Garritan announces free online orchestration courses. The free Interactive Edition of "Principles of Orchestration" is based upon Nicolay Rimsky-Korsakov's celebrated text. In this Interactive Edition you will be able to simultaneously hear and see examples from Rimsk'y-Korsakov's own works realized with Personal Orchestra.

This course will be offered free of charge at the Garritan web site.

ApulSoft announced the version 2.3 Audio Units and VST for apTrigga, the first Universal Binary version for both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. This new version also features :

– Now uses pop-up menus for trigger mode and multi mode selection
– AU compatibility improvements
– Serial entry now included in plug-in
- Bufixes

apTrigga is an audio sample trigger plugin (shareware) available in the MacMusic software section.

Sagan has updated its Metro sequencer to version 6.3.5.5. This pre-release version adds new sub-menus for plug-ins by category, and fixes several bugs : offline effects now work, or panning automation problem fixed. Metro is s a fast-operating, easy-to-learn high-powered sequencer for the design of professional audio projects. It stands alone as a complete and integrated MIDI, audio and video production system. Metro's audio system supports up to 64 audio tracks. Each track can have its own effect chain. Eight aux busses are also supported. Each with their own chain.

This update is free and is available for download.

Dash Signature released an updated version 2.00.05 for its EVE (stands for 'Electronic Vintage Ensemble'). This release adds new synthesis features, several enhancements and is still compatible with Eve 1.0 presets. EVE was made to recreate in the virtual world of softsynths the exciting and immediate experience of the early age of electronics in pop, rock and jazz music from the 1960's and 1970's.

EVE 2 is the first version of EVE to be available for Mac OS X (VST, Audio Units), and costs $75.

Studio Electronics is on the way to launch a new analogue rack synth the CODE, it'll be declined as CODE 2, 4 and 8 (regarding the number of voices and the number of filterbanks). All share SEM and diode filters, MIDI control and sound much like cut down/twisted version of the Omega family. Price and availability TBA. If the only available information on the code is on the site of Nova Music, this shop sells a limited edition of the SE-1X too, the SE-1x ne, featuring an amp overdrive, an ultra fast enveloppe, modified extended range filters, sine waves generator and a special soundbank and two new looks.

Available now for $1699.