ModeAudio
ModeAudio is a privately held Edinburgh-based sound design studio (founded 2013, 1-10 employees) that creates and sells royalty-free sample packs, synth presets, MIDI files, and the Airspace VST/AU plugin to music producers and content creators worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What ModeAudio does
ModeAudio is an Edinburgh-based, privately held digital audio content studio founded in 2013, operating under the legal entity ModeAudio Ltd with a headcount of 1-10. The company designs and sells royalty-free sample packs, music loops, drum samples, synth presets, MIDI files, and field recordings for music producers, beatmakers, filmmakers, and content creators. Its catalog spans 12+ genres (Ambient, Cinematic, Hip Hop, House, LoFi, Synthwave, Trap, and others) and is delivered in DAW-specific formats for Ableton Live, FL Studio, Reason, Bitwig, and others, as well as synth-specific presets for Serum, Serum 2, Vital, Massive, Sylenth1, and FM8. All products are 100% royalty-free with perpetual commercial usage rights.
The company's core technology is content production and digital distribution: curated audio assets pre-formatted and pre-mapped to major DAW and soft-synth ecosystems, with bundles, free taster packs, and a freemium newsletter funnel (offering 800MB of free sounds) feeding direct e-commerce sales on modeaudio.com in EUR, USD, and GBP. Most recently, ModeAudio expanded into software with Airspace, its first proprietary VST/AU hybrid reverb and delay plugin, priced at $80.11. The company has built an embedded distribution position through official partnerships with Ableton, Native Instruments, Image-Line/FL Studio, Reason Studios, Bitwig, Tracktion, Elektron, Xfer Records, D16 Group, and others, with content featured inside partner DAW marketplaces and official ReFill shops.
ModeAudio runs a product-led, direct-to-consumer model with one-time-perpetual-license pricing on individual packs ($4-$35) and bundles (35%+ discounts, plus a "3 for 2" promotion). Revenue is generated exclusively through digital downloads, with no disclosed subscription tier, no external funding, and no parent company. Marketing relies on the ModeAudio Magazine (tutorials and production tips), email newsletters, free taster packs, and earned media from industry publications. The company shows active, independent operations with ongoing catalog expansion and the recent Airspace plugin launch representing its first move beyond audio content into standalone software.
ModeAudio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ModeAudio
- Legal name
- ModeAudio Ltd
- Website
- https://modeaudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ModeAudio is a privately held Edinburgh-based sound design studio (founded 2013, 1-10 employees) that creates and sells royalty-free sample packs, synth presets, MIDI files, and the Airspace VST/AU plugin to music producers and content creators worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ModeAudio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Production Software
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (512250), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Creator Music/SFX Asset Libraries & Licensing Platforms (MPACABAM)
Keywords
Where ModeAudio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
ModeAudio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Digital Sound Pack Sales: One-time purchase model for individual sample packs, loops, synth presets, and MIDI files. Each pack is a one-time download with perpetual usage rights.
- Bundle Pack Sales: Discounted combination packs offering 35%+ savings off individual prices, combining multiple sound packs into single collections.
- Plugin Sales: Sales of proprietary VST/AU audio plugins like Airspace at one-time pricing.
- Newsletter Marketing: Email list building with 800MB free sounds incentive for newsletter signup.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Sample Packs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bundle Packs (3 for 2 Deal) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Airspace Plugin |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
ModeAudio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ModeAudio designs and sells royalty-free digital audio content for music producers, including sample packs (WAV loops and one-shots), MIDI files, DAW-compatible synth presets, and a VST/AU audio plugin. Products are delivered as instant digital downloads and are licensed for use in original music production across genres.
Product overview
ModeAudio is a royalty-free sample pack, synth preset, and MIDI file provider for music producers. The core offering consists of Loops & Sample Packs, Hits & Patches (drum samples), Synth Presets for major soft synths (Serum, Serum 2, Vital, NI Massive, Sylenth1), MIDI Files, and Bundle Packs. The product portfolio spans multiple genres (Ambient, Cinematic, Downtempo, EDM, Hip Hop, House, LoFi, Pop, R&B, Synthwave, Techno, Trap) and instrument types (Bass, Drums, Guitars, Percussion, Piano & Keys, SFX, Synths, Textures, Vocals). Products are available in various DAW-specific formats including Ableton Live Packs, FL Studio Packs, and Reason ReFills. Mini Packs and Micro Packs offer smaller, focused content at budget prices. ModeAudio recently expanded into plugins with Airspace, a hybrid reverb & delay VST/AU plugin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Airspace: Hybrid reverb and delay effect plugin for VST and AU formats. The company's first proprietary software plugin product.
Products and services
- Royalty-Free Sample Packs
Quantifiable outcome
- 3 for 2 deal on all packs providing immediate value
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ModeAudio
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
ModeAudio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
ModeAudio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- RenoisecoreCollaborative partnership with Renoise, a tracker-based DAW. ModeAudio provides sample-centric content for Renoise users, with plans for continued collaboration on future releases.
- Native Instruments GmbHcoreModeAudio created the 'Prismatic Bliss' Maschine expansion for Native Instruments, providing hazy, lush soundscapes and rich 80s analog synth samples specifically designed for Native Instruments' Maschine hardware/software platform.
- AbletoncoreModeAudio is recognized as one of Ableton's trusted sound partners. They provide high-quality sounds and presets designed to work seamlessly within Ableton Live's ecosystem, including custom drum racks and instrument rack presets.
- Image-Line BVBA / FL StudiocoreOfficial partnership bringing ModeAudio's SFX Bundle and Sleepless City sample packs directly to FL Studio's extensive user base through the FL Studio plugin ecosystem.
- Reason Studios ABcoreModeAudio is a strong provider of content in the official Reason ReFill shop, providing high-quality REX2 loops, Kong kits, Combinator patches, and drum samples formatted specifically for Reason DAW.
- Xfer RecordscoreExtensive library of Serum and Serum 2 presets, with all packs including .fxp presets or SerumPack files designed specifically for Xfer Records' industry-leading Serum synthesizer.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ModeAudio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Splice: The dominant subscription-based sample pack and preset marketplace. Directly competes with ModeAudio in royalty-free samples, presets, and loops for music producers, but operates on a subscription credit model rather than one-time pack sales. The clear market leader in the same product category.
- Plugin Boutique: Retailer of plugins, sample packs, and presets from multiple sound designers, including their in-house labels. Overlaps with ModeAudio on plugin sales (VST/AU) and sample pack distribution, though operating more as a multi-label marketplace.
- Producer Loops: Royalty-free sample packs and MIDI loops retailer serving the same music producer audience as ModeAudio, with comparable pricing tiers and genre/format breadth.
- Cymatics: A direct competitor offering free and paid sample packs, MIDI files, and presets for major DAWs and synths. Targets the same producer demographic with similar genre coverage (Hip Hop, EDM, Trap) and aggressive promotional pricing strategies.
- Loopmasters: One of the longest-standing royalty-free sample and loop libraries, offering packs from independent sound designers across all major genres. Directly comparable to ModeAudio's core product offering, with a similar one-time purchase model and broad genre/format coverage.
Emerging players
- Audio Imperia: Sample and preset company specializing in cinematic, trailer, and hybrid orchestral content. Comparable business model and target customer (composers and producers), though more focused on cinematic/trailer genre than ModeAudio's broader genre spread.
- Ghosthack Audio: Royalty-free sample packs, loops, and presets for EDM, hip hop, and cinematic producers. Operates with similar one-time pack sales model and comparable pricing, particularly strong in European producer market.
Others
- Image-Line (FL Studio): Developer of FL Studio DAW. ModeAudio is a channel partner selling packs through the FL Studio ecosystem; Image-Line is also a distribution partner/incumbent that could expand into first-party content, making it adjacent as both partner and ecosystem incumbent.
Broad incumbents
- Native Instruments: Major DAW and instrument hardware/software maker (Maschine, Komplete, Kontakt). ModeAudio is a partner producing content for Maschine, and Native Instruments also sells its own expansion packs - a partial competitor in the third-party sound content space and a much larger incumbent.
- LANDR: Broader music production platform offering AI mastering, samples, plugins, and distribution. Overlaps with ModeAudio on samples and presets but extends well beyond into mastering and release services - a wider portfolio competitor rather than a focused specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ModeAudio social profiles
Digital presenceModeAudio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ModeAudio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ModeAudio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ModeAudio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ModeAudio
What does ModeAudio do?
ModeAudio designs and sells royalty-free digital audio content for music producers, including sample packs (WAV loops and one-shots), MIDI files, DAW-compatible synth presets, and a VST/AU audio plugin. Products are delivered as instant digital downloads and are licensed for use in original music production across genres.
Is ModeAudio a public or private company?
ModeAudio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ModeAudio founded?
ModeAudio was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ModeAudio based?
ModeAudio is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ModeAudio make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Digital Sound Pack Sales are the primary driver. The others are bundle Pack Sales, plugin Sales and newsletter Marketing.
Who are ModeAudio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Splice, Plugin Boutique, Producer Loops, Cymatics and Loopmasters. Emerging players are Audio Imperia and Ghosthack Audio. Image-Line (FL Studio) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Native Instruments and LANDR.
Does ModeAudio have an API?
No public API is recorded for ModeAudio.
What industry is ModeAudio in?
ModeAudio's product category is Music Production Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAIAB, Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX), with a secondary code of MPACABAM, Creator Music/SFX Asset Libraries & Licensing Platforms. Its NAICS code is 512250.