"Realistic" horns, once again...

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
jac
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 48
  • Joined: 2010/02/17 21:55:28
  • Status: offline
2013/11/01 17:02:22 (permalink)

"Realistic" horns, once again...

This has been discussed before, but I'd like to solicit some more opinions on horn instruments. I have Garritan JABB, but the trumpets sound a little thin to me, and the saxes aren't too realistic (the 'bones aren't too bad though). I also have orchestral packages like EastWest Orchestra and Garritan GPO, but I'm mainly interested in using these for jazz band/orchestra style arrangements - mostly section use but, perhaps, the occasional solo.
 
I'm thinking of getting Chris Hein Horns. It seems that I can get the "compact" version for ~$200 , not cheap, but not a major budget buster. Another alternative is SampleModeling, but each instrument/section costs about the same as the entire Chris Hein Horns compact version.
 
Anyone have experience with CHH-compact? Do you get good results? Easy to program? Or do you need to go for the full (much more expensive) version. How about SampleModeling? Anything else in this price range worth looking at?
 
Note: I understand that results depend strongly on how the instrument is driven, and nuance in the form of automation can make or break the performance. I'm not a horn player, however, so intuitive program-ability would be a big help (I saw a sax vst recently with a primary control knob labeled "sex"! - maybe a little over-the-top but definitely intuitive!)

Sonar X2 Producer - 64 bit (various plugins/soft synths)
Windows 7, Home Premium
Intel Core i7-920, 2.67GHz (4 cores, 8 virtual), 24 Gig RAM
Separate system/sample/project disk drives
Dual monitor
Echo Layla 3G
Edirol PCR-300
#1

16 Replies Related Threads
    gustabo
    Max Output Level: -49.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2591
    • Joined: 2009/01/05 17:32:38
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/01 17:43:45 (permalink)
    I personally think that CHH-compact is great!
    Keep in mind, articulations make a difference in realism.
    I use them primarily as a trumpet, sax and trombone section for rock.
    post edited by gustabo - 2013/11/01 17:45:34


    Cakewalk by Bandlab - Win10 Pro x64 - StudioCat Platinum Studio DAW - 32 GB Ram - MOTU UltraLite-mk3
    M-Audio Keystation 88ES - Akai MPD26 (hot-rodded) - Alesis DM10 - a few guitars, a few amps
    Novation Launch Control - Korg nanoKONTROL2 - PreSonus FaderPort - DAW Remote HD on iPad
    Adam A7X - Behritone C50A
    PreSonus Monitor Station v2 (controlling the mons)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonarusergroup/

    #2
    tomixornot
    Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1674
    • Joined: 2011/03/05 11:31:26
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 02:41:04 (permalink)
    Check out Session Horns :
    http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/orchestral-cinematic/session-horns/

    Albert


    i7 2600K @ 3.40GHz / MB Intel DP67BG / 16GB Ram
    - ADATA 250GB SSD (Boot)
    - Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB HDD (Samples)
    Audio interface : Motu 828 MK ii
     
    i7 6700K @ 4.00GHz / MB Asrock Z170 / 16GB Ram
    - Samsung EVO 850 120GB / 500 GB SSD

    Audio interface : Roland Quad Capture
     
    Win 10 Pro / Sonar Platinum
    #3
    Blogman
    Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 481
    • Joined: 2011/02/08 02:32:48
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 04:19:44 (permalink)
    broadway big band collection!!! no brainer! :)
    #4
    JoeOss
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 47
    • Joined: 2011/08/17 09:07:35
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 06:29:53 (permalink)
    Sample modeling for saxes, best I've heard.
    #5
    MarioD
    Max Output Level: -72 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 901
    • Joined: 2006/04/15 15:59:50
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 09:47:51 (permalink)
    JoeOss
    Sample modeling for saxes, best I've heard.



    +1

    The reason people say the vinyl sounds better is because the music was better.
     
    Sonar Platinum, Intel i7 –2600 CPU @ 3.2 GHz, 16 GB ram, 2x2TB internal drives and 1 1TB internal drive, Radeon HD 5570 video card, HP 25" monitor,
    Roland Octa Capture, MOTU Midi Express 128, Win 10 Pro

     
    www.soundcloud.com/Mario_Guitar
    #6
    jac
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 48
    • Joined: 2010/02/17 21:55:28
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 14:21:36 (permalink)
    Thank you all for the input.
     
    Broadway Big Band is impressive but, yikes!, the price - about 10x what I was looking at. I had looked at Session Horns before also but only 4 instruments. I suppose I could do multiple instances to build up sections, but I'm not sure that's the best way to go...
    So, I have a +1 for CHHc, and +2 for SM saxes. How about SM trumpets - any opinions there?

    Sonar X2 Producer - 64 bit (various plugins/soft synths)
    Windows 7, Home Premium
    Intel Core i7-920, 2.67GHz (4 cores, 8 virtual), 24 Gig RAM
    Separate system/sample/project disk drives
    Dual monitor
    Echo Layla 3G
    Edirol PCR-300
    #7
    vintagevibe
    Max Output Level: -51 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2446
    • Joined: 2003/12/15 21:45:06
    • Location: Atlanta, Ga
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 14:42:30 (permalink)
     
    Another thought is that Kontakt comes with a special version of Chris Hein Horns plus you get all the other stuff in the Kontakt library.  I use then all the time.  They have solo and ensemble instrument.
    #8
    jimusic
    Max Output Level: -64 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1325
    • Joined: 2008/05/21 18:59:52
    • Location: Near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 18:02:09 (permalink)
    Although single instruments, I really like Embertone's Trumpet & Sax.
     
    [Kontakt 4.2.4 required]
     
    http://embertone.com/instruments/chapman-trumpet.php
     
    http://embertone.com/instruments/sensualsax.php



     
     
    #9
    MarioD
    Max Output Level: -72 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 901
    • Joined: 2006/04/15 15:59:50
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/02 20:52:46 (permalink)
    jac
    So, I have a +1 for CHHc, and +2 for SM saxes. How about SM trumpets - any opinions there?



    SM trumpets is my next big purchase.

    The reason people say the vinyl sounds better is because the music was better.
     
    Sonar Platinum, Intel i7 –2600 CPU @ 3.2 GHz, 16 GB ram, 2x2TB internal drives and 1 1TB internal drive, Radeon HD 5570 video card, HP 25" monitor,
    Roland Octa Capture, MOTU Midi Express 128, Win 10 Pro

     
    www.soundcloud.com/Mario_Guitar
    #10
    Vastman
    Max Output Level: -50 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2508
    • Joined: 2006/08/30 02:49:18
    • Location: Oakland, CA
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/03 01:35:28 (permalink)
    Sample Logic's Fanfare is a 30GB collection and sounds absolutely amazing and while it retails for $399 on their site:http://www.samplelogic.com/products/fanfare s(listen to some of the demos)
     
    Musician's Friend has some copies left for $99!!!! 
     
    The few copies they must have found doing inventory won't last long... here's the link...http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/sample-logic-fanfare-marching-and-cinematic-brass-sample-library-virtual-instrument-boxed?source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=CJTHuI7zx7oCFc41Qgod9lgAjw&kwid=productads-plaid%5e57308610307-sku%5eH80476000000000@ADL4MF-adType%5ePLA-device%5ec-adid%5e30433110387
    post edited by Vastman - 2013/11/03 01:38:54

    Dana
    We make the future... Climate Change Music
    VastMaschine:SP4L/W10/i74930K/32GB/RME/CAD E100s; The Orchestra! NOVO!/Inspire/BohemianViolin&Cello, ARK1&2,/MinimalCapriccioMaximoSoto/OE1&2, Action&Emotive/Omni2/Tril/RMX/All OrangeTree/Falcon/APE Jugs/Alpha&Bravo/BFD3 & SD3
    Gravity/DM307/AEON/DM/Damage/Diva/HZebra/Hive/Diversion/VC4/Serum/Alchemy/blablabla
    Spitfire/8DIO/SL/KH/EW/NI; Shred1&2/AGF,G,M&T Torch&Res&Ren/GD-6; Ibanez SR1200&SR505
    NOVAX FanFret Tele&Strat 
    #11
    LpMike75
    Max Output Level: -59 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1621
    • Joined: 2009/10/04 11:50:50
    • Location: CT
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/04 18:26:51 (permalink)
    The CCH demo's are fantastic


    - Mike
    Sonar Platinum - M-Audio Profire 2626 , Pro Tools 11 HD Omni - PC I7 6850K - 64 G RAM - GeForce GTX 970
    http://www.soundcloud.com/michael-lizotte 
    Http://WWW.HomeRecordingWizard.Com
    HTTP://WWW.Facebook.com/HomeRecordingWizard
    Http://www.mjlmusic.com 
    #12
    The Band19
    Max Output Level: -47.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2795
    • Joined: 2012/05/29 19:21:32
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/04 20:07:35 (permalink)
    You simply cannot get better than Samplemodeling...
     
    http://www.samplemodeling.com/en/index.php
     
    Check out their demos and they have some good videos on youtube. I have the saxaphones and again, they're the best.
    post edited by The Band19 - 2013/11/04 20:08:52

    Sittin downtown in a railway station one toke over the line.
    #13
    kev11111111111111
    Max Output Level: -57.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1772
    • Joined: 2006/12/10 16:29:36
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/05 03:18:50 (permalink)
    jac
    This has been discussed before, but I'd like to solicit some more opinions on horn instruments. I have Garritan JABB, but the trumpets sound a little thin to me, and the saxes aren't too realistic (the 'bones aren't too bad though). I also have orchestral packages like EastWest Orchestra and Garritan GPO, but I'm mainly interested in using these for jazz band/orchestra style arrangements - mostly section use but, perhaps, the occasional solo.
     
    I'm thinking of getting Chris Hein Horns. It seems that I can get the "compact" version for ~$200 , not cheap, but not a major budget buster. Another alternative is SampleModeling, but each instrument/section costs about the same as the entire Chris Hein Horns compact version.
     
    Anyone have experience with CHH-compact? Do you get good results? Easy to program? Or do you need to go for the full (much more expensive) version. How about SampleModeling? Anything else in this price range worth looking at?
     
    Note: I understand that results depend strongly on how the instrument is driven, and nuance in the form of automation can make or break the performance. I'm not a horn player, however, so intuitive program-ability would be a big help (I saw a sax vst recently with a primary control knob labeled "sex"! - maybe a little over-the-top but definitely intuitive!)





    I've been on the same mission for the last 3 months ! In the end I decided buying a VST like Garritan would be too time consuming and all of what I heard to be honest,I thought lacked realism. The best (in my mind) was to go for a sample pack,and then cut up the samples and play with them to get the right sound. Greg Adams brass by Bigfish is probably the best audio sample CD out there. I've not heard anything that comes even close to this for its price.Its cheaper than Chris Hein Horns,sounds more authentic and you dont have to spend hours and hours playing with midi controllers ! The last couple of tracks on my song page feature these samples,if you want to check them out.

    Please Click Me !
    #14
    jac
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 48
    • Joined: 2010/02/17 21:55:28
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/05 19:07:55 (permalink)
    Thank you all again for the input. It seems there are some good options here, but now I'm curious about looping/sample approach. I haven't really tried that.
     
    Kev1..1, how do you make use of this? In my case, I have pre-written parts for the trumpets (for example). So, I would like to have the library play those parts as opposed to finding riffs that fit in with my composition. You mention carving up the samples. How are they packaged? I know there are Acid loops. Are there separate loops and/or samples for each instrument/section? Are there individual note samples that you assemble? They don't give a lot of info on what's in the package. You indicated this is quicker and easier than programming midi articulations, so I'm curious about how that works for you.

    Sonar X2 Producer - 64 bit (various plugins/soft synths)
    Windows 7, Home Premium
    Intel Core i7-920, 2.67GHz (4 cores, 8 virtual), 24 Gig RAM
    Separate system/sample/project disk drives
    Dual monitor
    Echo Layla 3G
    Edirol PCR-300
    #15
    kev11111111111111
    Max Output Level: -57.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1772
    • Joined: 2006/12/10 16:29:36
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/06 07:13:18 (permalink)
    jac
    Thank you all again for the input. It seems there are some good options here, but now I'm curious about looping/sample approach. I haven't really tried that.
     
    Kev1..1, how do you make use of this? In my case, I have pre-written parts for the trumpets (for example). So, I would like to have the library play those parts as opposed to finding riffs that fit in with my composition. You mention carving up the samples. How are they packaged? I know there are Acid loops. Are there separate loops and/or samples for each instrument/section? Are there individual note samples that you assemble? They don't give a lot of info on what's in the package. You indicated this is quicker and easier than programming midi articulations, so I'm curious about how that works for you.




    Hi Jac
     
    I make use of it in a few ways.
    1 Use the samples as they are and write a composition around the parts.
    2 Write my own part and layer the riff with samples.
    3 Sample a single note part and play it through a sampler to create a new riff
    4 Resample a loop changing the pitch and timing. Maybe I have for example a motif based on a mayor third played in 8s. I could look for a sample close to this and alter the pitch or timing so the 'sample' resembles the prewritten part.
     
    The package comes in Acid format. Theres 10 songs in different keys and tempos. Each song has close mic and room mics. Yep some of the parts are all the sections playing together and some have been recorded 'solo'. Then there are folders containing 'Falls,Brass chords (very easy to sample and place in a song) hits and then FX.
     
    With the sampling I suppose maybe you could argue it could be equally as time consuming as programming midi articulations. It really depends on how far you want to take the sound.  For me personally though I find it quicker and the results are generally more satisfying.  
    I think they do have a demo if you want to hear the sounds. Try on loop library..
     
    Thanks
     
    Kev
     
     

    Please Click Me !
    #16
    jac
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 48
    • Joined: 2010/02/17 21:55:28
    • Status: offline
    Re: "Realistic" horns, once again... 2013/11/07 23:45:14 (permalink)
    Thanks Kev - and everyone else!

    Sonar X2 Producer - 64 bit (various plugins/soft synths)
    Windows 7, Home Premium
    Intel Core i7-920, 2.67GHz (4 cores, 8 virtual), 24 Gig RAM
    Separate system/sample/project disk drives
    Dual monitor
    Echo Layla 3G
    Edirol PCR-300
    #17
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1