Checking Out :Brass Band Soloists by Fracture Sounds
Fracture Sounds‘ Brass Band Soloists brings the soulful, authentic tones of a traditional brass band to your fingertips with stunning realism. With advanced legato, dynamic instrument placement, and flawless performance articulations, this library delivers everything you need for rich, expressive brass arrangements.
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Checking Out: Brass Band Soloists by Fracture Sounds
As someone who spent my high school and college years playing the euphonium, I have a deep appreciation for brass instruments. There’s no shortage of bright, bombastic orchestral brass libraries, but Brass Band Soloists from Fracture Sounds fills a unique niche that had yet to be sampled: the soulful, nuanced sound of brass band instruments.
When I first started exploring the library, I created a demo to get a feel for its capabilities. However, I quickly realized that arranging a hymn or devotional piece would allow me to fully appreciate the library’s tonal range and timbres.
Diving into the solo cornet, I immediately noticed the realism of the legato transitions. The library features both vibrato and non-vibrato legato, and the new Legato Smart Mode from Fracture Sounds is truly impressive. This mode intelligently analyzes incoming notes and automatically selects the appropriate transitions, promising flawless playback without the need for additional MIDI editing. I found the legato transitions to be beautifully smooth, offering incredibly authentic playback. the developer has also included precise offset controls (see official walkthrough video below) so you can retain those beautiful attacks if programing in your midi.
Each instrument in the library offers two sustain articulations—one with vibrato and one without—as well as staccato, and both short and long tenuto. The performance short articulation stood out as something of a magical feature. It anticipates your note lengths as you play, which could eliminate the need for key switching or further MIDI editing to achieve realistic performances.
Fracture Sounds has also introduced a new engine for instrument placement. You have three options: Situ Players, which positions the instruments in their traditional brass band seating arrangement.
Custom Position, allowing you to place the instrument in one of 11 different positions in the room.
Centre Stereo, featuring a separate set of microphones that place the instrument at the center of the soundstage.
This engine also provides control over color, stereo width, and reverb send, allowing for greater flexibility in your mix.
The library offers three microphone positions—close, mid, and far—that you can mix together. I found that the default mic balance was near perfect right out of the box, providing a rich, well-rounded sound. Additionally, the classic legato mode seems to utilize playback speed to intelligently select transitions, adding to the overall realism.
The Colo Flugel Horn offers warm, responsive playback, with short notes that ring out with a credible brassiness. The Euphonium in particular is a standout for me—its sweet, sentimental tone shines through with just a few notes. The sustains stack up beautifully, offering a warm glow without being overly “splatty,” and the shorts feel natural and authentic. Turning off the reverb and soloing the close mic, I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and close the actual samples are.
The Soprano Cornet legato is another highlight. It has a sassy, playful transition that perfectly captures the essence of a proper English brass ensemble. The shorts hit with just the right amount of “splat”—not overhyped, but natural and credible. Moving the instrument around the room noticeably changes the sound, giving even more control when blending it into an orchestral template.
Fracture Sounds has truly created something special with Brass Band Soloists. The performance articulations, new Smart Mode, and instrument placement engine provide unparalleled control and realism, making this library a valuable addition to any composer’s toolkit. Whether you’re crafting a traditional brass band arrangement or blending these instruments into an orchestral template, Brass Band Soloists delivers rich, authentic performances with minimal effort.
Brass Band Soloists normally sells for $169 from Fracture Sounds
Facts
Downloads as 25GB
4 Brass Band Soloists
Soprano Cornet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, Tenor Horn, and Euphonium
3 Microphone Signals (Close, Room, Far)
Advanced legato performance engine
Instrument Placement (In Situ, Custom Position, and Stereo Centre)
Runs in the free Kontakt Player v6.7+
NKS Compatible
Normally sells for $169.00
Special intro price $129.00
Brass Band Soloists normally sells for $169 from Fracture Sounds
