Best playable jazz trumpet library or modeled instrument in 2025

[Ah_Dziz]

They used to be the same company. Modelled instruments (in my experience ) usually need more MIDI programming since they have so many parameters. It's a trade-off between lots of key switching or drawing lots of midi data if you don't have MPE or a breath controller.

[synchronizer]

I don’t have a breath controller, no. It sounds like no matter what, there’s a lot of editing. Maybe the automation is easier than the keyswitching?

[Vlad77]

I put together a brief comparison video featuring three trumpet instruments: VG Jazz Trumpet Virtual Instrument, VG Jazz Trumpet for Kontakt, and SWAM Trumpets.
I’d love to hear your thoughts — which one do you prefer, and why? What stands out to you?

[jancivil]

I don't think you'll be getting a convincing mockup of jazz trumpet without lots of programming.

Screaming trumpet is also good but involves a ton of key switching to get a good line and doesn't have mutes

"no mutes" - You must mean Realitone's cut-down version of the the orginal ST? He gave me a copy, I had the original. I think I never used the Realitone.
But the original I was just about to mention as by far the most playable trumpet I've used. Which is tbh not a lot of things tried. I mean it has a totally viable legato and I (I'm more than good with keyswitch city) and I did almost no keyswitching at all. The big diff with WarpIV Music Screaming Trumpet vs, at the other end of the spectrum SWAM or SampleModeling is the typifying jazz gestures* are a big feature by keyswitch, OTOH. That solo is Harmon mute. shouldn't share it as it is not really jazz, next to the total jazz YT shootout.

I have SWAM Saxophones, only used once here, it was also just a brief legato solo for one chorus. Rather than juggling the project in order to even load my VSL soprano sax I thought I'd finally try the SWAM. I've never made quicker work out of a line. I knew enough about it to set it up for the thing. If I'da wanted something more special a struggle may have ensued, tho.

[Ah_Dziz]

Yeah I only grabbed the realitone ST. It's handy. I was always interested in the original full library but I couldn't justify the price they wanted whenever I looked at it. Straight Ahead Jazz Horns is nice for many things and between it and Broadway lites I feel reasonably covered for sections. I like the swam stuff for leads and the trumpet (old Kontakt version) for a lead trumpet. I always seem to miss the sale for upgrading Broadway lites to the full BBB which seems like it would be nice.
I've got little work going on these days where I need any of this stuff though so I'm just sticking with what I have.