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Choirs: Insolidus vs Dominus

MillsMixx

Production Director/Sound Designer
Insolidus vs Dominus
I'm torn between these 2 choir libraries which seem very similar in sound.

Personally I doubt many people will respond to this post, mainly because I don't think there's a lot of people out there who own the 8Dio Insolidus Choir due to the high price. I could never understand why 8Dio charges nearly twice as much for their products but as an V8P member I have the opportunity pick up Insolidus for Black Friday savings at half price. That brings it to roughly the same price as Fluffy Audio's Dominus. Both look and sound like great libraries but Insolidus to me just sounds a bit better from what I've heard in the demos. I've been eyeballing it for sometime until a sale however the functionality with 8Dio products from my experience over the years has been quite challenging.
I'm guessing I'll get a few people saying "Yeah I own Dominus and it's a great library but can't speak for Insolidus", etc... or this post will come and go and be buried in a few days or hours lol!
Anybody have experience with BOTH? better yet, just Insolidus? I've already seen & heard a lot about Dominus, but other than Troel's videos and a few Soundcloud demos there's really nothing out there.
 
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I see 40% off for Insolidus (which is darned good, mind you, and now I'm considering it). But do you have a way to get an extra 10% off so that it is actually half price? (Note that I'm pretty sure the 10% coupon for signing up on their mailing list cannot be combined with the Black Friday discount on any of their products.)

Edit: never mind. I'd not heard of 8DIO's loyalty program before, so I glossed right over that part of your message. Nice. I haven't reached that level with 8DIO yet, but it is possible that even the 40% discount on Insolidus might just move me several hundred dollars closer.
 
Well, I've long said that I'd not have hesitated to buy Insolidus except for the price. This sale fixes that problem, but I hadn't heard of Dominus before, so I went to checkout some samples of both of them.

From what I can see, the OP is right: the sound quality of Insolidus seems better/clearer, although I suspect Dominus has somewhat more advanced scripting and hence more flexibility in phrasing and word-building (obviously, since Insolidus has none of the latter). I might consider getting Dominus someday ... but tonight I bought Insolidus. (Or will have once 8dio finishes processing my order, anyway.) I have a project coming up in the next few weeks where I think I can make good use of it, too. I don't know if I'll feel prepared to review Insolidus prior to the end of this sale, but I'll try.
 
I’m curious to know about opinions from people who has bought both. I’m one of them (well, I don’t have “bought” Dominus since I developed it).

From what I’ve seen, users who have tried any kind of choir library in the past are the ones that more appreciate Dominus.
 
Just played with it a bit for half an hour or so. The polyphonic legato on the syllables and vowels is really cool.
 
I’m curious to know about opinions from people who has bought both. I’m one of them (well, I don’t have “bought” Dominus since I developed it).

From what I’ve seen, users who have tried any kind of choir library in the past are the ones that more appreciate Dominus.

I would say from the demos of both they are quite similar. Insolidus seems to rely more on swelling arc type phrases which are really beautiful but probably sacrificing less control due to the limitations of how far you can go with that. Not sure because I don't own it but it seems like there's no tail so when you take your hand off the keyboard & it stops dead with no release. It appears to me more people gravitate towards Dominus due to it's flexibility. I could be wrong. Either way they both seem like great products. And hey! Why is 8Dio's so expensive when it's not on sale! That surely must contribute to it being a bit off the radar. Half price is the lowest it will ever go so.
 
Even tougher here, with minimal Choir experience ... and ... recently grabbed Storm Choir1 deal. Now have Crossgrade access to SC2 Core and Exp.
Really tough to know if better choice is a very different Choir Lib like Insolidus or Dominus.
Great to see this focus now to help the decision process. :thumbsup:
 
Ya I've got a lot of choirs but none that seem to do the soft swelling arc stuff that just sounds beautiful. Both Insolidus and Dominus seem to offer a different sort of beast than the other libraries out there which would cover my more softer delicate composition needs. Still can't wait to see what the Storm Choir update will bring. I'm thinking it will be more in line with the Arva/Freyja/Wotan style which is superb. and then there's Spitfire. Hello Spitfire! bring it! :)
 
Ya I've got a lot of choirs but none that seem to do the soft swelling arc stuff that just sounds beautiful. Both Insolidus and Dominus seem to offer a different sort of beast than the other libraries out there which would cover my more softer delicate composition needs. Still can't wait to see what the Storm Choir update will bring. I'm thinking it will be more in line with the Arva/Freyja/Wotan style which is superb. and then there's Spitfire. Hello Spitfire! bring it! :)
Don't forget Hollywood Choirs, which is out this month :)
 
I've listened to demos of both. I wanted to get Dominus but had other project demands at the time that required other non choir purchases. With that behind me, I hope for a BF sale from Fluffy Audio. The 8DIO offering feels more contrived and control limited from the demonstration videos (side by side). Even with a larger 8VP discount, I am not sure this one would fit well with my workflow. Lacrimosa was fantastic, but took a lot to get to a desired spot.

I am not sure that the Hollywood Choirs are going to touch this soft of a choir. We have so little info it is frustrating. Thankfully I don't have to choose. I buy what my current projects call for...and occasionally a few others.

Spitfire...not holding my breath for that one either. It would take something really special.
 
I was about to buy Insolidus. I was not aware of Dominus...going to check it out now. Maybe both of them are needed ;)
 
I was about to buy Insolidus. I was not aware of Dominus...going to check it out now. Maybe both of them are needed ;)

Hmmmm. Sorting these two as well. No clue how they relate to my recent Storm Choir1 add. One push says take advantage of SC2 Crossgrade. Other says ... Dominus or Insolidus while BlkFri sales apply.

Will be interested in hearing your impressions after checking Dominus more thoroughly.
 
I own Insolidus and am happy with it. I've wrote a piece with it, but unfortunately i can't share it yet. From the demos of Dominus i've watched, i'd say Fluffy's choir seems more "agile" and "legato friendly" (i know it doesn't exist but i hope you'll get my point ;) ), but indeed they sound much alike, or at least, in the same category. I'm not sure this will help much ... sorry !
 
I own Insolidus and am happy with it. I've wrote a piece with it, but unfortunately i can't share it yet. From the demos of Dominus i've watched, i'd say Fluffy's choir seems more "agile" and "legato friendly" (i know it doesn't exist but i hope you'll get my point ;) ), but indeed they sound much alike, or at least, in the same category. I'm not sure this will help much ... sorry !

Cool! Sort of getting that sense with these two. Truly capable users will know what meets their needs. Not close to that yet, and will make a choice with little worry.
 
I do not have Insolidus, but I did purchase Dominus last month. I really love Dominus Choirs. These days I write mostly softer music and Dominus was right up my alley! As an 8dio V8P member though, I am very tempted to grab Insolidus for the 50% off, but after buying 5 hardware synths this year alone, I'm afraid my wife will kill me in my sleep if I make any more studio purchases this year. LOL
 
After watching some of the 8dio videos for insolidus, I think I am going to see if the wife won’t mind me purchasing yet one more library this year. I have to mention though that there were some not so good videos on YouTube. Some guy has Insolidus videos with scantily clad women on the thumbnail in an attempt to try to attract viewers.o_O :mad: My wife certainly didn’t appreciate that. LOL Other than those, most of the other ones I viewed I was impressed with. :2thumbs:
 
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