas

Celli

Double Basses

A typical score

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Common Articulations

You can use different articulations, i.e. different ways of playing, to vary the sound produced by an instrument. Some articulations are limited to one group of instruments, like the pizzicato, which only can be produced by stringed instruments, by picking a single string with your finger. There is nothing to pick with brass or woodwinds. However, there are other articulations that appear in different groups of instruments, but have the same functionality within the orchestral context, even though they are produced with different methods of generating the sound.

The most important articulations are:

• Legato: Connecting the notes in a musical line without a noticeable gap. In the score, legato notes are grouped by a slur marking. Legato is essential for playing melodies and for grouping musical motifs within a melody. Instruments playing legato are found in the woodwinds, brass, and of course in the strings family. In HALion Symphonic Orchestra, you have special instruments that support legato performance.

• Portamento/Glissando: A portamento is a legato that connects two notes with a big interval between them, without single steps. A portamento is possible on strings, woodwinds and brass. There are special string patches in HALion Symphonic Orchestra that support portamento. A similar technique is a glissando, where two notes are connected with audible single steps. This is used for harps, pianos or pitched percussion instruments like xylophone or vibraphone.

• Staccato: The opposite of legato. Very short notes played with strokes (strings) or short blows (woodwinds, brass). The notes are clearly separated from each other. Staccato is very useful for building rhythmical structures in accompaniments and melodies.

• Portato: Located between legato and staccato; the notes are not connected, but neither clearly separated from each other.

Tip: Melodies or accompanying lines become more interesting and lively when legato and non-legato alternates with staccato and portato.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Groups of legato notes.

Groups of staccato notes.

• Tremolo: A tremolo consists of very fast repetitions performed over a long note. On stringed instruments it is played with fast up and down bow strokes on a single pitch. In HALion Symphonic Orchestra you will find special string patches that control the transition between normal and tremolo.

• Trills: Fast repetition of notes alternating between two pitches. Most trills are performed at an interval of one or two halftone steps. Of course there are special instruments in HALion Symphonic Orchestra that support authentic trill handling.

• Vibrato/non vibrato: vibrato means a pulsation of pitch around the tonal main frequency. Vibrato can be used with different amounts; for very dramatic passages more vibrato is necessary than for more sober moments. Vibrato is caused by vibrating with fingers on stringed instruments and by varying the stream of air on brass and woodwinds. Especially for solo instruments the controlled use of vibrato is essential. All instruments of HALion Symphonic Orchestra are recorded with very subtle vibrato. To have more vibrato on certain passages, HALion Symphonic Orchestra uses vibrato generated electronically with the modulation wheel. Please make sure not to overuse this effect.

ENGLISH

• Crescendo/decrescendo: Crescendo/Decrescendo means becoming louder/becoming softer; evolving from one point of loudness to another. The distance between two dynamic points could be described as manifold: from surprising, short dynamic changes to long progressions over several bars. In the score the sign for this articulation looks like a V lying on its side; when the tip is on the left it is a crescendo, when the tip is on the right it is a decrescendo. A crescendo/ decrescendo is an information about loudness and can be combined with every playing technique. With HALion Symphonic Orchestra, you have special MIDI controllers to control loudness.

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An example for crescendo

An example for decrescendo

• Accent: An accent can be added to every note to emphasize one note for rhythmical and/or sound shaping reasons.

Accents on notes

Transposing instruments

There are two kinds of instruments in a score: transposing instruments that sound in another pitch than the one you can see in the score, and non-transposing instruments, that sound in the scored pitch. Most clarinets, horns and trumpets are transposing instruments; a trumpet in Bb, e.g., means that we read a C but hear a Bb, two halftones lower. So if you want all instruments to play in harmony, and the piece is in C, you have to transpose the trumpet’s voice two halftones up to D. Flutes and violins are examples for non transposing instruments.

The indicated range of the instruments in this compendium is related to the range of the sampled instruments in HALion Symphonic Orchestra and not always exactly to the range of the real instrument. Sometimes the real instrument might go one or two halftones higher. The note numbers of ranges refer to the MIDI note numbers as displayed in Cubase SX 3, where a middle C is C-3.

Scored pitch of clarinet in Bb.

Sounding pitch (transposed -2 halftones).

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Woodwinds

There a three ways of producing sound with a woodwind instrument.

The first one is used by flutes, when a stream of air is split into two parts by an embouchure hole. One part of air escapes to the outside over the edge, while the other, smaller part of streaming air is directed into the hole, causing a vibration in the instrument and producing sound.

The second method, found in oboes and bassoons, uses a pair of curved reeds, buzzing against each other with a nasal sound amplified by the body of the instrument. The vibrating pillar of air is shortened or lengthened with finger holes.

The third woodwind method uses one single flat reed only that vibrates against the mouthpiece. Clarinets and saxophones produce their sounds this way, from covered to husky.

The woodwind section sits in the middle of the orchestra, behind the strings. The sound of the woodwind section is breathy and can add power to the strings section without becoming too harsh. The produced sounds can sometimes remind the listener of the human voice because of their rich articulation.

ENGLISH

Flute

• Transposing: No

• Range: H2 to E6

• Register: 3; low, middle, high

• Agility: High

• Description: The flute as a solo instrument is very suitable for lyrical passages, especially in the low register that lacks loudness, but has a very rich and beautiful sound. The flute can be played very fast. Fast runs and long notes may alternate frequently. The middle register sounds mellow and brilliant and is excellent for melodic work. The accompaniment must be light in texture to make sure the flute has enough contrast to the orchestral background.

• Combinations: The high register is brighter and possesses a bright tone which can add brilliance to other woodwinds or to strings. The combination of violins and flutes (one octave higher) playing a melody

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 95

is typical. The flute blends very well with strings, horns, trombones and other woodwinds and always adds something noble, soft and shimmering to the sound.

Range for the flute: H2-E6.

Registers for the flute: Soft/weak, powerful/rich, bright/clear, and penetrating.

Oboe

• Transposing: No

• Range: Bb3 to G5

• Register: 3; lower, middle, high

• Agility: High

• Description: The nasal and sometimes penetrating sound of this double-reed instrument is very suitable for expressive passages and essential for melodic solo work. From C6 upwards, the sound gets almost too thin, compared to the flute, but between E3 and E4 it has a really charming character. The low notes sound fat and melancholic. It is very nice for short submissions and for dialogs with other woodwinds.

• Combinations: Often the oboe is too flashy for long notes and harmonic work together with other instruments. The texture is becoming harsher when an oboe is added to chords played by strings, horns or other woodwinds. It does not blend in as well as the flute.

Range for the oboe: Bb3-G5.

Registers for the oboe: thick, warm, clear/thin.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Clarinet (Bb)

• Transposing: Yes

• Range: D2 to G5

• Register: 4; lower, middle, high, highest

• Agility: High

• Description: The low register in piano sounds mysteriously dark, soft and warm but lacks enough loudness to win out over an orchestral tutti. The middle register is a little bit dull and weak, followed by the high register, which is the best choice for solo work, with its clear and round timbre. The highest register tends to be shrill and must be included carefully.

• Combinations: The clarinet adds some softness with increasing fullness to the flute. You can also combine clarinet and oboe, with the oboe dominating the lower regions, and the clarinet dominating the higher regions. Within the woodwind section the clarinet works as a mediator between oboe and bassoon. It brings the double reed instruments closer together, which otherwise do not blend very well. Depending on the register the clarinet adds brightness or warmth to trumpets and horns. The combination of clarinet and strings is very satisfying, and clarinet and cello blend well when playing unisono.

ENGLISH

Range for the Clarinet (Bb): D2-G5 (sounds a major 2nd lower).

Registers for the Clarinet (Bb): Deep/throaty, weak/mellow, bright/expressive, penetrating/thin.

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Bassoon

• Transposing: No

• Range: Bb0 to E4

• Register: 3; low, middle, high

• Agility: High

• Description: The bassoon is able to express a wide spectrum of emotional temperatures, from soft, warm and lively to significant, melancholic and wistful. The low register delivers a solid bass foundation. The middle register is clear and rich in modulated sounds, distantly related to the oboe, but the timbre has more experience and wood. The high register sounds a little bit crimped and narrow and is good for describing fearful and oppressing situations.

• Combinations: The bassoon has a deep relationship with horns and low strings and delivers the bass foundation in the woodwind section. A rich sound for melodic work will be achieved by adding a flute two octaves above the bassoon. Stunning basses result in the combination with cello, double bass, or trombone and bass clarinet.

Range for the bassoon: Bb0-E4.

Registers for the bassoon: Dark/solid, expressive/mellow.

Registers for the bassoon: Thin, pinched.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

Piccolo

• Transposing: Yes

• Range: D4 to C7

• Register: 3; lower, middle, high

• Agility: High

• Description: The piccolo in C sounds an octave higher than the normal flute. The low register evokes spooky and mysterious scenarios played in piano, while the middle and high registers are excellent for intense and penetrating melodic work.

• Combinations: In the orchestral tutti the melodic lines can be sharpened by adding a piccolo flute, one or two octaves higher. It blends very well with the woodwind section.

Range for the piccolo: D4-C7 written range (sounds one octave higher).

ENGLISH

Registers for the piccolo: Too weak, mellow, clear/bright.

Registers for the piccolo: Penetrating.

English horn

• Transposing: Yes

• Range: B2 to G5

• Register: 3; low, middle, high

• Agility: High

• Description: The English horn is an alto version of the oboe and sounds darker and more powerful, but even slightly more covered than the oboe. Because of its ability to express archaic, pastoral or melancholic moods it is often used for serious largo melodies.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra 99

• Combinations: The English horn fits in best in the middle voices of the woodwind section. It prefers the combination with oboe, clarinet and bass clarinet, but also goes together well with trumpets and horns and with all strings, especially the viola.

Range for the English horn: B2-G5 (sounds a fifth lower).

Registers for the English horn: Mournful/intense, mellow/warm, clear/thin, too thin.

Bass Clarinet (Bb)

• Transposing: Yes

• Range: C2 to D5

• Register: 4; low, middle, high, highest

• Agility: High

• Description: There are very rich overtone structures in the bass clarinet’s low register, sounding dark and substantial. Just as with the clarinet, the middle register sounds pale and weak. The upper register sounds full and round and delivers a strong sound. The clarinet’s middle register can be replaced by the bass clarinet’s upper register, sounding more powerful. The highest register sounds poor and narrow and is not suitable for harmonic contexts.

• Combinations: Because they are of the same construction type, clarinet and bass clarinet deliver a very homogeneous sound when played together, either unisono or with one octave distance. The deeper woodwinds, bassoon and English horn, are very good partners for creating a woody bass foundation. Within the brass family the horn reaches the highest grade of blending with the bass clarinet. The horn’s sound is as substantial and mellow as the bass clarinet’s one. And like the bassoon, the bass clarinet loves low strings: the combination of the low register with a double bass is very impressive and dark, while the unisono between bass clarinet and cellos is very popular because of its soft and round effect.

HALion Symphonic Orchestra

100

STEINBERG HALion Symphonic Orchestra Instruction Manual v1.5 [fr]

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Table of Contents

Welcome

Installation

Preparations

HALion Symphonic Orchestra details

Content Description

Content structure and program reference

Tutorial: Arranging orchestra sections

Introduction of instruments