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Halionsonic Setup

Started by Bernie9, March 22, 2012, 02:06:36 PM

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Bernie9

I'm Afraid my ox is in a ditch

I installed Halionsonic and have played the instruments, but when I try and read Dan's instructions I forgot how to point to a particular program in Loopmidi to use with vArranger.

Loopmidi is showing up in vArranger options as port one and two.  Loopmidi doesn't know what the ports are.

The other thing is when I tried using Cantable, it couldn't find the Halionsonic plugin.  Do I have to reconfigure for VSTi ?
I simply installed and registered.

Life was simpler with SD2 but I would like to not carry have to carry it with me.

Dan

#1
Close all your midi apps.
Double clik on the small LOOP MIDI icon, in the Windows bar. Here you can add or remove LOOPMIDI ports.
I suggest for now to only create one port.
Then run Cantabile and try to load HalionSonic inside. I think there is a LOAD PLUGIN button.
Then try to locate the HALion Sonic.dll
There is one folder on the computer who is defined as the VST plugin folder. But VST dlls can be installed everywhere.
Then on Cantabile, set your midi input to loopmidi, and audio out, to your sound card.
Then run varranger, on the midi out, select the loopmidi port.

It should work.

Bernie9

I am in contact with Steinberg to locate .dll file, so I can't get it into a host.

In the meantime, you mentioned on some other thread that one can use SD2 and Halionsonic.  The thing is that vArranger works well with SD2 and Haliosonic has some great sounding instruments.  Would there be an easier way of having the SD2 play the styles and Halionsonic play the solo's ?

Dan

yes Bernie, On MIDI PORTS, you can select the Ketron SD2 for midi out 1 and Halion Sonic for midi out 2.

Then on any tracks, for example RIGHT1, you can unselect the MIDI OUT 1, and select the MIDI OUT 2...

Bernie9

Thanks Dan
As soon as I can get HS into a host, I will try.

Bernie9

I can't find the multi presets I have named and saved in Hallion Sonic.  I can make up a multi by filling some slots and saving under a name I give it, but how do I get back to window to show my multi presets so that I can reload them ?

Bernie9

I am still trying to use Halion Sonic with vArranger.  I cannot get HS to show up in Cantibile.

If I try a different approach and try using MidiSport 2x2 with the SD2 for style play and HS for lead sounds, might it work ?

Bernie9

Forget it.  I have only one physical midi connection to the SD2.

fazfaz

Quote from: Dan on March 22, 2012, 02:18:36 PM
Close all your midi apps.
Double clik on the small LOOP MIDI icon, in the Windows bar. Here you can add or remove LOOPMIDI ports.
I suggest for now to only create one port.
Then run Cantabile and try to load HalionSonic inside. I think there is a LOAD PLUGIN button.
Then try to locate the HALion Sonic.dll
There is one folder on the computer who is defined as the VST plugin folder. But VST dlls can be installed everywhere.
Then on Cantabile, set your midi input to loopmidi, and audio out, to your sound card.
Then run varranger, on the midi out, select the loopmidi port.

It should work.

On Win 7 you have to use Cantabile 64 bits with Halion 64 and (or) Cantabile 32 with Halion 32

Bernie9

Thanks for the reply.
I have a 64 bit pc and installed 32 bit HS.  I don't know what my Cantabile is.  That might be the reason why the VT3 folder in HS comes up empty(no plug in).

I suppose it would be easier to change Cantabile if it is 64 bit.

What do you think ?
Bernie

Bernie9

I installed HS 32bit, so downloaded Cantabile Lite 32 bit-no luck'
When I browse in Cantabile for a new plugin, I go to Steinberg/Halion Sonic/VST3 plugin-no usable plugin.  In looking at the plugin, it says metronome VST3.

I have never had this much trouble with anything in my life.  The thing is that as a stand alone, it is great, but, all I can do is play great sounds on my controller.

fazfaz

It is not in vst3 folder. You have to find "HalionSonic.dll" file. For 32 bits version, try in Program Files (x86) in windows 7, vstplugin folder or Steinberg/Halion Sonic Folder. After installing Halion Sonic.dll in Cantabile, if you want to play in GM mode, you have to go in "Options" and check Gm mode. Use LoopMidi out in vArranger and LoopMidi in in Cantabile.

Bernie9

Thank you so much;  I found it in an entirely different folder in X86.
Dan said it could be anywhere and he meant it.

Now that I have it in Cantabile, I will set up midiloop.  Should it be in GM mode for vArranger ?

fazfaz

No but GM mode is more easy to use first. There is a bug in Halion Sonic : you cannot change drumset in Halion Sonic from vArranger, you have to change it manually in HS. Dan told that to Steinberg.

Bernie9

Is it possible to assign two ports tp HS.  One, a GM multi timbral port for Midi sequences or style play in vArranger, and another port to play lead sounds ?

Bernie

ninh

Hi Dan and all,

I just bought a Halion Sonic. I follow Dan's instruction setting steps but still haven't got it working with varranger. I've done most of the setting right but I'm having problem at this step.

Then on Cantabile, set your midi input to loopmidi, and audio out, to your sound card.
Then run varranger, on the midi out, select the loopmidi port.

Could you give me some helps to get through this please.

Thanks,


fazfaz

What is exactly your problem ?
Do you see the Halion Sonic interface in Cantabile ? Have you got any sound from it ?

ninh

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I saw HS in Cantabile plug in. I got  sound from HS at this step, the sound is going through my Roland Sonic Cell. If I turn off the Roland sonic, there will be no sound. When open the varranger , in the OPTIONS drop down menu, there are  the LOOPMIDI PORT in varranger.

I think I am having problem routing the sound through my sound card.
In Cantabile, I set midi input to LOOPMIDI as Dan's instruction. The audio out, I don't see any option to get the sound to the computer's sound card. I got stuck at this step.

I hope that you can walk me through this problem.

Thanks,


fazfaz

Let's restart from zero.
1/ In Cantabile :
- in Setup option/Audio Engine Option/Select audio driver : choose your audio interface or sound card.
- in Rack 1 : New plugin/File Plug in: search somewhere in Program Files (x86) : "HalionSonic.dll". HalionSonic appears in Rack 1. Double click on HalionSonic. HS interface appears. Go to Options and check GM mode. Some default GM sounds appears in the 16 slots of HS.
- in Setup/Midi devices : choose LoopMidi IN.
It's OK for Cantabile.

2/ In vArranger : choose as Midi out port : LoopMidi OUT.

Know it does work !!!... I hope.


ninh

Hi Fazfaz, I will follow yours. Hope it will not drive me any crazier. I will let you know.
Thank you very much.

ninh

Hi Fazfaz, when open the HS, in the OPTIONS tab, I don't see the GM to select?
In OPTIONS tab, I only see DISK STREAMING/PERFORMANCE/GLOBAL/MIDI CONTROLLER. Am I missing something?

fazfaz

in GLOBAL : General Midi mode

Bernie9

NINH

If it makes you feel any better, I needed the exact same information, and I have been driving people crazy, I'm sure.

Thanks also Fazfaz

ninh

Thanks Bernie9 for your support. With the helps of this forum, we will try to make it works.
Hi Fazfaz, It's working now but I notice that there is a latency compared to the SD2 sound module. I did increase the buffer but it doesn't make any difference. Am I missing something or it just the way it is?

Thanks,

fazfaz

Have you read HS Manual ? I join it.
On page 90, there is a chapter about Performances (Options/Disk Streaming).
But I think it's not the only and best way to reduice the latency.
I am not a specialist but if the performance of your PC config is sufficient to drive a VST you have for best result to use a sound card with ASIO driver. If not, you can try to use a virtual ASIO driver as the free "ASIO4ALL":

http://www.asio4all.com/. There is a user guide.

It's like a sound card hardware: after installing choose Asio4all in Cantabile Setup/Audio engine.

To reduce the latency, you have to decrease the buffer (and not increase), and/or increase the sample rate.

ninh

Hi Fazfaz,

I just downloaded the upgrade version of the HS 1.5.0 last night. It took 4 hrs. to complete and 1.6.0 for another 10 min. I bought an educational version 1.0. in this version there is no GM button in the OPTIONS/GLOBAL tab to select but there's GM in 1.6.0.
I did have ASIO4all and yes DECREASE the buffer to lower the latency. I will try it today and please continue helping me and others.

Thanks for all the tips.

fazfaz

I don't know the 1.6.0 version of HS. Where have you got it ?


ninh

Hi Fazfaz,

I downloaded from that link. I also found this which may be helpful to some. I will try hopefully it will eliminate the latency.

Ninh


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bodaCDCVrRI

Dan

Bernie, was you able to play music with Halion Sonic?
Ninh, Is you latency ok now?

ninh

Hi Dan,

Thanks for asking. Follow your instructions and with the helps from Fazfaz, I think I've got it setup correctly. Too bad that I didn't have much time to play with it because I have to work away from home for 2 weeks. I will let you know when I'm back home.

Thanks Dan


Bernie9

Hi Dan
I found the VST3 folder and have Halion Sonic in Cantabile.  I had trouble with the style in vArranger playing correctly.  It sounded like a broken caliope.  It was last week and I don't exactly recall.

I remember that you said to hold off until you tested it more.  I am not sure it is that much better than the SD2 to warrant the work and possible instability.  That is probably just my ignorance.

After tomorrow I will have time to work on it.  I can always try and layer some section sounds to use in my gig with the band if it doesn't work out with vArranger.

I would like to hear your opinion.

Bernie9

I had HS in GM mode, by the way.

Dan

Try Halion Sonic first with midifiles, then with Yamaha styles, but you need to manually select a DRUM sound on Halion Sonic for the PERC channel 9.
This is a bug on halion sonic :(

Bernie9

Dan
In general, how have you found Halion Sonic as a replacement or compliment for the SD2 ? I imagine you are on other things but wondered if you had a chance to further explore it.

Dan

Some sounds are very good.
I like it for some midifiles, and for studio work, but for now, I trust only on hardware modules for live gigs

ninh

Hi Dan,

I've got sound comming through the computer'sound card through the Halion sonic. The only problem that I have is the latency. Is there any trick to fix this issue? I red this in a forum but I haven't tried yet. Does this make sense to you?
"You needn't take out the battery, just disable "ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery" in device manager"

Ninh

Dan

On cantabile, go on Setup, Audio engine options.
On Select Audio Driver, you select 'ASIO - ASIO4ALL v2', or your ASIO driver of your sound card.
Then on Buffer size, select 256 or 512, or any other settings, depending on your PC.
More the buffer size is, more is the lattency.

ninh

Hi Dan,

I just reload the ASIO4ALL 2.11 Beta. It seems to be better than the ASIO4ALL 2.?? . With this Beta 2.11, I can slide the latency's bar down to 1.5ms. The sound is OK when just using the Halion sonic but when using together with SD2, the latency is very noticeable. Is there any other way of eliminating this problems?

Thanks Dan

Dan

Don't layer sounds for right hand with fast attack like Piano from SD2 and from Halion together, because latency will be heard.

Just Right click on Right 1... track and check send to midi out 2, and UNCHECK send to midi out 1

ninh


Dan

I don't think it is better than SD2, and I don't think it is a pro audio interface.
Ketron will release the SD1000 soon, it will be the new SD2 :)

ninh

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your advice. Hard synth is easier to deal with and less frustrations. I am waiting for  the SD1000 to be released.

Thanks for your help,