lingyai
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.

They are recorded in the EW room and the various mike positions give that perspective. Yes the conductors position mike is going to be slightly "wet" in comparison to the close mike. You mix those different mike positions to get the desired result you want. The close mike to my ears is pretty darn dry. Having said that I don't know the VSL libraries that well so can't really comment as to how they compare.
 
Edit: If your happy that VSL is going to give you the exact sound you want then it makes to go down that path. I would still recommend checking out composer cloud for best bang for your buck (even as an additional option). FWIW I always need to add reverb even when using the distant surround mic
 
Best of luck.
 
Phil

A few years ago there was a large hue and cry about Cakewalk's slow move to VST3. Most of the uproar came from big library user who wanted the benefits that the VST3 spec brought to the table.

Finally in Sonar X3 VST3 was implemented but not fully. There was a continuing complaint about what part of the VST3 spec was not implemented in X3. From all accounts Sonar Platinum has added some more of those missing pieces with of course development in how fully the VST3 spec is implemented.

I know you don't want moving to Platinum to be on the table. I just want you to know that you will be missing out on developing features as they apply to VST3 use no matter what library you use.

Wait so only Platinum Has the further developed VST3 spec? not professional?

I'm sorry I use Platinum to refer to the new Sonar as that's the version I have.
The VST3 implementation is across the range according to the feature comparison page. Here http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions
I couldn't imagine that Cakewalk would develop different levels of it for each version.

I don't know about the Hollywood Orchestra but EWQL Symphony Orchestra was recorded in a large hall and you cannot get a totally dry sound.  The gold version only comes with the room mics so IMO you must get EWQLSO Platinum because you really need the close mics.  Even with the close mics, however, it has the natural reverb of the hall.

Cakewalk made step forward with VST3 features for VSL. I started this request on forum about year ago and finally it became real with new Sonar. So by now all is working fine. But there is another features that can be improved in terms of MIDI editing that can be helpful for us who works with Sonar and VSL most of the time. I dont know how many people using VST3 multi midi port feature, but there are maybe few of us. MIDI editing should be of more importance for various users so I hope it will start to be better in next updates....