Horn Articulation Tricks

Hi

I also fascinated by horn stuff and is determined to learn this as well.
(Just ordered Mojo Horn Section at www.vir2.com).

Anyway some experiments I have done included a midi fx that converted polyphonic keys down on keyboard, sending each key to a different midi channel and thereby a different instrument.

This is excellent for finding what works better together when playing chords like this.

A free midi fx midiPolyphony that does this is:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279800

Great fun to play with.

I played around one night 3-4 years ago making a short song with some stuff from Dimension Pro if I remember right. I'll see if I can find it....
 
EDIT: Blue Brass

This is so funny, I honestly thought I was the only person on this forum who sweats this. I have been working this problem for a few years and am in the same boat... Pitch bends, modulations, etc... help but somehow its never quite there. Would any of you mind posting links to some of your that tracks you think are better examples in this space?  I would love to hear what you do and what you use. My signiture links to my stuff. I think the first two tracks are better samples of my stuff the last three and bad ones. (stiff sounding)

I had been using First Call Horns but have found Dimension does a better job.

You have to think (and perform the parts) like a horn player would do...Expression, crescendo, decrescendos, sfzorzando, scoop up, slide down, fall offs, etc,...Excellent horn players spend years developing their embouchres and techniques...Trying to recreate all of those factors with a MIDI keyboard can be frustrating and ex-TREME-ly time consuming...Even with patches that have Key Switching there may be some "velocity layer" articulations that you're missing...Take the time to really read the manual and experiment...

Get yourself a "breath controller" and play the parts like a horn player by using the breath controller.

Years ago (when I was doing lots of jingles) that's how I did it.  I don't really do horns these days (at the moment) so I can't point you to something to listen to, but I can tell you that playing horn parts this way makes a huge difference.

It takes some practice, of course.

Hi Paul,
 
I gave your stuff a listen and the sections sound great. The solos exhibit some of the symptoms we are discussing but way better  than mine ;) I think I am going to need to study your stuff some more.
 
George 

is there a way to record the key-switch so it can be used in a sequencing program
thanks j
 

Hi Jeff, looks like you're trying to add to a forum thread from over 6 years ago, so not surprising you can't find the information you're looking for, a lot has changed in six years, so could I suggest you start a new thread ? Perhaps over in the software forum area might be a better place for it, since it seems you're looking for information about Chris Hein Horns articulations, that way you could get more up to date info / responses about it.

Biggest problems - The timing is too perfect, volume is too perfect, pitch is to perfect ; and this leads to unnatural sounding performances.
Timing, pitch, and volume sway in a live instrument performance.
 
1) Yamaha WX5 is one answer to your problem (Just play in a few lines - mix with keyboard tracks).
2) Someone already said one live player on top of the mix.
3) Score for a High School Stage band - ALL LIVE performances!
 
Yamaha WX5 is what I use for horn stuff.  It's not a cheap solution, but it works great. I have a friend Larry that can do all the stuff I do on a WX5 on a keyboard - I never have that kind of ribbon / pitch wheel skills.
 
Matt Traum - is the expert in patches for wind controllers
 
Youtube search Yamaha WX5 and Akai EWI 4000 or 5000
(Some of these videos are bad some are good.  - The good ones will show you the potential)
 
This is my friend Bob Mitzer (EWI)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q61GGujZP8U
 
Crazy stuff
Michael Brecker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQY_hU_KIM0
(Sax stuff starts @ 4:50)
 
more michael
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5izIkZhEP8

 
Michael with a loop stomp box
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOEF7f2HGoE

 
 

I too love the sound of real horns and have used wav library files and Ueberschall Horn Section and other Elastik sound banks (export wav) to Melodyne and then play with them there. Wav files have all the articulations and feel of fantastic talented musicians playing quality instruments being professionally recorded. Look to draw phrases from one sound bank at a time that come closest (melody/phrasing/intensity/bpm) to what you want to ultimately create in Melodyne.
 
It's a much different approach than keyboarding but you might try playing a rough track then reproduce it with my technique to get realistic solos and horn sections that blow vstis out of the water.
 
Cheers,
Dan
3s

SOme Libraries respond to MIDI CC for articulations, effects,sample switching, etc to affect a realistic  poart.
You can try to do it in real time except it is difficult to play your note(s) and keyswitch in sync.
 
You can lay your notes down in one pass, then record the CC on another track and edit as necessary