Bitwig Studio 5 Music Production and Performance Software (Download)

Building upon the success of version 4, Bitwig Studio 5 offers a significant update to the production and performance DAW designed for the electronic and recording musician. With over 90 instruments and plugins and over 10GB of world-class content, Bitwig Studio 5 has arrived as a professional, digital audio workstation for Windows, Mac, and Linux, providing superfast workflows that are fully customizable and well suited for sound design, recording, and live performances.

Upgrades to the software include: Five different MSEGs, new capabilities for the Clip Launcher, an overhaul to the browsers, and upgrades to the entire modulation system, such as the ability to control track- and project-level parameters and to expand modulators with pop-out windows. These new devices and features offer the ability to draw your own envelopes and LFOs as well as innovative possibilities for live performance.

Bitwig features the Grid, a modular sound design environment sporting 186 modules with lightning-fast workflows; the Poly Grid device, where you can create synthesizers and sequenced patches; and the FX Grid device, for creating audio FX with optional voice stacking. Other notable features include automatic project backups, a real-time ruler, Ableton LINK 3, a redesigned instrument inspector, VU meters, and a reworking of the audio engine for timing improvements on all platforms.

Bitwig`s recording environment utilizes an object-based system for editing tracks, clips, virtual instruments, effects, and individual notes. Built-in parameter spectrographs provide visual feedback of how your settings influence parameters such as gain, velocity, panorama, and much more. In addition to the traditional linear multitrack recording view, the software offers an arranger clip launcher, for experimenting with non-linear looping while producing, and a mixer clip launcher view, for live performance.

The program supports audio tracks with time-stretching and transient detection, instrument tracks with per-note micropitch control, and hybrid tracks that can accept both audio and MIDI instrument information. This enables bouncing note clips to audio in place and slicing audio to send to a sampler or drum machine. Multiple tracks can be edited simultaneously using layered editing, and automation can be applied at both the clip and track level. A suite of virtual instruments is included as well as full support for 64-bit VST and VST3 plug-ins. Each plug-in is opened as a separate process to prevent Bitwig Studio from crashing in case the VST plug-in crashes. A Unified Device System allows any device parameter, nested device, or plug-in to be modulated with macro controls, LFOs, note expressions, and envelope followers as well as hardware parameters.

Workflow enhancements include multi-monitor support for up to 3 monitors. The 10+GB factory content includes more than 2000 presets and clips, such as drum machines (808, 909, percussion), acoustic drums, multisampled instruments (Wurlitzer, Rhodes, vibraphone, marimba, and acoustic and electric bass), instrument loops, various sound effects, and an Artist Collection Package. A context-based pop-up browser system allows for simple tagging and searching for music content. The software supports many popular MIDI devices out of the box, such as full integration with Nektar`s Panorama and Impact controllers, and provides an open-source JavaScript API for programming controller functionality.

What`s New in Bitwig Studio 5

MSEGs: Beyond Envelopes

A multi-segment envelope generator (MSEG) is a tool for drawing custom signals for envelopes, automation shapes, looping patterns, oscillator curves, waveshapers, sequencers etc. Five different kinds of MSEGs can be used as Grid modules, and two of them are also available as modulators. Separate devices means each one is focused on and optimized for its particular task.

Segments is a customizable envelope that can be used as a Grid and Polymer module or as a modulator that controls any parameter. Four Play Mode options are available for Segments:

• One-shot: plays through the entire shape (while the voice is alive) when a note is triggered
• Hold: can use any one of the curve`s points as the hold/sustain level, which also acts as the release start
• Looping: can loop forwards between any two of the curve`s points on sustain; the loop end point is also the release start
• Ping Pong: can loop forwards and backwards between any two of the curve`s points on sustain; the loop end point is also the release start

Curves: LFO modulator and Grid module that can sync to the beat time or groove.

Scrawl: Draw-your-own oscillator for The Grid and Polymer Bitwigs hybrid modular synth. Its anti-aliasing helps make any shape work and sound good.

Slopes: Pattern sequencer for The Grid with stereo phase options.

Transfer: Waveshaper for transforming incoming audio or other signals in The Grid.

Clicking any curve display opens the curve editor in a Pop-out Editor window that allows for easy freehand drawing. There are also shortcuts for jumping to double time or triplets. All your designs can be saved as a BWCURVE file and loaded in another MSEG. A visual browser displays all presets and user content at a glance.

Modulation, Elevated

Bitwig`s modulation system sets itself apart with a powerfully simple approach: Any control source including audio or CV signalscan affect any device or plug-in. In Bitwig Studio 5, modulators are no longer limited to devicesthey can grab the mixer and project controls as well. That means one LFO can modulate any device on the same track as well as the track`s panning, sends, and other parameters. Move that LFO to the project level to add modulations to all devices, channel strips, and transport targets.

Furthermore, MSEGs aren`t the only 5.0 modulators with Pop-out Editor windows. The Steps and Keytrack+ modulators, as well as The Grid`s data sequencers, also got resizable panes for cleaner editing and some helpful new functions.

New Performance Gestures

• Performing live with Bitwig Studio just got more exciting with updates to the Clip Launcher. Users can now set Next Actions to occur when a key or pad is released in addition to when it`s launched. ALT triggers offer a second option for activating scenes or clips. These features allow performers to decide how their set will unfold in the moment, as they can (for instance) tap a clip to launch it at the next bar line, or ALT-trigger to immediately swap to the new clip.
• Project-wide normal and ALT-trigger gestures can be set in one place, and you can customize any clip or scene to have its own settings. That includes release options for both normal and ALT gestures, legato options for following the playing clip or the project transport, and a revamped Next Action section with simple loop counts.
• Since all tracks now have their own remotes, the mixer offers a bird`s-eye view of the most important parameters. That way, building a customized set of mix and performance controls is easy. And new mapping options allow users to launch scenes and clips with any hardware.

Bitwig Devices

Updated Browsers

Bitwig Studio 5 also introduces overhauled browsers for a more streamlined experience and a visual way to access content. Now, search results for plug-ins, presets, and wavetables (etc.) all live in one place. There`s also a customizable shortcuts pane that allows users quick access to their favorite sound packages, content types (e.g. wavetables, drum hits, or samples) or folders.

Additional Updates

The foundations got some attention as well, with a new onset detector that makes audio work better from the moment you drag it in. Spanish and Korean language support were introduced for Bitwig Studio. The Keytrack+ modulator has an embedded curve editor, so you can simply draw your settings or save/load them as BWCURVE files. And