Software for pro audio companies
Online stores, license management, customer portals and plugins. We work for companies like Native Instruments, Brainworx and Acon Digital, and we know how activations, upgrades and bundle pricing play out in practice.
- Everything is connected: Store, license server, plugin, support and accounting exchange data. We build those connections too.
- Operations are included: After launch we monitor the platform and install updates. For incidents, it's defined who gets notified.
- Step-by-step rebuilds: We replace an existing store piece by piece. We avoid a risky relaunch on a single cutover date.
What we do
Download stores with license delivery
After payment, the license is created automatically and the customer can download right away. Upgrades, bundles and the switch from trial to full version are set up as rules in the store.
Customer portals with registration, upgrades and downloads
Customers register their products, see their licenses and download the current version. Support sees the same information as the customer.
Plugin development (VST, AU, AAX)
Plugins for the common formats. For the Brainworx MEGA Sampler, we developed the plugin and web app in parallel.
Web apps for plugins
Interfaces that run in a webview inside the plugin: sign-in, license check, libraries. When the data is stored locally, this also works offline.
When activation fails, it ends up in support
With audio software, revenue depends on a few workflows: purchase, activation, upgrade. If an activation gets stuck or checkout fails, the customer writes to support or doesn't buy.
That's why we treat the store, license server and plugin as one system. Every license has a clear state. That holds on release day too, when lots of customers buy at the same time.
Building blocks of an audio software platform
What we typically build for audio companies.
Store and subscriptions
Purchases, upgrades and bundles, the switch from trial to full version, and subscription renewals.
Licensing and activation
Serial numbers, per-seat or per-device licenses, sync between server and plugin, and protection against abuse.
Accounts and portals
Downloads, new versions, help articles and support requests. Roles and permissions control who sees what.
Webviews in the plugin
Sign-in and license check directly in the plugin, with a secure handoff between web and plugin. Plus usage signals for product development.
Interfaces
Versioned APIs and events between systems. For every record, it's defined which system owns it.
Operations
Monitoring, alerts and defined escalation paths for incidents. We host in Germany (Hetzner) or in your infrastructure.
From purchase to accounting: one chain, clear states
We describe the path of a license as a chain that anyone in the company can follow:
- Purchase
- Account
- License
- Activation
- Updates and downloads
- Support
- Accounting
- Fewer “Why won't my license work?” tickets, because every license has a clear state.
- Less lost revenue, because upgrades and renewals follow fixed, tested rules.
- Faster releases, because a new version can be rolled back if something goes wrong.
Fixed rules for security, operations and delivery
We stick to these in every project, whatever the technology.
Security and license protection
Access control with roles and permissions, rate limiting, and flags for fraud and abuse.
Operations
Monitoring with alerts and regular health checks. If something breaks, it's clear who gets notified and when.
Delivery
Automated tests, a staging environment before go-live and a fixed process for every release.
Interfaces
Versioned APIs and events. A repeated request never creates a duplicate license or a duplicate charge.
Technology: The tools we use depend on the project. Often that's TypeScript and Node.js, AWS and a payment provider integration.
Six projects from the audio industry and software sales
Each project has a case study covering the starting point, the technology and the result.
Acon Digital
Download store for audio software. After payment, the license is created automatically. We migrated customer and order data from the old system. Development took six months.
Acon Digital download shop case studyBrainworx MEGA Sampler
Plugin and web app, developed in parallel. A large collection of loops and samples, searchable by BPM, key, genre and instrument. Samples can be dragged into the DAW and used offline.
Brainworx MEGA Sampler case study10 Phantom Rooms
Website for virtual instruments for Native Instruments' Kontakt Player. Headless CMS, connected to the Native Instruments store, built for several planned product lines.
10 Phantom Rooms case studyMySoftware
Software download portal, launched in 2014. Orders, updates and security checks run automatically. Pages load quickly, and performance tuning is ongoing.
MySoftware download portal case studyManley
Manley builds tube gear for recording studios and hi-fi. The website moved from Squarespace to Nuxt and Strapi, with 37 product pages in 11 categories.
Manley website relaunch case studyMastering Studio
Audio mastering in the cloud. VST plugins process the recordings on the server. Started as a proof of concept in 2019, launched in three world regions in 2021.
Mastering Studio case studyOther references without a case study
audio.store
Store platform for pro audio
ImageSounds
Platform for an audio library with catalog, search and licensing
Details on request.
See all case studiesIn two weeks you know where your platform stands
Before any larger rebuild, we start with an audit. It takes two weeks and costs €3,000 to €6,000 at a fixed price. We review code, interfaces and operations.
You get:
- System overview: all systems, data flows and responsibilities on one page.
- Risk list: licensing, store, security, operations and speed, ranked by urgency.
- Quick improvements and a 90-day plan: in an order you can actually execute.
- Recommendation: on architecture, operations and where AI can be used sensibly and in compliance with the rules.
Before that comes an intro call: 30 minutes, free. The Software Audit page describes the process and scope.
Questions we hear a lot
Related topics
- Case study: Acon Digital download shop
- Case study: Brainworx MEGA Sampler
- Case study: 10 Phantom Rooms
- Case study: MySoftware download portal
- Case study: Manley website relaunch
- Case study: Mastering Studio
- Software modernization
- Customer portals, B2B catalogs and online stores
- Ecommerce and online store development
- Web development
What do you need?
In the intro call you tell us where things are stuck. We tell you honestly whether we're the right team. 30 minutes, free. We work in English and German.
Jens Bohl Founder and Managing Director