Synth Trumpet
This is a version of an 80’s style ‘synth brass.’ It uses multiple oscillators to create a brass ensemble effect.
1: Use sawtooth waves.
2: Tune the oscillators to avoid beating, and have a slow chorusing effect.
3: ENV-B rise time is controlled by MIDI velocity. Louder notes have a faster attack. Softer notes have a slower attack.
In real brass instruments, blowing harder establishes a brighter sound more quickly because the higher energy brings out the harmonics faster, while softer playing results in a gentler, gradual build in brightness.
4: Patch ENV-A to filter FM1, and sum it with ENV-B. This gives the AMP envelope a bump on loud notes.
Further Reading
Gordon Reid delves into the fundamentals of synthesizing wind instruments, explaining the similarities between vibrating strings and air columns in pipes, and how to recreate them.
Synthesizing Brass Instruments
Explains the principles of synthesizing brass instruments, using subtractive synthesis to recreate realistic trumpet-like sounds.
Roland SH101 & ARP Axxe Brass Synthesis
How to synthesize brass sounds on simple monosynths like the Roland SH101 and ARP Axxe by adapting idealized brass patches to suit their more limited capabilities.
Gordon Reid demonstrates how to create brass patches on the Minimoog.
A YouTube video where Steve Porcaro demonstrates how to synthesize a synth brass lead by focusing on shaping the attack using sharp, transient "blip" envelopes on one oscillator.