Session Horns Funk - A whole new batch of RAW and FLAVORFUL brass!

With all these big sales happening, I couldn't help but humor the idea of upgrading from Session Horns to Session Horns Pro. That was until I realized why I wasn't keen on Session Horns back in the day...

Session Horns sounds cheesy... kind of lame...

I'm sure it works for people trying to do some Marvel vs Capcom corny electric horns music, but I want something that feels like I'm in the action of actual brass players who are cutting through each note with flavor and not the compromise that was made by a game composer who said "eh, I could probably fudge this and the game devs won't mind. It's just a video game." I imagine a LOT of work was put into this, but I just don't see any good examples of session horns being used besides the corny stuff and that one muted trumpet solo.

I like things that are funky, and Session Horns Pro is not that.

Yes, a lot of that can come down to how you arrange your instruments, but with all of the people out there, NI examples included, failing to deliver on the energy of what I would be hearing in a blaxploitation movie bugs me. A lot of funk relies on guitar, bass, and drums, but the brass and even woodwind can play a major part. Maybe there is someone out there who has cracked the code, but I don't see it popping up anywhere. Someone has to have something better.

Though what if we had actual funk musicians help Native Instruments?

Yes! NI should get pros to come in and just lay down all their knowledge on what it would need to sound like. Though I imagine the reason no one has done this yet is because funk players know that if their sound can be done without them... well... I'm sure you know they wouldn't dig it.

This is wishful thinking, but Native Instruments should introduce Session Horns Funk!

 

In the meantime, you could check this library out:

https://impactsoundworks.com/product/straight-ahead-jazz-horns/


Yeah it's called Jazz Horns, but it can equally well do funk.

 

I just drop a line to second you, +1 for a funk addition! I do pop music, I own Session Horns and rarely used it. Nothing bad in them, just do not fit. I use their Session Strings Pro much more and well satisfied (although a recently purchased a violin solo, lacking there).

 

Going to bump this up again because I don't see any indication anything new has been done. Again, it's swell if someone is going for that corny mini horn sound or orchestral brass sound, but I need some horns that feel like they have edge. I don't have a ton of money for actual musicians, and my lips don't have the chops for trumpet to get that punchy high notes just right.

If memory serves correct, there were features in DAMAGE where you could adjust the tone of the sound being played. Curious if this could be done for session horns too. Maybe add some gruff to the horns or something to give more texture besides tape sounds.

Maybe some of this can be fixed by isolating the horns and applying different effects, but I rather not go through the pain of setting up one horn with different rigs of effects just to make it feel raw. I most likely will, but there has to be a better way. Also, to get an update without buying something new unless the update is truly something worth it. Again, session horns could use improvements. I think NI has made enough "cinematic" packs to last people for decades, but nothing funky.

 

Have you looked at Big Fish Audio's Vintage Horns?

https://www.bigfishaudio.com/Vintage-Horns

https://www.bigfishaudio.com/detail.html?532310

 

I am not sure what to you is the essence of funk. Also, have you tried? Post an example, maybe we can work on maximizing the impact of what is there together. With staccato articulations and pitch bend falls together with the note repeat function and the chords section in Maschine I have had session horns pro play in a jam along to other stuff with the press of two buttons that I found quite funky.

Also, if you add one or two modelled instruments like the free Chet Singer Instruments in the Reaktor user library, you can have the main section stay together and add one or two players with a more lively attitude