FYI: Platinum is based on X3e with some new features (especially in MIDI) and IIRC some VST3 improvements (read: fixes).

Thanks. But is X3e viable (even if not ideal) for VSL?  

I have minimal mileage with X3e and VSL, but I ran into no problems. I did upgrade to Platinum, and that too is working well with Vienna Instrument or Ensemble, right now I'm playing with VEPro, and again it's working pretty well.
 
It has been a while since I used Play - last time was when that had that Ghostwriter contest. That was the first version of Play on Windows that worked at all for me. The EW libraries do sound good, but I just don't need the headache of a new sample playback engine right now. In fact adding the VSL engine was a bit of a hurdle<G>.
 
The dry nature of the VSL instruments works for me, lots of control and flexibility, and they layer beautifully with the Cinesamples CineBrass and CineWinds, and 8Dio Adagietto and Agitato, and Chris Hein Horns. These are my core instruments in my template right now, and I do not feel like I am missing anything - most of the time.
 
If I had more confidence in the Play engine I'd probably add the Hollowood Strings, Brass and Winds for yet another take. I do have the original (GigaStudio) Quantum Leap Brass, and still use them from time to time.

I don't think there is much to worry about with VSL. There probably isn't a reason to worry about EW either, but they get just enough bad press for me to put that off  for a bit longer.

deleted - finally bitten by a duplicate post!

I'm a spitfire dude so can't directly respond but I will say that for anyone doing orchestrations sonar's track templates are indispensable... It is absolutely the best time-saver for quickly loading various packages you design and like to use.

In this regard I also think if you are serious enough to get vsl then upgrading to platinum is a must. Just the mix recall function alone is worth it and required for efficient production and learning. All of the subtle mixing required in orchestrating... Recalling mixes instantly is a godsend. Skip the coffee and beer's for a bit and upgrade. You own it to yourself

I'll be doing without Platinum, but thanks for the tip re templates!
 
 

lingyai
EWSO was a strong contender here. I'd read a fair bit about it. Was given some pause by comments regarding Play and customer service (check out Amazon as one of many sources of grumbling), but for me the nail in the coffin is that they are recorded wet. I like more intimate sounds as opposed to big cinematic washes in large spaces, so the ability to apply my own verb to dry samples is key. Thanks for the advice though.
 
Everyone here is very helpful, thanks again. The vibe on this forum is about as good as it gets. I apologise for not contributing much, it's only because I don't know nuthin'  .... yet, anyway. 

I did a lot of research before going down the EWSO / EWQL road and had also read bad reviews re play and other issues. I can categorically state that with my set up I have not had one single problem with the play engine with either X3e or SPlat and find it fantastic (very easy to use, intuitive and rock solid as far as stability goes). I don't know where you get that samples are recorded wet, they are not and in fact, depending on the version, you get multiple mic positions which are superb, You can choose to add spaces convolution reverb or not within play with adjustable parameters (and as a side note I find it better not to use each instances of play reverb but to have one overall reverb that every instrument goes through as it is far more natural) I have also found EW support to be very professional and on the ball - this is just my personal experience and have nothing to gain by stating any of this..
 
+1 Michael Diemer - EW frequently has great sales but IMO you cant go past the latest offering which is composer cloud, check it out before buying anything.
 
Best of luck whichever way you go.

Re wetness:
 
These google results (search term: "ewso wet," then drilling down into gearslutz)
 
https://www.google.co.uk/...site:www.gearslutz.com
 
has a number of comments about the wet reverb, from as recently as last year. Also, for what it's worth, I've never heard a dry demo.  Are you saying that you can get completely dry sounds? I'm looking for bone-dry, on a par with VSL.

PhilP
I don't know where you get that samples are recorded wet, they are not and in fact, depending on the version, you get multiple mic positions which are superb, You can choose to add reverb or not within play.
 
^this
 
As far as the samples used to sell the library, I assume all the manufactures 'wet' the samples.
 
The play engine has worked fine for me for ten years or so.
 

 

Thanks again everyone who's posted. VSL is recorded dry. I need that for blending.
 
Actually I think I should invest $30 and a few hours in the StreetSmart Guide to Vienna Instruments video series which wst3 mentioned above, and get a proper impression of how much rocket science might be involved. And perhaps see if konradh or anyone else chimes in on the Sonar-usability issue.  But as it stands, my own tastes about the sounds, and the X3 users' experiences shared here, have me leaning pretty strongly to VSL.