X-Stream can twist, turn, slow down and reveal the intimate beauty of any sample with cutting-edge spectral algorithms and effects. It’s a new toolbox for extraordinary sound design, or perhaps the first spark for new and unusual beats.

Steinberg has announced the immediate availability of a free virtual instrument for recently updated HALion, which comes with a completely refreshed Spectral Zone with new spectral effects, features like Stack, and an improved formant preservation.

Transforming samples into a colorful spectrum of sounds by stretching, looping and manipulating in innovative new ways, X-Stream can twist, turn, slow down and reveal the intimate beauty of any sample with cutting-edge spectral algorithms and effects.

It’s a new toolbox for extraordinary sound design, or perhaps the first spark for new and unusual beats. X-Stream takes samples or complete tracks and returns them twisted into endless new inspirational ideas.

“With X-Stream, you can unfold the full spectrum of possible sounds from your sample collection,” says Senior Marketing Manager Florian Haack.

“Hit play and your sample transforms into something new and beautiful, with different tones, colors and textures. It also works perfectly as a drone machine for ambient music, making it a creative tool for imaginative composers and sound designers in all genres. And all of that comes for free.”

X-Stream features

  • Drag and drop: Turn any samples into smooth evolving soundscapes and textures.
  • Craft abstract drones and effects for scores, games and electronic music.
  • Works with all versions of HALion in a wide variety of DAWs.
  • More than 100 presets from a special sound design team around the globe.

This is built on HALion Sonic, the “player” version of Steinberg’s flagship HALion sampler/synth engine, but you can run both it and Sonic for free. It’s a sound design wonderland, but they’ve also done some epic, cinematic sound design to get you started – there’s plenty in there to play right away with the 100 presets.

X-Stream combines time-stretching and pitch-shifting algorithms. It’s intended for extreme stretching, so it’s related in that sense to Sloom. Think of this as that same idea but with more of the architecture of a conventional instrument – and a different set of algorithms for implementing it. It’s still more extreme time stretching, but here adapted to Steinberg’s HALion instrument architecture.

Time stretching works with extreme lengths – warping your sound into minutes or even hours. There’s automatic playback, or you can map MIDI input to “play” through the time stretching. Pitch shifting is provided with its own algorithm, too.

Available for HALion 7.1 and the free HALion Sonic 7.1, X-Stream is available for free by registering through the Steinberg website. Customers interested in HALion 7 can purchase the software at a 50% discount until the end of July 2024.

More information: Steinberg