From orchestral music to funk, the trumpet is a versatile, powerful, and bright sounding instrument, perfect for solos, melodies, accompaniment, rhythmic stabs, and more.
Regardless of genre or tempo, the trumpet is adaptive enough for most musical styles and contexts.
In this guide, we look at the best free trumpet VST plugins you can use in your own projects.
Contents
BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover by Spitfire Audio
If you’re looking for the best free trumpet VST plugin, look no further. Spitfire Audio’s award-winning BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover is bound to blow your socks off.
Spitfire Audio, by now, is well-known for their high-quality, easy to use freebies primarily aimed at composers (but they can be just as useful for producers and songwriters). That includes their LABS series, which we’ll cover a little later.
The concept behind BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover is simple – to give you, the producer, access to 33 orchestral instruments and 47 techniques, all recorded at the highest quality possible. Further, the compact 200 MB plugin is compatible with just about any DAW you can name.
The complete list of instruments includes violins, violas, celli, piccolo, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, tenor trombones, bass trombones, and tubas.
The only downside, I suppose, is that BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover might be more power than you’re looking for. We look at several other decent trumpet VST plugins below, but sad to say, most simply do not measure up to the quality of the trumpets heard here.
Depending on what you’re looking for, though, less realistic sounds can also prove quite useful.
Download: Spitfire Audio
LABS – Trumpet Fields by Spitfire Audio
Spitfire Audio’s LABS series of VST plugins is a pet favorite of ours, as they always deliver quality creations without asking for anything in return (of course, their freebies are intended to push you towards their high-priced, premium VST plugins).
LABS – Trumpet Fields might be a bit of an odd one, though. It sounds good, and it is well-suited to creating soundscapes, but it’s not going to be great for quick stabs and staccatos. The instrument is still recognizable as a trumpet, at least.
This instrument was captured at Spitfire Studios on a dry stage. Two players played soft, long notes using techniques like double tonguing and slow bends. The plugin comes complete with a few different reverbs so you can add that extra atmospheric flavor without having to bust out your favorite reverb and adding it to your effects chain.
For scores with subtle movement, LABS – Trumpet Fields will layer very nicely with other instruments. But these trumpets are not for your triumphant superhero themes, let alone your funky hip-hop beats. Trumpet Fields is ideal, first and foremost, for composers, and mostly for slow moving music.
Trumpet Fields should certainly be considered a one trick pony. Then again, most LABS series plugins are.
Note that LABS series plugins will need to be downloaded through the Spitfire Audio app, and can take up a good chunk of hard drive space.
Download: Spitfire Audio
VSCO 2 Community Edition by Versilian Studios Virtual Instruments
In hunting for free trumpet VST plugins, you certainly wouldn’t be barking up the wrong tree if you thought exploring free orchestral libraries might be a good idea (just look at BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover).
Worst case scenario, you end up with a few usable instruments, and best-case scenario, you find a trumpet that’s quite competent and usable for all those times no other instrument will do.
VSCO 2 Community Edition is a popular orchestral library, primarily aimed at hobbyists, budding composers, and students. Translation – it’s a fun tool to play with, and it’s perfectly suited to sketching out ideas – but don’t expect too much!
What stands out about VSCO 2 is that it comes with 3 GB of royalty-free samples, as well as a wide selection of instruments.
Included within this library are piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, tenor trombone, tuba, church organ, upright piano, upright No. 1, glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, tubular bells, concert harp, solo violin, violin section, viola section, cello section, and solo contrabass.
The percussion section is also extensive, with snare, suspended cymbal, crash cymbal, gong, bass drum, timpani, anvil, bell tree, brake drum, claves, conga, quinto, tumba, cowbell, guiro, log drum (hi/lo), ratchet, sleighbells, triangle, alien, cymbal on timp (timpsnare), and zap.
Some individuals and developers have created their own spinoffs of VSCO 2, and each are a little different. You will find Versilian Studios’ top picks on their download page in case you want to check them out.
While it doesn’t talk itself up much, VSCO 2 CE is honestly decent sounding. Check it out in the video below.
Download: Versilian Studios Virtual Instruments
DSK Brass by DSK Music
DSK Music has been around for ages, and their collection of free VST plugins have found their way onto plenty of hard drives, including my own.
If you’re expecting top notch organic sounds, then don’t look here, but if you like classic video game style sounds and enjoy tweaking and customizing, you may just have found a worthy companion.
DSK Brass lets you combine two layers of any of the included 23 instruments, which are sax soprano, sax tenor, sax alto, Harmon mute, trumpet, trumpet cup mute, trumpet staccato, trumpet swell, piccolo trumpet, trombone, trombone cup mute, trombone wah mute, tuba, tuba staccato, flugelhorn, French horn, French horn mute, and brass ensemble.
DSK Brass also features standard ADSR controls, spread and level parameters, octave select, micro de-tuner, delay and flange effects, as well as MIDI automation capabilities.
DSK Brass may have been revolutionary in its time, and some of the sounds are decent. Still other instruments are closer in sound to synths or organs than brass instruments (which tells you something). Still, it’s much better than you might expect from a legacy plugin, so it’s worth checking out the quick video below.
Download: DSK Music
DSK Overture by DSK Music
DSK Overture is a lot like DSK Brass, except that it puts a lot more power at your fingertips.
First and foremost, it doesn’t just have brass instruments, it includes 40 orchestral instruments, one drum kit, and 10 internal combos.
Second, DSK Overture has four layers that allow you to combine four instruments in any way you see fit. You can also mute any of the layers if you wish.
Third, you get quite a bit more control over your sounds, with parameters for level, panorama, ADSR, MIDI channel selector, advanced multimode filter (HP, LP, BP1, BP2, notch), FX (reverb, delay, chorus), MIDI automation, and velocity response.
While it might be more power than you need (there’s a whole lot more here than just trumpet), if you’re interested in playing with various orchestral sounds, you will enjoy sketching out ideas with DSK Overture.
Download: DSK Music
VSCO2 Trumpet by bigcat instruments
And now we enter the “junk” portion of the guide. We don’t intend to be mean, and if we’re being especially nice, we call these “legacy” plugins instead. But you should not expect anything extraordinary from what follows in terms of sound quality, and in some cases, the plugins haven’t exactly aged well or scored highly with users either.
As they say… what can you expect for free?
bigcat instruments’ VSCO2 Trumpet is somewhat self-explanatory. At the very least, we know what samples they used to create it (Versilian Studios).
VSCO2 Trumpet includes seven groups – sustain, vibrato, staccato, mute 1, mute 2, sustain f, and sustain p, which gives you access to some variety in terms of articulation.
It’s a very simple concept, but what’s praiseworthy about it, at least in this instance, is that it’s a dedicated trumpet VST plugin. And, as you’ve already seen, there are only so many of those (there are only so many premium ones as well). Brass and orchestral plugins are sometimes easier to find.
In addition to basic ADSR controls, VSCO2 Trumpet has also got volume, pan, and reverb. Again, it’s very straightforward.
Of the legacy plugins available, this is certainly one of the better ones. It’s very synthesized sounding, but the muted trumpet sound isn’t half bad, as you’ll see in the video below.
VSCO2 Trumpet is available for Windows and Mac, so it might not be a bad choice if you don’t want to download an entire orchestral library.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Sonatina Trumpet by bigcat instruments
bigcat instruments delivers again with another dedicated trumpet VST plugin, this time in the form of Sonatina Trumpet. And, again, it’s a very no-nonsense entry.
There are four sounds you can rotate through – solo trumpet, trumpets sustain, trumpets sustain 2, and trumpets staccato. You’ve also got ADSR, volume, and pan parameters for fine-tuning though.
The samples come from the Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra library. The sound is recognizable as a trumpet, I suppose, and it seems to have decent resonance, but it doesn’t sound quite as good as VSCO2 Trumpet.
Still, you never know. This one isn’t without some hope. Have a listen in the video below.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Sonatina Orchestra Module by bigcat instruments
Featuring 20 instruments and over 50 articulations (and a soloist for every instrument except viola and double bass), Sonatina Orchestra Module is an orchestral instrument rompler.
The module also features sections for all instruments, with pizzicato articulations for the strings section, as well as staccato articulations for the strings, brass, and flute sections.
Percussion like piano, harp, and choir are also included.
Now, you’re not exactly getting something here that you wouldn’t be getting with Sonatina Trumpet, except for additional instruments. So, if you don’t need the entire orchestra, you can probably skip this one.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Iowa Trumpet by bigcat instruments
bigcat instruments is at it again with Iowa Trumpet. Ultimately, this is yet other relatively self-explanatory entry. Sound wise, it takes full advantage of University of Iowa Electronic Music Studios’ sampled trumpet.
It includes volume, pan, and ADSR controls, just for good measure.
The sound is quite cheesy, as you would expect.
Iowa Trumpet is available for Windows and Mac.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Aspen Trumpet 1 by bigcat instruments
It’s so good, the developer didn’t even include a description!
Aspen Trumpet 1 comes with your standard ADSR controls, volume, pan, and this time, there is a reverb control too.
The sound is decent enough. It’s not the most realistic sounding trumpet VST ever created, but it certainly isn’t the worst either.
Aspen Trumpet 1 is compatible with Windows and Mac.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Aerophone by Xoxos
Xoxos’ Aerophone is a trumpet and trombone (lip valve instrument) modelling VST plugin. An oversampled third order mass-spring was utilized to emulate acoustic performance.
While it calls itself a lip valve instrument modelling VST, it’s much closer to a synthesizer in practice. The many built-in parameters (noise, pressure, gain, damp, glide, bend, and plenty of others) allow you to take full control of the sound and mold it however you wish.
If an authentic trumpet sound is what you’re after, you can easily skip this one. But if the idea of a low-quality brass synth appeals to you, you don’t have anything to lose from checking out Aerophone.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Brassinematic by Fanan Team
Once you’ve seen a few Fanan Team entries, you start to get a sense of what they’re all about. Generally, their VST plugins are a little quirky, and a little outside the box. Rarely are they super high quality, but their feature set always looks kind of impressive.
This “cinematic brass machine” utilizes four 32-bit waveform oscillators emulating baritone sax, French horn, trombone, and trumpet. These oscillators can be mixed to your heart’s content to create a full brass ensemble.
Brassinematic includes a full synthesis section, two MIDI velocity options, global hipass-lopass filter, and an effects section (EQ, compressor, saturation, chorus, phaser, tremolo, reverb, and delay).
There’s also a built-in telescopic microtuner for exotic scale and a range split filter that lets you divide the frequency spectrum into four zones and send each brass component to its own frequency zone.
Again, the specs seem impressive enough. What it essentially is, though, is a decent sounding brass synth. Its tones are mostly warm, so if you’re looking for more of a cutting brass tone, this probably isn’t it.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Solina2k by Fanan Team
Fanan Team’s Solina2k is a strings ensemble simulation that just so happens to have built-in trumpet and horn sounds as well.
It comes with eight oscillators, each featuring their own synthesis section.
There are two MIDI velocity options, a global hipass-lopass filter, effects (reverb, delay, saturation, chorus, phaser, and tremolo), a draw-bars system, advanced mono mode, keyboard split (with hi-lo-both zones for the upper and bass sections), full automation, and a gleam effect (for upper and bass sections).
Solina2k is delightfully cheesy, and the higher notes are even a little brash. But there’s certainly nothing stopping you from getting creative with this one, and in a full mix, it wouldn’t sound half bad.
Download: Fanan team
Ttm009 by TTM Works
Now for something a little different. TTM Works’ Ttm009 is neither a sampled library nor a dedicated sampled trumpet. It’s a brass soft synth.
This synthesizer comes with its own waveform synthesis engine and modulation mechanism.
The developer says any tone can be achieved by carefully tweaking the included parameters – Window, Mod., Attack, and Sustain. Then, you can further tweak the tone using the included high-pass and low-pass filters.
It wasn’t designed to sound like a real instrument, so if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s quite likely this isn’t what you need.
That’s what the developer says, at least. But having listened to it, I think the Ttm009 approximates the sound of brass instruments decently enough. I don’t think it can do “any tone” though.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Serpo by JD TECH
JD TECH’s Serpo is another oddball VST instrument, featuring sounds recorded by artists from across the world. That makes it quite versatile.
Serpo includes an acoustic drum kit, So Dope (unique hit), grand piano, Rhodes, organ, vibes, violin, acoustic guitar, banjo, dobro, electric guitar, upright bass, electric bass guitar, trumpet, African wood flute, whistle, harmonica, steel drum, theremin, stressed chip noise, sub bass, distro bass, and male & female vocals.
Some sounds are more authentic and usable than others. But the coolest things about it is probably that you can make an entire track just using the sounds included in Serpo. That might be a good challenge.
Serpo is compatible with Windows and Mac.
Download: PLUGINS 4 FREE
Arcade by Output
Output is well-known for their premium offerings like SIGNAL, ANALOG STRINGS, ANALOG BRASS & WINDS, among others.
So, what is Arcade? Is it an orchestral library? A synthesizer? Sampler?
Arcade is best thought of as a freemium sampler / synthesizer / workstation, something they like to call an “inspiration machine.”
It includes a variety of orchestral instruments, including strings, brass, and percussion. But it also comes with phrases, chord progressions, and melody loops that makes it easy for you to kickstart a new song. You can also use your own loops.
Also included are Note Kits, which are multi-layered instruments that allow for the fusing of different sources.
For lack of a better term, Arcade is an “all in one” workstation, kind of like Kontakt, but kind of not. There are few cases where the term “unique” truly fits, but this is one of those rare instances.
I can’t tell you whether you’ll enjoy this unique VST plugin, but I would suggest checking out a few videos to learn more.
Download: Output
What Types Of Trumpet VST Plugins Are There?
Okay, so if you’ve been keeping track, then you know that there are basically three types of plugins featured here:
- Instrument / orchestral sample libraries
- Synthesizers
- Unique hybrid workstations
For realism, we mostly recommend VST plugins that fall under the first category – sample libraries. Plugins like BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover, or LABS – Trumpet Fields. VSCO 2 Community Edition also sounds quite good, but it isn’t strictly a plugin and is more of a sample library than anything.
We haven’t looked at too many synthesizers here, but Aerophone seems to fit the bill, and Ttm009 is unquestionably a soft synth as well. Synthesized trumpet or brass sounds can be quite nice depending on the context and are fun incorporating into your mix.
Then, we have Output’s Arcade, which is… who knows? It’s somewhere between a synth, sampler, looper, and workstation? But those who like it, like it a lot, and besides its beat making features, it claims to have some great orchestral sounds built into it as well.
There is no one right solution, only solutions that are suited to different situations.
Music has rules, but they are meant to be broken. If you like playing with low-quality instruments, don’t let anyone stop you. Nowadays, you can apply saturation, or a filter, or a lo-fi plugin to create ambient soundscapes at the snap of the finger, and you don’t need the best quality instruments to do this.
Either way, the plugins are all free, and they’re meant to be used and enjoyed. Experimentation is encouraged!
What’s Better – Real Trumpet Or VST Trumpet?
Look, there’s no question virtual instruments have come a long way. Check out some of the legacy VST plugins we mention in this guide, and compare them to some of the newer, premium plugins out there. You’ll see exactly what we mean.
If you don’t have access to the best players, best mics, best rooms, best processing, and best producers at your arsenal, then I would say VST plugins are probably going to serve you better.
If you recorded a bad player, with bad mics, in a bad room, with bad processing, using your limited skills as a producer, let’s just say you’re not going to fare much better (unless your goal is to record music with a lo-fi vibe).
If you’ve got the right resources and the time, then there’s nothing quite like the real thing, is there? A VST plugin might come close, but it’s not going to live up to the warmth, depth, and resonance of a real trumpet.
Top Free Trumpet VST Plugins, Final Thoughts
Did you find what you’re looking for? We sure hope so!
Now it’s time to get out into the field and practice your craft. Download the plugins, install them, and start messing around with the sounds. Come up with melodies and hooks. Try combining the trumpet with layers of other instruments. See what you can come up with.
In the hands of a master, even the worst gear can sound quite amazing. That’s the level to aspire to.