Halion Sonic: Multi-Timbral mode (don't use 32 plugins when 2 will do!)

In this video, I run through how you can use Halion Sonic (and Halion Sonic SE) in Multi-Timbral mode, allowing lower memory and CPU use, and in some ways being more convenient.

Section Timings:
0:00 Intro
1:01 Loading Sounds
2:04 Comparison
4:18 Multi-Timbral Setup
7:28 Multiple Outputs
8:01 Enabling Outputs
9:00 Assigning Outputs
10:50 Linking Outputs
11:37 Editing with Playback
12:10 Editing with Live MIDI
14:05 Saving Multi Programs
15:53 Playing Back MIDI Files
17:49 Program Changes
19:34 MIDI File Conflicts
22:05 Summary

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[spacer]

Thank you, Darren! Easy to understand and follow, so appreciated!

[nomorebushz]

Thanks for unleashing multiple perspectives of the abilities of assigning instruments and routing multiple outlets, as well as potential limitations and workarounds.
Well done and thanks.

[bennybe]

The problem with the 32 instances is not memory (2.4 is not a lot today), but the Threads (I guess that each instance uses at least 1 thread, and threads are a known performance no-no.

[rabidredratZ]

Cheers for this, this isn't well explained by Steinberg and there should be some type of tutorial inside cubase/halion. This has been very helpful for myself, very grateful. 👍

[njmmusic]

Hi Darren, I have Halion Sonic 7 Setup the same as your description, when I render in place any one of the 3 channels I get all 3 channels rendered, 2 empty and the one I chose is OK with the expected data, Why all 3, I have channel 1 O/P to main, 2-2 3-3, in the inspector the O/P's are assigned to their respective outputs, in Halion, the outputs are assigned the 2 midi ins are assigned to their correct I/P's its no big deal I just delete the empty rendered tracks, should I have Dissolved the part first,

[sjbechet]

I've just wasted a day trying to get Cubase 5 to run on my new workstation after my old W7 PC died. If I'd watched this first I wouldn't have bothered and just bought CB11 E

[dmitry.i.kabanov]

Thank you for the explanations! I wonder why it is so complicated :-) I've found one thing very confusing in such Instrument Track + MIDI tracks setup. When you rename the Instrument track, say, to Piano, then this name is used as Instrument Name for the MIDI tracks.

[dannydaniel]

With real analog compression and eq at mixdown, instead of that digital crap, these things don't sound half bad...

[outerdarkness]

wow - very useful.... you unlocked the multiple outs issue! this drove me crazy... your solution is brilliant.

[ryanbo]

This is a very helpful midi video. I still don't know how to do program change from piano to guitar (let's say at bar 50) in the same channel. HOW DO YOU CHANGE PROGRAM AT BAR 50 FROM PIANO TO GUITAR? I also understand I can just add another channel. Thanks.

[miguel_for_the_world]

Wonderful tutorial is saving my life, Cubase has so many functions that Habeses has a hard time understanding everything in a few days, thank you very much for these well detailed explanations!!

[fdrewsd]

bro whoa i just learned a lot about halion bro

[MrMediterrano]

The tricky part arises due to the fact that the Halion Sonic lives in the Instrument track which is a combination of audio track and Midi track. Why then not to use HS in the rack, this way we would have only Midi tracks and there would be no confusion.

[theParticleGod]

I'm struggling to just play a midi file in the standalone version of Halion, the documentation is useless.

Is that something this program is capable of?

[gavmc]

Thanks for this, it's exactly what I was looking for!

[frankpaulicki]

Hi Darren..Great explanation of the key aspects. But, just one more step which I have been struggling to find an explanation for. How can I use midi change info to actually change programs on any given midi channel in Halion (3)? Will using the list editor allow me to insert program changes for NON GM sounds? Surely, there must be some (electronic) way of selecting / changing existing programs on a Halion channel, apart from only having to manually select a different sound from the media bay menus?

I was looking for a way to load an entire 16 midi channel linked to Sonic with GM instruments already populated without having to add 1 channel at a time, you know, like it does with a GM file ?
I could do it with a template, but looking for quick way, Anyone ?

[Holmbendtsen]

Thanx for great tutorials. Is there a way to call up my saved multi programmes via cc massage?

[keinpodcast]

In 2014 I had an Intel Q8400 with 8GB RAM. I was using Cubase Artist and maxed out the 32 instrument slots with 32 instances of HSSE. I never had problems with it. CPU monitor was at about 50%. Then I bought a new system with an Intel i7 2600 and 8GB RAM too and the CPU monitor was at about 14%.
But I am sure that this is a useful tip when using an old or cheap laptop.

[oneandonlyDudester]

This was a perfect tutorial and helped me out a lot! I smashed that like button and subscribed immediately at about 3mins in. Thank you MusiceTechTuituon, and btw that Electric Banana shirt is awesome