8 mad and mind-blowing plugin interfaces

With the recent release of Waves Andrew Scheps Parallel Particles getting us thinking about just how far off the dial plugin GUI designers can go when they want to, we decided to round up eight of the most bewildering, overblown and downright bonkers virtual instrument and effect fascias ever committed to screen.

Don't get us wrong: what we have here are some truly amazing and, in a couple of cases, quite beautiful devices. In each case, though, the UI design rulebook has gone right out of the window...

Ironically-named beat machine. Soon available for Apple Watch.

A rusty synth clad in leopard print. Need we say more?

Imagine yourself hurtling towards the future as you dial in delays…

Sci-fi saturator resembling an extra-terrestrial owl.

Right, so where’s the bypass button on this thing?

Five minutes staring at this synth will drive you crackers.

You’ll be scratching your own eyes out after a few minutes with this GUI.

Captain Jack Sparrow wants his portable radio back.