At its core, Session Horns Pro is a sample-based virtual instrument built for Kontakt 5/6/7 (or the free Kontakt Player). It focuses on a specific, punchy ensemble sound rather than solo orchestral trumpets.
The library samples a classic "combo" horn section:
Crucially, Session Horns Pro also includes a Solo Trumpet and a Solo Sax, allowing you to switch between tight unisons and separated voicings.
Native Instruments Session Horns Pro is not a perfect emulation of a live brass section—no software can replace the chaotic, breathing energy of three or four jazz musicians in a room. But it is arguably the best practical solution for producers who need authentic, powerful, and flexible horn sections in their music.
Its genius lies in its user experience. By abstracting the complexity of horn arranging into the Smart Chord system, it opens up a world of brass textures to keyboardists, beatmakers, and composers who don't have the time or resources to hire a section. The sound is punchy, clean, and mix-ready. The articulation set covers 90% of what pop, funk, and R&B producers will ever need.
If you produce music in the realms of pop, hip-hop, rock, or electronic music and you have ever thought, "This track needs some horns, but I don't know how to write for them" — Session Horns Pro is your answer. It turns the impossible into the immediate. It’s not just a sample library; it’s a creative partner that lets you play the horn section you hear in your head.
Final Verdict: Highly Recommended for pop, funk, R&B, and hip-hop producers. A worthy addition to Komplete Ultimate. An example of smart software design that prioritizes musicality over technical complexity.
Native Instruments Session Horns Pro is a comprehensive 30 GB contemporary brass library designed for realistic pop, funk, soul, and jazz arrangements. It expands significantly on the standard Session Horns by offering more instruments, deeper sampling, and individual solo patches. Native Instruments Core Specifications Library Size: 30 GB (compressed) / 42.4 GB (uncompressed). Instruments: native instruments session horns pro
10 detailed instruments including three saxophones (alto, tenor, baritone), two trombones (tenor, bass), three trumpets, a tuba, and a flugelhorn. Ensemble Size: Create custom sections of up to six pieces. Articulations:
34 distinct articulations, featuring up to four velocity layers and round robins. or the free Kontakt Player Native Instruments Key Performance Features Smart Voice Split:
Automatically allocates notes in a chord to the correct instruments based on their natural range (e.g., trumpets take the high notes, trombones take the low).
A library of over 200 pre-arranged riffs and phrases that sync to your DAW's tempo and adapt to your chords. Smart Chord:
Generates professional-quality, four-voice horn arrangements using single keys on your keyboard. Legato Mode:
Captures fluid note transitions for more realistic melodic lines. Sound On Sound Sound Sculpting & Effects
The built-in mixer allows for surgical control over each individual instrument in a section, alongside a global master chain: e-instruments Per-Channel: EQ, compression, and sends for reverb and delay. Master Effects: At its core, Session Horns Pro is a
Tape saturation, a low-pass filter, and a specialized "Twang" amp simulation for added grit and character. Sound On Sound User Comparison: Pro vs. Standard Session Horns (Standard) Session Horns Pro Library Size Instruments 4 (Section only) 10 (Section + Solo) Articulations Limited presets 34 (Keyswitchable) Yes (Dedicated patches) Session Horns Pro – contemporary horns | Komplete
Product Overview: Native Instruments Session Horns Pro
Publisher: Native Instruments (produced in collaboration with e-instruments) Format: Kontakt / Kontakt Player Library Current Status: Legacy product (often available via Komplete bundles or as a standalone purchase, but no longer the flagship brass library compared to newer competitors).
Session Horns Pro includes four individually sampled instruments, designed to cover the full spectrum of the standard horn section:
Each instrument was recorded in a dry studio environment (at Native Instruments’ in-house recording facility in Berlin) with multiple dynamic layers and round-robins. The dry signal is crucial: it allows producers to place the horns in any acoustic space using reverb, from a tight 1960s club to a sprawling Hollywood scoring stage.
How does it stack up against the big players?
| Library | Price (approx) | Best For | Weakness | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Session Horns Pro | $199 | Pop, Funk, Smart Voice Split | Not for solo jazz ballad | | SWAM Horns | $400+ | Real-time expression (wind controllers) | CPU heavy, no ensemble voicing | | Chris Hein Horns | $450+ | Deep control (micro-details) | Overwhelming UI, dry sound | | Session Horns (Standard) | $99 | Quick stabs, low CPU | No legato, basic articulations | | Straight Ahead Jazz Horns | $179 | Big Band, Swing | Terrible for pop stabs | Crucially, Session Horns Pro also includes a Solo
The Verdict: Session Horns Pro is the best "instant gratification" library. SWAM is more expressive but harder to mix. Chris Hein is more detailed but slower to write with. If you need a horn section today that sounds like a record, buy Session Horns Pro.
This feature is designed for users who are not professional arrangers.
Real horn players never hit every note at exactly 100% volume. Use the MIDI editor to humanize the velocities.
Each section offers:
Keyswitches (default): C0 to G#0 toggle articulations. Check bottom of keyboard in Kontakt.
If you produce pop, hip-hop, funk, or rock and you are tired of anemic synth brass, yes.
Session Horns Pro is not a "session musician in a box"—you still need to write good parts. But it is the best affordable tool for making a laptop sound like a real band is in the room.
Rating: 8.5/10 Best for: Producers who need quick, playable, and convincing horn stabs and lines. Not for: Orchestral composers or those needing solo jazz ballads.
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