Recording Brass From A Keyboard

  • Thread starter Thread starter enuff1
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enuff1

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I have a ? I am using the "Tascam 414MK II" I would like to add Horns, Trumpets & Saxophones, from a Yamaha Keyboard. My question is when using horns from a Keyboard, do I play an Octive higher, or do I stay is the same Octive? Thank you for any Help! Ps: I would like the horns, to sound as real as Possible... Thanks For any help!!!
 
Any synthisized sounds are only going to sound as good as the module that generates them. Some modules are better than others.
There are things that you can do to help add to the authenticity of the "instrument".
Playing the instrument in the correct range is probably the biggest thing you can do to achieve that.
For instance, you wouldn't play a concert flute at A2, even if your keyboard "allowed" you to do so.
The instrument simply doesn't have that range. That may sound obvious, but it can be easy to go beyond the range of a synthesized instrument on a keyboard.

Also keep in mind that instruments like sax and trumpet are transposed instruments. Alto Saxophone, for instance, sounds a major sixth below the written key. That is to say that when you play a "C" note on sax, it sounds like an Eb belolw C. So to maintain the authenticity of the instrument, you need to transpose your arrangement for the instrument.

Here's a helpful link for the ranges of many instruments.
http://music-arrangers.com/instruments/allfront.gif
 
Yo I of Enuff:

I still use my Yamaha DX-7 synth and have done horns many times.

Sometimes it depends on what key you are doing the tune in. But, as a rule, you don't want to go too low or too high with, say, a trumpet. Saxophone, I found, is easier to do.

If your patch for trumpet is dry, you may want to add some reverb to the horn. As stated in another reply, it depends how good your sound modules or patches are. Some patches have reverb built in so you don't need to add it.

Experiment and, except for some special effect you want, stay in a reasonable range for whatever horn you use.

By the way, I found my flute patches to be very good and I only added a touch of reverb when mixing down.

Green Hornet:D :D :cool:
 
THANKS!

Thanks everyone, for the info. That was very helpful!!!
 
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