Feature:
HALion really falls short of its potential. You should HALion is not really a sampler! It can't sample, and it can't even do any kind of waveform editing. Its lack of sampling and waveform editing MIGHT be okay if the drag-and-drop functionality were really useful. But as it is, you cannot (for example) drag/drop a region from a Cubase audio part into a HALion sample slot. It's weird, but it's easier (!!) to do sampling on a rack-mount unit than it is to use HALion. Just remember: HALion is not a sampler, it is a SOUNDBANK PLAYER. Your wallet will thank you.

Quality:
Low marks here. I believe Steinberg intentionally misleads customers on this product. When I first got it I was amazed that not only does this "sampler" not sample, it can't even do TRIM! WOW! I figured they'd get around to releasing an update that dealt with these problems, but nothing. They're still misleading customers about this product. I've tried to get Steinberg to do something about this, without success.

Value:
This product is a complete joke. If you need it for sampling and you buy it you will feel like an idiot. At least I know I sure do.

Desirability:
Steinberg's slick marketing tricked me into buying this "non-sampling" sampler. If you need a soundbank player, great. If you want to record and create your own unique sounds, please don't make the same mistake I did.

Sound:
HALion sounds okay. It's a soundbank player, it sounds just like all the others.

Ease of Use:
It's fine as a "soundbank player". But if you want to create your own sounds, it's not a good choice. Have a look at Image-Line's DirectWave if you need full sampling capabilities from a soft-sampler.

Support:
Steinberg is still misleading customers about this product. I've tried to get them to do something about it, without success.

Overall:
I have already replaced this product with Image-Line's DirectWave SAMPLER. It's a much better, much more complete product at 1/4 the price of HALion. It even sounds better too.

Feature:
I hardly can imagine anything I couldn´t do with it.

Quality:
The product is 100% stable and never crashed on me. I was using a different Sampler from a very known company that caused trouble with my DAW all the time - not so with HALion.

Value:
After spending lots of money for a different Sampler, I´m absolutely happy in choosing HALion!

Sound:
Sound is great. Fantastic Filters from Waldorf are included. The best sound libraries are released for HALion anyway.

Ease of Use:
HALion is probably the most easy to use Sampler ever. No fiddling around in thousands of different screens and menues - it is straight forward to use.

Support:
Amazing! Steinberg is supporting the product actively in the cubase.net forums. They regulary update the software and it runs on all the latest OSs without a hitch.

Overall:
If you need a workhouse sampler and want to get used to it fast, while still being able to grow with it: HALion is your best choice today. I even heard rumors on cubase.net that the next version (v4) is currently in development and will be a new giant step in sampling with revolutionary features.

Feature:
The Waldorf effects are a good touch to the program however I find myself looking for an excuse not to use HALion because of its harsh cheap user interface.

Quality:
Steinberg made it.

Value:
Steinberg tries the customer top value for mediocrity again. This program is rivaled by free ware programs on more than one instance.

Sound:
HALion sound just as as good as any other sampler on the market.

Ease of Use:
Not easy.... Steinberg just isn't easy..... however I am now a man of stronger character.

Support:
Steinberg has a forum. We all know how dedicated and customer service oriented forums are.

Overall:
The fourth addition should be coming around soon and i can wait to see some Yamaha inspired tech in the new version (that is if they don't do the smart thing and upgrade HALion one to full capacity (drag and drop on window sample editing, effects and slicing.