HALion: VST Sampler & Sound Design System

Filter section

The powerful filter section in HALion is an essential part of the sound shaping process and directly connected in series to each oscillator zone. Nine high-end filter types including classic filters, tube drive and bit reduction offer various possibilities to form your sound to the individual character your are looking for. Different filter modes, 24 filter shapes and the X/Y control give you a broad tool set for enhancing your sound.

FlexPhraser

Based on Yamaha’s legendary Motif Technology, the FlexPhraser in HALion Sonic adds stunning phrases and complex patterns to your sounds. Beyond dozens of different arpeggio types, FlexPhraser is the perfect tool for playing complete instrument patterns in sync to the host with a touch of a single key! With the new user phrase editor, you can create your own patterns and phrases, letting you set velocity and pitch for sounds in up to 32 steps, while harnessing the additional power of two controller lanes driving even more parameters like filters and effects.

Next-generation wavetable synthesis

With the next-generation wavetable synthesizer in HALion no questions remain unanswered. With two aliasing-free wavetable oscillators arranged in parallel, HALion introduces a powerful yet flexible new sound source for stunning re-synthesis and unheard-of sound creations. The new profound analysis features even let you get creative using your own sounds with ease. Wavetables are automatically extracted, envelopes directly implemented into the wavetables on the fly, the integrated pitch detection finds the right blocksizes with just a click and the graphical spectrum editor makes editing harmonics intuitive and comfortable.

Macro Page Designer

Create your own customized user interfaces with the what-you-see-is-what-you-get Macro Page Designer. HALion brings the creation of instrument Macro Pages from the engineering level straight to the frontpage. Import a background, move any kind of controls from the template library on it and connect parameters from your programs to the Macro Pages via drag and drop. Use your own custom control libraries or start with one of the several macro page style libraries that come with HALion. Your imagination is the only limit.

Granular synthesis

The granular oscillator in HALion raises the standard in terms of flexibility, musicality and sound. By breaking down samples into smallest bits and by playing back the grains in any order, the spectra of all kinds of sounds can be extracted to create stunning new sonic spheres. Each oscillator generates up to eight different grain streams, leading to impressively rich and spacious structures. The innovative feature set offers deep access to the core of the oscillator, supporting you with a fresh, flexible and great-sounding approach to creative and user-friendly granular synthesis.

Scripting of professional instruments

Dive deeper into HALion than ever before with the help of the powerful scripting language LUA. Thanks to the scripting you can for example implement a logic of how to play a bass realistically when using a keyboard, do batch processing of samples or write logics of how to use a filter in a more creative way.

High-end effects

From surgically precise EQing to ultra-expressive sound design tools: with over 60 first-rate effect processors, HALion offers a plethora of creative options. Included are: Resonator, Auto Filter, Tape Saturator, Ring Modulator, Envelope Shaper, Rotary, GraphicEQ, Limiter, Expander, Reverb, Chorus, Flanger, Vibrato, DJ-EQ, Brickwall Limiter, Tube Compressor, Frequency Shifter, VST Amp, Wah Wah, Step Flanger, Vintage Ensemble, Octaver, StudioEQ, Compressor, Gate, Amplifier, REVerence, Tremolo, Phaser, MultiDelay, Tube Saturator, Maximizer, VintageCompressor, StereoEnhancer and more.

Virtual analog synthesis

Although designed with a classic setup, the virtual analog section in HALion is geared up with future-proof tools and technologies. Mix the three main oscillators, the sub oscillator, the ring modulation and the noise generator to create powerful cutting-edge sounds. With 16 different oscillator types including traditional waveforms and several algorithms like pulse width and cross modulation the sound of the synthesis can be shaped in various different directions. The highly CPU-efficient multi-oscillator mode allows you to create stunningly rich and wide sounds by multiplying, tuning and panning the voices of the three main oscillators.

Filter section

The powerful filter section in HALion is an essential part of the sound shaping process and directly connected in series to each oscillator zone. Nine high-end filter types including classic filters, tube drive and bit reduction offer various possibilities to form your sound to the individual character your are looking for. Different filter modes, 24 filter shapes and the X/Y control give you a broad tool set for enhancing your sound.

FlexPhraser

Based on Yamaha’s legendary Motif Technology, the FlexPhraser in HALion Sonic adds stunning phrases and complex patterns to your sounds. Beyond dozens of different arpeggio types, FlexPhraser is the perfect tool for playing complete instrument patterns in sync to the host with a touch of a single key! With the new user phrase editor, you can create your own patterns and phrases, letting you set velocity and pitch for sounds in up to 32 steps, while harnessing the additional power of two controller lanes driving even more parameters like filters and effects.

Next-generation wavetable synthesis

With the next-generation wavetable synthesizer in HALion no questions remain unanswered. With two aliasing-free wavetable oscillators arranged in parallel, HALion introduces a powerful yet flexible new sound source for stunning re-synthesis and unheard-of sound creations. The new profound analysis features even let you get creative using your own sounds with ease. Wavetables are automatically extracted, envelopes directly implemented into the wavetables on the fly, the integrated pitch detection finds the right blocksizes with just a click and the graphical spectrum editor makes editing harmonics intuitive and comfortable.

Macro Page Designer

Create your own customized user interfaces with the what-you-see-is-what-you-get Macro Page Designer. HALion brings the creation of instrument Macro Pages from the engineering level straight to the frontpage. Import a background, move any kind of controls from the template library on it and connect parameters from your programs to the Macro Pages via drag and drop. Use your own custom control libraries or start with one of the several macro page style libraries that come with HALion. Your imagination is the only limit.

Granular synthesis

The granular oscillator in HALion raises the standard in terms of flexibility, musicality and sound. By breaking down samples into smallest bits and by playing back the grains in any order, the spectra of all kinds of sounds can be extracted to create stunning new sonic spheres. Each oscillator generates up to eight different grain streams, leading to impressively rich and spacious structures. The innovative feature set offers deep access to the core of the oscillator, supporting you with a fresh, flexible and great-sounding approach to creative and user-friendly granular synthesis.

Scripting of professional instruments

Dive deeper into HALion than ever before with the help of the powerful scripting language LUA. Thanks to the scripting you can for example implement a logic of how to play a bass realistically when using a keyboard, do batch processing of samples or write logics of how to use a filter in a more creative way.

High-end effects

From surgically precise EQing to ultra-expressive sound design tools: with over 60 first-rate effect processors, HALion offers a plethora of creative options. Included are: Resonator, Auto Filter, Tape Saturator, Ring Modulator, Envelope Shaper, Rotary, GraphicEQ, Limiter, Expander, Reverb, Chorus, Flanger, Vibrato, DJ-EQ, Brickwall Limiter, Tube Compressor, Frequency Shifter, VST Amp, Wah Wah, Step Flanger, Vintage Ensemble, Octaver, StudioEQ, Compressor, Gate, Amplifier, REVerence, Tremolo, Phaser, MultiDelay, Tube Saturator, Maximizer, VintageCompressor, StereoEnhancer and more.

Virtual analog synthesis

Although designed with a classic setup, the virtual analog section in HALion is geared up with future-proof tools and technologies. Mix the three main oscillators, the sub oscillator, the ring modulation and the noise generator to create powerful cutting-edge sounds. With 16 different oscillator types including traditional waveforms and several algorithms like pulse width and cross modulation the sound of the synthesis can be shaped in various different directions. The highly CPU-efficient multi-oscillator mode allows you to create stunningly rich and wide sounds by multiplying, tuning and panning the voices of the three main oscillators.

Filter section

The powerful filter section in HALion is an essential part of the sound shaping process and directly connected in series to each oscillator zone. Nine high-end filter types including classic filters, tube drive and bit reduction offer various possibilities to form your sound to the individual character your are looking for. Different filter modes, 24 filter shapes and the X/Y control give you a broad tool set for enhancing your sound.

FlexPhraser

Based on Yamaha’s legendary Motif Technology, the FlexPhraser in HALion Sonic adds stunning phrases and complex patterns to your sounds. Beyond dozens of different arpeggio types, FlexPhraser is the perfect tool for playing complete instrument patterns in sync to the host with a touch of a single key! With the new user phrase editor, you can create your own patterns and phrases, letting you set velocity and pitch for sounds in up to 32 steps, while harnessing the additional power of two controller lanes driving even more parameters like filters and effects.

Operating systems (Windows)	Windows 7 (64-bit), Windows 8.1 (64-bit), Windows 10 (64-bit)	Windows 7 (64-bit), Windows 8.1 (64-bit), Windows 10 (64-bit)
Operating systems (Mac)	macOS Sierra, macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, macOS Big Sur	macOS Sierra, macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, macOS Big Sur
Apple silicon–based Mac	Rosetta 2 App	Rosetta 2 App
Display resolution minimum	1366 x 768	1366 x 768
Display resolution recommended	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Compatible with	HALion 6.4, HALion Sonic 3.4, HALion Sonic SE 3.4	HALion 6.4, HALion Sonic 3.4, HALion Sonic SE 3.4
PlugIn format (Win)	VST 2, VST 3, AAX	VST 2, VST 3, AAX
PlugIn format (Mac)	VST 3, AU, AAX	VST 3, AU, AAX
CPU minimum	64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core	64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core
CPU recommended	Intel i5 or faster	Intel i5 or faster
RAM minimum	4 GB	4 GB
RAM recommended	8 GB	8 GB
Hard disk free space	31 GB	30 GB
Graphics	Graphics card with DirectX 10 and WDDM 1.1 support (Windows only)
ASIO compatible audio hardware recommended for low-latency performance
Internet connection for	license activation, installer download, account sign up and product registration	license activation, installer download, account sign up and product registration

High-end sampling and sound creation system

Play instruments

Sample your own sounds

Build and share instruments

Create professional sound libraries

Generate synth sounds

Create huge wavetables

Eight fantastic features you need to know

Filter section

FlexPhraser

Next-generation wavetable synthesis

Macro Page Designer

Granular synthesis

Scripting of professional instruments

High-end effects

Virtual analog synthesis

Filter section

FlexPhraser

Next-generation wavetable synthesis

Macro Page Designer

Granular synthesis

Scripting of professional instruments

High-end effects

Virtual analog synthesis

Filter section

FlexPhraser

Instruments & Effects

Instruments

Effects

System requirements