This post is for those who DO NOT have any Steinberg Halion, Doric, Cubase or any other Steinberg programs with HALion sound content installed AND who also want a FREE good sounding GM sound set and player: THIS IS a 64-bit VSTi so you will need JBridge (or alternative) to use in Realband or the 32-bit version of BIAB.
If these, or similar instructions of how to get free HALion Sonic SE AND a free HAlion GM sound set to use in HALion Sonic SE then my apologies to whomever previously explained “how to" (starting from having zero Steinberg Halion sound content)
Enough ON TO THE FREE stuff - it is a multi-step process you will need to set up Steinberg account and install the FREE HAlion Sonic SE note it comes with no SOUNDS (yet)
Get the FREE Doric SE Notation program but MAINLY because comes with free Halion sounds that include the Steinberg Halion GM soundset. You can now use the standalone Halion Sonic SE with the GM soundset and the few other sounds that came with Doric SE or the 64-bit Halion VSTi (.dll and VST3) with 64-bit BIAB and 64-bit DAWs respectively (or as noted above if you have JBridge - its only $10, you can use with 32-bit Realband)
I just tested this all on a virgin laptop, well virgin with respect to zero Steinberg software installed.
Final note for BIAB use you may have to search for the “Halion Sonic SE.dll” it may not be in your default 64-bit plugins folder(s) (mine ended up in my Cakewalk VSTplugins folder for some reason).
Good Luck Larry
Last edited by Larry Kehl; 01/23/2009:37 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
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
My experience is that BIAB remembers the GM setting for Halion Sonic (so you can set it as your default GM synth and forget about it), but RealBand does not (I have to set it every session).
That being said, I like the sounds of Halion Sonic GM set better than many of the others. Since I have three computers, I generally keep two of them set to the TTS-1, rather than the Halion, since I have to move the dongle to use Halion on any of the other computers.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA
I use it in Biab , my experience is it sometimes stays on GM setting not always.
I have used ..Hardware .. a ketron sd 1000, roland jv 2080, roland sonic cell, and now a new addition roland bk-7 module.
The Halion sonic se 3 Basic one that I have, gives them all a good run for the money close to any other Gm software I have tried, although not as good as the hardware I compered with above.
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
thanks for the heads up halion works great in biab gm mode instruments eric
AMD (TM) 5950 4.9 GHz 16Core Processor 64 bit 32 bits of ram windows 10 pro 64 bit os. sound card Antelope ZenQ guitars Ibanez 2202a 1968 les Paul Custom and Cavin ae 185 Guitar boss Gt-100,GT1000 pedal Yamaha HS8 studio monitors
I just set up dummy email and new Steinberg account today - and they are slow today - I still haven't got link with lic code for HS SE (yet) either
EDIT UPDATE
Still waiting for it to show up in my new dummy hotmail account but it did show up in my new dummy gmail account BUT it was routed to the default gmail Promotions folder
Good luck
Last edited by Larry Kehl; 01/26/2011:27 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
I went ahead and bought SpectraLayers 6 since it didn't require the dongle, just the software eLicenser. My PC just doesn't do well with dongles, but has no problems with software authorizations.
Sounds good (pun intended), but I'll pass.
ThinkPad i9 32GB RAM 7TB SSD; Win11 Pro; RME Fireface UCX II; BiaB 2026 Ultra Bitwig Studio 6; Studio One Pro 7; Melodyne Studio 5; Acoustica Premium 7 Gig Performer 5; NI S61 MK3; Focal Shape 65; Beyerdynamic DT 880 & 770
Just to be clear there is no dongle needed with Sonic or Halion - they do use a software elicenser however.
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
One persistent issue with Halion that I was not able to solve, is use it in two programs simultaneously. Even if it is not opened. Meaning... If I have Cakewalk opened (which access Stainberg elicenser on start) and try to open BIAB...BIAB would cough and give error or shut down. Or if I have BIAB opened with Sonic as default synth and try to open Cakewalk, Cakewalk would freeze or spit our POS error.
I wrote to Steinberg explaining this, they issued me a second license for the e licenser, but that didn't solve it. Contacted them today, will see what they say.
I wonder if it is a machine "specific" issue? Have anybody here with Sonic had what I described above?
Great tip, but don't try this on a mac, it won't work.
A revised thread from almost two years ago. Could you add a little to your experience, why it doesn't work? This can help to resolve for future versions if needed.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
MoultiPass, I have a PC...If you do too, can you verify two things for me please!
Open BIAB and launch Sonic VST and open a standalone Sonic 3 from desktop. If you are able to do so, what is the version (built) of your Sonic 3?
This is a single negative issue I have with Sonic, as I constantly have to be aware if it is loaded or not, as two instances in different programs ran simultaneously usually crash or freeze a program which is opened second/last.
On PC too. Never had your problem. 2 Sonic at the same time 1 in Biab and 1 by Nanohost. But I could also have others at the same time: Reaper, Live, Studio one ....
Wow, this is very strange. Got the same version. Not sure why you used Nanohost... Sonic 3 has its own standalone version, but I did try it your way, using Nanohost. Same issue, would not open in two locations.
MoultiPass, final question please. What is the version of your e-licenser? Mine is 6.12.8.2300 I assume you use e-licenser, not USB dongle, right?
Thank you in advance!!
P.S. I got more help here than from official Steinberg rep or their dedicated Halion forum. LOL!
Great tip, but don't try this on a mac, it won't work.
A revised thread from almost two years ago. Could you add a little to your experience, why it doesn't work? This can help to resolve for future versions if needed.
I Installed Halion Sonic+Dorico (both free). Halion's AU+VST's weren't regonized by BIAB, Logic or any other DAW (non-Steinberg) on my system.
Matt, Brilliant, It worked! I always run BIAB as administrator., but Cakewalk and standalone were not set to run as admin. Thank you!!! Side note... Sonic is the only plugin I have that would not allow two instances without admin rights. --------
Svenne, you installed e-licenser and registered Sonic in it right?
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Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
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In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
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