BRASS 2.0 is a virtual instrument based on a physical modeling technology. It emulates a Trumpet, a Trombone and a Saxophone. All the characteristics of the real instruments have been analyzed and modeled through extensive research at world-renowned IRCAM institute. Arturia has partnered with this highly skilled team of researchers to bring this groundbreaking technology to the musician, in the form of a software instrument. BRASS is an extremely expressive, flexible and controllable instrument, and thus a fantastic alternative to loops or music libraries.
V2.0 FEATURES
- Acclaimed trumpet and trombone models
- Four-part multi-timbrality in Live mode ( V 2.0 )
- Harmonization module to control the polyphonic multi-timbral instrument kits (60 kits) ( V 2.0 )
- Customize instrument characteristics (musical style, attack, use static or dynamic mutes, humanize…)
- “Brassing” effect used in trumpets and trombones (tightens up attacks) ( V 2.0 )
- Organization of MIDI controls allowing easier editing and better control (includes support for the Akai EWI) ( V 2.0 )
- 75 presets,160 riffs & 60 kits ( V 2.0 )
- Place the instruments in a virtual stereo space with optional ambience reverberation.
MAIN FEATURES
- Virtual instrument playable through a MIDI keyboard
- Three physically modeled Brass instruments: Trumpet, Trombone and Saxophone
- LIVE Mode with total control over expressiveness through extensive MIDI control of key parameters
- RIFF Mode with more than 500 modifiable pre-recorded MIDI phrases in many different styles (Jazz, Funk, Latino, Fanfare, Reggae, Pop, Classic, Military…)
- Configuration of the instruments: 4 attack and 4 vibrato types, material, humanization
- Import and export riff presets from and to MIDI files
- 8 parameters to control the instruments in real time :
o Attack
o Pressure
o Pitch (for legatos, falls or expressivity)
o Timbre of the instruments
o Noise amount in the instrument sound
o Vibrato
o Position of the instrument toward the microphone
o Mute (for trumpet and trombone)
- Independent automatization of each parameter via a dedicated control window
- Easy and fast searching of riffs with the preset explorer
- Up to 4 simultaneous instruments in a riff
- Editable length, tempo and tune of each riff
- Riff editing with the zoomable pianoroll and independent parameter editing
- Powerful editing options : solo, mute, 8 drawing tools
- Live playing of several riffs with the keyboard
- Chorus mode for all instruments, up to 4 instruments unison section
- Spatialization of the instruments in a configurable room
New in version 2.0!
Brass V2 is a collection of a trumpet, a saxophone and a trombone, all delivered in software format. You can play each of these instruments independently, or all of them together using different types of harmonization and effects.
Brass V2 is based on physical modeling; a technology that allows for more control and flexibility over your sound.
It certainly isn’t your typical sample-based solution that comes with Gigabytes of samples. As a matter of fact, Brass V2 is a real instrument allowing for a lot of expressivity, subtlety and personal interpretation.
Learning how to use Brass in-depth usually takes a couple of hours, but be assured, you will never go back to using samples. This is what innovation and technology should always be used for: offering you more power and creativity, without any additional complexity.
Saxophone model: In Version 2, BRASS comes with a saxophone model. It is based on a tenor saxophone by Buffet-Crampon. Arturia has also reproduced two different mouthpieces, one classical and one jazz.
Harmonization: As you can now play four different instruments at a time, Arturia brings you a harmonization engine that is extremely easy to use. Sections, duets, trios, all these are now possible.
Spatiality: Realism mainly comes from the core instrument models, but also from the recording scenery. The spacialization adds a new level of possibilities to your brass parts.
MIDI integration: In version 2, Brass comes with a better integration in the musician’s studio. MIDI settings will allow you to easily decide whether you control Brass using a simple keyboard, a breath-controller, an Akai EWI, a Yamaha WX5 and more.
Riff organization: While Brass is primarily a set of instruments to play, it also comes loaded with hundreds of pre-written phrases. Organized by style, such as Hip-Hop, Latino, Rock, Jazz or even Military, they make it easy for non-players to insert realistic brass parts in their music. All of these phrases can be quickly and dramatically modified in all aspects.
BRASS: THE LIVE MODE
The Live Mode allows incredible realism and expressivity thanks to a fully controllable 8 parameters panel especially developed for real time playing. A complete assignation page allows assigning MIDI information like Velocity, Aftertouch, Modulation… to numerous parameters like Attack, Pressure, Vibrato…
Choose a preset in the library, play via a midi keyboard, and use the controllers to add modulation. You want to go further? Configure your instrument: make a wooden trumpet, add a mute, humanize; physical modeling is flexible. In LIVE mode you have access to a wide range of intuitive qualities to control your instrument.
Presets
With a number of presets to choose from, pick the style that suits you best and begin playing. For example, one could choose a setting called "jazz solo" and all the parameters (attack, pressure, etc) are set up to play a jazz solo. Select a "classical section" of trumpets and you will instantly get the right settings for the parameters.
Presets allow you to save and recall:
- The instrument
- The instrument configuration
- The real-time parameters settings which will define the particular style you want to play in: the type of attack, automation of the timbre-sweep, range of the mute opening, etc...
- The MIDI settings that define how you want your controller to interact with the instrument (what parameter is the modulation wheel assigned to, the response curve you want for the modulation wheel's control of the timbre...)
You will also be able to import new presets from Arturia’s site.
Presets are not mandatory while playing in BRASS; like everything else in BRASS, the Presets are just a manner of facilitating your playing experience.
THE REAL-TIME PARAMETERS
Parameters:
Below is an explanation of each parameter offered to give you an idea of what you will be working with in BRASS.
- Attack: a really important parameter for accentuation, articulations and use of different playing techniques. Set the attack force high for faster and stronger attacks and lower for a slower and softer attack.
- Pressure: Set the pressure of the air entering the instrument. Allow variation of tone and value of the instrument at the same time, in the same way a musician would blow stronger in the instrument. Make smooth transitions and go for maximum expression.
- Pitch: Make glissandos, slides, or legatos; you can even automate the pitch moves for each note you play or vary the notes around the notes played. By default, the pitch parameter is set in the middle of its range to the 0 value.
- Timbre: Set the sound of the instrument in order to obtain a variation in the timber of the sound. You can program subtle changes in Riff Mode or control the parameter in real time.
- Noise: This parameter controls breath or air that integrated into the sound of the note. It is subtle but makes a big difference in the realism of the sound.
- Vibrato: Different types of vibratos are offered here, allowing one to change the speed of the vibrato and its range. And once again if you want to automate a vibrato to certain notes, after a delay, or according to a certain curve, this is possible.
- Vibrato Frequency: This adjusts the frequency of the vibrato.
- Mute: Accessible uniquely for the trumpet and the trombone, and in the case where a "muted wahwah" effect is chosen the parameter allows you to set the intensity of the effect, otherwise said the position of the hand for a muted wahwah or the position of the mute plunger. When no mute is activated, or a static mute is chosen, the real time controller is disabled.
Extreme Values:
Around each parameter bar there is a small arrow to the left and the right. These arrows represent the boundaries between which the parameter will maneuver if you assign it to a MIDI control. This option is particularly useful and permits great flexibility in the real time parameter control
For example, if the modulation wheel is assigned to vibrato amplitude (via the "MIDI Settings" panel), and if you want the maximum amplitude of the modulation wheel to correspond to a measured value of the vibrato amplitude, you must set the parameters as indicated in the picture above.
Automation:
All the parameters of play LIVE can be automated (except for the attack). By clicking on the "A" button above the parameter name, you open an automation window corresponding to that parameter. The automation allows you to vary the parameter value for each note. That makes it possible to play more realistically, while making interpretation and control simpler. For example, you can program the beginning of a progressive vibrato, or a light point of white noise in the sound attack. You can even delay the automation release or change the speed of the player time.
BRASS: THE RIFF MODE
The Riff Mode offers an alternate solution to samplers or music libraries! In Riff mode, you can choose from over 500 pre-recorded, MODIFIABLE segments of music called "Riffs". Riff mode makes it possible to select, listen, play the keyboard, and edit your riffs. You can import or export riffs as MIDI files. All you need to do is choose from the genre you like and start composing.
Riffs are a great way to get started in a music style you are not familiar with. They can also be a great source of inspiration for mature musicians who are looking for productivity.
For keyboards playing in bands, launching riffs on the fly can also be a great solution if you don't have real performers with you.
EDIT RIFFS!
The great point with the Riff section in BRASS is that you can edit any parameter within the riff. Whether you want to change the pitch of the riff, the pitch of one note, program a swell, or a fall on the last note of your riffs, you can do it.
Of course, you can also create your own riffs. Your musical creation can be whatever you want it to be. All the parameters offered in LIVE mode (pitch, vibrato, pressure, etc...) can be modified in RIFF mode just as easily, so you have complete control over EACH riff.
Play with up to 4 instruments at a time and modify each to the specification that you like. For each channel, you can have different instruments, notes and modulation parameters. Simply pick up a tool and draw you modulation or curve according to the note and desired effect.
PHYSICAL INTERFACES
In RIFF mode, each preset has been configured for three different types of controllers: a standard keyboard controller, a keyboard offering after-touch possibilities, and a keyboard + breath-controller setting. In this way, you can guarantee the parameters in the model are assigned to the right controls no matter what your configuration.
In RIFF mode, using a MIDI controller is better if you wish to truly "play" your instrument. The controllers permit you to acquire a useful ease in your search for realism and expression.
CONTROLLERS
Physical Interfaces
When interacting with a physical model, the importance of the control is capital. If the instrument has been emulated within the BRASS software, the way you will play it is certainly a part of the full experience.
Arturia found that the physical interfaces are such an integral part of BRAS, that they have devoted a page specifically to them. In this section you'll find out a little more about the Physical Interfaces and the large effect they can have on your musical creation. Remember: physical interfaces are used in BOTH playing modes offered in BRASS: RIFF and LIVE.
Interfaces include:
- Keyboard, with or without (polyphonic) aftertouch
- knobs, sliders
- Foot pedals
- Joystick
- Breath Controller or Ribbon
KEYBOARD
In using the possibilities of control offered by the keyboard (velocity or after touch for example) you are going to be able to get closer to the level of expression of a master instrumentalist on the trumpet, saxophone, or the trombone.
The velocity is the force with which the keys of the keyboard are pushed. Using the easily modifiable connections given in the presets, you can connect the Velocity on the "Attack" parameter and from then on it will be the force with which you push the key that decides the attack of the note.
The aftertouch is a function that certain MIDI keyboards offer. It is the measure of pressure value on the keys over a period of time. In effect, you can decide to push strongly on the keys, then release, then push with a different amount of force, etc. The keyboards that save the variations permit a control really close to BRASS.
If you were to link the aftertouch to a parameter such as pressure, you could control the pressure sent to the instrument simply by pushing the key.
These are just examples of the physical interfaces used to simplify and enhance your playing experience.
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