Pricing that works for a first plugin
- Anchor to what your fans already pay for: a beat lease, merch, a ticket. A focused vocal plugin should feel like an easy yes next to those.
- One clear sound sells better than a do-everything plugin at a higher price.
- Launch price for a short window, then the normal price. Say both up front, and end the launch price when you said you would.
- Make a second plugin before you discount the first. A small bundle later rewards early buyers.
- Count the fee: Sidechain keeps 20% on Creator and 15% on Pro, and card processing is covered, so the rest is yours.
Show it, don't describe it
- Before and afterThe same line dry, then through your plugin. Nothing sells a vocal plugin like hearing the difference in two seconds.
- Turn a knob on cameraShow one control doing something obvious. People buy the knob they want to touch.
- Use your voice, then theirsEvery plugin plays in the browser on the buyer's own vocal before they pay. Tell them to try it.
- Make the clip shortOn Free you can export a 30-second clip for socials (watermarked).
A launch week plan
| When | What |
|---|---|
| A week before | Tease the sound in your normal content. Don't name the price yet. |
| Three days before | Show the faceplate and the knob names. Ask people to save the date. |
| Launch day | The before-and-after clip, the store link, the launch price and when it ends. |
| Mid-week | Repost what buyers make with it. Real tracks beat any ad copy. |
| Last day of launch price | One reminder. Then end it when you said you would. |
Answer the questions before they ask
- Which DAWs: any DAW that loads VST3 or AU, Mac and Windows. Not Pro Tools (AAX).
- Do they keep it: yes, and it works offline once it's in their library.
- Refunds: within 14 days if they never opened it in a DAW.