This is such a great take. Everytime I use a beautifully designed plugin in Ableton I’m baffled at the fact that this UI style hasn’t migrated to other systems

The design of audio equipment is often incredible, look at teenage engineering for example. I think music is such a key human art form that designers love to put effort into audio tools and interfaces. Also computer design tools are all software so there's no real-world version to base it off of.

Because one is paid by a designer and the other someone paid a designer to do

Audio plugins are typically designed to emulate physical hardware or at least the way you would use physical hardware. Design plugins are about giving you total control over every aspect to make your art.

Audio plugins are so fun, but I often find them actually pretty inefficient to use in terms of speed, which can be frustrating. Lots of Tabs and hidden UI. Granted I don’t typically use a ton of design plugins, but when I do, I want to be in and out as quickly as possible.