# ElevenLabs — Introducing SFX v3 for developers

- Company: ElevenLabs (elevenlabs.io)
- Announced: 2026-11-02T12:00:00+00:00
- Category: new-model
- Coverage: not counted
- Announcement: yes
- Group: models
- Source: https://elevenlabs.io/blog/sfx-v3-for-developers
- Record: https://forck.live/items/30561-introducing-sfx-v3-for-developers
- Subject: Voice AI
- Models affected: SFX v3, SFX v2, eleven_text_to_sound_v3, eleven_text_to_sound_v2

ElevenLabs is releasing SFX v3, a new sound effects model in its Sound Effects API that follows prompts with multiple instructions more closely than SFX v2 and handles vocals and music better. Developers switch by setting model_id to eleven_text_to_sound_v3 on the POST /v1/sound-generation endpoint, and the model picks the length of the sound effect from the prompt. If outputs drift, raising prompt_influence above its default of 0.3 makes generations follow the prompt more closely and vary less between runs. Looping still only works with eleven_text_to_sound_v2, so requests that need it should stay on v2 with loop: true. ElevenLabs calls SFX v3 an incremental update that is less likely to clip on high-frequency sounds like gongs, chimes and kettle whistles, and says its engineering team finds it sounds more natural overall. Because both models run on the same endpoint, the company suggests running common prompts through v2 and v3 to compare before switching.

## Evidence

Verbatim from https://elevenlabs.io/blog/sfx-v3-for-developers:

> Today, we're releasing SFX v3, our newest sound effects model in the Sound Effects API. It follows prompts with multiple instructions more closely than SFX v2, and handles vocals and music better. To try it, set model_id to eleven_text_to_sound_v3 on the POST /v1/sound-generation endpoint.
> 
> Model ID
> 
> To update to the new model, simply update the model ID:
> 
> from elevenlabs import ElevenLabs elevenlabs = ElevenLabs() audio = elevenlabs.text_to_sound_effects.convert( text = "Football crowd cheering, hearing a ball drop, crowd booing" , model_id = "eleven_text_to_sound_v3" , )
> 
> The model picks the length of the sound effect based on the prompt. If you need specific timing, set the duration_seconds to your desired time.
> 
> If outputs drift from what you asked for, raise prompt_influence above its default of 0.3. Higher values follow the prompt more closely and vary less between generations. The output_format query parameter sets the codec and sample rate, such as mp3_44100_128 or pcm_48000.
> 
> Looping currently only works with eleven_text_to_sound_v2, so if you need that for your request stick to the v2 model with loop: true.
> 
> How to prompt
> 
> SFX v3 is great at multi-part sound effects.

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