Hey Gang, I haven’t purchased Cubase Pro yet, but I’m just getting my feet wet so I kind of know what to expect. I already own Studio One 7 , Battery 4 (and several other NI Instruments), SampleTank 4, as well as a few Gigs of WAV samples. I’m assuming that HALion is the main sample playback VST.
1.) So, if I wanted to use any of my SO7 samples that are proprietary, I’m assuming I need to resample them as WAV?
2.) When using the MediaBay I saw mentioned in the features list, if I move all of my samples there, is the Sampler Track 2 the right tool to use to convert WAV files to HALion files?
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Hi @gplea1958 !
Before answering your specific questions, there is a bit to unpack. First a little overview about the HALion Family and the import features.
HALion 7 is a sampler and multi synth engine. It is used for sound design and the development of libraries.
HALion 7 is a separate product and is not included in any Cubase license. It is targeted at sound designers, instrument designers, LUA coder and tinkerers.
Supported Audio file formats are WAV and AIFF, plus some header information, such as loop markers.
It also has import options for:
Expand this for a list of HALion 7 import features
- Rex files.
- FM synthesizer sysex files.
- A range of sampler instrument formats, such as exs, Akai, or nki, etc.
This does of course only work if the files are unencrypted. - Impulse responses.
- Wavetables
HALion Sonic is a multitimbral, multi layer workstation powerhouse with the capability to load instruments designed in HALion.
This is what you want, if you are a musician/keyboarder looking for sounds to play.
It also features a free subtractive synth, if you have no content for it. You can buy the HALion Sonic Selection, to get a wide range of sounds and instruments.
HALion Sonic has NO sample import options, unless the macro page allows drag and drop into the engine.
HALion Sonic is available for free, without any content. If you buy Cubase, you get a collection of instruments for HALion Sonic, ranging from simple GM sounds, over synths, to orchestral.
Now to answer your questions:
- Yes, proprietary samples would need to be bounced/resampled.
- Sampler track is a sampler with deep integration into Cubase. It provides a subset of HALion functionality, focusing on quick operation. It has an export menu, that can export to the full HALion 7, Padshop (included with Cubase Pro).
The Media Bay is accessible from HALion, as well as other products. If you import samples into the Cubase Media bay, they are accessible to HALion.
Some additional information in relation to Cubase:
You are not limited to Sampler Track if you want to play samples in Cubase Pro.
There are multiple ways to play audio files with midi notes.
- Sampler Track, for pitched, sliced, or timestretched playback of single samples, with various modulation options and filters.
- Padshop, for granular and spectral sample playing.
- Drum Track, for one shot samples.
- Groove Agent SE, for drum samples and drum libraries, aiming at realistic acoustic drum sound as well as sample based beats.
As you can see, with Cubase Pro alone, the possibilities are already quite extensive.
If you want to get even deeper into sound and instrument design, get HALion 7 as an additional instrument.
If you simply need more sounds and beats to play with, get libraries to expand HALion Sonic, Padshop, Retrologue or Groove agent SE.
Or get the Absolute Collection, if you want a great collection of libraries, as well as HALion 7, for a very attractive bundle price.
What a post… I hope I did not miss anything. 
Let me know if this answers your question.
Oh dear, I missed that the op was conflating HALion/HALion Sonic. Must do better.
Hey, my New Year’s Resolution!
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