Native Instruments Brass Solo User Guide
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Welcome to the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS ...................................................................
1.1 About the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS .............................................................................................. 7
1.2 About this Document .................................................................................................................. 7
1.3 Manual Conventions ................................................................................................................... 8
2 Choosing the Right KONTAKT Instrument .....................................................................
2.1 Soloist Instrument ...................................................................................................................... 10
2.2 Quartet Instrument ..................................................................................................................... 11
3 Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments .............................................................
3.1 Selecting Articulations with Key Switches .................................................................................. 12
3.2 Refining a Recording in Your Host Software ............................................................................... 13
3.3 About Using MIDI Controllers ...................................................................................................... 14
3.4 Performance Controls ................................................................................................................. 15
3.5 Additional Controls ..................................................................................................................... 18
3.4.1 Dynamics ................................................................................................................... 16
3.4.2 Attack ........................................................................................................................ 17
3.4.3 Release ...................................................................................................................... 17
3.4.4 Tightness ................................................................................................................... 17
3.4.5 Vibrato ....................................................................................................................... 18
3.5.1 Repetition .................................................................................................................. 19
3.5.2 Legato ....................................................................................................................... 20
3.5.3 Progress Indicator ..................................................................................................... 21
3.5.4 Round Robin .............................................................................................................. 21
3.5.5 Playback .................................................................................................................... 22
4 Configuring ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO ..........................................................................
7
10
12
23
4.1 The Articulation Slot Setup View ................................................................................................. 23
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 4
Table of Contents
4.2 Editing Articulations Manually ................................................................................................... 29
4.3 Using Macros for Automatic Assignments (Key Switches) .......................................................... 44
4.4 Using Macros for Automatic Assignments (MIDI CCs) ................................................................ 50
4.5 Key Range Setup .........................................................................................................................55
4.1.1 Overview of the Articulation Slot Setup (Key Switch) ................................................. 25
4.1.2 Overview of the Articulation Slot Setup (MIDI CC) ...................................................... 27
4.2.1 Removing Specific Articulation Assignments ............................................................ 32
4.2.2 Removing all Articulations ........................................................................................ 32
4.2.3 Assigning Key Switches to Articulations .................................................................... 34
4.2.4 Assigning Velocity Ranges to Key Switches ............................................................... 36
4.2.5 Assigning MIDI CCs to Articulations .......................................................................... 38
4.2.6 Configuring a Native Instruments Controller to Send MIDI CC ................................... 40
4.2.7 Sending MIDI CC From Your Host Software ................................................................ 43
4.3.1 Empty all Slots .......................................................................................................... 44
4.3.2 Reset All Start Conditions .......................................................................................... 46
4.3.3 Set Ascending Keys From First Slot ............................................................................ 47
4.3.4 Distribute Velocity Range Equally on Active Slots ...................................................... 49
4.4.1 Empty All Slots .......................................................................................................... 51
4.4.2 Reset All Start Conditions .......................................................................................... 52
4.4.3 Distribute Controller Equally on Active Slots .............................................................. 53
4.5.1 Overview of the Ensemble View ................................................................................. 55
4.5.2 Adjusting a Section's Key Range ............................................................................... 58
4.5.3 Linking/Unlinking Key Range Borders ........................................................................ 60
4.5.4 Activating/Deactivating Sections .............................................................................. 62
5 KONTAKT Snapshots ..................................................................................................
64
5.1 Saving a User Snapshot ............................................................................................................. 64
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 5
5.2 Loading a Snapshot From the Snapshot Menu ............................................................................ 66
5.3 Loading Snapshots From the File System ................................................................................... 67
5.4 Deleting a User Snapshot ........................................................................................................... 67
6 Audio Mix-down ........................................................................................................
6.1 Adding Effects ............................................................................................................................ 69
6.2 Balancing Section Volumes ........................................................................................................ 76
6.3 Balancing Articulation Volumes ................................................................................................. 77
6.1.1 Applying EQ ............................................................................................................... 69
6.1.2 Applying Reverb ......................................................................................................... 71
6.1.3 Applying Comp & Filter .............................................................................................. 74
7 Technical Specs .......................................................................................................
Table of Contents
69
80
8 Glossary ...................................................................................................................
9 Credits ......................................................................................................................
81
83
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 6
Welcome to the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS
About the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS
1 Welcome to the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS
Thank you for purchasing SYMPHONY ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO. This document will give you
information about the library, as well as step-by-step instructions and advice on how to achieve
the best results with it.
We hope that you will enjoy using the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS products.
1.1 About the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO is part of the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS
line of KONTAKT Instruments. This series provides composers with a basic tool set for creating
highly realistic orchestral textures with an expansive sound full of character.
ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO allows you to use a production-ready STEREO mix. On the Effects
page, a parametric EQ, convolution REVERB, COMPRESSION and FILTER effects let you adjust the sound to suit any project you're working on.
Articulations from a comprehensive palette can be switched in real time by freely assignable
Key Switches or MIDI CCs. Five performance controls are pre-assigned to MASCHINE controllers
and the KOMPLETE KONTROL S series of keyboards.
1.2 About this Document
This document was written in a way that allows you to access information out of order. While
the topics are structured to guide you through the features and usage of ESSENTIAL BRASS
SOLO topic by topic, you can skip ahead at any time.
Jump right in the midst of the document to a topic you're interested in. You shouldn't have to
look up related information to be able to follow any of the workflow tutorials. All relevant information is given as part of each description.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 7
Welcome to the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS
Manual Conventions
1.3 Manual Conventions
This document uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of potential issues. The icons introducing the following notes let you see what kind of information can
be expected:
The speech bubble icon indicates a useful tip that may often help you to solve a task
more efficiently.
The exclamation mark icon highlights important information that is essential for the given context.
The red cross icon warns you of serious issues and potential risks that require your full
attention.
Furthermore, the following formatting is used:
▪ Text appearing in (drop-down) menus (such as Open…, Save as… etc.) in the software and
paths to locations on your hard disk or other storage devices is printed in italics.
▪ Text appearing elsewhere (labels of buttons, controls, text next to checkboxes etc.) in the
software is printed in blue. Whenever you see this formatting applied, you will find the
same text appearing somewhere on the screen.
▪ Important names and concepts are printed in bold.
▪ References to keys on your computer’s keyboard you’ll find put in square brackets (e.g.,
“Press [Shift] + [Enter]”).
Single instructions are introduced by this play button type arrow.
►
Results of actions are introduced by this smaller arrow.
→
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 8
Welcome to the SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS
Manual Conventions
Naming Convention
Throughout this document, we will refer to SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO as just ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 9
Choosing the Right KONTAKT Instrument
Soloist Instrument
2 Choosing the Right KONTAKT Instrument
The ESSENTIALS ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO ships with a total of six KONTAKT Instruments
(.nki files). To help you select the right one for your specific task, here is an overview of the
included Instruments.
Four orchestral instrument brass sections were recorded:
▪ Horns
▪ Trombone
▪ Trumpet
▪ Tuba
2.1 Soloist Instrument
For each section's soloist, ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO offers one KONTAKT Instrument which
lets you switch in real time between the Articulations most commonly used in contemporary
composition. This Instrument is the quickest and most flexible choice, which you will want to
include in your default template for compositional work.
The Master Instruments can be found in each section's sub folder and are named after the section's soloist:
▪ Horn 1 Essential.nki
▪ Horn 2 Essential.nki
▪ Trombone Essential.nki
▪ Trumpet Essential.nki
▪ Tuba Essential.nki
For every Articulation you assign, the corresponding samples are loaded into your computer’s RAM. De-activate every Articulation you don’t need to conserve memory as described in chapter ↑4.2.1, Removing Specific Articulation Assignments.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 10
Choosing the Right KONTAKT Instrument
Quartet Instrument
See also
2 Removing Specific Articulation Assignments [➙ 32]
2.2 Quartet Instrument
The Quartet Instrument allows you to play all ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO instruments in one Instrument, although with a limited choice of Articulations.
▪ Brass Quartet Essential.nki
The Brass Quartet Essential Instrument in the Browser
The Quartet Instrument distributes voices between the different soloists (according to user-con-
figurable Section note ranges) for rapid sketching of musical ideas. It represents the quickest
way of distributing chords across Soloists, playing Quartet swells or massive orchestral stabs.
Inside the Quartet Instrument, you can adjust volume and panorama per Soloist, as well as the
note range which is played by each of them.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 11
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Selecting Articulations with Key Switches
3 Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
3.1 Selecting Articulations with Key Switches
When loading one of the KONTAKT Instruments, up to 8 Articulations are assigned to the keys
from C0 to G0. These key-switches are displayed as either red, green, or cyan keys in KONTAKT's on-screen keyboard and in the small Articulation Indicators beneath the Articulation label.
Key Switch colors on the on-screen keyboard and the Articulation Indicators
If ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO is configured to select Articulations by Key Switches, the
corresponding keys in KONTAKT's on-screen keyboard are colored according to the respective Articulation category:
Red: Sustain
Green: Staccato
Blue: Expression
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 12
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Refining a Recording in Your Host Software
On KOMPLETE KONTROL S keyboards, the Light Guide LEDs visualize the Key
Switches by lighting up in the same color.
To select an Articulation by Key Switch:
1. Load the Trombone Essential.nki KONTAKT Instrument.
2. Press the C0 MIDI note on your MIDI keyboard to select the Sustain p Articulation assigned to C0.
3. Play this Articulation using the dark blue range of keys.
4. Press the D0 key on your MIDI keyboard to select the Sustain f Articulation.
5. Play this Articulation using the dark blue range of keys.
KONTAKT's on-screen keyboard with Key Switches
None of these Articulations are just static musical building blocks. Make a habit of using the Modulation Wheel (MIDI CC 1) to modulate the Dynamics control to record expressive parts.
In the context of a busy arrangement, these results may already be good enough. In passages
which feature the brass more prominently, the discerning listener may still be able to identify
details which give away the fact that you didn't record a live performance.
The solution is to refine the recorded performance in your host software with the provided Performance Controls.
3.2 Refining a Recording in Your Host Software
The key to a realistic performance is a combination of three basic methods:
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 13
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
About Using MIDI Controllers
Switching Between Articulations
Articulations are one of the key ingredients of musical expression. Switching Articulations in
ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO is the equivalent to writing articulation marks in music notation.
When composing with ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO, lay out carefully which Articulations you will
need.
Playing Like a Brass Player
Watch both, the note starts and endings. Depending on the pitch and instrument section, it
takes real-life brass instruments varying amounts of time to build up a steady tone (i.e. Attack)
and to fade out (i.e. Release). These differences were recorded and are part of the Instruments.
Unlike playing a piano library, to achieve accurate timing, you will have to move some notes
ahead of the precise beat by varying amounts, just as real brass players compensate by playing
slightly ahead.
Using the Performance Controls
Real time modulation of Performance Controls allows for more realistic performances. Recording automation with the Mod Wheel allows you to access the entire dynamic range of the orchestra.
The Mod Wheel (MIDI CC 1) is by default assigned to the Dynamics control and you
should always play expressively with the tonal variations the Mod Wheel affords you.
You can achieve even more realistic results by automating slight variations to the Attack, Re-
lease, Tightness and Vibrato controls, even if the differences appear subtle at first.
3.3 About Using MIDI Controllers
It is highly recommended that you work with a MIDI controller, which lets you perform automation of the Performance Controls in real time. This way, you will hear the changes immediately,
instead of just drawing automation curves in your host software.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 14
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Performance Controls
If you load ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO inside KOMPLETE KONTROL or MASCHINE 2, the Performance Controls are automatically mapped to the controller's first four knobs. The Dynamics
control defaults to the Mod Strip on your KOMPLETE KONTROL S keyboard, or to the Modulation Wheel (MIDI CC 1) if used with a generic controller.
All other parameters are available via your host software's automation system. When selecting
the KONTAKT plug-in as the automation target, the Performance Controls are the first four automation parameters.
In order to control the Performance Controls with a generic MIDI control device, please
use the mechanism provided by your host to MIDI-control automation parameters.
Cubase: Quick Controls
Logic X: Automation Quick Access
Ableton Live: MIDI Remote
Pro Tools: MIDI CC Automation
3.4 Performance Controls
When you load ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO, the Performance Controls are the most prominent
feature of the Instrument's user interface. These controls are used to refine a performance to
achieve very realistic results. Thanks to their unified layout, once you understand what they do
in one product from the series, you'll be immediately familiar with all of them.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 15
The main Performance Controls
3.4.1 Dynamics
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Performance Controls
Dynamics Control
The Dynamics control is assigned to the Mod Wheel (MIDI CC 1) by default. It allows you to
control the loudness and intensity of the Instrument in real-time. That way, you can play swells
in any of the Sustain Articulations or easily automate intensity changes to e.g. transition from
leading to supporting passages.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 16
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Performance Controls
3.4.2 Attack
Attack Control
The Attack control allows you to increase the fade-in time per note to simulate realistic variations throughout a passage. By setting the Attack time to higher values, you can cause the
notes to fade in more slowly, giving the notes a more solemn and gentle character.
3.4.3 Release
Release Control
The Release control applies an additional envelope to the reverb tail of the recorded samples,
thus affecting fade-out time.
Reducing the Release setting to 0% produces a very "dry" sounding result, which can sometimes make the result sound artificial. However, this can be very useful when adding internal
or external reverb effects, as this allows the additional reverb to avoid conflicting with the natural sampled ambience.
3.4.4 Tightness
Tightness Control
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 17
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Performance Controls
The Tightness control determines the starting point for the playback of a sample. This feature
is extremely useful when used in combination with the Attack control to allow you to cut into
the initial transient for an articulation to allow more precise note attacks.
When increasing the Tightness value to shift playback farther into the sample, it is recommended you increase the Attack value as well to refine the shape of the note attack.
This control is also useful in the context of playing phrases where the cross-fading of a loud
note to the attack of a following quieter note can cause audible artifacts. This should hardly
ever occur and if it does, Tightness is just one option to improve. Usually, adjusting these
notes' velocities will be sufficient.
Should the occasion arise and you hear any such artifacts, try increasing Tightness starting
from its default of 0%. By cutting off the natural attack phase, Tightness simulates the playing
behavior of an instrument which is already resonating when playing the next note.
3.4.5 Vibrato
Vibrato Control
The Vibrato control allows you to add natural movement to the sound, which modulates both
pitch and intensity of the note.
3.5 Additional Controls
Below the Performance Controls, you'll find the Articulation selector plus two additional sets of
controls. Depending on the selected Articulation, different combinations of these controls are
available. This is an overview of all controls you will encounter.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 18
1
2
3
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Additional Controls
Additional Controls
(1) Articulation Selector: This control is visible in every Instrument.
Click the Articulation label to open the ARTICULATION SLOTS list.
►
Click the Articulation name to assign a different Articulation from the drop-down menu.
►
Click any of the eight Articulation Indicator dots to select a different Articulation.
►
(2),(3) Additional Controls: Depending on which ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO Instrument you open
and which Articulation type you select, these two fields show different controls.
3.5.1 Repetition
Click the small button to the left of the label to activate or de-activate Repetition. A thin ring
shows it's inactive, a solid dot means it's active.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 19
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Additional Controls
Repetition Controls with and without Accent
When Repetition is activated, every note you play is automatically repeated a number of times
before the note plays out to the end.
Attack: Set the number of repetitions here. Click the button and select one of the numbers
from the drop-down menu.
Select 2x - 4x for the note to be repeated and then stop.
►
Select Run for the notes to be repeated indefinitely.
►
Speed: Set the speed of repetitions here. Click the button and select a note division value from
the drop-down menu.
Accent: This parameter is only available for Staccato Articulations.
Select None for no pronounced accentuation
►
Select First for accentuation of the first repetition. If you selected Run in the Attack
►
menu, selecting first will accentuate the first note of the repeating pattern.
Select Last for accentuation of the last repetition. If you selected Run in the Attack
►
menu, selecting first will accentuate the first note of the repeating pattern.
3.5.2 Legato
Click the small button to the left of the label to activate or de-activate Legato. A thin ring
shows it's inactive, a solid dot means it's active.
Legato Control Panel
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 20
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Additional Controls
Response: This slider controls the speed of the Legato transition.
Click and drag the slider to the left for a longer transition time or to the right for a short
►
transition.
Solo: Only one note is played at a time.
Duet: This allows two-part polyphonic legato melodies to be played. While sequential
►
notes are played less than 6 semitones apart, they will be joined together by legato transitions. If notes are played sequentially with 6 or more semitones between them, they will
play as two completely independent parallel legato melodies.
3.5.3 Progress Indicator
The Progress indicator is only visible for the Expression category of Articulations. The curve
from left to right visualizes how the intensity, volume or pitch evolves over time in the selected
Articulation, while a pointer indicates the playback position.
Progress Display
3.5.4 Round Robin
Round Robin helps avoid a typical issue associated with repeated playback of a sample. If you
play a Staccato pattern using the same sample for each note, the result will sound static and
artificial.
With Round Robin activated, there are between 2 and 8 alternative samples available for each
note. Playing the first note will trigger sample 1, the second note triggers sample 2 and so on
until every sample position has been played, then it starts from the beginning.
The Round Robin indicator visualizes the selection of the alternative samples, the dot indicating the sample being played back.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 21
Playing SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS Instruments
Additional Controls
Round Robin Indicators
3.5.5 Playback
The Playback parameter is available for Articulations which have a rhythmical aspect like a
half tone up movement or a trill.
Playback Controls
Natural: Click to select this option to play back the Articulation at the originally recorded
speed. No time stretching is applied.
Sync: Click to select this option to sync the Articulation with your project's tempo. Time
stretching is applied.
Varispeed: Click to select this option if you want free control over the playback speed of an Articulation. This is the only mode affected by the Speed slider. Time stretching is applied.
Speed: Click and drag left for slow playback of the Articulation, drag right for fast playback.
The Sync and Varispeed controls activate time stretching, which results in increased
CPU load and RAM consumption. Only activate if time stretching is required
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 22
Configuring ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO
The Articulation Slot Setup View
4 Configuring ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO
Each Instrument in ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO represents a default selection of Articulations
assigned to Key Switches. You can configure your own collection of Articulations by means of
the Articulation Slot Setup view as described in this chapter.
Once configured, you can save your work as a KONTAKT Snapshot for instant recall.
4.1 The Articulation Slot Setup View
To assign up to eight Articulations to either Key Switches or value ranges of a MIDI CC, ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO provides the Articulation Slot Setup view. This is how you access it:
1. Load Brass Quartet Essential.nki.
2. Click the Articulation label in the bottom left corner. This will open the ARTICULATION
SLOTS list.
‘
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 23
Configuring ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO
The Articulation Slot Setup View
3. Click the Edit button to open the full Articulation Slot Setup. This view will completely
cover the Performance Controls.
⇨ You can now freely configure Articulation assignments.
Articulation Slot Setup View
For every Articulation you assign, the corresponding samples are loaded into your computer’s RAM. De-activate every Articulation you don’t need to conserve memory as described in chapter ↑4.2.1, Removing Specific Articulation Assignments.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 24
1 2 3
4
5 6 7 8
9
Configuring ESSENTIAL BRASS SOLO
The Articulation Slot Setup View
4.1.1 Overview of the Articulation Slot Setup (Key Switch)
Depending on whether you assign Key switches or MIDI CC, the Articulation Slot Setup view
offers slightly different sets of controls. This is an overview of the Key Switch setup.
Articulation Slot Setup View (Key Switch)
(1) Key/MIDI CC selector: The eight Articulation Slots can be selected either by Key (MIDI note)
or by MIDI CC events. Click the respective text label to change this setting for the entire Instrument. The active option is highlighted.
(2) Edit Button: Click this button to show/hide the full Articulation Slot Setup view.
With Edit inactive, you have limited access to the Articulation Slots, while still being able to
move the Performance Controls with the mouse.
SYMPHONY ESSENTIALS BRASS SOLO - Manual - 25
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