@noldar12 said:
One thing to consider is to buy an item only when you actually need it. it is very easy to "think" you need something only to discover, in hindsight, that you really didn't. It is easy to quickly spend lots of money on samples/software that one ends up finding would have been better spent elsewhere.
Certainly, there are good reasons for each of your options. If you do go with SE vol. 2, try to also get the additional funds for the bundle, as the additional articulations do help. Also, note that the AP Strings included in vol. 2 are more of a teaser. The additional instruments included in SE vol. 2 will help round out your orchestra though, as vol. 1 provides a very traditional "classical period" orchestra.
IMO, VI Pro is particularly helpful with the SE libraries as the "stretch" function can be used to create additional articulations that will help fill in the gaps. However, it might be a good idea to learn to use the free VI first, and once you have mastered that, then get VI Pro. There will be a lot to learn, and breaking as much of it as you can into manageable could potentially help.
Last, having been a GPO user back in the day, you will find the VSL samples to be in a very different league.
Good advice here from Noldar.
I work on one computer like you, and started with SE Vol 1, then later added the Plus articulations.
But the first addition I made after SE Vol 1 was VI Pro. To me that would be the highest priority. It has a learning curve, and I suggest not worrying about mastering it all right away, just pick the low-hanging fruit first and be content to progress gradually from there. But VI Pro WILL be the environment you will work in as soon as possible, trust me. So you might as well get started on it.
The next thing I added was MIRx because I was still learning too many other things to tackle the full MIR environment. MIRx is MIR Pro done for you (it limits your options, but gives you instant spatial placement and EQ to get you started). I was able to add all three venues during a special sale last summer.
If you get SE Vol 2 and you already have the Vol 1 PLUS, you will want the Vol 2 PLUS as well, if for no other reason than to give you consistency of options in your choice of articulations. I badly want Vol 2, but I have chosen so far to postpone that until I have the funds to get the full bundle, since it's a better deal anyway.
Next on my horizon is the choice between SE Vol 2 Bundle, VE Pro, Vienna Suite and the jump to MIR Pro 24. I'm concerned that MIR Pro 24 may not give me enought tracks (because it's limited to 24, thus the name), so I'll probably wait on that. My next step will probably be the low-hanging fruit of VE Pro because I really can't afford the Vol 2 Bundle or Vienna Suite right now. I haven't made my final decision yet, though.
Your mileage may vary on all this, and everybody's situations is unique, but to summarize, from my experience do not postpone getting VI Pro, and if you get Vol 2 find a way to get the PLUS as a bundle.
