Samples
From 1.5 to over 3 million samples. Packs created by producers who have worked with Eminem, Drake, Flying Lotus, and Billie Eilish.
The issue was no longer about having enough content, but about ensuring that users could find it, explore it, and come back to it.
From Search to Sale
The problem Two distinct challenges: helping users find the sample they’re after quickly, regardless of device (plugin, web, mobile, desktop app), and growing the platform’s visibility on search engines to convert more guest users into active ones.
Key decisions
- Search was hard to narrow down, and the same popular results kept surfacing → search bar made more prominent, filters reworked, term exclusion added, random sort to vary results, tag suggestions to guide the query, keyboard shortcuts added to preview sounds without touching the mouse. Validated through user testing before launch.
- Switching pages meant losing search context → search now persists on a pack’s detail page, results redesigned to stay scannable and consistent across devices.
- Guest users landing directly on a pack’s detail page, not the homepage → rebuilt that page for SEO, first impressions, and clarity, all aimed at turning a visit into a sale.
- Little trust at first glance, upsell felt like a generic paywall → exclusive badge for packs unavailable elsewhere, reassurance banner naming well-known artists, upsell modal clarified (credit system, Studio plan, pack cover art).
+113%
Revenue
+158%
Active users
+293%
Samples free downloads
Search, Rebuilt
From Guest to Subscriber
A final word
This was a team effort over several months, not a solo sprint. Music software is a crowded, competitive space, and I'm glad this work helped Samples catch up to where it needed to be, for musicians using it around the world.
For more details
This page only shows a slice of the work and design process. Get in touch if you'd like to see more.