Developer Fracture Sounds has released Blueprint: Gentle Brass, and it is free for Kontakt Player.

The Fracture Sounds Blueprint series has been so consistent since its debut that it’s fair to say I automatically expect high quality from every new release.

While it’s OK to expect high quality based on past releases, we mustn’t let lofty expectations sway our judgment in the here and now.

I look at each release on individual merit, but in this case, I knew we had something special immediately.

I immediately knew Gentle Brass was special because brass libraries are notoriously underwhelming, making the best ones stand out more.

The impact and texture that a good horn section can provide are immeasurable, but virtual brass instruments often lack the realism required to be left exposed in a composition.

It’s not unusual to spend more time cleverly masking virtual brass with other sounds than playing/programming the actual brass sounds.

Note: It’s increasingly more evident that it’s not unusual for me to say it’s not unusual! I’m not under any obligation to do so, nor am I part of any Tom Jones wager; it just happens.

You don’t have to bury Gentle Brass in the mix for it to sound convincing, and that’s why it might be the best Blueprint series instrument yet.

My other favorite Blueprint libraries include Epic Grand and Textural Violin.

Gentle Brass delivers the unmistakably warm sound of traditional British brass, featuring the Euphonium, Tenor Horn, Flugelhorn, Cornet, and Soprano Cornet.

Brass bands all across the UK, particularly in the north of England, have a unique sound that is simultaneously sweet, soft, triumphant, and powerful.

Although the nature of this instrument is gentle, it’s powerful in that it’s so emotionally moving; we might hear this sound in a Yorkshire Tea advertisement, but it’s still heartwarming with a sense of real community spirit.

OK, that might be a little deep, but it’s the history of this traditional sound, and it’s steeped in a defiant, never-give-up attitude, and Fracture Sounds has captured it beautifully.

Gentle Brass has four main parameters: Dynamics, Colour, Atmosphere, and Reverb.

Dynamics (more attack/punch) and Reverb (Room, Hall, Shimmer, and Convolution) are self-explanatory, and you can also adjust the Dynamic Range so that your playing velocity has less impact on the sound.

Using your mod wheel to add expression via Dynamics makes a huge difference.

Colour adjusts the brightness, and when turned up, you get more of a cutting sound with a nice sheen. However, I prefer lower settings to stick with that traditional soft tone.

The Atmosphere layer is a processed version of the raw samples; you can adjust the amount added, and it produces some lovely pad sounds.

Gentle Brass features three microphone positions: Close, Mid, and Far. You can adjust, mute, and solo each microphone position.

If you want to mix the gentle approach with something more aggressive, try Staccato Brass from Heavyocity’s Foundations series.

Gentle Brass is compatible with the free Kontakt Player 7 and higher.

Download: Blueprint: Gentle Brass (FREE – Kontakt Player 7 and higher required)

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