HALion 7

Sample and Synthesis Platform

HALion gives you everything you need to create all the sounds you have ever imagined — and many you have never thought of. With six different forms of synthesis, a high-performance sample engine, scripting, a groundbreaking time-stretch and resynthesis algorithm, plus fast and easy assignable modulations, HALion delivers new inspiration every time you open it.

What's New in HALion 7?

Spectral Synthesis

Sound design which is as smooth as possible: Effortlessly sculpt and shape your sounds directly in the completely refreshed Spectral Zone, with new spectral effects, features like Stack and even an improved formant preservation.

Blur - Spectral Zone: Build a wall of sound

The Blur effect elegantly clouds incoming signal frequencies, morphing them into expansive, atmospheric textures. Paired with slow sample playback speeds, you can sculpt long, evolving 'walls of sound' or get into the realm of the avant-garde by stretching audio into abstract compositions.

Stack - Spectral Zone: Create big soundscapes

Play rich-sounding chords with only one note: Stack combines up to eight pitch-sifted copies of the spectrum at the playback position to easily generate chords. You can even activate the MIDI Learn function to play chords in to Stack. Customize levels, pitches or pan and modulate the level of each stack to craft dynamic, ethereal soundscapes.

Macro Page Editor: Improvements for instrument design

Besides many smaller improvements, professional instrument designers can now make use of new functions like ‘jump to resources’ for macro page controls, improved drawing routines for decors, positioning directly in the sample display, and a new Play locator for the stepmod control.

FM Zone: Developed together with Yamaha

HALion 7 features the completely new FM Zone, developed in co-operation with Yamaha, the company which created some of the most iconic FM synthesizers in history. Freely combine up to eight operators, use them as carriers or send them to feedback loops. Together with the powerful Algorithm Finder, a comprehensive and easy-to-use algorithm designer, you can create everything from classic DX7 tones to the most contemporary FM sounds. And if that is not enough, HALion now also supports DX7 and TX81Z SYX file import in the FM Zone.

Spectacular: The new Spectral Zone

The HALion spectral oscillator features our newly in-house developed time stretch and resynthesis algorithm, which sounds amazing even at extreme settings. It not only allows you to change playback speed in real time without affecting the pitch, but you can also transform samples into completely new sounds. The real power comes with features like formant shift, spectral filter, purity, inharmonicity and the ability to hold the previous spectrum functions if a sample’s start or end is reached. In addition, the new FFT view offers a precise and clear insight into the spectrum itself.

Modulation reimagined

Shape, tweak and animate your sounds more easily than ever with HALion’s new modulation concept. Click on a parameter in the zone and instantly assign a new modulation to it with the new modulation rows. Jump directly to the modulation destination or source to do further edits with just one click. You can also assign modulation sources by drag and drop. Combined with the new visualization feature for any modulation signal, you have the perfect overview of what is happening.

New Shaper Envelope

The User Envelope now has brush, pen and eraser tools for intuitively drawing and customizing envelopes. You can choose from a great selection of pre-designed shapes or save custom shapes for future sessions. Furthermore, the new Shaper mode for envelopes allows you to cycle through shapes in synchronization with your host DAW’s tempo, giving you a brand-new variety of customized LFO.

Instruments

• FM Lab
  • This powerful and versatile FM synthesizer for HALion allows you to create complex and dynamic sounds by combining up to eight operators, using them as carriers or sending them to feedback loops. And with its intuitive design, features like the Algorithm Finder and easy-to-use Algorithm Designer, you can design everything from classic FM bell tones to rich, evolving pads or hard, abrasive bass lines.
• Tales
  • This beautiful sample library combines the intimate sound of a handcrafted guitar, with individual strings sampled as open notes and tuned to different pitches, with additional acoustic and synthesized textures. Its versatile sound palette and intuitive controls make it easy to create the perfect sound for any musical situation, from uplifting pop productions to emotional underscores
• Anima
  • Anima features a huge palette of cutting-edge synth sounds. Coupled with a powerful arpeggiator, flexible modulation section and two wavetable oscillators, modern electronic music production has never sounded so good.
• Auron
  • Auron will inspire you to create unique new soundscapes, but also provides 160 granular synthesis presets for quick access to great-sounding pads, textures and timbres.
• B-Box
  • B-Box is a step sequencer for beats and drum tracks. It features 13 instruments and 16 steps, each with velocity control and integrated mixing section — the perfect tool straightforward creation of great rhythms.
• HALiotron
  • The sounds of 1960s and ’70s rock and pop have left an indelible mark on music history. HALiotron is a painstaking reconstruction of the analog technology that helped to make it such a great era.
• Hot Brass
  • A multi-sampled brass library with gloriously fat, tight and authentic sounds which are perfect for contemporary pop, funk, reggae and soul music.
• Model C
  • Variously described as smoky, punchy and silky, the Model C is a tonewheel organ emulation which is suitable for a wide range of musical styles.
• Skylab
  • Soaring through space like a bright star, Skylab’s unique combination of a huge sample library and granular synthesis is the ideal creative tool for attention-grabbing cinematic scores and electronic music.
• Studio Strings
  • Combining great playability with vibrant sound, Studio Strings is a string ensemble sample library which is optimized for film scores, pop arrangements any other music where depth and style are essential.
• The Eagle
  • The Eagle grand piano has a rich and transparent sound which is ideally suited to modern pop, rock and jazz, as well as classical music.
• The Raven
  • The Raven is a grand piano that delivers a beautifully rich, harmonic sound with stunning nuances. It has a natural, precise playing feel that oozes craftsmanship and class.
• Voltage
  • Many of the most famous analog synthesizers from the past inspired Voltage. Adding the sonic range and power of true vintage style bass, it delivers truly inspirational lead sounds that characterize the warmth and class of the best electronic music.
• World Instruments
  • World Instruments brings a huge array of music from different cultures to your productions. These range from West African balafons and Turkish tambours to Japanese shakuhachis, Shona kalimbas and much more.
• World Percussion
  • From Africa to Asia, Europe and many other places, World Percussion allows you to play and record percussion from right across the globe.

Effects

• Resonator
  • The innovative three-band Resonator allows formant-filtering for various tonal modifications for beautiful vocal, string and brass sounds.
• Auto Filter
  • A next-generation sound-morphing machine, Auto Filter will take you on a journey through new soundscapes, driven by the LFO and Envelope Follower.
• Tape Saturator
  • Warm up digital samples and recordings with Tape Saturator, an emulation of analog gear that can make the difference between sounding good and sounding great.
• Ring Modulator
  • Ring Modulator creates new sonic worlds by multiplying two audio signals; its simple GUI belies the radically new sounds that are just a few clicks away.
• Envelope Shaper
  • A powerful and useful tool, Envelope Shaper manipulates the transients of signals offering variable attack gain and length, as well as release gain.
• Rotary
  • The reworked rotor speaker cabinet effect has very powerful editing capabilities such as independent Lo/Hi cabinet control, overdrive and amp-simulation as well as slow/fast/stop modes.
• GraphicEQ
  • This graphic equalizer comes with ten bands and features drawing of EQ curves, an invert parameter and three different response types. This EQ also provides a global range control to handle the overall amount of equalization.
• Limiter
  • This is a straightforward low-distortion limiter with auto-release. It puts a “hard ceiling” on any signal and is also suitable for the master stage.
• Gate
  • This is a flexible gate with independent attack, release and auto-release controls.
• Flanger
  • This is a powerful flanger with tempo sync mode and lots of parameters waiting to be tweaked.
• StudioEQ
  • This powerful and versatile equalizer offers full four-band parametric control with variable response as well as analog-style peak filters.
• Chorus
  • This is a single stage chorus effect.
• Compressor
  • This is a classic compressor with auto release, auto make-up gain, hard/soft knee and RMS/Peak.
• Vintage Ensemble
  • This is an inspirational new take on a classic ensemble-type chorus effect. Vintage Ensemble adds a shimmer and sparkle to guitars, keyboards and other instruments.
• Octaver
  • A highly creative effect useful for treating all manner of audio material, the Octaver adds signals one and two octaves below the input signal.
• Step Flanger
  • Step Flanger redefines the traditional flanger effect by adding a sample and hold section that subdivides the modulation signal into a definable number of steps.
• Expander
  • This is a classic expander which also features auto-release and “live” mode for low-latency use.
• Reverb
  • This is a highly adjustable reverb plug-in for creating realistic room ambience and reverb effects in stereo formats. From short room reflections to cavern-sized reverb, this plug-in delivers high-quality reverberation and definitive early reflections.
• Tube Compressor
  • This versatile compressor with integrated tube-simulation allows you to achieve smooth and warm compression effects. The VU meter shows the amount of gain reduction.
• Vibrato
  • This is a classic and custom vibrato effect with depth control, ideally for emulating the famous organ sounds
• Brickwall Limiter
  • Brickwall Limiter ensures that the output level never exceeds a set limit.
• DJ-EQ
  • This is an easy-to-use three-band parametric equalizer that resembles the EQs found on typical DJ mixers.
• VST Amp
  • VST Amp delivers fabulous guitar and bass tone, featuring stunningly authentic recreations of legendary amps and speaker models, mic types and positions.
• Frequency Shifter
  • This plug-in shifts each frequency of the input signal by a fixed amount.
• Wah Wah
  • A faithful emulation of the best wah pedals, this simple yet flexible effect features parameters for frequency range, filter width and gain range.
• Tube Saturator
  • Tube Saturator enriches the sound by adding the characteristic harmonics of a saturated tube to the audio signal.
• Amplifier
  • This is a guitar amp and speaker simulation which features 14 amp and tube emulations and ten cabinet models to choose from. Additional controls resemble a classic guitar combo, also very useful on bass, organ, e-pianos and synth sounds!
• Maximizer
  • The maximizer raises the loudness of audio material without the risk of clipping.
• REVerence
  • REVerence is a high-end convolution reverb processor, being capable of emulating sweet-sounding studios, theaters, rooms, halls and more. With its true-stereo convolution technology, REVerence combines pure usability and a wealth of creative options with outstanding sonic properties.
• MultiDelay
  • MultiDelay is a powerful multi-stage delay effect with variable filter stage. 
• Phaser
  • This is a classic phaser with variable filter stage, phase modification and tempo sync.
• Tremolo
  • This is a classic tremolo effect with optional tempo sync, depth and phase controls.
• StereoEnhancer
  • This plug-in expands the stereo width of (stereo) audio material.
• VintageCompressor
  • VintageCompressor is modeled after vintage type compressors.

Functions

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Features

• More than 35 GB content, 3,700 presets and 15 instruments
• FM, spectral, wavetable, virtual analog and granular synthesis
• High-performance sample engine for large libraries
• More than 70 effects, plus countless modulation and MIDI options

System Requirements

• Windows 10 (64-bit), 64-bit Windows 11 Version 21H2 (or higher)
  • VST3/AAX
• macOS Monterey, macOS Ventura, macOS Big Sur, macOS Sonoma
  • VST 3/AAX/AU