Back in 2003 when the musician’s union Local 802 threatened a strike against Broadway producers, risk management came in the form of the orchestra synthesizer Sinfonia. The theater press took note of this potential replacement for fully staffed pit orchestras and more controversy arose in 2004 with Sinfonia’s use in a new show alongside real musicians. Now a competitor product, Notion, has gotten the attention of the N.Y. Times. While this PC software has yet to debut on Broadway, it has been successfully bulking up the sound of touring groups and amateur productions. The primary sample source for Notion’s instrumentals is the London Symphony Orchestra (“no American ensemble would cooperate”). The musician operating Notion just taps along with the conductor (any key on home row will do). Some argue that this new technology isn’t putting musicians out of work, but bringing more music to people who would otherwise not be getting the experience of a full orchestra. Local 802 may have some choice words about that.