Was just reading today about how Apple's upcoming iOS update is going to be a total overhaul of the GUI. They're getting rid of all of the shiny 3D "realism" and going towards a flat and functional interface much like Metro. Have to say I've seen this design trend taking hold all over the web as well.

I wonder if we're going to see fewer plugs with "realistic" looking interfaces, like compressors made to look like their hardware equivalents etc. To be honest I always found that a big stupid - it's not hardware, it's software. Do we really need a photo-realistic VU meter with a shadow under the needle? Or big clunky 3D knobs and sliders? 

I quite like the flat, functional look. A wonderful example is the Valhalla reverb plugs. Understated, neat, functional. It does exactly what it's supposed to do without any graphical frills, and it's very easy on the eyes. 

I wonder if Sonar will take the same route eventually. Is there really any need for a software mixing console to resemble the real thing? 

I think Apple App Dev's are about to find out that IOS 7 breaks all their stuff.  All iPhone/iPad/iPod apps will need to be updated.  A lot of those apps will not be updated, and I bet a lot of people will buy their next, "iWhatever," and it will be their last, "iWhatever."

I do not see how Apple can go, "metrophonual," without totally hacking up the code.

As far as plugins go..  I really like, "flat, functional, cool."  Oxium is a good example of that.

Rapture has been this since 2007?   July 07?  Whenever it came out.   Rapture was the GUI that really broke this barrier.  May not have been, "the first," definitely one of..   Certainly the most famous.

Have you seen the more recent versions of iTune? They got rid of buttons and stuff. I preferred the old versions. But it may be an indication. As far as visual, for me, as long as it doesn't suck as badly as W8... ;)

As for plug-ins, I use mostly Apple/Logic ones - and they're pretty simple non-non sense GUI wise... Audio plug-ins follow this basic scheme for the biggest part:





Synths vary a bit:






For me, anyway they decide to go... As long as it works and sound good.

The article I was reading was quite interesting and went into the reasons why "realistic" design - or skeuomorphism as it's called - began in the first place. In the early days of graphical computer interfaces, icons and buttons were modeled to look like their counterparts in real life in order to minimize confusion for people who were new to computers and might have trouble internalizing the concept of computer "folders" and digital "files." So you had little Manila folder icons etc. These days, it's less and less clear why skeuomorphism should exist. Most everyone has grown up with computers or at least used them for decades. We don't really need these mental crutches any more. 

I think I prefer the flat GUI's. To me they seem more sophisticated and elegant. 

As for iOS7, I have been led to understand that it's mainly just a graphical update, with few new bells and whistles. I think they know they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if current apps were rendered incompatible. 

Rain


Have you seen the more recent versions of iTune? They got rid of buttons and stuff. I preferred the old versions. .

I installed it on my third computer and decided it was horrible. I will not update the computer I use for my music collection until I absolutely must. I guess the basic functionality I could no longer find is in there somewhere. Simple things like, sorting by artist or album. I suppose it's cntl+shift+alt+F7 now. 

Ascetically, how ever functional I hate things that look like a child's toy computer. The Win 8 metro start screen being prime example (IMHO of course). I would not put Valhallaroom's into that catagory, its purly fuctional, appearance is neither good, or bad.
 

FWIW - Someone here recommended I try Media Monkey to replace iTunes since I now have over 100,000 songs in my collection and iTunes requires a Cray computer if you don't run it on an Apple product.

It's really great for media and I helped work on a phone & tablet app that provides remote control abilities.

Did I mention that it's much better than iTunes?  Yeah...

Rain


Have you seen the more recent versions of iTune? They got rid of buttons and stuff. I preferred the old versions. But it may be an indication. As far as visual, for me, as long as it doesn't suck as badly as W8... ;)






For me, anyway they decide to go... As long as it works and sound good.

That's just horrible
 
Whilst I agree that it shouldn't matter, it does a bit. There are some good sounds in Sampletank, but I tend not to use/be inspired by it because the UI is too fiddly (are you paying attention here iK Obi?)
 
Never had W7, but W8 is immeasurably better than vista for me.
 
 

paulo

Rain


Have you seen the more recent versions of iTune? They got rid of buttons and stuff. I preferred the old versions. But it may be an indication. As far as visual, for me, as long as it doesn't suck as badly as W8... ;)






For me, anyway they decide to go... As long as it works and sound good.

That's just horrible
 
Whilst I agree that it shouldn't matter, it does a bit. There are some good sounds in Sampletank, but I tend not to use/be inspired by it because the UI is too fiddly (are you paying attention here iK Obi?)
 
Never had W7, but W8 is immeasurably better than vista for me.
 
 

 
+1... that makes me want to run away and hide. It will never matter if things get to a point where they work and everyone likes them because someone somewhere has a job: to change things...
 
J

paulo

Rain


Have you seen the more recent versions of iTune? They got rid of buttons and stuff. I preferred the old versions. But it may be an indication. As far as visual, for me, as long as it doesn't suck as badly as W8... ;)






For me, anyway they decide to go... As long as it works and sound good.

That's just horrible  
  

  
 

I have never seen that synth before but the interface, while ugly as sin, is intuitive and functional. I could start editing sounds without having to read the manual, print out a list of short cuts, dig deep into menus or whatever.