Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
I am trying to use for GENERAL MIDI the "HALION SONIC SE" vst but seems to be NOT COMPATIBLE, errors appearing.

Anyone using it? what GENRAL MIDI generator can i use?

THanks
Montxo


BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
I don't use Halion SE but have it and just loaded it (i.e., I added the Halion Sonic dll) and it works and plays?


what errors are you getting?

Maybe delete the VST from the list (Plugins - > Options - > Remove VST )


then ADD the .dll again

Larry


Last edited by Larry Kehl; 11/22/19 09:09 AM.

Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Hi Larry,
- I can open it in the plugins dialog ( for example, assigned to the Default Synth)
- Open a MIDI file
- an PLAY. It seems to receive the midi data ( the leds bars moves on the tracks) BUT I can not make it to sound. Seem to recieve the data but NO SOUND at all.

Any idea?


BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
which bars where?


do you have Sonic set for GM mode? (Options, then look for Global group third one down, then the "Program Changes" click it and select GM mode


Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840
For BIAB, unless you assign each track to a unique Halios Sonic SE instrument, you'll need to set it to GM mode (as Larry indicated) for it to respond automatically to each track. I've not used Sonic SE, but that's how the Halion Sonic itself works (the full Halio ships with Halion Sonic, which is what I now use as my default GM synth for BIAB).


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Hi Larry,
thanks for help.. but I cannot find where to set SONIC for GM mode nor the GLOBAL group you mention nor the Program Changes. you mention.
I have BIAB 2019(634)

Can you please tell me the location?
THanks.

Montxo


BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Hi John,
thanks for the reply.
My english is basic: Do you mean that you now use HALION SONIC as you GM generator with BIAB?

If you load a MIDI file, the instruments on the diferent track (all tracks in the 6th track of the BIBA mixer) are played by HALION SONIC?

THanks,
Montxo

Last edited by Montxo; 11/22/19 11:21 PM.

BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Hi Larry,
sorry, my english is bad.
What do you mean with: " which bars where?"

THanks
Montxo


BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,685
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,685
Hope this helps if you set it like this it plays all tracks as a GM Module.

Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
Capture.PNG (150.48 KB, 150 downloads)

win 10 64 bit 16gb,i7 chip, ssd 500gb, m-audio air, ,Roland BK-7M, 1000,shure sm7b,sonar,acid,mixcraft, variety of plugins.Sample tank 3,Kontakt. TC Helicon Voicelive 3 2 .
https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Hi Beatmaster,
thanks a lot.

Ok, the problem is that I have not see that window for Halion SONIC. I am trying to use the version included with CUBASE 9 Halion Sonic SE 2 which seems to be NOT compatible with BIAB.
What version is that? is it version 3 of CUBASE 10?

Thanks a lot,
Montxo

Last edited by Montxo; 11/23/19 09:22 AM.

BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
I suspect if that SE version came bundled WITH Cubase then that particular version only works in Cubase.


Other DAW's have similar "special" versions of software or plugins that only work inside that DAW.

An example: Samplitude comes with Independence Pro (it is like Halion) but it only works in Samplitude.

Mixcraft has some special edition VSTi's that only work in Mixcraft; Sonar had VST's that only worked in Sonar; FL Studio has a few,...

Larry


Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,685
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,685
I think it was Cubase lite version this came with, Think Larry might be coerrect.


win 10 64 bit 16gb,i7 chip, ssd 500gb, m-audio air, ,Roland BK-7M, 1000,shure sm7b,sonar,acid,mixcraft, variety of plugins.Sample tank 3,Kontakt. TC Helicon Voicelive 3 2 .
https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
I am, look here at comparison chart. You can get Sonic SE for free but it comes with NO sounds. When used in Cubase it has access to SOME (looks like3GB's) sounds but only when in Cubase



https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/vst/halion_and_halion_sonic/product_comparison.html

Last edited by Larry Kehl; 11/23/19 10:46 AM.

Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840
I'm pretty sure I also have Sonic SE. I'll give it a try and let you know.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,840
Okay, I have Sonic SE v3, not v2. I think v2 got overwritten when I upgraded my Cubase Artist to the latest version. In version 3, you can definitely set it for GM mode (see below). I also loaded a MIDI file onto the Melody track and everything played properly (with or without the style enabled).

Since I don't have Sonic SE v2 anymore (Steinberg seems to deactivate previous versions when you upgrade), I can't test that one unfortunately. But Sonic SE v3 definitely works as a GM synth for BIAB.

Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
Halion Sonic SE.jpg (275.55 KB, 135 downloads)

John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
John is right, a virgin SE (i.e., no other version of Halion installed) should work outside Cubase - assuming it works in Cubase (meaning you have the sound libraries, as well as Sonic SE, properly installed)

John's picture points out what to look for.

And given Steinberg says their FREE version will have access to a “…plethora of sound content…” i.e., any Steinberg sound set that’s installed there should be no reason the Cubase included HALion Sonic SE wouldn’t work outside Cubase either – so I was mistaken

https://www.steinberg.net/en/landing_pages/halion_sonic_se_3/halion_sonic_se_free.html

I could have checked but I never re-installed Cubase 9.5 when I built new PC a 18 months ago so only thing installed here is HALion and HALion Soinc (sans SE).

Good Luck

Larry


Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Thanks everybody, Your help is unvaluable!!!
Learning a lot.
CHEERS,

Montxo


BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,825
Hi John,

Most interesting discussion.

So how good is the Halion Sonic SE3 GM VST Synth - i.e. how good are the sounds compared to others e.g. CoolSoft VST Synth 2.72.2?

I'm always after a better GM VST Synth particularly for the basics i.e. electric guitars, piano, basses, organ, drums and horn sections & instruments.

Thanks & Best Regards


Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,216
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,216
Nigel.
I would not even consider Coolsoft as a "SYNTH" it has it's place but not as an instrument.
For GM, Halion Sonic is probably most stable and advanced of all the software GM synths I tried. My next choice is VST SynthFont. It is a very advanced "shell" that you can use with separate SF2 fonts or complete banks (free or paid) to assemble your "own" GM bank. At the end of the game it will sound as good as your samples are smile

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
M
Montxo Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 179
Hi,
how you put the images into the messages as attachment? I insert one wiht the insert image but only the web link appears, not the image directly

Thanks
Montxo


BIAB 2026 ULTRAPACK - WIN11
for GIGs: "laptop HP X360 - i7,RAM 16GB " + SSD 500GB for BIAB library
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!

PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.

The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.

The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.

Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!

Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.

Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!

Order now!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,052
Posts799,433
Members40,020
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
Newest Members
Elpayo, LeoCento, kimmolsn25, addsomebottom, m3talmud
40,019 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 148
DC Ron 102
rsdean 95
DrDan 75
WaoBand 71
Today's Birthdays
Bob Hunt, C J Lane, freeman, Philsaxophone
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5