What McDSP does

McDSP (McDowell Signal Processing, LLC) is a privately held professional audio software and hardware company founded in 1998 by Colin McDowell and headquartered in Mountain View, California. The company develops plug-ins for digital audio workstations (Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Avid VENUE) spanning channel strips, compressors, equalizers, limiters, multi-band processors, noise reduction, dialog processors, and specialty effects. Its core proprietary technology is the patented APB (Analog Processing Box) system — the world's first programmable analog processor — available as APB-16 ($6,999, 16 channels) and APB-8 (8 channels), with up to five units combinable for 80 channels of analog processing under DAW plug-in control. McDSP also licenses algorithms (FutzBox, ML1, AE600, SA-2, and others) to third parties including CRI Middleware (ADX2), Audiokinetic, Bioware, Microsoft, and LouderLogic.

The company monetizes through multiple streams: perpetual plug-in licenses at $79-$449; plug-in bundles (Classic Pack, Retro Pack, Live Pack II, Everything Pack); hardware sales for APB units via authorized dealers; an All Access subscription starting at $14.99/month; and B2B algorithm licensing. Distribution combines direct e-commerce via UltraCart with a global authorized dealer network covering North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Marketing relies on NAMM trade shows, a live video series ("Colin's Corner"), social media, email, and endorsements from Grammy-winning engineers including Dave Pensado, Mike Dean, Tony Maserati, and Andrew Scheps. The product has been used on productions involving Beyoncé, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Game of Thrones, and Loki.

McDSP serves four primary customer personas: music producers and recording engineers (largest), post-production professionals for film/TV, live sound engineers, and game audio developers. It has received a 2017 Engineering Emmy Award (SA-2 Dialog Processor), a 2016 Cinema Audio Society Award, and 8 TEC Award nominations across APB-16 (2021), APB-8 (2022), and KD1 (2024). The company is 100% founder-owned, has no disclosed external funding, and operates with 11-50 employees.

Name

McDSP

Legal name

McDowell Signal Processing, LLC

Website

https://mcdsp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

McDSP is a privately held pro audio software and hardware company developing professional plug-ins and patented programmable analog processing hardware (APB) for music producers, post-production engineers, live sound professionals, and game audio developers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Software Plug-in Sales: McDSP sells individual plug-ins and bundled collections with both Native (AAX Native, AU, VST3) and HD (AAX DSP/Native) versions. Prices range from $99 to $449 for individual products, with bundles like Classic Pack at $299-$349 and Retro Pack at $149-$189.
2. All Access Subscription: Monthly subscription providing access to all current and future McDSP plug-ins. Priced from $14.99/month, with annual plans available. All Access Subscribers receive v7 updates at no additional cost.
3. APB Hardware Sales: Sale of APB-16 (16-channel, $6999) and APB-8 (8-channel) programmable analog processing hardware. Hardware is sold through select authorized dealers only.
4. Technology Licensing: McDSP licenses its audio algorithms to third-party companies for integration into their products. Partners include CRI Middleware (for ADX2 platform), Audiokinetic, Bioware, Microsoft, and LouderLogic (iOS apps).
5. Upgrade Sales: Customers can upgrade from older versions (v6) to v7, and from Native to HD versions. Upgrade pricing is available for plug-ins and bundles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

McDSP develops and sells professional audio processing software plug-ins and the proprietary APB (Analog Processing Box) programmable analog hardware. The software portfolio spans channel strips, compressors, equalizers, limiters, noise reduction, dialog processors, and specialty effects distributed via AAX, AU, and VST3 formats. The patented APB hardware (16-channel APB-16 and 8-channel APB-8) enables software-controlled genuine analog processing, serving music production, post-production, live sound, and game audio markets.

Product overview

McDSP is an Emmy award-winning audio software and hardware company offering professional audio plugins for digital audio workstations (Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Avid VENUE) plus proprietary programmable analog hardware. The product portfolio centers on the APB (Analog Processing Box) ecosystem — available in 16-channel (APB-16) and 8-channel (APB-8) hardware configurations — which provides genuine analog processing under software control. The software plugin lineup includes channel strips (Channel G, 6050/6060 Ultimate), compressors (6030, 6034, MC2000, ML4000, ML8000), EQs (6020, AE600), noise reduction (NR800, NF575), delay/echo (EC-300), specialty processors (FutzBox, FutzVerb, DE555), dialog processing (SA-2, SA-3), and various APB-specific plugins (Royal Mu, Royal Q, KD1, BOB, MC-3, L-18, TAPE, Moo X Mixer, DC-2). These are available as individual plugins, themed bundles (Everything Pack, Live Pack II, Classic Pack, Retro Pack), or via All Access subscription. Formats include AAX DSP/Native, AU, and VST3 with Apple silicon and Intel optimization in v7.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• APB-16 Analog Processing Box World's first programmable analog processor with 16 channels of premium analog processing, each controllable via software plug-in. Combines digital workflow flexibility with genuine analog performance.
• APB-8 Analog Processing Box 8-channel version of the programmable analog processor with identical functionality to APB-16; combinable with APB units up to 5 total (80 channels).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 24 products serving professional audio markets worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CRI MiddlewarecoreTechnology or Integration · 5 February 2018Partnership to bring McDSP plug-ins to CRI's ADX2 audio middleware platform for game development. McDSP plug-ins available include FutzBox, ML1 Mastering Limiter, AE600 Active Equalizer, and SA-2 Dialog Processor. This integration enables game developers worldwide to access McDSP audio processing through the ADX2 platform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• iZotope: iZotope is a leading audio software company specializing in intelligent audio processing, with flagship products like RX (noise reduction/post), Ozone (mastering), Neutron, and Nectar. iZotope directly competes with McDSP in noise reduction (NR800 vs. RX), dialog processing (SA-2 vs. RX Dialogue Isolate), and mastering/limiting (ML4000/ML8000 vs. Ozone).
• Solid State Logic (SSL): SSL is a legendary pro audio manufacturer of analog mixing consoles and hardware processors, now offering the Native and SiX channel strip plugins and the UF8/UF1 DAW controllers. SSL's plugin business directly competes with McDSP's channel strips (Channel G, 6050) and EQs, with SSL's analog console heritage creating comparable brand positioning to McDSP's APB hardware story.
• Antelope Audio: Antelope Audio manufactures professional audio interfaces with onboard FPGA processing, enabling hardware-accelerated real-time effects. Antelope's model of combining audio hardware (interfaces) with bundled software plugins mirrors McDSP's APB-plus-plugin strategy, and they compete for the same professional studio and live sound customers.
• FabFilter: FabFilter is a premium Dutch audio plugin maker renowned for its Pro-Q equalizer, Pro-C compressor, and Pro-L limiter. FabFilter competes directly with McDSP in EQ, compression, and dynamics categories, and shares a similar target customer base of professional mixing and mastering engineers who prioritize sound quality and clean UI.
• Universal Audio (UA): Universal Audio is the closest analog to McDSP — a company that sells both professional audio software plugins AND proprietary DSP hardware (Apollo interfaces, UAD-2 accelerators, LUNA recording system). UA's Apollo Twin and UAD platform competes directly with McDSP's APB in the hybrid analog/digital professional audio category, with comparable premium pricing and engineer-endorsed marketing.
• Plugin Alliance: Plugin Alliance is a marketplace and developer collective (including Brainworx, elysia, Maag, Shadow Hills, TUBE-TECH) that sells premium plugins from boutique developers. Plugin Alliance competes with McDSP in the premium plugin market, offering comparable channel strips, EQs, and compressors from brands with similar analog-modeling credentials.
• Waves Audio: Waves is the dominant professional audio plugin company, offering hundreds of plugins across EQ, compression, limiting, and specialty processing for the same DAW platforms (Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase). Waves competes head-to-head with McDSP in plugin categories like Channel Strips, Compressors, EQs, Limiters, and Noise Reduction, with overlapping customer base among professional engineers.

Broad incumbents

• Avid Technology: Avid is the maker of Pro Tools (the dominant DAW) and VENUE live sound consoles — both central to McDSP's distribution. While not a direct plugin competitor in the same way, Avid bundles its own plugins with Pro Tools and competes in live sound (VENUE S6L, where McDSP's Live Pack II integrates). The relationship is both partnership (AAX platform) and competitive (bundled plugins).
• Native Instruments: Native Instruments is a major music technology company offering a broad portfolio including Komplete (instruments/effects), Maschine (production hardware), Traktor (DJ), and iZotope integration. While their product portfolio spans instruments and broader music creation rather than specialized processing plugins, they compete with McDSP for the same professional audio creator customer base.

Others

• Audinate (Dante): Audinate provides Dante audio-over-IP networking technology used in professional audio installations, live sound, and broadcast. While not a direct plugin competitor, Audinate is an ecosystem enabler in the same pro audio market, and its Dante platform intersects with McDSP's live sound and post-production customer workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/McDSP_Plugins
• YouTubeyoutube.com/mcdsptv
• Facebookfacebook.com/McDSPaudio
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcdsp?ref=badge
• TikToktiktok.com/@mcdsptv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcdsp

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McDSP