Valves Kontakt brass ensemble instrument by Native Instruments interface

Valves: Kontakt Brass Ensemble Instrument by Native Instruments

Valves is a Kontakt instrument from Native Instruments that generates evolving brass phrases from a single note or chord. It features a curated ensemble of French horn, flugelhorn, euphonium, trombone and tuba.

REQUIRESKontaktHost player sold separately
KontaktWindowsmacOS64-bit
AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique
Opens the store in a new tab
01Overview

Valves is built around an ensemble of five brass instruments: French horn, flugelhorn, euphonium, trombone and tuba. Playing a single note or chord triggers interweaving phrases that develop over time. Each preset contains a collection of phrases for every instrument, synced to your host's tempo. The instrument runs inside Kontakt, so you need the free Kontakt Player or a full Kontakt license to load it.

Best for

  • Evolving brass pads
  • Contemporary brass textures
  • Ambient and cinematic pads
  • Chord-driven brass phrases
  • Layered ensemble arrangements
Requires
Kontakt
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Five-instrument brass ensemble: French horn, flugelhorn, euphonium, trombone and tuba
  • 100 preset phrases with three variations each
  • Moments slider introduces phrase variations one instrument at a time
  • Randomize button and per-track loop length settings
  • Individual level and panning control for each instrument
  • Compression and saturation with 72 built-in effect presets
  • Phrases synced to the host tempo
  • Dedicated slots for creative effects and full mix control
03In depth

Brass Phrases and Ensemble Character

Native Instruments describes Valves as a modern brass ensemble designed for soft, rich textures. The five instruments were recorded together with a conductor, but each was captured in isolation, which keeps the individual parts clean while preserving the feel of an ensemble performance.

The library includes 100 preset phrases, and each has three variations. The Moments slider introduces new phrase variations one instrument at a time, which lets you build a arrangement gradually rather than all at once.

Mixing Controls and Effects

Each instrument has its own level and panning controls, so you can shape the balance inside the ensemble. Dedicated slots for creative effects give you room to process the full mix or individual parts.

The Randomization feature generates new variations, and you can set a different loop length for each track. Advanced effects include compression and saturation, plus 72 built-in effect presets.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

DeveloperNative Instruments
TypePlugin
CategoryKontakt Instrument
RequiresKontakt
FormatsKontakt
Operating systemsWindows, macOS
Architecture64-bit
05FAQ

Questions, answered

What do I need to use Valves?

Valves requires Kontakt. You can use the free Kontakt 6.2.2 Player or Kontakt 6.2.2 or higher.

Which operating systems does Valves support?

Valves runs on Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) and macOS 13, 14 or 15. It is a 64-bit instrument.

What are the system requirements?

On Mac, you need an Intel Core i5 or equivalent CPU, or Apple Silicon, with 4 GB RAM (6 GB recommended). On Windows, you need an Intel Core i5 or equivalent CPU with 4 GB RAM (6 GB recommended). The download is 11.64 GB.

How many phrases does Valves include?

Valves includes 100 preset phrases, each with three variations. You can also build your own phrases.

07Developer

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