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It depends on your MIDI set up. Most synths have brass presets that sound pretty good.
Some synths allow you to customize and create your own presets. You need to combine the various brass sounds using multi tracks to create a standard brass ensemble. Use generous amounts of chorus and reverb and a little bit of distortion on the sax. Some presets are titled “Brass ensemble” but if you just play chords with that method - it will sound cheesy and not realistic. It’s better to stack individual instrument
tracks one at a time using octaves and not chords. Sometimes 3 saxes and 3 trumpets with different parameters sound very cool when combined on 6 separate tracks. It takes a lot of trial and error but when you create the perfect brass patch, it’s a very useful tool to have when you need it.

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Bryon Tosoff

4/13/2020 4:28:55 PM

I liked using this synth horn thing for years and did many times, although I was told to hire sax or trumpet players as what I provided on some of my tunes was "cheesy" LOL , so On the advice of this engineer recording guy, I started doing that and there is nothing like it

Although I have to say, there are some pretty amazing synths that sure come close, if you are looking for like a horn section thing, you can get away with it as long as you follow the advise Richard Scotti gave, that will give the closest realistic horn shots or horn sections

I stay away from imitating horns on synths these days cause I have one of the best players around here and he provides some stellar works for some of the tunes I have done

I like Richards advice though, stack your synth horn shots sections and do individually, that is some "sound" advice

cheers

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Richard Scotti

4/13/2020 5:10:09 PM ---- Updated 4/13/2020 5:11:33 PM

I agree with Bryon that there ain’t nothin’ like the real thing. I’ve always loved working with brass players and string players. They learn really quickly and they are true team players. But sadly, their services are not always affordable unless you have a record company paying the bills. Fortunately technology has provided some good simulations especially when samplers are used to sample the actual sound of the instrument. Still, nothing can accurately replace the human feel in music.

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Bryon Tosoff

4/13/2020 6:42:05 PM

Yeah, I have had Paul I think on 10-11 songs, or more, one album Kick Back Just Relax, this was the one 4 years ago my brother said to get some actual horn sections sax parts down on, no question, huge difference. I remember Stoneman saying the same thing to me on one of my songs that it be better with a real sax or horn section, so with Stoneman and my brother saying that, it was go time to the real thing

good luck on your song, nothing like fat jacked out horn sections

bryon

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Paul groover

4/14/2020 1:06:41 AM

I use NI Kontakt to play brass parts. I did a song with Dick Aven where the only real brass part was his saxophone.

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Stoneman

4/14/2020 1:46:53 PM

Being a horn player. I prefer the real thing. Although I have from time to time used the mouth piece in my Yamaha, even that pales in comparison to me playing my real trumpet or sax. It least it give the inflextions of air being manipukated manually in the horn. But, if you don't have that as an option. the next best thing would be samples of real horns played in the key of your song. You would still do better by using Rex 2 files as their tempos are much easier to manipulate. You can even achieve automated key changes if you are using Reason. Its a bit complicated but it can be done. I find the timber of the horn to be the most beautiful sound to the ear. Sax was my first instrument and I loved it from day one when I was a kid. One of the few instruments that came easy to me to learn. Of course, being a self taught musician, I do everything wrong (according the experts when they see me play) but they always say that despite my bad techniques. It sounds good. When it comes to horn backings, you have to think like a vocal quartet. Those horn harmonies have to ring out sharp and clear. Any signal not in step will stand out like a soar thumb. The key to good horn arrangements is trial and error. Find what sounds good and replicate it as best you can. Most people won't know that it is a keyboard as most listeners have untrained ears and cannot tell the difference.

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Larree

4/15/2020 1:55:02 PM

Lyin' Dan nailed it in the first reply. And the same goes for all wind instruments, too. Winds and brass? Breathing is everything. Always try to create natural breathing points as if you are composing the parts for real players. Listen to a ton of Big Band music. Listen to some old BS&T. Tower of Power, baby! Yeah! All that good stuff.

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Larree

4/15/2020 1:58:17 PM

And speaking of Tower of Power... I just found this!

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