Retro Soul Hornz?

[jrides]

Hi everyone,

Looking for a horn Collection that can accomplish this sound.



It isn’t quite that pop style funk/disco that you would normally associate with the 80s. That seems to easily be accomplished with session horns pro. There is a bit more of an organic quality to the tone and expression. Input from any horn players that use virtual horns would be a bonus.

I don’t want to spring for a combination of sample modeling and S.W.A.M. More money and time programming than I have in the budget.

I don’t need a ton of articulation. Mostly interested in the ensemble type sound going on in the beginning of the song and during the longer sustained notes right before the chorus. And of course the trumpet stabs. Or maybe it’s just the attack and energy of the horns as the notes are first played. A bit of saxophone growl. All that good stuff.

My needs are very limited but maybe a bit different from what many libraries offer? Definitely a high energy vibe but doesn’t quite seem to fit big band.

Looking for Kontakt Instruments preferably. Right now the only thing that seems like it could be a simple fit, is the dreaded big fish audio Vintage horns 2. Seems like a very overpriced offering. I’ll probably wait until there is a buy one get one free deal at best service. To try and make the expense more worthwhile…. If indeed it turns out that is the product I need.

Any feedback about horn offerings, you have direct experience with, would be helpful.

[Obsolete462444]

Horn sounds, irregardless of the sound era / genre, are generally hard to recreate in the box. If you want to recreate that particular sound there are basically two essential factors: 1) the playing of the instrument itself and 2) the signal chain that was used back then.

1) entails the choice of the right base sound(s) and the right combination of horns, the correct intonation / articulation, basically a recreation of what was played on the record.

2) entails knowledge about what mics, consoles, mixing & summing & mastering techniques were used. For example: you will find that instruments were heavily panned on many 60s records. The recording medium was reel-to-reel tape, so you would have to emulate that. Playback medium was vinyl with a bit of wow and flutter, bass bump and noise and limited bandwith. Mic'ing techniques would have been rather simple back then. Probably a tube / vari mu compressor somewhere in the signal chain. All this would have to be recreated.

There might be a good library out there that has already considered all these crucial factors and incorporated them in the production process? Or you make the next step and get some real musicians to record it for you.

Can you post an example of how the sequence would sound in Session Horns Pro?

[telecharge]

Here's a couple from Zero-G that might meet your needs...

https://zero-g.co.uk/products/phantom-horns

https://zero-g.co.uk/products/brass-elements

[jrides]

Can you post an example of how the sequence would sound in Session Horns Pro?

Sorry, no. There is no song. No sequence. No project in particular this relates to. It’s just the sound that I love. I would like to be able to sprinkle something reminiscent into music here and there at some point.

Thanks for your response.

[Armadillo]

These are probably the best non-orchestral horns on the market.

https://www.orchestraltools.com/store/c ... band-horns

https://www.vir2.com/instruments/mojo-2-horn-section/

[DMG68]

Big Fish Audio Vintage Horns and Vintage Horns 2 are worth checking out.

[jrides]

Big Fish Audio Vintage Horns and Vintage Horns 2 are worth checking out.

Do you have them? Have you used them? I have yet to meet an actual living person who has them, and has a great opinion of them. Some Internet people, sure. But people that I can actually put my face in front of, not yet.

[DMG68]

Big Fish Audio Vintage Horns and Vintage Horns 2 are worth checking out.

Do you have them? Have you used them? I have yet to meet an actual living person who has them, and has a great opinion of them. Some Internet people, sure. But people that I can actually put my face in front of, not yet.

I have the first version and I like them. Sometimes I layer them with Session Horns Pro. Session Horns Pro is great too, and I use it more as it suits what I want from horns more often, but Vintage Horns is a good flavour when you need it. Make use of velocity and the key switches and you can get some good sounds.

[Obsolete462444]

Can you post an example of how the sequence would sound in Session Horns Pro?

Sorry, no. There is no song. No sequence. No project in particular this relates to. It’s just the sound that I love. I would like to be able to sprinkle something reminiscent into music here and there at some point.

Thanks for your response.

Got it. Yes, I'm also a big fan of the sound of that era, but I came to the conclusion that it's almost impossible to recreate authentically with only virtual instruments (as opposed to real recordings), especially when it comes to expressive instruments like brass / horns.

There are quite a number of current musicians who base their music on that era (or the early 70s era) today and many of them work mainly in the analog realm. For example: look at Adrian Younge's discography or the whole movement around Daptone Records.

Sprinkling something reminiscent of that era in here and there is of course another story and easier attainable. Another (free) virtual option to try: https://www.orchestraltools.com/sinefactory

[jrides]

Sprinkling something reminiscent of that era in here and there is of course another story and easier attainable. Another (free) virtual option to try: https://www.orchestraltools.com/sinefactory

I saw this name thrown around once. OT It was referred to as. I didn’t investigate because of the orchestral part of the name. I apologize. I had no way of knowing. I feel Ashamed.


Thank you to everyone who responded. However you sir…. I think you may have solved my dilemma. This is outstanding! Thank you!

[Obsolete462444]

Your welcome. The Orchestral Tools Sine Factory freebies are absolutely astounding. Afaik they add new libraries to the line every now and then!