Brass has always had a way of commanding attention in music. The sound is unmistakable whether it’s the triumphant swell of an orchestral score, the punchy horns in a hip-hop track, or the cinematic brass stabs that dominate trailer music.
But if you’ve ever worked with traditional brass sample libraries, you know they can sometimes feel… limited.
You either get ultra realistic orchestral sounds that struggle to fit modern genres or synthetic brass that lacks the warmth and depth of the real thing.
What is Augmented BRASS?
At its core, Augmented BRASS is a hybrid instrument that blends orchestral brass recordings with powerful synthesis engines.
Arturia took high quality samples of actual brass performances; think trumpets, trombones, tubas, and complete ensembles, and combined them with multiple synthesis types, including
- Virtual Analog – Classic synth brass with warmth and character.
- Granular – Chopped and stretched brass for atmospheric textures.
- Wavetable – Modern, evolving brass sounds perfect for electronic music.
- Harmonic – Additive synthesis for rich, layered tones.
The result? A brass library that can deliver anything from traditional orchestral swells to experimental, processed brass sounds that feel right at home in Hiphop, film scores, and Epic Soundtracks.
Augmented BRASS lets you blend organic and synthetic elements together in ways that aren’t possible with standard sample based libraries.
That means you can go from pure orchestral brass to futuristic, distorted horn stabs with just a few tweaks.
It’s all about control, customization, and creativity. Here are the standout features that set it apart.
Hybrid Sound Engine – Real Brass Meets Synthesis
One of the best things about Augmented BRASS is its A/B layer system, which gives you complete control over blending acoustic and synthetic brass. Instead of just stacking sounds, you can mix and morph two layers, each with a sample-based brass engine and a synthesizer engine.
Layer A can hold a realistic brass section, while Layer B adds a processed, synthesized twist using analog, wavetable, granular, harmonic, or simpler synthesis. You can set up sample + synth on both layers or dedicate one entirely to synthesis and the other to recorded brass.
Each layer has its own filter section, taken from Arturia’s Pigments, which we all know is ear candy. Whether you want classic brass, cinematic textures, or experimental hybrids, the A/B layer system makes it easy to blend, tweak, and evolve sounds without limits.
Morph Control – The Standout Feature for Blending Sounds
At the heart of Augmented BRASS is the Morph knob. This lets you seamlessly transition between acoustic brass and synthesized layers, creating a dynamic and evolving sound in real time. Want a pure, orchestral brass section?
Dial it back a tad.
Need something more processed and futuristic? Push it forward. It’s an easy way to transform a traditional brass sound into something unique without needing multiple layers and plugins crowding the channel strip.
This makes it perfect for cinematic music, electronic production, and experimental sound design.
Deep Sound Customization & Modulation
If you love tweaking sounds, Augmented BRASS gives you full control over every element. You can shape your brass tones using:
- ADSR Envelope – Control how the sound starts, sustains, and fades.
- Filters – Sculpt the tone with high-pass, low-pass, and band-pass filters.
- LFOs & Modulation – Add movement and character to your sounds.
- Expression Controls – Adjust velocity and dynamics for realistic performance articulation.
Built-in Effects for Instant Mix-Ready Brass
You don’t need extra plugins to make Augmented BRASS shine in a mix. It comes with built-in effects to help shape and enhance your sound:
- Reverb & Delay – This is for adding space and depth.
- Distortion & Saturation – Perfect for aggressive, gritty brass sounds.
- Chorus & Modulation Effects – Great for adding width and texture.
Friendly Interface for Fast Workflow
Arturia designed Augmented BRASS with producers and composers in mind. Instead of digging through endless menus, the interface is clean and intuitive and lets you quickly tweak your sound without breaking your creative flow.
Presets are categorized for easy access, so whether you need something cinematic, experimental, or straight-up powerful, you’ll find it fast.
Whether scoring a film, producing beats, or designing unique textures, Augmented BRASS adapts to your workflow. Unlike traditional brass libraries that lock you into a specific genre or style, this plugin allows you to experiment and customize.
For Hip-Hop & Trap Producers – Brass That Hits Hard
Brass has been a staple in hip-hop and trap production for years; think about those bold, punchy horn stabs that define the genre. Augmented BRASS makes it easy to
- Dial in aggressive, hard-hitting brass for beats.
- Use distortion and saturation to make your brass sound gritty and aggressive.
- Blend orchestral and synthetic brass for a fuller, layered sound.
For Electronic & EDM Sound Design – Unique Textures & Leads
Electronic music thrives on unexpected sounds, and Augmented BRASS can help you break away from the usual synth presets. Try it for:
- Layering brass with synth pads to create a hybrid orchestral-electronic vibe.
- Processing brass through filters and effects for risers and breakdowns.
- Morphing between brass and wavetables to craft evolving leads and textures.
No plugin is perfect, and while Augmented BRASS offers many advantages, it’s worth weighing its strengths and limitations.
Should You Buy Augmented BRASS?
Let’s break down the strengths and limitations so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your music production setup.
Pros
✔ Hybrid Sound Engine: Combining real brass samples and synthesis makes this engine more flexible than a standard brass library.
✔ Morph Control = Instant Creativity – Quickly blend acoustic and synthetic brass in real-time.
✔ Deep Sound Customization – Full control over filters, modulation, and effects.
✔ Built-in Effects & Processing – Reverb, distortion, delay, and modulation effects included.
✔ Fast Workflow & Intuitive Interface – Easy to tweak sounds without slowing down your production process.
Cons
➖ Not a Replacement for Full Orchestral Brass Libraries – A dedicated orchestral library might be better if you need a good realistic sounding brass sample library.
➖ Learning Curve for Sound Design Features – Some advanced modulation and layering options may take a little time to get used to.
➖ CPU Usage – While Augmented Brass is a good library, it is a little heavy on the CPU. This could be an issue depending on the computer you have.
Conclusion
Augmented BRASS captures the soul of real brass with its seamless blend of acoustic samples and synthesis. It stays true to its purpose, offering cinematic textures, evolving pads, and aggressive stabs with just a few tweaks, perfect for producers who love to experiment.
However, CPU usage can be demanding, so bouncing to audio might be necessary for larger projects. While this could be a limitation, the sound quality makes it worthwhile.
The price is fair, but bundling it with other Augmented instruments may be a better deal depending on when you purchase. We often have the best deals, though (heh).
This Brass library is for anyone who makes music, but especially those who are aspiring film composers, music producers, and ambient sound designers
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