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  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

8 mad and mind-blowing plugin interfaces

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 16 August 2016

Cleanliness, clarity, simplicity and unambiguity - the cornerstones of good plugin interface design. And then there's this lot…

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Eye-popping plugins

Eye-popping plugins

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...

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
1. Dub-Russell 2020

1. Dub-Russell 2020

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

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
2. Hawk VST Basstard

2. Hawk VST Basstard

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

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
3. D16 Group Sigmund

3. D16 Group Sigmund

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

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
4. Kush Audio Pusher

4. Kush Audio Pusher

Sci-fi saturator resembling an extra-terrestrial owl.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
5. Waves Butch Vig Vocals

5. Waves Butch Vig Vocals

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

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
6. Admiral Quality Poly-Ana

6. Admiral Quality Poly-Ana

Five minutes staring at this synth will drive you crackers.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
7. Ohm Force Predatohm

7. Ohm Force Predatohm

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

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
8. Black Rooster Audio The Canary

8. Black Rooster Audio The Canary

Captain Jack Sparrow wants his portable radio back.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Computer Music
Computer Music
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Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine
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Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
excite audio plugin
Excite Audio's Motion: Fractal plugin is a granular powerhouse for twisting, stretching and scattering sounds
synths
5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
topos
Forever 89 releases Topos, a topographical effects plugin that (quite literally) puts saturation on the map - and there's a free version
dawesome
It might be called Hate, but Dawesome's new wavetable distortion plugin actually looks rather loveable
EQ
Digging into the enhanced abilities of today's EQ plugins to enhance your productions
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