Vista II – Brass I

OVERVIEW

Vista II – Brass I is an upcoming module from Vista II, featuring a swath of brass ensembles and soloists employing newly-developed performance sampling approaches and lots of dynamic range.

As of May 2026 the library is expanding and is now called Vista II – Brass I (no longer Small Brass Ensembles) as its scope is broadening.

Estimated release is later in Q2 2026.

LOYALTY & INTRO PERIOD

• Special Loyalty Intro Pricing for owners of Vista II – Small String Ensembles Lite or Marshland Lite
• Normal Loyalty Intro Pricing for owners of any other (paid) Vista II module or any (paid) module of Pacific Orchestra (Ensemble Strings, Solo Strings, Brass, Percussion, or Woodwinds)
• Regular Intro Pricing for those who don’t fall into the specific loyalty categories

The library will have an extended intro period so you have time to evaluate whether it’s right for you.

ARTICULATIONS

Phrased Sustains

These are functionally polyphonic sustains but I recorded and programmed them with an advanced process to have the lyricism of legato in terms of moving to and from pitches. They also have same-note repetitions if you hold down the sustain pedal.

These patches actually have a full legato-type delay on them so they breathe like a legato instrument. Polyphonic legato often has a limited delay window. Because of what they are, they don’t really have the “sucking” sound that can happen when you trigger a new interval on a legato instrument. It’s not that they don’t have a subtle pre-note sound to a degree. But I find myself having to be less conscious of “moving parts”-esque timbral anomalies than I would on a legato instrument. It certainly requires getting used to, but I found it intuitive once I knew what to expect.

I’ve gone on the record saying that they’re not a replacement for legato, but I will also say that I have recorded brass legatos on multiple occasions and these are far more musical and engaging to play.

Phrased Marcatos

A more recently developed approach I have to marcatos involving moving from another pitch (similar to my phrased sustains approach). There are multiple speeds of of releases which allow short-note playing as well based on playing speed. This approach has evolved since Pacific Brass.

Phrased Flutter Tongues

Flutter tongue sustains with the “phrased sustain” approach for the attacks. They sound more part of a phrase. I know, it’s flutter tongues, but I thought it would be interesting to try.

Playable Trills

Experimental patches designed to approximate fast playable trills on brass when you play rapidly between two notes. These patches need to be played in context otherwise they can start to sound weird, which makes sense in a way because it’s an indistinct, blurred element for specific use.

Portatos

Available for some of the instruments. Long and medium have release control.

Dedicated Performance Shorts

Performance-sourced shorts patches.

SOLOISTS

You shouldn’t notice overt phasing on these (click for a solo trumpet example). Multiple dynamics recorded (four). I’m using an advanced external process to avoid phasing while preserving intricacies and particular character in the lower dynamics that would be masked by traditional EQ modeling. No broad-stroke filters here.

DYNAMICS

Up to nine dynamics (on the Four Horns phrased sustains), but generally 5-7 dynamics. Four were recorded for the soloists in most cases. Dynamics go down to a subjective ppp on some patches.

With brass sampling, the f-fff region can be challenging because there’s a particular area where it starts to get an edge but hasn’t quite broached cuivré. I find that retaining session continuity with that dynamic area can be tricky.

That said, I made a intentional effort to hone in that area with this library so that it doesn’t move into fff unnaturally.

SUMMARY

This is not a “lite” library. While not fully comprehensive, it’s a meaningful step in the Vista II journey and has use cases both in the sketching and final production stage. There are a general points to consider that make this release worth looking closer at:

• This library reflects my most recent discoveries and techniques in performance sampling, here in the context of brass, which some of these techniques (like the phrased sustain approach) work particularly well for.
• The phrased sustains are probably some of the most fun I’ve had up to this point playing a virtual instrument. It’s an interesting experience playing a lyrical patch which sounds legato-esque but is actually polyphonic too, without some of the typical constraints of traditional polyphonic legato.
• The soloist patches are something I added in later, but they have ended up being another highlight.
• Sound-wise, this slots right in with the rest of the Vista II modules (and Marshland Lite which is recorded in the same room). Here is a short speedwrite I did with exclusively this brass library, the upcoming v2 free content update for Vista II – Small String Ensembles Lite, and the upcoming Vista II – Small Woodwind Ensembles. Here’s another one with the same line-up, except also a few odds and ends from other upcoming Vista II releases. There are dry versions at the end of each video so you can hear the libraries without external reverb.

SPECIFICATIONS (NON-FINAL)

Newly-recorded additions as of early May 2026 are in red

• Articulations
  • High Brass Ens. (Mixed Ens. – C Trumpet, French Horn, and Tenor Bone)
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
    • Phrased Flutter Tongues
    • Playable Trills
    • Dedicated Performance Shorts
    • Portatos
      • Long
      • Medium
      • Short
  • Low Brass Ens. A (Mixed Ens. – Bass Trombone and Cimbasso)
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
    • Phrased Flutter Tongues
    • Dedicated Performance Shorts
    • Portatos
      • Long
      • Medium
      • Short
  • Low Brass Ens. B (Mixed Ens. – Contrabass Trombone and Cimbasso)
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Bonus “mellow” Phrased Sustains (different recordings) which are softer-dynamic biased
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
    • Phrased Flutter Tongues
    • Dedicated Performance Shorts
    • Bonus Short Phrased Marcatos (unlooped)
  • Two Horn Ens. (a2)
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
    • Phrased Flutter Tongues
    • Playable Trills
  • Solo C Trumpet
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
  • Solo Bb Trumpet
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
  • Solo French Horn
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
  • Solo Tenor Bone
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
  • Solo Tuba
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
    • Phrased Marcatos with multiple release speeds including fast phrasing for short notes (based on note length)
  • Four Horn Ens. (a4)
    • Phrased Sustains with same-note reps
• Recorded in a hall with close, section, decca, outrigger, and ambient mics
• 48kHz / 24bit
• Built for Kontakt 6.8.0 and above – full, retail version of Kontakt required
• Download via Continuata

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All details and/or pricing subject to change, at any time, for any reason, in Performance Samples LLC’s sole discretion, in each instance. Qualification for loyalty pricing subject to verification by Performance Samples LLC, in each instance.

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