Voices Of Opera is the wrong purchase if you want a solo vocal you can type words into and play like a real singer. It runs only inside PLAY 6, needs an iLok account and 40 GB of free disk, and its Italian vocabulary is a fixed set of 42 words and phrases. At $69, it’s built for producers who want operatic color under an orchestra, not a replacement for a hired soprano.
If that’s your use, keep reading. It’s a lovely texture machine with real quirks.
The Catch Up Front
Start with setup. You’ll go through the Installation Center and the PLAY software, and owners report the online manual skips a necessary step. Some had to contact support to finish.
Then the playing limits. The mod wheel can’t swell or fade a held note, because the vibrato makes that technically hard. Soprano and tenor releases are uneven, and the two singers differ in timing and tone.
Owners also say the mf dynamics are mislabeled and that it needs automation and layering to sound fluid. Annoying? Yes. Dealbreaking? Only if you wanted plug-and-play.
What You Get If You Clear It
The library holds 40 GB of 229 multi-sampled vocal instruments, over 20,000 samples in all, at 24-bit/44.1 kHz. Soprano Larisa Martinez and tenor Carlton Moe were recorded through vintage microphones, with three mic options to blend.
Patches sit in Sustain, Staccato, Legato, Combo, Words, Phrases and Keyswitch folders. Sustain patches give you about five seconds per note as single-shot samples, with the slightly human length variation that implies.
Legato patches include built-in portamentos. There are also multi-key phrases from iconic operas, and the 42 Italian words and phrases.
Where It Shines
Drop a sustained soprano line over your string bed, add a long hall reverb, and the whole cue gets a lift. Owners report it performs excellently alongside other instruments and reverb, and works admirably as ambient voice, a small ensemble or a duet.
The legato portamentos are the highlight. Owners describe the leaps as realistic and inspiring, and the Play option that fixes transition hitches makes fast runs usable. Sustain patches also earn praise for timbral detail.
Honestly, the recording quality is the draw. Owners call the tenor and soprano performances incredibly well recorded. It’s a clever, underrated way to add drama without hiring anyone.
Against the Field
Kontakt Factory choir and Reason Studios Humana are less competitive vocal libraries. They’ll fill a cheap pad, but neither matches the operatic character here.
For portamento quality, people compare it to the Cinesamples Tina Guo cello, which is the bar for expressive slides. Voices Of Opera’s legato holds up to that comparison on slides and leaps, though it’s a voice, not a solo string.
EastWest Gypsy comes up for legato quality. If you need a lead instrument with deeper expression, check that first. For choral-opera color, we’d stay here.
Who Should Buy This
✅ Buy if you score trailers, games or film cues and need operatic color behind an orchestra. ✅ Buy if you’re happy layering and automating to build power and fluid dynamics. ✅ Buy if you want a soprano and tenor duet or ambient voice texture.
❌ Skip if you expect a solo vocal replacement you can play cold. ❌ Skip if you need custom lyrics beyond 42 fixed Italian words and phrases. ❌ Skip if swelling held notes with the mod wheel is part of your workflow.
Specs & Technical Details
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | EastWest Sounds |
| Price | $69 |
| Plugin Format | N/A |
| OS Support | N/A |
| Activation | iLok account, PLAY 6 |
| CPU Usage | N/A |
| Trial Available | N/A |
| Version Reviewed | N/A |
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Quality | 4.5/5 | Owners call the recordings amazing and the sustains detailed |
| Value for Money | 4.2/5 | 40 GB and 229 instruments for $69, though layering is needed |
| Ease of Use | 3.4/5 | Manual gaps and automation needed for fluid performance |
| Features | 4.0/5 | Three mics and portamento legato, but fixed Italian words |
| CPU Efficiency | N/A | Not verifiable from available information |
| Overall | 4.1/5 | Strong operatic texture with real playing limits |
Alternatives to Consider
- EastWest Gypsy: Look here if legato expression is your priority and you want a lead instrument.
- Cinesamples Tina Guo cello: The reference point for portamento quality, if a solo string line fits your cue.
- Kontakt Factory choir: Already in your rig if you own Kontakt. Less competitive, but fine for a quick pad.
Our Verdict
At $69, this is a good buy for orchestral writers who want operatic color and don’t mind doing the work. The voices are lovely, the legato is a joy, and the ceiling is a background texture, not a soloist.
If you want a singer you can play cold with your own words, hard pass. If you’ll layer, automate and bury it in reverb, it earns its drive space.
Related reviews: MODO BASS 2 · Melox Pro
Frequently Asked Questions
What software does Voices Of Opera need?
It requires PLAY 6 and an iLok account. You'll also need 40 GB of free disk space and the Installation Center to set it up.
Can it replace a solo vocalist?
No. Owners say it works as convincing background vocal texture, ambient voice, a small ensemble or a duet, not a solo replacement library.
Can I type my own Italian lyrics?
Not really. It includes 42 Italian words and phrases, and they can't be built into new words. The number of syllables available is limited.
Is it powerful enough for big orchestral pieces?
Not on its own. Owners report it lacks the power for majestic compositions without layering, so plan to stack it with other parts.