How to write for brass section | Easy method fanfare

[@ComboVeracruzOrquesta]

Awesome! Thank you so much! Please, more videos like this in studio one with every orchestral section and hybrid score whit synths.

[@kouadioangebasile8530]

THE BEST BRASS MASTERCLASS IN THE WORLD

[@MikeBreidegamMusic]

FYI - I love these short videos, as they are easily digestible and can watch while eating. Great when too busy to sit and watch the longer stuff.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you so much Mike!

[@krey_ton]

Woah, I am amazed, how well you showed in the video to make music for a brass section!

[@woodywoodwoodiii]

Thank you, Alex. I needed to write a brass fanfare for a backing track for a beginner violin book! Nothing was happening in a good way until I watched your video. 30 minutes later. Fanfare finished. Cant thank you enough! Sometimes you just need to watch someone else work.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Hey Paul, ha! Great to hear, thank you so much for your comment!

[@rdru2ner82]

I'm serious man. You don't know how you blow my mind.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Haha thank you, great to hear that! :)

[@rdru2ner82]

@@AlexPfeffer thank you 🙏🏾 again. Maybe you are able to make one that explains program Strings the most important section of the orchestra. Breaking down the divisi with different libraries. Plus, using transitions when writing. Just an ideas if any. Thanks again!!!

[@williammcallen387]

Thank you Alex. This is very helpful for me as a beginner. You make it all look so simple.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you so much!

[@Gaby-Lopez]

Excellent, one the best videos

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you!

[@seventearsofhope]

I reallly love the approach with the single note at the beginning and develop it to the final result. I will do this from now. You do this a lot in your streams, very nice. Could you do a similiar video with choirs? Thank you so much Alex!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you, noted down! :)

[@aionadevilsadvocate5845]

@@AlexPfeffer This one note technique really sings to me, I can't believe I've not thought to do that, feels like a major mental block is removed. What a treat to find this video.

[@MikeBreidegamMusic]

Nice quick tutorial. What a great methodology for doing a fanfare. I now know what to look for when EQ’ing. Very helpful. Amazing how from that single note line, which sounded not that good morphed into a fantastic and realistic sounding fanfare in like 15 minutes.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you so much again, Mike! I really appreciate!

[@fabriziomilcent3835]

Thank you very much for this video, I needed help writing a fanfare for an “overture” I’m working, this was very inspirational.

[@wardy2783]

thanks for these tips Alex....I love how simple you made it all look...cheers

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you so much!

[@mphonie7324]

Ein Mega-Video. Kurz, knackig und alles schön auf den Punkt gebracht : Das Arrangement, die Erklärung ... und das beste zum Schluss - Das Aufräumen mittels EQ. Ein fetter Daumen nach oben ! Bitte mehr davon. Vielleicht auch für Strings und Woodwinds !

[@AlexPfeffer]

Danke Dir! Ist auf jeden Fall notiert! :)

[@daniellanz1769]

very good video - I love the single note approach to get startet👍 did this much too complicated till now 😀

[@rene-pedersen-music]

I have been wanting to write something inspired by Star Wars recently and this will definitely be helpful for that. Thank you Alex! :)

[@MrTobiBase]

That would bei great :)

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you so much!

[@ArkturusMusic]

Noticing your channel growing by the day, absolutely deserved given all the tutorials you're putting out recently, definitely helping a lot of us!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Much appreciated! Thank you so much! Also time for a next meetup! :) Will write you soon!

[@eugenio_tech]

Hi there, tnx for this video! Do you plan to create videos about mixing sections or entire orchestra?)

[@AlexPfeffer]

Yes! 😊

[@eross21]

thanks for this video. it was extremely helpful, and already helped me write a better brass part.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Awesome, thank you, Eric!

[@rdru2ner82]

Awesome video please make 100 more for each section of the orchestra

[@isaachernandez7619]

Great video very easy to understand. Would love to see a similar video but with strings. Thanks Alex !!!!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thanks Isaac, I recently did one with string arps

[@oliveiraoliveira6035]

amazing creating process. i always wonder myself what were the "criteria" to start some piece like that

[@meenashamaly]

Always enjoyed your videos over the years, and I’m really enjoying your current output even more. Every now and then I’ll still put on that old Albion video from like 2011, cause it’s still really enjoyable 😁

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thanks so much man! :)

[@fabiobadano-bad-composer5075]

CC automations for dynamics effects, to humanize the midi part and the right Reverb are the key for realistic mock-up! (Good orchestration too 😂) Thanks for this tutorials!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thanks Fabio!!

[@davidwalker1652]

Nice tutorial, and appreciated the mixing/EQ at the end. Thanks! (Minor nitpick: it's "fan-fair", not "fan-far-ay"!)

[@AlexPfeffer]

Hahah thank you David! I am nitpicker when it comes to the right expression, so I totally appreciate! :D

[@KevinKuschel]

Thanks for this quick cool tutorial :) Your modwheel control is on point... *gasp* *cries*

[@AlexPfeffer]

Haha, thank you so much!

[@UkeJamUK]

This is a great video, thanks, and lovely seeing this in Studio One

[@AlexPfeffer]

Glad you like it! Thank you!

[@Fab-lv1gj]

Very useful as always ! Thanks a lot Alex !

[@AlexPfeffer]

You're welcome! Thank you!

[@lukailicmusic]

Thanks Alex, very useful to see how you try out different chord combinations! And also the brass EQ-ing workflow is very helpful to me. I use Nucleus and it seems to me the brass has too little warmness and bottom end (sounds a bit sharp and thin). I always boost those freqs but I feel like I'm doing something wrong?

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you so much! Hm, bit difficult to say it like this. But Nucleus too little warmness and bottom end?

[@lukailicmusic]

@@AlexPfeffer Actually it's a problem with my mixing, never mind. Compensating something else with brass EQ created an uneven brass sound. Listening to fresh separate patches, they do have a normal and balanced frequency spectrum. :)

[@psunie]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you very much

[@cuzzimusic]

Nice video ❤ Please what eq was that you used?

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thanks! The Slate Infinity EQ. In the end it doesn't matter, it's just a simple nice wide cut :)

[@markelvinstudio]

Quick, easy to follow advice. Fanfare very "Royal" sounding, a pageant!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you Mark!

[@Emmanuel-Jacob]

Actually I preferred the sound with the EQ off... It had a better "body" as a Brass Section, or you needed a low freq Brass like Tuba / Cimbasso / Bass Trombone. Also, you could use some staccato articulations for the shorts that could help the overall feeling of "humanize" configuration.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you, yes as said in the video it doesn't make that much sense with just three instruments but more within a full mix to create more space. Technically you could go on and show hundred of more things what you can do and how to build a fanfare ... I had to draw a line somewhere :)

[@Emmanuel-Jacob]

@@AlexPfeffer No argue, just draw the line a little more further... Like 3 more minutes? :D Good job though trying to help people. :)

[@AlexPfeffer]

@@Emmanuel-Jacob Hahaha, ok, ... check by on the live streams, we always try to draw a line and it takes 30 more minutes ... every 30 minutes, haha! :D

[@jackslayers]

wow..... no more word i could say......

[@johnnydayzstudios2208]

I watched your Skyrim style writing video. It was great. I'd like to see how you plan out each song, or if you just go from section to section. I see trailers have clearly define sections, but struggle how to develop my pieces. past an intro and maybe section A. Thanks in advance!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you, we will definitely take care of more trailer music! :)

[@kouadioangebasile8530]

Alex a lot of woodwind

[@michaelschullermusic]

Nice Tutorial! Did you write with keyswitches? Or is Caspian Smart Enough to swap between Stac/Legs?

[@markelvinstudio]

I think Caspian switches articulations, possibly using velocity and / or length of time key is pressed.

[@AlexPfeffer]

There is no switch going on, it is just a melt of marcato/sustain samples with a specific level of attack, depending on how to generally set the modwheel and the velos.

[@omarirm]

Thank you very much for the tutorial. I saw that you recorded automations to the instruments that you uploaded to Kontakt. Could you make a tutorial on how to record the expression and dynamics automations in studio one using a external controller? How do you make the name of the notes written in the midi of the piano roll appear? Thanks

[@AlexPfeffer]

As soon as you zoom in you see the notes. What Midi controller do you got on your mind? I am asking because almost every Midi keyboard on default records dynamics with the modwheel and it's always cc01.

[@omarirm]

@@AlexPfeffer Thanks! I have the novation launchkey 49, but I don't know how to record the dynamics in studio one, I mean, I move the moodwheel and I see that the dynamics move, but nothing is recorded. I don't know what procedure to do in the software (on the technical side).

[@AlexPfeffer]

@@omarirm I think you may want to read the manual of your keyboard or some instructional video :) ... basically your Launchkey has a pitch and a modwheel and this will ALWAYS be recorded into Studio One no. Unless you got it deactivated later. Once you recorded something with your keyboard (and also moved the modwheel) you should see a controller lane below the piano roll. Set it to velocity or modulation or pitch and there are your recorded controllers. If not, you may have a filter in your keyboard settings. Anyway, there are TONS of tut videos on how to set up a MIDI keyboard. It will probably only take you 5 mins to check one out and locate the problem :)

[@The_Rock_That_Floats]

I knew I recognised this from somewhere.. I was just checking out Junkie XL Brass and listened to your demo track ;)

[@christopherdoucet4112]

Wow, this was awesome! Do you have something similar for winds and strings?

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you so much, no not yet.

[@ricgus3]

Great video as always! Would Love to see what "free master/mix" plugin you would recommend. :)

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you Rickard, to be honest when you have a DAW you got tons of high quality plugins with you. There is no need in my opinion to find additional free stuff.

[@ricgus3]

@@AlexPfeffer thank you! Ye I am using reaper but recently swapped the stock EQ for the TDR slick EQ just to train my ear and not look at the EQ graph. but you are right! The stocks are just fine! Do you feel the same for reverb also?

[@soundtreks]

Nice vid Alex. Not sure you’ve checked out the Macros in Studio One but I love using the interval doubler marco to build chords.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Hey David, yes, thanks, that one rocks! :)

[@soundtreks]

@@AlexPfeffer are you still using Studio One or back to Cubase btw?

[@AlexPfeffer]

@@soundtreks I am using both but fully going Studio One once the video engine has improved.

[@3drenders_]

very good!!! thank you

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you!

[@hitfactory2009]

Trial and error? ... nice concept!

[@sourcefor]

Hey Alex, What is your keyboard controller , Thanks!

[@AlexPfeffer]

It's a NI A61

[@eross21]

in next video can you show how you use counterpoint with between instruments to create deeper more interesting tracks. ? thanks again for sharing these videos. they are really helpful at teaching a lot of aspiring composers, the little tricks and tips a composer uses everyday.

[@AlexPfeffer]

Ok thank you, noted down! :)

[@d_lydian]

Danke für dein super Turorial Alex! Welche Brass Library empfiehlst du gerade? Thx

[@AlexPfeffer]

Hey, sehr gerne. Da gibt es so einige. Cinematic Studio Brass für knackigen Studio Sound. JXL Brass für epische Sachen (kann aber auch leise) und die Sachen von Performance Samples (Angry Brass und Caspian) für die intuitive Benutzung.

[@dafingaz]

Nice as always!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thanks man! :)

[@pjdahmen]

Very good tutorial today

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thanks Paul!

[@MrMovie135]

wow you are so good

[@medvidlatifi4579]

Thank you so much. it's really useful. if it possible make a video about woodwinds please. Be safe

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you! Will see what I can do :)

[@pedronataniel3151]

Hey Alex, I liked your Video very much. It inspired me and gave me the push I was needing for my projects. Would you make something similar for a Salsa Brass session? It would be FANTASTIC!

[@AlexPfeffer]

Salsa? I have no clue of how to write Salsa at all :d

[@pedronataniel3151]

@@AlexPfeffer Thanks for taking the time to answer!

[@pjordanmusic]

Great video! New sub

[@AlexPfeffer]

Much appreciated, thank you Paul!

[@mohsenjam8062]

Great 👍🏻

[@qtippz]

2:05 A-MINOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

[@CarloFilingeriMusic]

Great stuff! How were you 'painting' the CC? It looked very fast. Were you just using the mouse to draw it in after hitting the DAW record button? Or do you have a hardware fader or knob from a MIDI keyboard or console?

[@AlexPfeffer]

Thank you! I used the ModWheel on my keyboard!

[@CarloFilingeriMusic]

@@AlexPfeffer Thanks I will try doing that too! I've just been doing it by hand with mouse lol

[@rumar4u]

Hi Alex, have you tried the SWAM libraries, which aren't sampled but modeled libraries and have extremely awesome brass

[@AlexPfeffer]

Nope, not yet

[@dezinerAhmad]

What were you Using to write the Automation....

[@AlexPfeffer]

My modwheel (CC01)

[@TemmeSikkema]

Great one again Alex. On a roll. Do a Spitfire Audio library comparison / composition thing next and post it tomorrow in all the VI-C summer sales threads (there must be at least three active ones right now) and push for 8, 9 hell 10k subs by the end of last week ;-)

[@AlexPfeffer]

Haha, that sounds great but I don't feel like spending a few grand only to get on 10k subs. Besides BBCSO I don't own any other strings or brass libs (except some old Sable and Albion libs)

[@TemmeSikkema]

Alex Pfeffer Nothing wrong with doing something with the old stuff. Call it “I fired up my ten year old Spitfire Sable again. Here’s what happened next!?!?!”, lol. No man, gotcha, definitely do not spend money and do it your way! Was just kidding of course ;-)

[@AlexPfeffer]

@@TemmeSikkema Hhahaha, I actually love that! :D

[@winnusjohn]

Please what DAW is this? Spitfire?

[@AlexPfeffer]

The DAW is Studio One. Spitfire doesn't do DAWs.

[@Bguitarney]

It’s neat, and that’s better than 90% of many spectral compositions and George Crumbs of the world. Lol to bad it’s one minute long, and she probably didn’t do anything special I guess, they sure didn’t rush to give this woman any awards or recognition. Sounds better than stupid crap some ppl have spent ten tears writing. It’s a nice sound

[@MarcosSantos-ch8me]

What is The softwere you have ..?

[@AlexPfeffer]

In this video I am working in Studio One

[@PennsylvaniaPanda]

God loves you all and died for you so you could choose to believe in Him and spend eternity with Him by His perfect sacrifice on the cross

[@AlexPfeffer]

He also plays brass!

[@citizenworld8094]

Horns are normally divided into 2. Two for top and two for bottom. Trumpets also often divided. Trombones have a bass trombone as well as the usual tenor. However you use them as one voice and your layering makes the overall sound somewhat heavy and unnatural. Perhaps if you selected one voice and layer them individually it would help.

[@AlexPfeffer]

I don't care what usually people do and how it is been distributed. Yes, it could be that to your ears it sounds heavy and unnatural, but when I compose trailer music I care about hugeness and epicness :) It always depends on the purpose. If we could try to write an orchestral puristic fanfare I would probably record it with a real orchestra :)

[@epicmusictutorials4674]

😎👍👍👍

[@AlexPfeffer]

🙌🙌🙌

[@Neocortex_x]

I would probably not eq every channel, instead eq mix buss for brass. Even that you have done everything I would do, except cutting the low end, it made then sounds not cohesive, separate.

[@AlexPfeffer]

It really depends on the situation, sometimes you want to clean up or get rid of frequencies on the trombones because you want to make space for the horns. Or you want to make space for the trumpets so you get rid of a few french horn frequencies. Doing this on the bus, reduces those frequencies in general.

[@MikeOxmaul4]

V t-shirt i see 😅