Crocus Soundware – Liminal Zephyrian Brass (KONTAKT)

Introducing Liminal: Zephyrian Brass – a library of trumpet, trombone and valve trombone samples, recorded in great detail. The library is based on aleatoric, sustained and evolving sounds, where each sample is filled with character and movement thanks to live performance.

The library covers the entire dynamic range of the instruments, revealing their hidden tonal nuances. Of particular note are the so-called “whisper tones” – a complex technique in which the performer uses controlled breathing to produce a sound when the instrument is barely resonating. This creates a fragile sound, balancing between breath and a certain pitch, giving the instrument a warm, airy timbre typical of reed instruments.

The sound was recorded using large-diaphragm condenser microphones positioned a few centimeters from the instrument’s bells. This allowed us to capture the smallest details in the samples. The library is great for adding unpredictability and creative perfection. The LIMINAL line is not specifically designed for fast passages or soaring melodies. Instead, you can think of the libraries as collections of naturalistic pads offering humanistic details that are not found in synthetic sources.

The user interface allows you to layer, mix and reverse articulations. The Crossfade Gizmo allows you to cleverly blend layers of sound using intuitive color controls. You can also enable LFO controls, allowing your DAW’s tempo to determine the volume modulation of an individual layer. This opens up the possibility of tempo-synced fade-ins and opens up even more creative possibilities for texture development.

List of Articulations

• Whisper Tone Sustains
• Whisper Tone Shorts
• Crescendos from Whisper Tone to Loud Dynamic
• Vibrato Sustains Mid Dynamics
• Crescendos from Moderate to Loud Dynamic
• Forte Piano
• Clustered Crescendo Staccatos
• Clustered Crescendo Shorts
• Trills with Swelling Dynamics • Muted Sustains •
  Muted
  Crescendos •
  Short Bursting Swells
• Includes sample sets of both ensemble and solo performances.
• 12 Core Articulations
• Dozens of Snapshot Presets