The Wild Bits just released a new version of Ask The DJ, a $29 shareware which analyses beats to perform truly seamless transitions between tracks.

This new version improves the tracks browser by adding iTunes-like appearance. Columns can now be moved and the layout is saved accross sessions.

Like a real DJ, AskTheDJ matches beats and adapts tempos whenever needed so the music always flows, even when cross-fading between tracks with different bpms. Ask The DJ also cuts unrhythmical intros and outros, and levels volume. Better yet, all this is done automatically. You just need to click Play and dance. You can also export Ask The DJ's mix art to audio files, suitable for burning audio CDs. Ask The DJ requires MacOS X and plays files in MP3, AAC or AIFF format.

UK-based software developers Camel Audio, whose 'CamelPhat' VST multi-effects plugin has won a cult following around the world, announced the arrival of their first full-blown software instrument. Cameleon 5000 is the creature's name, and it's an unusual and exotic hybrid! If you're looking for fresh and original sounds you should definitely take a closer look.

Described by its creator as an 'Additive Morphing Resynthesizer', it combines a powerful and flexible sound generation engine with some unique audio analysis algorithms, to produce an instrument that's not quite a synth and not quite a sampler, yet invites comparisons with both.

Arturia is hosting an enquiry to eventually release the Moog ModularV as an hardware synth (hardware dongle anyone? A way to provide much more power thru dedicated DSPs?). If this interests you or gives you nightmares, please let them know. They really want some input and given the rather good job they did on the ModularV, they deserve a little help :)

We announced a few time ago the future availabitily of North 2, a new set of folk instruments from North India, by Swar System.

It's done: North 2 is available today, for OS X only.