Installation guide

2. By default, Halogen first shows the Startup Panel, allowing you to create a new configuration for a
HALmodel of your choice, open an existing configuration file, or connect to a HALdevice:
.
NOTE: If the application fails to start, verify that all required ports are available and that all required
processes are installed and available. For details see "Required Ports" on page 90 and "Required
Processes " on page 91
About Halogen Configuration Files
For the HAL System to properly operate your audio system, you must, of course, configure it first—specifying your
system's hardware components, inputs and outputs, processing blocks, control links, audio flow, and so on. You
have two options for configuring your system—one option that absolutely requires saving the configuration to a
file, and the other option where saving to a file is highly recommended:
Create a configuration file and then apply it to the appropriate device.
This is the recommended approach, especially when initially designing and installing a system. You can
create this configuration file without having the hardware on hand, which makes this approach con-
venient for the designer. When you apply the file to a HAL device, its settings are actually saved to the
device. The saved configuration file then serves as a backup in case you want to restore the device to a
known configuration at a later time. The file also comes in handy if you are configuring the same audio
system for multiple locations. You can simply create one design, save it to a file, and apply the file to
the HALdevice at each location.
There are two ways to get your configuration file onto the HAL: apply it or load it. You can also, of
course, save the configuration on a live HAL to a file.
Configure the HALdevice directly.
Using Halogen, you can view and directly edit the current configuration of a live HAL device. Any
changes you make to a live HAL's configuration are immediately saved to the device (but not to a file).
The changes take effect immediately.
CHAPTER 4: Designing and Installing Your HAL System
164