How to Create a Classic Brass Vibrato Sound

Saw Brass for Many Genres

In this tutorial we’ll explore
a classic brass vibrato sound that works in many genres.

You can use it for riffs, phrases, backing parts and sustained notes
in many different musical contexts.

Blending in some acoustic brass can also add tonal variety.
Let’s get started.

How to Create the Sound

Questions and Answers from the YouTube Video

How do you make the low sound heard at 0:00 at the start of the video?

It layers sine and triangle waves from a synthesizer and uses pitch bend to bring the pitch down.

Oscillator Settings

Use a harmonically rich saw oscillator.
To thicken the sound, layering oscillators an octave apart, as shown, is also effective.

Under Voicing, add unison and use detuning to offset the pitches.

Vibrato Settings

The vibrato is the central feature of this sound.

• Rate: sets how fast the pitch fluctuates.
• Depth: sets the amount of pitch variation.

Use these two knobs to control the character of the vibrato.

In this example, we assign a Macro Control to Depth
so the vibrato can change during the song.

The vibrato becomes deeper on sustained notes.

You can also vary the filter alongside the vibrato.
Adjust these settings to your taste.

Spatial Effects

Finally, add a little depth with reverb.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which oscillator is a good starting point for brass vibrato?

A saw oscillator is a good choice because it is rich in harmonics. Layering octaves adds thickness, while unison and detuning can make the sound wider and more dimensional.

Q2. What do vibrato Rate and Depth control?

Rate controls the speed of pitch variation, while Depth controls its range. Assign Depth to a macro and adjust or automate it during the song to add expression.

Q3. How can I make the brass sound more natural?

Reverb can add depth. Varying the filter alongside the vibrato can also add expression. Adjust the effects to suit your taste.