Sacha Chabana link between worlds
with Augmented BRASS
For composer & orchestrator Sacha Chaban (Aftermath, Guardians of the Galaxy, Get Out), it's not always about the orchestra - sometimes it's about creating something new. Explore his inspirations, favorite sounds, and colossal compositions featuring Augmented BRASS.
At the highest level
We’re at 1908 Scoring Studios in LA, the creative hub and all-purpose facility for creating media music, founded by award-winning French composer Sacha Chaban.
A passionate musician and composer from a young age, Chaban’s credit list is a reflection of his versatility, knowledge, and deep understanding of film score and instrumental music. Beyond composition, he’s also an accomplished orchestrator and conductor, so he knows his way around orchestral instruments - time to put Augmented BRASS to the test.
Composer, orchestrator, conductor
As both the head of a busy studio and a working musician himself, Chaban’s schedule is busy and his output is prolific. Despite this, he remains committed to uncompromising quality, setting the bar high for himself.
I'm composing about 2, 3, or 4 pieces of music a day. I try to always [aim for] perfection, at the highest level.
To ensure that every track is hard-hitting, emotive, and suited to the media he’s working with, he’s always blurring the line between traditional orchestration and modern instrumentation. Arturia instruments are at the core of his DAW instrument arsenal, blended with strings, brass, percussion, and more for that striking hybrid sound. It’s only natural, therefore, that Augmented BRASS found its way into his hands and onto his scores.
On Augmented BRASS
We sat in on a session with Chaban where he explored some of his sonic highlights, favorite techniques, and musical ideas using Augmented BRASS. Here are some of his thoughts…
In my opinion, it doesn't want to mimic an orchestra. It creates a new sound that's a hybrid between electronic music and live orchestra.
Taking this new sound and combining it with his familiar orchestral instrumentation is, as he points out, crucial in taking his sound into edgier, more impactful territory.
I'm layering it with real instruments to create this hybrid that is truly beautiful, edgy, and big.
Like many producers and creators nowadays, Chaban knows how to get the sounds he wants out of VSTs - but a highlight with Augmented BRASS is how much simpler this seems. Between presets and the macro controls, he notes how effortless it is to find something new.
You can go to the Advanced settings and play with all the usuals, but honestly the presets are so good. Just with certain things like the Motion control, you can really go into a different space.
Augmented: a new way of thinking
The fact that we have this tool now to create a link between those worlds is perfect for me. It really blends everything together.
The Augmented Series instruments try to blur the lines between orchestral and contemporary to create something new; not just in terms of sound, but in terms of a creative experience. In the hands of a veteran composer and orchestrator like Chaban, this is taken to another level.
“I have to say I'm completely blown away. It is truly a new way of thinking about music.”
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