A subjective question about plugins, Daws, and in particular GUIs

I think I understand why developers make a visual representation of some 1950s or 1960s studio equipment with analog VU meters, some even looked aged , maybe yellowed a bit or a little worn. They tend to have big black knobs and if they are based on some rack unti they have chrome handles.
I get why they do it, because somehow it is pleasing and I reckon on some level our brain tells us that is really is a vintage piece of analog studio gear.... however, we all know it is all 0s and 1s...
 
I guess my question is do you think developers will move to something that just has small windows where you just change a numerical value? Or something else that has nothing to do with knobs, chrome switches, handles, or meters.... just something completely different and new. I am sure there are things like that but most everything I see is made to look like physical hardware... I think X1 has made a little bit of a step away from trying to look analog. I realize that there is a plus to this if you are using a traditional mixer or controller to control the DAW... then again, if digital plugins and DAWs completely broke from trying to emulate vintage equipment, perhaps control surfaces could evolve into touchpads without sliders or knobs etc.... you know... welcome to the future.
Is it out of the realm of possibility to have phones with a headset mic that would enable you to control a DAW with voice comands?
It seems to me if developers begin to break with trying to make a GUI that looks and works like someting that is 50 to 60 years old... well maybe control can evolve into something extraordinary.. but with the same effects of the plugin and the same DAW operation... just a completely different GUI. Something from a Klingon Bird of Prey.
 
I hope I got my question/comment across without being too confusing. What do you think? Are we stuck with using a mouse or touch to move virtual sliders and turn virtual knobs.
 
Julien

Nahhh, the knobs and faders are inherent to the business. They're here to stay even on the DAW's and plugs. 

Could you imagine a guitar amp with a screen and a numeric keypad? 

My favorite plug-ins are the one which take advantage of both approaches - for example, the simplicity of knob - and yet, also take advantage of new possibilities.

What tends to bother me w/ hardware clones in software is that developers will sometime design their emulation to even stick to certain limitations which have no reason to be in the software world. 

I understand that maybe that is the point of creating a replica, but I tend to prefer adaptations. 

My absolute favorite tool these days is DNR's channel strip, MixControl. If I could ask someone to design a plug-in for me, especially tailored for my needs, that's pretty much how it's look like and sound. It does look like hardware, it's nice and inspiring, but it also has modern elements (spectrum display, EQ that can be adjusted directly in the graph, drop down menus). It still has a "feel". 

I also prefer their approach to the common VU-Meter craze. I mean, they were fine on hardware units, I have them on one of my preamps and on my old open reel machine - but I see no reason for them on my computer - it's just soooo much easier to get a clear reading at a glance with regular meters/leds.

It's incredibly easy to set-up, it looks good and I find myself sculpting the sound of each channel in a breeze. To me, that is what a plug-in should be.

The earlier WAVES stuff was all numerically oriented.  And some of those plugs are still quite nice.  But I'm a sucker for big knobs and flashing lights.  Pun away...

It's a matter of usability and ergonomics. The user needs clear and easily perceivable visual information about the settings and doings of the software. To most of us plain numbers are not usable, we need more visual info about the position of the faders, knobs etc. to get the feeling of being in control.

timidi


Well, considering the angst among many in switching from the familiar Sonar 8.5 to the unfamiliar X1, can you imagine the outcries if the familiar knobs/switches/console view was replaced by little boxes that you enter numbers into? I think it's generational.

And McQ will beach about the colours of the numerical input, no?