MESSE: All Hail HALion 3

US Steinbergs latest, adds features 31/03/04

HALion 3 box

Buying Choices

Affilliate Links help support the site

Today's Steinberg press conference was quite a packed affair, what with the recent Yamaha/Steinberg collaboration being announced earlier the same day. More news was forthcoming on the latest version of their award-wining sample playback HALion version 3. Offering new features for musicians and sound designers, HALion 3 extends existing HALion capabilities and adds new technologies such as RAMSave. HALion 3 will be available Q2, 2004. Building on the HALion 2.0 high-quality sampling engine, HALion 3 adds new capabilities aimed at setting standards in virtual sampling technology. HALion 3 innovations include RAMSave, a new memory-saving technology developed by Steinberg specifically for HALion to facilitate use of larger sample programs such as extensive orchestral patches or big drum kits. This rather cunningly works by scanning the MIDI notes used in the tracks using it and dumps any samples on notes not being played in the sequence - nifty eh? There's also a new effects section, comprising 27 effects including standards such as Reverb and Delay as well as more specialized tools such as AutoWahWah. Each effect can be applied per sample, program or bank; even send effects can be created and routed directly into host VST mixer. Audio outputs from HALion 3 can also be freely configured. HALion 3 also offers a new set of sound management tools include a new file browser, database and indexing functions as well as a sound categorization system, designed to deliver a clear overview of audio and make finding instruments and samples more immediate and intuitive. HALion 3 also improves on the already extensive HALion import functionality, with support added for Kurzweil, ZeroX BeatCreator and Kontakt files. "We're convinced that the combination of new technologies, added creative capabilities and improved usability will prove attractive both for customers currentlyusing HALion 2.0 and users of other software samplers," said Helge Vogt, Steinberg's Product Manager for HALion. HALion is priced at 399 $/Euros with the upgrade priced at 99 $/Euros, Stay tuned for the exact shipping and upgrade details.

www.stenberg.net

Steinberg Social