Thank you Gerrit for taking the time to test.
And thanks Ojustaboo for confirming.
So the problem would be on my side? But where?
This time I trashed the Preferences before re-installing HALion 6.1.0: no difference.
I did some tests again going back and forth from 6.1.0 to 6.0.1, opened HALion with default program Hexagon, and I always get the same constant results:
HALion 6.1.0 as VSTi in Cubase: 18s
HALion 6.0.1 as VSTi in Cubase: less than 2s
HALion 6.0.1 standalone: 13s
HALion 6.1.0 standalone: 38s
HALion 6.0.1 instance loaded into VEP6: 11s
HALion 6.1.0 instance loaded into VEP6: 36s
6.1.0 is 3 times longer to open in standalone or in VEP and 10 times longer opened in Cubase.
I also switched ASIO drivers and got no change.
Now the question is: where to investigate?
CPU, MediaBay … what could be the cause of this difference between 6.0.1 and 6.1.0?
I have no more idea at this stage.
It would be curious if I am an isolated case! as I have nothing “special” in my setup, excepted a rather old computer!