Steinberg releases HALion 7 and an updated version of the free HALion Sonic 7 sample player.
Steinberg’s HALion 7 virtual instrument has been updated, bringing new features that elevate the flagship synth. Those with extra cash burning in their wallets will be glad to hear about the new spectral oscillator and extended FM capabilities.
More price-savvy producers will be delighted to hear that the free HALion Sonic 7 is being launched alongside HALion 7, including several extra goodies under the hood.
HALion is a bit like UVI’s Falcon 2, a do-everything synth with a fair bit of flexibility. HALion Sonic serves as the cutdown preset player version of HALion, so while all the improvements to the sound are there, preset tweaking isn’t on the menu.
HALion Sonic 7 launches with a handful of free libraries, providing fresh sounds for your next production.
Alto Glockenspiel Essential and Guitar Harmonics Essential have niche applications but bring a wonderful texture to productions. Both instruments have a unified user interface, thanks to developer Cinematique’s efforts.
While the available controls are minimal, there is still a fair bit to enjoy with the pair. The harmonics especially are well suited for making reversed swells and pure pads with a little external processing.
LoFi Piano comes with all the dirt, grit, and charm you’d expect of its name. The interface is charmingly dated, evoking a degraded computer terminal. This one is fairly fun and comes with chord pads and a bevy of effects to get the inspiration rolling.
The free HALion Sonic instruments are rounded out by Novel Piano by Sonic Atoms. This library is decidedly more conventional, but you can never have too many pianos.
Novel Piano has a wonderfully delicate sound and sits well in a mix. The included effects, coupled with the core sound, make it an ideal fit for cinematic scoring, video game compositions, or even the odd bit of neo-soul and hip-hop as a harmonic driving force.
BPB reader Numanoid reminded us about Röhrich 12AX7 Synth by Beat Magazine, yet another excellent free library for HALion Sonic.
HALion 7 is available for $349 or €349, depending on your location. HALion 7 Sonic is provided for free and only requires a Steinberg account to register it.
Mac and Windows are supported, with HALion and Sonic being provided as VST3 and AAX with AU as an option for Mac users. Apple Silicon-compatible binaries are also available.
More info: HALion Sonic 7
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