Synthesizer brass doubling involves programming an electronic synthesizer to mirror the exact parts and counter-melodies played by an acoustic horn section. Combining the synthesized brass timbre with acoustic players blends the stable sustain and low-mid heft of synthesis with natural acoustic dynamics. The resulting composite texture sounds broader and thicker than either source could achieve on its own.
How the songs in the archive use it
Too Much Heaven uses a Yamaha CS-80 programmed to trace the horn lines played by members of Chicago, thickening the brass section into a hybrid acoustic and electronic sound.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Layers an analog-style synth patch directly beneath acoustic horns to add low-mid weight, sustain, and punch. Use it when recorded acoustic brass needs extra modern presence or low-end authority in a dense mix.
Create a Software Instrument track hosting ES2 and duplicate the MIDI performance from your acoustic brass track.
Load a horn foundation preset in ES2.
Set Unison to stack voices for extra width and density.
Adjust Analog to impart subtle pitch imperfections that blend naturally with real brass players.
Balance ES2's volume fader underneath the acoustic horns so it reinforces without overpowering.
Plug-in
Control
Value
Listen for
ES2
Preset
Classic Synth Brass (Synth Brass)
bright, cutting saw-brass base timbre
ES2
Unison
On
thicker, wider stereo voice spread
ES2
Analog
12
subtle organic drift between notes
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (2)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
Too Much Heaven by Bee GeesSynthesizer / Brass Blending: Blue Weaver specifically programmed the Yamaha CS-80 to mimic and thicken the real brass section (Chicago), creating a hybrid acoustic/electronic horn sound that was thicker than either element alone.Sheet score 9/10 · Source given: Blue Weaver Retrospective · Open the full track sheet
Truly Madly Deeply by Savage GardenMarket-Specific Reworking (US vs. AUS): Charles Fisher’s original production leaned heavily into European-style dance-pop (synth brass, rigid 808s). Walter Afanasieff’s US rework specifically muted the synth brass, replaced the synth solo with acoustic guitar, and softened the snare samples to cross over into the Celine Dion/Mariah Carey Adult Contemporary market.Sheet score 10/10 · Source given: Savage Garden Historical Interviews · Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques