Inear Display Danaides 2.0 is the successor to the long-discontinued experimental sequenced sound mangler plugin, now available as donationware.
In the summer of 2025, Inear Display—a developer of experimental plugins—went out of business. Thomas Hennebert returned in February 2026 and has since offered his plugins as donationware. It was a good move, as the plugins are simply too good.
Until now, it was unclear whether there would be any new releases. Now, the answer is yes. Inear Display has released Danaides 2.0, a major update for its long-discontinued experimental FX plugin.
Inear Display Danaides 2.0
Inear Display released the original version of Danaides in 2013. However, it was discontinued a few years ago because it was only a 32-bit plugin. Now Thomas has resurrected it from the dead and updated it to version 2.0
According to Inear Display, it stays close to the original and features a rewritten and modernized audio engine and UI, but the behavior and feel should still be very close to the 2013 version.
The attached picture shows the UIs from 2013 and 2026. There are certainly significant differences. Even though the 2013 version had a unique look for its time, I really like the new one too; it is more compact and modern.
Danaides is an experimental sound mangler for macOS and Windows. It includes the Driller, Metalizer, and Reducer, three distinct effects from the distortion/destruction category.
Driller will loop and repitch very small slices of the signal, while Metalizer is a unique delay and the last is a sample rate reducer. There is also a pre-filter with type morphing (low, high, band) and cutoff and resonance controls.
Each has up to three parameters you can adjust manually or automate. The last point is the key feature here. The Danaides core is heavily optimized to get everything moving.
Move Every Parameter
To make every move, Inear Display Danaides features a comprehensive modulation engine, consisting of two morphing LFOs and two modulation sequencers.
Two LFOs are onboard, but they are unique – like much else in the Inear Display plugins. Unlike a traditional LFO, this features two sub-LFOs (A/B), each with independent rate control that can be morphed into one main complex synceable LFO.
Alongside the LFOs, you also have two modulation sequencers – one for the dry/wet mix parameter and another for the effects selection. For the last one, you can decide per step which FX to modulate.
Thanks to color coding, you can see exactly which FX is selected. Further, Danaides features three randomizers, one for the entire patch and two for the sequencers. MIDI support is also onboard.
The plugin ships with various factory presets, so you can explore the engine without diving straight into the deep end. Danaides is perfect for infusing sounds with rhythmic destruction or super-gritty stutter effects.
One downer at the end: version 2.0 breaks compatibility with your patches made in version 1.
First Impression
Danaides was one of the first Inear Display plugins that I really enjoyed using for a long time. I am very happy that this fantastic, rhythmically destructive FX plugin is making a comeback. Thanks, Thomas!
Inear Display Danaides 2.0 is available now as a donationware plugin. You can get it for free or donate something to support the developer’s work. Please support Thomas’s work so he can still release new plugins and updates.
It runs as a VST3 and AU plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.
More information here: Inear Display
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