Which synth plugin can do this brass section sound?

[Reezekeys]

Here's a link to a short (627K) mp3, the intro to a gospel tune. It's a fairly typical brass sound but doesn't sound real "synth"-like, it could almost fool someone into thinking it's a real horn section. I'm wondering if anyone knows of a specific plugin that can give me that sound (or similar). TIA!

 

http://tinyurl.com/6xhjn43

[Sven Golly]

If you're going with a plug-in, why not get something that sounds even better?

 

Mojo Horns

 

First Call Horns

 

[Reezekeys]

I appreciate the reply and reccs. I do know that there are high-end horn section libraries such as the ones you mention. I'm not sure I could get them to do what the synth horns do in the example though...at least not without some pre-planning & sample switching. I need to play this part live. The part has swells, and some notes that have a distinctive brass attack and sforzando (sp?) along with legato phrasing. I used to do this kind of stuff easily with my old DX synth and a breath control. Pretty sure the sound in this excerpt isn't FM8 or another FM synth though; it sounds a little more realistic. I think that some of the brass sounds in the newer workstation boards (Motif, Fantom, etc.) are nice but I'm really not familiar with them since I've been using a laptop rig for years.

[Sven Golly]

Maybe a better approach is for you to tell us what your rig is currently (what boards are you using to control what VSTs?).

 

 

[Reezekeys]

Using an Edirol midi controller into a MacBook Pro running Bidule for hosting VIs. I have Vsamp (SW sample player), FM8, and AAS AN-1.

[Sven Golly]

Okay, I was hoping you might have something with a breath controller input... you might want to consider adding a Yamaha BC3a controller and the MIDI Solutions Breath Controller box to go inline between the Edirol and the MBP.

 

As for the brass library, you seem to be looking for synth brass, so I'll defer to others for their experience on this one.

[Reezekeys]

Actually I do have a BC3, and an old Kurzweil ExpressionMate ribbon controller (which had a BC input). I bought the ExpressionMate many years ago and never wound up using it, so maybe this is the time! :-)

[Sven Golly]

There you go!

 

The simple addition of the breath controller can make a lot of mediocre sounds come to life, so you might not need to run anything new at all... layer some FM8 and some analog brass, do some creative tweaking, and you might just have the solution in your rig already!

[Steve Nathan]

MOJO

[Reezekeys]

Thanks for the tips! I'm certainly not opposed to putting in a little time coming up with a killing sound (cue the "jazz robots", lol). I just thought someone might know of a good horn patch that already sounds like my example, and just point me to it.

 

I remember a few years ago when I loaded up 8 instances of FM8 (or maybe it was FM7) and a TX816 brass patch. Now that was killing! Can't do that with my current rig, too many other things using CPU now.

 

@Steve - I checked out Mojo, very nice. I've always wanted to find some TOP-type horn samples, but everything else I've heard has fallen short. Not exactly cheap though.

[davinwv]

On the expensive side, check out Warp IV Horns and Broadway Lites.

 

Personally, I am thinking about getting the WIVI Band VST. In addition to stuff you, like me, probably don't need, you get trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone. Enough to make a pretty nice horn section for $149.00. The bundled player looks like it would make building a section and dividing voices very simple!

[Reezekeys]

That WIVI Band looks interesting. The audio examples on the web site don't indicate which product they're from though. The modeled approach where you can change dynamics mid-note sounds pretty cool but I'd like to hear an example with a TOP-style funk tune using it.

[davinwv]

It is my understanding that the models used in WIVI Band are identical to the models used for the same instruments in other Wallander products. There is a New Orleans second-line demo called "Messin' Around" on the Wallander site. Also, check out this Youtube clip:

 

 

Again, Mojo and Broadway Lites obviously sound better; however, for $149.00, can you really go wrong with this?

[Reezekeys]

It sounds OK, but I actually prefer the synth horn sound on my example mp3 - the synth sounds more dynamic, if less realistic timbre-wise. That might be because of the arrangement though. Looks like Wallander has a demo so I can just find out for myself, which I'll do in the next day or two. Thanks a lot for the tip. I've heard of this company but didn't know of their specific products. And $149 is a fair price too.