Expert Sleepers has released a beta version of Crossfade Loop Synth v3.0.0 (beta 3). From version 3, Crossfade Loop Synth is actually two plug-ins: Crossfade Loop Synth and Crossfade Loop Synth Effect. The effect version takes the power of Crossfade Loop Synth and turns it into a live sampler, a looper and a very unusual and powerful delay effect.

Crossfade Loop Synth v3 is expected to be available for purchase some time during March 2007. Beta versions are available in VST and Audio Units formats for Mac OS X Universal Binary.

FXpansion has released Audio Units and RTAS versions of Orca, the freeware experimental monosynth based on detailed and accurate models of analogue synthesizer circuits and components.

Orca v1.11 is available now for Mac OS X (UB) as a free download from FXpansion's website, note that a free registration is required.

Virsyn have announced the release of miniTERA 2 which offers a radically simplified approach to sound design. The new version comes with layer sounds and a new sound browser.

New features :

- Easy Sound browsing with categories and attributes.
- Up to four layer per preset for massive sounds.
- Onboard reverb effect
- Dual mode for modulation effects
- Modified signal flow for better transparency of layered sounds.
- MIDI channel selection
- 100 new presets/sounds
- Intel based Mac compatibility
- VST 2.4 compatibility

miniTERA 2.0 is available for Mac OS X (UB) at a retail price of 89 €. Note that if you already have TERA 3, then you will get miniTERA for free !

Sinevibes is happy to announce the release of the SP-404 Recharger sound library for the Roland SP-404 sampler developed especially for those who are tired of countless reincarnations of the same old sounds. It features hot drums, percussion and effects which were painstakingly created from the ground up - kicks, snares, toms, claps, congas, hats, as well as scratches, spectral, vocoder sounds and more. SP-404 Recharger turns your portable sampler into a real 21st century drum machine monster!

SP-404 Recharger is available as a download for only $19

Apogee Electronics Corporation announced the release of a new version of the FireWire Audio Driver for Ensemble, Apogee's multi-channel, digital audio interface designed specifically for use with Apple Macintosh computers.

This Firewire Audio driver supports a single Ensemble used with any G4, G5 or Intel-based Macintosh in conjunction with OS X v. 10.4.8 or later, providing consistent sample accurate performance at all sampling rates. This version also features enhanced stability on supported Macintosh computers and resolves the few remaining issues associated with previous versions of the beta driver.

The new FireWire Driver Version for Ensemble is available immediately via :