HALion 5 and HALion Sonic 2: new features previewed

Announced last week, HALion 5 and HALion Sonic 2 are the new versions of Steinberg's sampler and plugin workstation respectively.

Both come with eight new instruments and nine new effects, while HALion 5 also benefits from a new granular synthesis engine, a tonewheel organ simulation, a slicing mode that enables you to adjust audio material to fit any track, and two new MIDI modules (MIDI player and Drum Player).

HALion 5 costs €349, while HALion Sonic 2 is €249. Downloadable updates and upgrades are available through the Steinberg Online Shop.

You can find out more about both products in the videos and spec lists below.

HALion 5: getting started

HALion Sonic 2: getting started

HALion 5: introducing the new features

HALion Sonic 2 and HALion 5: introducing Trium, Voltage, Auron and the new arpeggiator

HALion Sonic 2 and HALion 5: introducing B-Box

HALion Sonic 2 and HALion 5: introducing Model C and Haliotron

HALion Sonic 2 and HALion 5: introducing world instruments and percussion

HALion Sonic 2 and HALion 5: introducing the new effects

HALion 5 features at a glance

• State-of-the-art sampler and sound creation system tailored to the demands of professionals
• Up to 192 kHz, 32 stereo outputs and 6-channel surround support
• Powerful multi-timbral audio engine with disk-streaming sample playback, tone-wheel organ simulator and high-end virtual analog and granular synthesis
• Outstanding library including over 2,500 synthesized sounds and breathtakingly authentic acoustic instruments
• Flexible user interface with multi-monitor support allows you to customize and save your own windows and screen sets
• AudioWarp provides cutting-edge time-stretching and pitch-shifting functionality
• Full VST Expression 2 support for smart articulation editing in Cubase
• FlexPhraser module drives beats, arpeggios and complex tonal phrases
• MegaTrig for easy programming of playing styles and articulations
• Wide range of high-end audio effects, including REVerence convolution reverb, VST Amp simulation and many more
• Cross-platform compatibility: Windows (VST 3, VST 2.4) and OS X (VST 3, AU) plug-in support, including standalone

HALion Sonic 2 features at a glance

• Easy-to-use yet powerful premier music production workstation for synthesized sounds and breathtaking recreation of acoustic instruments
• Outstanding library including over 2,500 instrument sounds created by top sound experts at Steinberg and Yamaha
• Powerful multi-timbral audio engine with disk-streaming sample playback and high-end virtual analog and granular synthesis
• Unique morphing filters seamlessly blend between up to 4 of 24 filter types
• FlexPhraser for dynamically driving beats, arpeggios and complex tonal phrases
• Wide range of high-end audio effects, including REVerence convolution reverb, VST Amp simulation and many more
• MediaBay sound management system for immediate access to the libraries
• Stage optimized workflows with dedicated player view, rapid building of keyboard splits or layers, and switching of entire multi-setups with a single command
• Full VST Expression 2 support for smart articulation editing in Cubase
• Cross-platform compatibility: Windows (VST 3, VST 2.4) and OS X (VST 3, AU) plug-in support, including standalone