SonicBirth is now available as version 1.1.1. SonicBirth is an AudioUnit designing application, allowing users to build their own AudioUnit plugins, either by working with existing circuits or by creating circuits completely from scratch. This new version features :

- Delay sinc samples: high quality delay line
- Sound server now resamples audio files to audio device sample rate
- New module: Formant filter
- New module: Granulate effect
- Fixed a bug in the db to lin element (gave incorrect results in v1.1.0).

LinPlug has released Octopus, a Dual-Matrix synthesizer containing one Matrix for Oscillator/Filter frequency modulation synthesis and another Matrix for general modulation. The key component for building a sound is the instrument's 8 oscillators, Sampler, 2 filters and 32 envelopes. These components are all you need to create anything from classic "old school" FM timbres to complex sounds far beyond those possible with conventional FM synthesis.

Octopus (VST/Audio Units) costs $149.

Digidesign announces that Neyrinck SoundCode for Dolby Digital is now available for Pro Tools|HD. The Neyrinck SoundCode for Dolby Digital plug-in suite provides mastering-quality workflow tools that enable you to encode and decode Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio directly within Pro Tools software, without the need for dedicated Dolby hardware. Neyrinck SoundCode is compatible with HTDM/RTAS/AS on Mac OS X, and an iLok authorization is required.

Neyrinck SoundCode costs $995.00.

U-he (Urs Heckmann) announced the new version 2.0 of Zebra, a major update of this modular synthesizer plug-in, featuring a redesigned interface. The full version of Zebra 2.0 is expected to be released in 2006 but a preview VST/AudioUnits version is already available for download. Zebra 2.0 can be pre-ordered for $169, and the full price will be $199.

Cycling'74 announces new versions 3.5.3 of Pluggo, Pluggo Jr. and the Pluggo Runtime, a new version 1.2.3 of MODE, a new version 1.0.1 of Hipno and at last a new version 4.5.6 of Max/MSP. This updated version of Max/MSP fixes several bugs, and new versions of Pluggo, Mode and Hipno fix also several bugs : errors with Resonation plugin and PluggoFuzz plugin, fix for plugmidiout in Live 5, and Pluggo plugins are now properly listed in the AudioSuite menu.

A complete list of Max/MSP changes is available in the ChangeLog document included in the download.