Digidesign announced that Digi 002 interface now includes Digi Factory bundle for free. Digi 002 system now contains Pro Tools LE software, Pro Tools Ignition Pack, 50 Digidesign and Bomb Factory plug-ins, and now the following plug-ins : Bomb Factory BF-3A, Moogerfooger Ring Modulator, Moogerfooger Analog Delay, SansAmp PSA-1, Cosmonaut Voice, Joemeek SC2 Photo Optical Compressor, Joemeek VC5 Meequalizer, Tel-Ray Variable Delay, Voce Spin and Voce Chorus/Vibrato.

Digidesign is no longer offering the Digi 002 without the Factory bundle. Pricing for Digi 002 Rack and Digi 002 Rack Factory products will remain unchanged. If you purchased a non-Factory Digi 002 on or after December 1, 2005, you may be eligible to receive the Factory software bundle for free.

update Clouvel : It seems this offer only applies to Digi 002 intefrace and NOT to 002 Rack model...

Sibelius has been updated to version 4.1. This new release of the famous music notation software features : Support for new Garritan Personal Orchestra Sibelius Edition and Sibelius Rock and Pop Collection products, Two new plug-ins, Bar number ranges on multirests, Advance through attached video files one frame at a time, Create any MIDI controller change message via Play > Dictionary, Easily create dynamic parts in different transpositions from the same instrument, New timecode formats, Supports new Apple Mighty Mouse, Supports PostScript (Type 1) music fonts and more...

Apple released an online seminar "Making Music on the Mac using Garageband". Tune in to this free online seminar and learn how to transform your Mac into a musical instrument and record new and inspiring masterpieces. Who knows? This seminar may take you from musical inspiration to 50,000 screaming fans.

This free seminar requires online registration on the Apple web site.

Finale 2006c is a free, downloadable maintenance update available to registered Finale 2006 users. It includes improved conversion of lyric baselines in older cross-platform files. Finale is a music notation program giving a control over every aspect of the printed page while providing control over MIDI input and output.

This updated version is available in the MacMusic software section.

Waves announced its new noise reduction plugin, Z-Noise 1.0, available in VST-AU-RTAS formats. Z-Noise features an exclusive Extract mode which can create a noise profile from sources that contain signal, as well as a flexible Adaptive mode. This innovative dynamic noise profiling delivers unparalleled results when reducing noise that changes over time. Z-Noise gives you the power to shape your noise profile with pinpoint accuracy, using a familiar 5-band EQ interface. Real-time operation means you can fine tune parameters and hear your changes as you make them.

Z-Noise Native by Waves costs $800, and a demo version is available.