Although sample libraries can put a virtual symphony orchestra in the hands of any electronic musician who wants one, access to instrumental timbres doesn't give you the skills to create convincing, well-balanced arrangements. To meet the demand for expert instruction in orchestration, Alexander Publishing (www.alexanderpublishing.com) has introduced Writing for Strings/Living Music Book Level 1 ($159 or $179), an interactive self-study training course created by Peter Alexander. The course is specifically designed for use with a MIDI keyboard and a computer-based sampler. If you don't already own a string sample library, the higher-priced package includes a basic single-layer library in GigaStudio format.

Comprising 30 lessons, the course furnishes audio examples, QuickTime videos, PDF scores, MIDI files, an orchestration text, and a thesaurus of orchestral devices. Alexander's revised version of Rimsky-Korsakov's Principles of Orchestration is required and is available in printed ($75) or PDF ($55) format.

ASKVideo Interactive Media (www.askvideo.com) has begun shipping the first in a series of interactive tutorial DVD-ROM discs on the newest version of Steinberg Cubase SX. In Cubase SX3 Level 1 (Mac/Win, $39), JoAnn Mailloux guides you through 28 video segments — two hours in all — covering a range of topics such as audio and MIDI setup, recording, and editing; tools, tracks, and transport; and key commands and macros. Although Mailloux touches on SX3's new features, the tutorial offers in-depth knowledge about any version of Cubase or Nuendo.