Minimoog V software, announced at NAMM, will offer all the features of the original Mini Moog, plus polyphony, MIDI management, and preset handling. Additional functions are hidden beyond the control panels: a modulation matrix, a LFO, an arpeggiator, a chorus and a delay. Arturia has now posted a demo version and the final version will come very soon.

Ed: This is one of the most exciting announcements, soft synth-wise, to come out of NAMM: the Arturia software has the blessing of Moog and does a lot the Mini Moog can't. Arturia did a superb job with the Moog Modular, and now they'll bring one of the most successful synths ever, THE classic synth, to software form. OS X as a Mini Moog? Pure heaven. -PK

Applied Acoustics has launched a US$199 crossgrade program for Nord Modular users to the Tasman 3 Sound Synthesis studio. Tasman is a sound design environment based on physical modeling for Mac OS 9.x/ OS X.2 (RTAS,VST, Standalone). This offer is for a limited time and is exclusively available as a download. As part of the offer, Nord Modular users will have the opportunity to upgrade to Tassman 4 for free.

Innovason has announced its new Sy80 console. Designed for live sound and touring, fixed installation and broadcast, the Sy80 digital console features 80 faders, 80 inputs, up to 80 outputs, 48 mixing buses and the advanced Sensoft 8 software. More on the website.

SimpleChord, a freeware application written by Dan Grover, was released today by Wonder Warp Software. The application is a quick, handy reference to chords useful for musicians. It can be helpful in learning new chords, creating chord progressions, transcribing, and many other tasks. It's available for free at www.wonderwarp.com.

Thanks, Dan; could be a good tool for beginning musicians learning chords. -PK