UI and UX in Audio Programming w/ Chris Randall (Audio Damage) | Ep 03

Chris Randall, co-founder of Audio Damage, discusses the business side of audio plugin development on The Audio Programmer podcast. Starting in 2002 when plugin companies were rare, Chris brought his music industry marketing experience from running a record label to the software world. He handles all design and customer-facing aspects while his partner Adam Schabtach manages the DSP and technical implementation. Chris emphasizes that plugin design is a unique discipline requiring specific attention to user workflows, visual clarity, and the balance between functionality and aesthetics that sets successful products apart from the hundreds of competitors in today's market.

The conversation reveals the harsh realities of building an indie plugin company. Audio Damage operated for six years before Chris received his first paycheck, and it took until 2011 to achieve a stable middle-class income. Chris worked multiple jobs throughout those early years while Adam financially supported the company. He stresses that success rarely happens overnight and that developers need realistic expectations about the time and dedication required. His advice for aspiring developers is straightforward: make genuinely good products, promote them effectively, and understand that you're entering a business like any other where quality and marketing both matter equally.

Chris also shares his philosophy on modern plugin development, advocating for creating innovative tools rather than cloning existing classics. He points out that companies like Valhalla and Universal Audio have already perfected vintage emulations, so Audio Damage focuses on making modern, relevant plugins that inherently work with contemporary music styles. With 45 catalog numbers providing steady passive income, Audio Damage's broad product range creates financial stability. Chris candidly discusses his skepticism about copy protection, his transition from hardware to software-only production, and why he believes the key to longevity is building a dedicated customer base rather than chasing trends or engaging in pricing wars with competitors.

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Originally recorded on June 11th, 2019.