circles drum samples

What circles drum samples does

Circles Audio LLC, operating under the consumer brand Circles, is a Colorado-based indie audio software studio that develops the Circles Plugin, a software-based drum instrument and sample library platform for music producers, audio engineers, and independent beatmakers. The core product is a 16-channel drum engine distributed as AAX, AU, and VST3 plugin formats compatible with Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Ableton Live. Built-in capabilities include mic control, per-channel effects, multi-output routing, choke groups, round robins, and a browsing layer for an expansion library ecosystem of 18 genre-specific packs. The product is positioned as a unified drum production platform consolidating prior Circles product lines into a single modular architecture.

The business is a direct-to-consumer digital goods operation selling entirely through circlesaudio.com with no third-party resellers. Monetization combines perpetual one-time licenses (Core at $129, Complete at $349, with a regular $600 reference price), a rent-to-own subscription at $25/month for 14 months, and a $199 standalone WAV Pack Bundle for non-plugin users. Lead generation relies on free sample packs, a content marketing blog, and social channels that feed into owned e-commerce conversion. The company is independently operated as a Colorado LLC with 1-10 employees, trades under the DBA "Circles," and maintains a registered trademark on the Circles brand.

There is no disclosed external funding, no venture backing, and no public revenue or headcount trajectory. The most prominent third-party credibility signal is the documented use of Circles' Dead Vol 2 loops in Billie Eilish's Grammy-winning single "Birds of a Feather," which is positioned in marketing as a workflow validation rather than a commercial relationship. No AI or ML capabilities are referenced in the product surface.

Name

circles drum samples

Legal name

Circles Audio LLC

Website

https://circlesdrumsamples.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circles Audio LLC (trading as Circles) develops the Circles Plugin, a sample-based drum instrument and expansion library platform sold direct-to-consumer to music producers, audio engineers, and beatmakers globally via perpetual licenses and rent-to-own pricing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Production Software

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Production Workflow & Project Management Tools (Session management, asset/versioning) (MPAIAIAK), Beatmakers & Track Production (MPAIAHAE)

Keywords

• Drum sample libraries
• Drum plugin software
• Audio production tools
• Music production plugins
• Multi-sampled drums

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Circles Plugin Core: Perpetual license to the Circles plugin with 4 included libraries (Dead Vol 3, Dead Hifi, Digi, Dead Digital) at $129 one-time purchase.
2. Circles Plugin Complete: Perpetual license to all current and future Circles Plugin expansion packs for $349 one-time (reg $600). Includes all expansion libraries.
3. Rent-to-Own: Rent-to-own option for Complete tier at $25/month for 14 monthly payments. After final payment, user owns the license forever. Can pause or cancel anytime.
4. Individual WAV Packs: Standalone WAV-based drum sample packs sold individually at various price points. Not dependent on the Circles Plugin.
5. WAV Pack Bundle: Full collection of all WAV packs bundled together for $199 (reg $520), offering significant savings versus individual purchases.
6. Individual Plugin Expansions: Individual Circles Plugin expansion packs available for separate purchase. Dead Vol 2 available as plugin expansion with 6 kits, 87 sounds, 330 loops, and 130 samples.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Circles develops and sells the Circles Plugin, a modern drum instrument for digital audio workstations (DAWs) that houses a multi-sampled drum ecosystem with per-channel sound shaping, room mic blending, and built-in effects. The company also sells standalone WAV-format drum sample packs and modular expansion libraries that can be purchased separately or bundled, targeting music producers, audio engineers, songwriters, and beatmakers.

Product overview

Circles is a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on the Circles Plugin—a modern drum instrument for digital audio workstations that provides a unified ecosystem for browsing, shaping, and playing multi-sampled drums. The plugin includes four core libraries (Dead Vol 3, Dead Hifi, Digi, Dead Digital) and supports additional expansion packs (Dead Vol 1, Dead Vol 2, Dead 1973, Dead 1977, Dead 1980, 1980, 1990, 2000, Bang, Dust, Huge, Indi, Dirt). Available in AAX, AU, and VST3 formats for use in major DAWs including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Ableton Live. Circles also offers standalone WAV packs for drag-and-drop workflows without requiring the plugin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circles Plugin: Modern drum instrument plugin for digital audio workstations featuring multi-sampled drums with effects, room control, and kit building capabilities.
• Dead Vol 2
• WAV Packs

Products and services

• Circles Plugin A modern drum instrument plugin that houses the entire Circles ecosystem, allowing users to browse, shape, and play multi-sampled drums with speed, depth, and total control. For music producers, audio engineers, songwriters, and beatmakers using DAWs including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Ableton Live.
• WAV Packs Standalone WAV format drum samples, loops, and one-shots available as individual packs or a full collection bundle. Usable in any DAW without requiring the Circles Plugin, for producers who prefer drag-and-drop file workflows.
• Dead Vol 2 Expansion Library The most popular dead drum library with dry, dynamic kicks, snares, toms, cymbals, and full kit presets. Includes 6 ultra-dead kits, 80+ kit pieces with multivelocity and multi-mic recordings, 330 MIDI loops, and 130 samples. Sold separately or as part of the Complete bundle.
• Plugin Expansion Packs Additional content packs for the Circles Plugin including Dead Vol 1, Dead Vol 2, Dead 1973, Dead 1977, Dead 1980, 1980, 1990, 2000, Bang, Dust, Huge, Indi, and Dirt, available as separate purchases to extend the plugin's library.

Quantifiable outcome

• Billie Eilish's Grammy-winning "Birds of a Feather" used Circles Dead Vol. 2 loops
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• UJAM: UJAM makes subscription-based and perpetual virtual instrument plugins including beatmaker and drum-specific products. They directly compete with Circles in offering streamlined, producer-friendly drum plugin tools with curated sound content.
• XLN Audio: XLN Audio develops Addictive Drums 2 and XO, two of the most widely used drum plugins/virtual instruments in the producer market. Direct competitor in the multi-sampled drum plugin category, with overlapping DAW-based workflows and similar customer base of producers and mix engineers.
• Toontrack: Toontrack's EZdrummer, Superior Drummer, and EZmix product lines are direct competitors in the multi-sampled drum plugin and expansion library space. Both companies sell perpetual licenses with modular expansion content to the same producer and engineer customer base.
• Output: Output makes modern production tools including Arcade (a sample/loop playground) and signal-processing plugins. They target the same contemporary producer and beatmaker audience as Circles with a focus on workflow-driven, content-rich products.
• GetGood Drums: GetGood Drums produces multi-sampled drum libraries (Matt Halpern signature kits, etc.) sold as perpetual content packs and a virtual instrument. They compete directly with Circles in offering curated, artist-grade drum sample content to producers.
• Audio Imperia: Audio Imperia develops cinematic and contemporary drum sample libraries and virtual instruments (e.g., Nucleus, Taikos, Skybox). They are a direct competitor in the multi-sampled drum content and expansion-pack business model used by Circles.

Broad incumbents

• EastWest Sounds: EastWest produces high-end multi-sampled virtual instruments including drum libraries (e.g., SD2, Stormdrum) with a similar model of large sample content sold as perpetual licenses plus expansions. They compete at the premium end of the same drum plugin segment.
• Splice: Splice operates a subscription-based sample and preset marketplace used by the same producer audience Circles targets. Splice overlaps with Circles' WAV pack offering and acts as both a competitor and a potential distribution channel for drum content.
• Native Instruments: Native Instruments offers Battery (a drum sampler plugin) and a broad portfolio of Komplete production tools. They are a broader incumbent with overlapping drum plugin capabilities plus synthesizers, samplers, and effects that compete for the same producer budget.

Others

• Plugin Boutique: Plugin Boutique is a major music plugin and virtual instrument marketplace. While not a direct product competitor, it is a highly relevant distribution channel where peer drum plugins are sold and discovered by the same producer audience Circles targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circle-sounds-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 circles drum samples