LONG BUT INTERESTING QUESTION ALERT:
Can anyone in this thread help me decide on my next purchase, because I am torn between two what I believe to be excellent choices:
Synchronized Special Edition 2 and 2+ (already own 1 and 1+) vs. the following BBO libraries: Hercules, Izar, Jupiter, Kopernikus, Tana, Ursa, Vega, Wallia and Xenia.
Some information regarding this: the Synchronized Special Editions and the BBO series are the ones that caught my eye since last year. Ever since, I have been able to get Synchronized Special Edition 1 and 1+, and would love to complete this collection. On the other hand, I am also the owner of Andromeda, Altaïr, Neptune, Orion and Zodiac from BBO.
Either path would get me to complete one of two pathways (at least the standard orchestra paths). I love them both, and I know there are differences between them, SE being the older, more classically oriënted libraries and BBO being a bit more modern recordings with newer techniques.
The reason I love SE is it's versatility and especially agility. I do not know whether the instruments from BBO (of which the brass and strings are cut-down versions of their Synchron libraries) have that same agility. Also, the collection of instruments in the SE is much deeper. Some instruments I do not have, whilst owning a lot of other orchestral libraries. I will make a list (as complete as I can remember) of what I own below.
Having typed the list below, I know I am lucky and that I have a gazillion options. The reason Synchronized Special Edition caught my ear was it's emphasis on a smaller, dryer sound (it's the reason I also installed the bone-dry VI Pro edition as well). That, and it's specialization in very fast, agile playing (think Vivaldi's Winter) the likes of which I cannot hear back in any library I have. Supposedly, the BBO series has these repetition patches built into the normal legatos and staccatos patches. But is it as good as the Synchronized versions?
Short version: considering my list of owned libraries, would the BBO series overlap too much? I think the Synchronized Special Edition 2 and 2+ would bring more unique timbres and articulations to my already gigantic collection, but I must admit I do love what VSL is doing with BBO.
So, in my case, would you go for the sale on the VI series SE 2 and 2+ (including upgrade to Synchronized) or complete the BBO standard orchestra with Hercules, Izar, Jupiter, Kopernikus, Tana, Ursa, Vega, Wallia and Xenia?
Both are on pretty deep sale, and prices are almost similar (VI series + upgrade is just a little bit more expensive).
Disclaimer: I am not interested (yet) in Synchron Strings, Brass or Woodwinds. I would consider these as an upgrade path in the future. Reason is I would love to have these to replace a couple other libraries, but I don't find the need to do so yet. What I have gives me more than enough for some time to come. Additional question: considering this future path, would SE 2 and 2+ be money better spend on BBO?
I find this an interesting, but difficult decision, and would love to have other people's experienced opinion on this.
For more information, here's the other libraries I own:
-Hollywood Orchestra OPUS (my main)
-BBCSO Professional (my second main)
-Iconica OPUS (use it for filling gaps, custom articulations and note expression, and just a difference in timbre, beautiful library. And those woodwinds!)
-Native Instruments Symphony Series (layering library. Brass is awesomely big. Woodwinds are great for big sections, unique in that. Not for traditional. Not a great main library, awesome for layering)
-8Dio Adagio, Agitato, Anthology, Century Series (Century series is complete with all the libraries, strings, brass, artisan brass, the ostinato's, only missing the harps but no rush at all. Great libraries for again, layering and additional timbres. And the specialties of the legato's in Adagio and Agitato)
-Also from 8Dio: full Studio Series (strings, brass, winds), full Extreme Ensembles (including 66 series and Battucada), full choirs (all of them), full Deep Sampled Series (those deep strings, including the Quintet).
-Red Room Audio Palette Series complete
-Everything included in Komplete 14 Ultimate CE (so also the Solo Strings like Stradivarius)
-Intimate Strings Series by Embertone (wonderful libraries!)
-Albions (One, Neo, Tundra)
-A gazillion versatile extra libraries (Bunker Strings, Ben Osterhouse, the Sonokinetic Ostinato series, etc)