@Ben So as I said I get confused about the VSL offerings: is Synchron prime the obvious comparator to EWs OPUS? Or is it the Symphonic Cube or something else? It’s suggested above that an upgrade path exists to your full libraries but I haven’t seen anything on your website about it.
And I’m totally clueless as to where and how the Big Bang Orchestra and the Epic Orchestra fit in (if at all).
Synchron Prime Edition is a stripped down version of libraries from the Synchron Package, so it is not directly comparable to OPUS (Diamond?).
Synchron Prime comes with one RoomMix and Close or Mid mic per instrument, reduced articulations (for example no non-vibrato options), and for harp, percussion and brass with reduced velocity layers.
Prime Edition is a light-weight library requiring less SSD and RAM space compared to the Synchron Libraries. You get an upgrade discount to many of the Synchron Libraries (Strings Pro, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion I).
It's an all-in-one library to provide a solid foundation or for light-weight mobile use. Also great for musicians who want to upgrade their notation software sound.
Synchron Series comes in two variations: Standard and Full. The only difference between these is the mic count: Standard includes all mics that are essential for a good mix in stereo, while Full also adds mics that are important for surround and immersive formats, as well as adding more room/space to your stereo mixes.
You can buy the libraries on their own or as entire bundle (which will give you an additional discount).
Big Bang Orchestra conatins mainly Ensemble instruments with all mic positions included, but fewer articulations compared to most Synchron libraries. It's provides a big out-of-the-box sound, especially useful for media composers.
Many parts of the BBO have made it into Synchron Libraries, so there are often upgrade discounts available as well.
Epic Orchestra 2.0: This is a library you get when buying Vienna Ensemble Pro. It contains a very small collection of VI and Synchron Libraries instruments with a very limited articulation set.
VI Series / Symphonic Cube: These are dry-recorded libraries that delivered mostly in stereo. There are no mic options, you have to take care of the spacialisation, reverb and mix yourself. This said, they are very detailed with as many articulations as a library possibly can have.
SYNCHRON-ized Series: The successor of the VI Libraries, but with included spatialization and reverb (via IR, can be disabled). These libraries run in our new Synchron Player instead of the VI Player.
Tl;dr: If you are...
...looking for a good, price and resource friendly all-in-one with the possibility of upgrading at any point:
Synchron Prime Edition
...a media composer and need big sounds for a good price/value ratio without too many details:
Big Bang Orchestra
...want full control and the best sound and detail Synchron Stage has to offer:
Synchron Series
...want as many articulations and instruments as possible, but have need for multi-mic libraries:
SYNCHRON-ized Series
Personally, I do not recommend getting into the VI Series unless you already know how to work with dry libraries. The SYNCHRON-ized Series is way easier to use and comes with out-of-the-box usable sound and mixer settings and is therefore the better choice for most users.
A stripped down version of the SYNCHRON-ized Series is also available:
SYNCHRON-ized Special Editions
Of course, you can mix and match these libraries as you like. Synchron (Prime), SYNCHRON-ized and Big Bang Orchestra libraries are designed to work together out-of-the-box with the sound signature of Synchron Stage Vienna.
