Hi everyone, i upgraded recently from 6 to 7 on my macbook pro M1 and i cant use the virtual keyboard , is it possible without using 3rd party apps for this ?
Thanks.
Funny. I’ve actually been unable to make the built-in keyboard in the instrument window to make any sound when using it through MuseScore.
(Is the virtual keyboard you are talking about in HalION Sonic?)
Seem like is not possible to use the virtual keyboard in halion. I have the version 7, complete version.
It would be very welcome this feature.
The keyboard at the bottom of the GUI? It works perfectly fine, I’m playing a preset in the standalone version right now. Just went through about 15 of them. Press a key, note comes out as always.
No, not that one.
I mean the virtual keyboard where you can use in most programs the computer qwerty keyboard to play VSTi.
1 Like
I don’t think that’s a thing in HalION. Less of a DAW, more of a standalone VST engine. You can use it in a DAW, of course.
Without a MIDI KEYBOARD via USB, maby they want it via the key’s on the QWERT Keyboard.
I use a Keystation61MK3, so i do not need a virtual keyboard via my QWERT key’s.
So that should be a driver thing, if the key range on a QWERT Keyboard is no MIDI Keyboard.
But, there where program’s that the QWERT key’s can be used as if it is a MIDI Device.
Then it is the question if you can turn your QWERT Key’s into a MIDI device.
Drivers communicate in that point of view with the hardware.
The keyboard is still hardware.
If i look on the internet, more people try to turn their keyboards into a MIDI device, when a program like HALion give no reaction on the KEYS from a QWERT keyboard.
But, then it does not involve only HALion…
Then it is the question if you can make the KEY’S form the QWERT, or other type’s of keyboard for a computer can trigger MIDI NOTES.
Is it possible to give a key on your QWERTY keyboard the trigger to a note on the range C-2 G8 as example the full range?
i do not know that for sure…
1 Like
On-Screen Keyboard Options
The On-Screen Keyboard offers different display modes as well as other options.
â—Ź To open the On-Screen Keyboard, select Studio > On-Screen Keyboard.
1 Note Velocity Level
This slider allows you to adjust the volume of the On-Screen Keyboard.
2 Change On-Screen Keyboard Type
This button allows you to switch between computer keyboard and piano keyboard display
mode.
In computer keyboard mode, you can use the two rows of keys that are displayed on the
On-Screen Keyboard to enter notes.
The piano keyboard has a wider range of keys. It allows you to enter more than one voice
simultaneously.
3 Octave Offset
These buttons allow you to switch the keyboard range to a lower or higher octave. You have
seven full octaves at your disposal.
4 Pitchbend/Modulation Sliders
These sliders are only available in piano keyboard mode. The left slider displays pitchbend,
the right slider shows modulation changes. To introduce modulation, click on a key and drag
upwards or downwards. To introduce pitchbend, drag left or right.
Cubase Pro 13.0.30 Operation Manual • Viewer • Steinberg
This is what is in the Manuel…
On-Screen Keyboard
The On-Screen Keyboard allows you to play and record MIDI notes by using your computer
keyboard or mouse. This is useful if you have no external MIDI instrument at hand and you do
not want to draw in notes with the Draw tool.
When the On-Screen Keyboard is displayed, the usual key commands are blocked because they
are reserved for the On-Screen Keyboard. The only exceptions are:
â—Ź Save: Ctrl/Cmd - S
â—Ź Start/Stop Record: Num *
â—Ź Start/Stop Playback: Space
â—Ź Jump to Left Locator: Num 1
â—Ź Delete: Delete or Backspace
â—Ź Cycle on/off: Num /
â—Ź Show/Hide Transport panel: F2
â—Ź Show/Hide On-Screen Keyboard: Alt/Opt - K
Recording MIDI With the On-Screen Keyboard
You can use the On-Screen Keyboard to record MIDI in Cubase.
PREREQUISITE
You have selected a MIDI or instrument track and activated Record Enable.
PROCEDURE
- Select Studio > On-Screen Keyboard.
- On the Transport panel, activate Record.
- Perform one of the following actions to enter notes:
â—Ź Click on the keys of the On-Screen Keyboard.
â—Ź Press the corresponding key on your computer keyboard.
NOTE
Press several keys simultaneously to enter polyphonic parts. The maximum number of notes
that can be played at one time varies between the different operating systems and hardware
configurations.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK
Close the On-Screen Keyboard to make all key commands available again
This is not for the standalone version, only inside Cubase, the main post is about the standalone version.
Thanks for your reply anyway 
Thanks Pedro for notice it, it was more that i found only that about the on-screen keyboard that is related to the key commands in Cubase.
So the Key Commands are disabled when using a on-screen keyboard like in Cubase.
I was looking for the On-screen keyboard in the HALion Manuel, but i coul’d not find it there. Maby somebody have found an on-screen keyboard for HALion in the interface of HALion itself?
I see in HALion 4 MIDI inputs, Port A, B, C and D.
In the section MIDI every port has 16 channels.
Now in that section MIDI is no option as far i can see here.
Maby there are programs that can make a midi device from a computer QWERT keyboard, without the roll of HALion.
Maby then people can use it with HALion, but that i do not have to try for myself, because of my keystation61MK3
Have a nice day. 
Or maby a cheap little midi keyboard can be a great thing.
HALion functions respond to keyboard shortcuts which are editable in the Options tab, so I think playing notes on a qwerty keyboard would clash with that functionality. It’s one or the other.
2 Likes
So if it is possible to use another program outsite of halion to produce a note, you have to edit this key commands.
Before you do that, check first if you can reset all this settings, and if you can save the settings of your key command, if you got that working outsite of HALion.
Because if you can manage your key commands, you can shut them off via the Key commands editor
But that is more for people with a laptop and a headphone traveling in a train, or bus, or airplane.
1 Like
I was pointing out that HALion doesn’t respond to qwerty input. There is no code in the software where qwerty input is directed to whatever triggers a note.
I think in a near-future update the devs should add the option to use the qwerty keys to trigger notes or functions.
2 Likes
Indeed HALion don’t, because it is not professional, but people that are in certain circumstances like people that travel, just etc,
no midi keyboard to take with you if that is the case, I read recently, someone gave a link here, about the battle between the speakers and the headphones, but my speakers and also my headphones themselves had no conflict. 
(i love my old Sennheiser HD 465…)
So the circumstances can determine whether you like to be able to press a chord via your QWERTY keys.
With the mouse you can click on the keys in HALion, and via the pads you can also make chords, (left under the instruments).
So it is indeed useful, but HALion is a MIDI instrument.
So that is why there will always be people asking for it, I think just like you, in the future.
Maybe Steinberg can make a tool for it, an onscreen keyboard…
1 Like
Hi Pedro, after this topic i can tell you that what you call “a virtual keyboard” is not what you realy ment.
Because in the ICT a virtual keyboard means that you can typ the same key’s from your real keyboard with a mouse.
So if you looking for another tag to search for, in Cubase that On-screen keyboard is not a virtual keyboard.
Everything what is VIRTUAL is written is software.
So i hope you can find what you want better if you understand that if you search on the internet, a virtual keyboard is not what you are looking for.
Good luck.