New chorus, flanger and phaser. Note Grid adds sequencer into The Grid.

Bitwig Studio 4.2 DAW Update

New chorus, flanger and phaser. Note Grid adds sequencer into The Grid.

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Christof Baer
last updated this article on 
June 15, 2023
 and first floated it on 
February 15, 2022
Bitwig Studio 4.2

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Bitwig, the Berlin based music software company, released Bitwig 4.2 Beta, due for a full release in March 2022.

New two main new features include:

  • Audio FX: Three new effect modules, chorus, flanger and phaser.
  • Note Grid: Note processing and generation unit that seamlessly plugs into Bitwig's modular environment, The Grid.

Audio FX

Three new devices — Chorus+, Flanger+, Phaser+ — have been added to Bitwig 4.2. Each device can be switched into four characters, similar to different eras of vintage studio hardware.

Chorus+ Characters
CE - A synth-style chorus
DD - Subtle, 80s style chorus
8v - Eight voices with plenty of feedback
x2 - Classic voice doubling circuit

Flanger+ Characters
DP - Digital, aggressive flanger
MX - Emulation of a pedal-style classic
TFX - Smooth sound yet with some edge
WA - Stronger flanger flavour

Phaser+ Characters
GS - The spiky one
EHx - Classy and smooth phaser
MX - A raspy beast
MF - Pleasantly greasy and deep

By mixing and matching LFOs, step sequencers, and any of Bitwig’s 38 modulator devices, you can animate the default algorithms and make them your own.

Bitwig adds three new effect units to Bitwig 4.2: chorus+, flanger+ and phaser+.


Note Grid

The Grid is Bitwig Studio's modular sound-design environment, where building instruments and audio effects with Poly Grid and FX Grid is meant to be more intuitive and fun. Bitwig Studio 4.2 introduces a third device: Note Grid, a device that processes or generates notes.

With the new Note Out module, connecting a gate signal will start outputting notes. Pitch, velocity, and channel can be set manually or with dynamic signals. Thanks to MPE, unfolding Note Out allows signals for each note’s timbre, pressure, gain, and panning expressions. As with all other Grid modules, Note Out (and CC Out) are also available to Poly Grid and FX Grid as well.

Eight musical presets are included today, including new kinds of arpeggiators, swarming polyphonic randomness, modular drum sequencers, and even music-generating patches.

New Note Grid module adds to Bitwig 4 generated and modulated notes.

Further Improvements

Bitwig 4.2 has some been equipped with further updates.

  • New mini views for the Oscilloscope and Spectrum devices.
  • A new Anti-aliasing option for most Grid Shaper modules.
  • And a new Hard Clip module.
  • A new Channel-16 modulator. Since Note Grid can sort signals into 16 MIDI channels, the new Channel-16 modulator helps you use those groupings on any instrument or plug-in.
  • And when generating notes with a module like Probabilities, it just made sense to add a Confidence output.
  • Bitwig is now available in French.

The change-log and release notes are here.

The Bitwig Studio 4.2 beta is available for download now, and it's available to anyone with an active Bitwig Studio Upgrade Plan. The updated sound content includes 44 presets for the new audio FX devices, as well as presets of the eight patches shown in the Note Grid feature video. Anyone with an active Bitwig Studio upgrade plan can download the installer from their account. The official Bitwig Studio 4.2 release is planned for March, 2022.

Our View

I have to admit I have not used Bitwig yet. But I know that modulations and flexibility to experiment are at the heart of the DAW from the Berlin based Bitwig team. I am sure users will welcome more effects, and in particular the Note Grid module, which promises to add modular sequencer-like functionality. Coming only 3 months after the Bitwig 4.1 release, and 8 months after the big 4.0 release in July 2021, the frequent improvements should keep fans and followers hooked.

Compared to other DAWs, Bitwig is expensive - not just the initial $399 purchase price, but also the $169 annual upgrade plan needed to upgrade to 4.2. Compared to that, Logic Pro X at $199 and free updates looks like a bargain.

However, Bitwig offers a free 30 day trial worth using, before splashing out.

Pricing

Bitwig 4.2

Demos

Videos

Bitwig 4.2 Introduction

Bitwig 4.2 New FX

Bitwig 4.2 Note Grid

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