BRIAR – Music Box Plugin VST3 / AU
A Music Box At The Heart Of My Sound
The music box plays a central role in my compositions. I often layer it with piano, which instantly creates a fairytale-like atmosphere. It was also the first instrument I ever sampled, as recording a real programmable music box in perfect timing is extremely difficult.
Deeply Sampled & Highly Realistic
Recorded using high-end Schoeps microphones, this music box features 27 round robins per note, each one slightly different. Just like a real music box, it never sounds exactly the same twice, preserving its organic and raw charm.
Authentic Mechanical Character
Optional mechanical noises such as cranking and motor layers add subtle imperfections and movement, creating the illusion of a real music box and transporting the listener into a childlike world of wonder.
Shaping The Sound
A range of controls allows you to shape the tone in different ways. An additional “Darkness” layer, sampled from a dulcitone (an antique, celesta-like instrument with a bell-like sound) expands the sonic palette further.
Presets That Sound Great Immediately
27 presets, carefully crafted by Oskar Schuster, are included.
System Requirements
- macOS 11 or later / Windows 10 or later
- Minimum 4 GB RAM, 8 GB or more recommended
- 500 MB free disk space
Self-contained virtual instrument (VST3/AU) — no Kontakt Player or
other sampler required.
Compatible with most modern AU and VST3 hosts.
Tested in: Logic Pro, FL Studio, REAPER, GarageBand, Cubase,
Ableton Live, Vienna Ensemble Pro
A Hand-Cranked Punch Card Music Box
BRIAR was created from a mechanical punch card music box with a beautifully nostalgic tone.
Each note was recorded 27 times in order to recreate realistic tonal variation. This is not just another sampled music box. I truly strived to come as close to the sound of a real one as possible.
The movement of the paper card and hand-cranking mechanism was sampled separately and can be dialed in to create an even deeper illusion of realism.
Recording a real punch card music box can be a daunting task. It's incredibly difficult to get the timing right, repeating the same notes at fast tempos is nearly impossible and because of their construction, some notes simply don't exist. That's why I created this instrument: to make recording easy while preserving the organic, beautiful sound of a real music box.
Inspired by Antique Disc Music Boxes
While BRIAR's notes were sampled from a hand-cranked punch card music box, the overall character of many presets was inspired by antique disc music boxes, specifically a hundred-year-old German Kalliope music box that I own.
Its darker, fuller tone, unstable movement and haunting resonance became an important aesthetic reference during the creation of the instrument.
Various mechanical sounds were recorded from the Kalliope — including motor noises, winding mechanisms, handling sounds and the insertion of the metal disc.
These little details were carefully integrated into the instrument to make it possible to create different kinds of music box sounds, from detuned antique toy music boxes and motorized antique instruments like the Kalliope to cleaner, more modern ones.
Nostalgic & Slightly Haunted
BRIAR can be used for nostalgic melodies and darker, spooky soundscapes alike. It can sound innocent and childlike, but also eerie, distant and dreamlike, especially when layered with reverse samples and mechanical noise.
Designed Like An Old Fairy Tale Book
BRIAR’s interface was designed like an old, magical fairy tale book. I wanted it to be atmospheric and inspirational.
Behind the minimal main interface with only four knobs lies a second page filled with detailed controls for resonance, mechanical noises, reverb and cinematic effects.
The goal was not to create a technical-looking plugin, but an instrument that feels beautiful and inspiring. Something closer to opening a magical, forgotten book than operating software.
For Whimsical, Nostalgic & Cinematic Music
Film Scoring
BRIAR works beautifully for emotional or flashback scenes as well as spooky atmospheres.
Ambient Music
The soft bloom attack, mechanical noise and dreamlike sound create immersive soundscapes.
Fantasy Games
The nostalgic and slightly eerie character fits fantasy games perfectly.
Halloween Music
BRIAR has a spooky side that fits perfectly with anything Halloween-related.
“I have a fondness for antique objects, especially those with intricate mechanical workings such as old clocks or cameras. Perhaps that’s why the music box became one of my favourite musical ‘instruments’.”
— Oskar Schuster