SOV vs. VOTA vs. EWQL Symphonic Choirs

[RiffWraith]

My apologies if this topic has been beaten to death, but....

Without ever having used any of the three, and only hearing the demos, I am sure that there are strengths and weaknessses with each. I guess what I am wondering is: what is best? <ducking> Yeah, I know: loaded question.

Is there a great difference in sound quality?
Does Symphonic Choirs have any/alot/all of the patches present in VOTA?
Do all three work with Kontakt?

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[danpowers]

I don't have any of these. Sorry. But I do remember reading that SC is an entirely new product, containing none of VOTA.

[StrangeCat]

You should read the Novemeber Issue of Sound on SOund they do a great Review of EWQLC and Compare it to VOTA and SOV.

[JonFairhurst]

I just got VOTA last night. (The price was right.) I've just played around with it so far, but it's pretty sweet. One of the strengths of the lib is the programming of the release samples. They eat polyphony, but sound very natural. The word builder is easy enough to use, but the results aren't as well defined as what I've heard from some of the recent EWQLSO demos. That's okay. The variation is enough to give the illusion of human voices. Also, the lib isn't as over the top as I had expected. It definitely has a soft side, but most user demos go for the loud stuff.

VOTA comes in Giga format with no copy protection, so you should be able to import it into Kontakt. You might lose some of the excellent programming though. The word builder utility is agnostic. It should be usable with Kontakt as well.

I'm happy with my purchase - especially at the price. I also prefer that I can mix and match the samples with other libs in GS3. It would have been nice to get the latest & greatest choir lib, but there's no doubt that I can put VOTA to good use. It's a quality library across the board.

VOTA has a mens and womens choirs. That's it. No children. No soloists. That's okay. I can get Giovani later, and solo vocal samples just aren't as effective as choirs.

I've heard great things about SOV and great demos from EWQLSO. I chose VOTA on price, and am very pleased. As a hobbyist, I just couldn't justify $500 for a choir lib.

-JF

[FredProgGH]

VOTA provides a close enough facsimile of singing words that if you overdub a few real people over it it really sells the whole thing. I'm using it now to "fix" some choir tracks that were ruined by excessive bleed from other instruments.

Judging by the demos SC can hold its own much better when exposed but that comes at a cost. Can't comment about SOV.

[spectrum]

.....I guess what I am wondering is: what is best?

As usual, it depends on what are you looking for.

Although I'm biased, this is how I would rate them on their strengths and conceptual approaches and hopefully, most would agree with

Largest variety of different sounds and choirs in one package = SOV
Most aggressive choirs with some word building = VOTA
Most realistic word building with a single choir = EWQLSC

Yes, they all work in Kontakt.

Fair assessment? :-)

spectrum

[panzerD]

As usual, it depends on what are you looking for.

Although I'm biased, this is how I would rate them on their strengths and conceptual approaches and hopefully, most would agree with

Largest variety of different sounds and choirs in one package = SOV
Most aggressive choirs with some word building = VOTA
Most realistic word building with a single choir = EWQLSC

Yes, they all work in Kontakt.

Fair assessment? :-)

spectrum

I agree completely.

[Tomke]

I agree as well.
I would also like to mention Peter Sidla .. chstkrkshprzzk:cool: 's older library "Classical Choir" in this thread as well. Very fine, competent library - in both CDDA and Giga as far as I know. It's been my choir for years, and you can shape words in much the same way as with VOTA.

[RiffWraith]

Fair assessment? :-)


Could not be more fair - thank you!

And thanks to all else who replied. :cool:

[JonFairhurst]

And don't forget about Giovani. If you're scoring to picture, there are times when a big choir can be too much, but when a children's choir may be just right. It all depends on the picture, and your inner iPod.

-JF

[Hermitage59]

After much research listening to company and user demo's, i'd have to say Symphony of Voices for it's variety and versatility. For me the others are too restrictive in their boomy, heavy reverb construction, and they seem to rely heavily on the current 'Epic and Elf' fad. That won't last much longer. (IMHO)

I didn't compare prices, but if you're looking a for a product that covers the most ground with the highest quality, price isn't really a factor is it.

And i concure with the plug for Giovani. Wonderful sound, and a real testament to vocal sample technology. The children's choir is excellent.

Regards,

alex.

[Bela D Media]

And i concure with the plug for Giovani. Wonderful sound, and a real testament to vocal sample technology. The children's choir is excellent.

Regards,

alex.

Dear Alex,

Thank you for the kind words about The Giovani Edition. It means a great deal to us.

Francis A. Belardino
CEO/Producer

[Hermitage59]

Dear Alex,

Thank you for the kind words about The Giovani Edition. It means a great deal to us.

Francis A. Belardino
CEO/Producer

No thanks needed Francis. It's a great product, the demos are good, and the library seems to be capable of many uses. I like the finesse in the sound, articulate and not laden with effects.
One day in the future I hope to try the children's choir in the last movement of Holst's planet suite (Neptune), as i think it would suite this type of use as well as more contemporary styles.

My regards and respects,

Alex.

[c.k]

Uhhhmmm.... Guy that claims to stay at Moscow - and Giovanni Edition. I simply have to ask my question, though it's a bit OT.
:)


Francis, how good is Giovanni in non-English pronunciation? Particularly, in Russian?
I'm finishing the tune that features EWQLSC singing in Russian. It's not too bad... actually, it's quite good, but I was forced to add some live tracks to mask the English accent. What are the foreign language features in Giovanni?


Best wishes,

ck

[Bela D Media]

Basic Overview I

Sustained vowels
Staccato vowels
Moving vowels
Latin phrases
Detached Latin and custom phrasing
Film inspired choral pads
Creative combinations of patches and commands
Boychoir vocal effects – natural and sound designed versions
Girlchoir vocal effects – natural and sound designed versions
More

Basic Overview II

Near and far church ambient 24-bit samples
Chromatically sampled
Non-glottal attack
Straight Tone
Non-loop
Looped
Release Triggered
Controlled vocal air (dark to bright)
Cross Fades
Vocal Control
Legato Control
Attack Control

Sampled Latin

Agnus Dei
Benedictus
Dies Irae
Veritas Domini
Morte Aeterna
Peccata Mundi
Requiem Aeternam

Nowhere do we state "create words in any language". ;)

VCU is not for word building but more reconstruction of a phrase in any set of keys/tempi and too create phrases. It is agreed by many that this is why VCU is so easy to work with and the result is much more human.

AUDIO EXAMPLE

Havens Part.mp3 (http://www.beladmedia.com/audio/heaven.mp3)
At the 22 second mark, you will hear how the composer created his own phrase by selecting elements from the VCU pool. This was all in real time via our software.

USERS GUIDE

http://www.beladmedia.com/v1.00.zip

VCU TOUR

http://www.beladmedia.com/vcu-tour.zip

Thank you,
Francis A. Belardino
CEO/Producer

[JonFairhurst]

After much research listening to company and user demo's, i'd have to say Symphony of Voices for it's variety and versatility. For me the others are too restrictive in their boomy, heavy reverb construction, and they seem to rely heavily on the current 'Epic and Elf' fad. That won't last much longer. (IMHO)From what I've read, yes, SOV is more versatile than VOTA. However, VOTA does have a softer side - you just don't hear it in most demos, because of the aforementioned fad.

-JF

[c.k]

Nowhere do we state "create words in any language". ;)

VCU is not for word building but more reconstruction of a phrase in any set of keys/tempi and too create phrases. It is agreed by many that this is why VCU is so easy to work with and the result is much more human.




Thank you, Francis! It's on my short list.

:)

ck

[FredProgGH]

From what I've read, yes, SOV is more versatile than VOTA. However, VOTA does have a softer side - you just don't hear it in most demos, because of the aforementioned fad.

-JF
That's true. in fact there are the "Demon" and Angel" choirs- smaller sections than the full choir singing ohs, very gregorian.