Fracture Sounds has unveiled Blueprint: Gentle Brass, a free instrument library for Kontakt Player that is sure to impress. The Blueprint series has consistently delivered top-tier quality, and Gentle Brass is no exception. As soon as I began exploring this latest addition, I could tell it was something special. Brass libraries often struggle to capture the nuance and realism of live brass, but Gentle Brass manages to stand out.
One of the reasons brass instruments can be difficult to use in virtual form is their complexity and richness, which are hard to replicate. Many virtual brass libraries end up buried in the mix, as they can’t hold their own when exposed. However, Gentle Brass doesn’t suffer from this common pitfall. Its warm, delicate tones, reminiscent of the finest British brass traditions, make it one of the most convincing brass libraries around.
Fracture Sounds worked with top-tier British brass musicians to capture the essence of Gentle Brass. Recorded in the expansive hall of The Nave, each instrument (Euphonium, Tenor Horn, Flugelhorn, Cornet, and Soprano Cornet) was individually recorded before being blended into a seamless ensemble patch. The result is a cohesive, rich sound that gives your compositions an authentic brass ensemble without any need for heavy post-processing.
This library is packed with features to customize and shape your sound:
- Dynamics: Adds more attack and punch to the sound, perfect for boosting transient energy.
- Colour: Adjusts the brightness, from soft and warm to a cutting, more intense brass tone.
- Atmosphere: Mixes a processed version of the raw samples, adding an ethereal, pad-like quality for creative use.
- Reverb: Controls the space and stereo width, from intimate to expansive soundscapes.
- Mic Mix: Offers Close, Mid, and Far microphone positions, allowing precise control over the depth and focus of the brass section.
- Dynamic Range: Adjusts how much your MIDI velocity affects the overall volume, giving you more expressive control.
- Attack & Release: Fine-tunes note transitions, from soft entrances to sharp exits.
What makes Gentle Brass stand out in Fracture Sounds’ Blueprint series is not just its stunning realism but also its flexibility. You don’t have to hide it within layers of other instruments to make it sound authentic. Gentle Brass holds its own beautifully in any mix.
Blueprint series also features a free Drum Kit and Strings that can greatly help your productions.
In terms of specs, the library offers a modest 900MB download size (compressed from a 1.5GB sample pool) and works seamlessly with Kontakt Player 7 and higher. It also comes with full NKS support, making it ideal for those using Komplete Kontrol hardware.
Before going to the key features you also look into this preview available on Soundcloud –
Key Features:
- Full ensemble with Euphonium, Tenor Horn, Flugelhorn, Cornet, and Soprano Cornet.
- Atmosphere Layer adds creative possibilities for evolving soundscapes.
- Three microphone positions (Close, Mid, and Far) allow for customizable sound depth.
- Easy-to-use interface with advanced sound-shaping tools.
- Full NKS support for seamless integration with Komplete Kontrol hardware.
- Works in Kontakt Player 7 and higher. No additional sampler software required.
Gentle Brass not only meets but exceeds the expectations set by its predecessors in the Blueprint series. If you’re looking for an expressive, realistic brass library that doesn’t need to be buried in the mix, this might be the best option out there.
You can download Blueprint: Gentle Brass for free here.
