The New Eos UI...
From the original Analog Industries archive. Some links and images from that era no longer resolve.
My original plan was to update the Eos UI to bring it in line with D3/Axon/Replicant 1.5/Phosphor. (Some of you may have seen my first attempt, as I posted a screenshot to Twitter.) However, after reading an article about the Chroming of user interfaces on 3 Quarks, I decided to make the next jump in the Audio Damage Design Path somewhat more drastic than I had originally intended.
This would have been easier with a plug-in that didn’t already have a huge installed user-base, of course, but naturally I wouldn’t let a little thing like that stop me, and Adam seemed to be, if not exactly encouraging, well, he wasn’t putting his foot down.
In any case, the Windows 32-bit version is done. Adam is doing the Windows 64-bit version today, and as that should go pretty smoothly, we’ll also probably have the OS X versions done today as well. There will be no functionality changes as far as the VST side of things go and this will be a drop-in replacement. On the AU side, it is a somewhat different matter. We’re moving from the “raw” AU which has a few problems to Symbiosis, the excellent AU engine provided by Sonic Charge. As a result of this fairly major architectural change, it is likely that this install will break existing projects. It definitely won’t cross-load presets or project settings. We’re pondering a way around this, but it may involve naming this Eos 1.1 and having it be a separate plug-in.
In any case, it should be along in a day or two. The usual places will be notified when it is. I don’t believe I’ll mail the mailing list on this one (it is fairly expensive to do so.)
EDIT: Haters Gonna Hate.
Since customer service is job one here at Audio Damage, I rolled back to the D3-style one I originally Twatted the other day. Some minor changes in coloration and placement, and voila.
The Minimalist Look needs some refinement; this is where my desires as a designer butt up against my skills as a graphic artist. (Or lack thereof.) Back to the drawing board, literally.
10 comments
Needs some dangling 3D cables.
Looks good, I will enjoy working with this.
The intent of the direction is understood (and has my support), but the implementation doesn't get there.
Yeah, I realize that. I'd prefer to just start over, but the problem is that it has to maintain the same layout as the original, else all the PT users will cry like little babies.
-CR
Cool look.
I know you are not likely to care (nor should you), but I prefer the design aesthetic of D3/Axon/etc. I read the article as well, and while I agree with the general theme, it comes off slightly as "I know best, and your feelings on the subject are wrong". The author heavily discounts the irrepressible aspect of human nature that compels us to have a visual preference regardless of function.
I don't think you can disregard the emotional response users conjure when working with GUI's. We all know that a GUI's form does not impact it's function - and anyone who chooses a plug in based solely on how it looks deserves what they get in terms of quality and results.
However, I work in the confines of my DAW 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. And one of the things that adds some measure of interest is looking at GUI's that visually stimulate me. It has nothing to do with emotional attachments to previous forms of working. I have never used an actual RE201, but I enjoy looking at the UA plug in just the same. I don't make creative or mix decisions based on this kind of visual stimuli, but it does add just a tiny bit of joy for no good reason at all.
I think the D3 update was one of the best you've done, graphically speaking. I don't use it any more or less because of it, but I enjoy looking at it and therefore I feel better when using it. That's a ridiculous statement for sure. But then again, is it? Why do I wear blue jeans and a printed t-shirt instead of a plain black coverall? Surely the coverall is simpler, hides stains better and covers more of my body.
Just for those of you who haven't seen it, here is the iteration of Eos that has the D3 style UI:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14963589/Eos%2011%20SS.png
Preferences? Original, D3-style, or minimal (as above)? I can revert it in one mouse-click.
-CR
I like the minimal. I'm happpy that the purple-grey is going away, which is the one thing I never liked on the old Eos. I won't miss the shaded frame outlines either, they were never bad, but I don't think they were necessary.
Any chance the round lines on the minimal version could be smoother? The one thing I do like better on the D3 version is the text/fonts.
That's actually the same font, Conduit ITC Pro. In the other ones it's the Extra Bold face, and in this one it's the Medium face. Part of the reason the image above is a little jaggy is that I had to shrink it a touch. The real one is 450 pixels wide, and AI images are 438.
-CR
user rarely see the actual technical specs behind a product like this. they always pay for design. and never pay for a non-design. (and yes that makes me sad, because i make a living from design.)
so the D3 style was and is a very good compromise between design and nondesign.
it`s just the "Eos that has the D3 style" is maybe not finished yet.
I think the D3 Style version is better. I like the light grey background in the windows and to my eyes it looks better than the more minimal B/W version.
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