Brass by Thenatan Audio is a multi-layered VST instrument for creating thick, cinematic brass stabs and sustained chords, featuring a blendable four-sampler engine and built-in effects.
Purpose
Brass is a virtual instrument designed for producers seeking hard-hitting brass sounds common in trap, hip hop, EDM, and future bass. It avoids the need to sample or synthesize brass from scratch, offering a library of trombones, trumpets, hits, and sustained notes.
The focus is on delivering thick, tight, and authentic brass textures. Whether you need sinister horn stabs for a beat or lush sustained chords for a more melodic track, Brass provides a straightforward way to access these sounds.
Key Capabilities
The core engine combines four samplers, each with its own filters, reverse, pan, gain, and tuning. A central XyXy pad lets you drag to blend between layers, quickly discovering new timbres. You can also bypass layers or manually swap samples for precise control.
The interface includes controls for attack, release, transpose (±24 semitones), pitch bend range, glide, and velocity. A dedicated mixer page allows signal routing and adjustment, with audio waveforms displayed for visual reference. The built-in effects section adds further shaping options.
Workflow
The workflow centers on rapid sound design via the XyXy pad, which blends your own combination of the four samplers. This allows for intuitive exploration, from subtle variations to completely new layered patches. The preset browser, with 85 factory presets, offers starting points that can be tweaked.
Effects are applied per patch to refine the tone. Available processors include drive, delay, reverb, panner, bit crusher, equalizer, NY compressor, and low/high-pass filters. A stereo widener and colorize option add spatial and tonal character. The interface is resizable up to 200% and features animations.
Applications
Brass is suitable for creating sharp trap stabs, classic-sounding trumpet hooks, or sustained cinematic chords. The multiple layers and effects let you build anything from aggressive to smooth brass parts. It fits genres like trap, hip hop, EDM, and future bass.
The built-in effects reduce the need for external processing, allowing you to get a final sound directly from the instrument. The sample library is compressed to keep disk usage low. Knowledge of your host DAW is required for integration, as the plugin works as a standard VST or AU instrument.
Key features
- Four samplers with individual filters, reverse, pan, gain, and tuning
- XyXy pad for blending and browsing layer combinations
- Over 100 samples per layer including trombones, trumpets, hits, and sustained notes
- Built-in effects: tremolo, panner, compressor, 3-band EQ, reverb, delay, bit crusher, saturation, filters, stereo widener
- Transpose control up to ±24 semitones, glide, and velocity response
- 85 factory presets with shareable patch capability
- Resizable HD interface up to 200% with animations
Best for
Best for music producers in trap, hip hop, EDM, and future bass who need quick access to powerful, layered brass stabs and chords without complex sampling. Ideal for sound design and beat-making workflows where speed and expressiveness are key.