August 23, 2006
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The Guardian reports that the Austrian company Vienna Symphonic Library has developed "virtual orchestra" software that composers can use to simulate, more or less, what their scores will sound like when performed.

The program "mimics human musicians ... so convincingly that a casual listener to Classic FM would be unable to tell the difference," reports David Smith. "Perhaps more importantly, it allows notes - 1.5 million different sounds, to be precise - to be combined in new ways, so that composers can make new music on their laptop without needing to hire an orchestra."

The software can run well over $10,000, alas -- out of reach of most of my composer friends. Too cruel.  Read the full story here.