The All In One Source Bitwig Information & Speculation Thread

[justin3am]

Thanks for the explanations...

So the FX slot on the Polysynth could have say a compressor and it would be per voice? Sweet! Oh, and there is a Filter device yes? So that could be put in the Polysynth FX slot and so one could have a second filter (per voice)?

Yes and yes!

Is there an envelope device? And if so, does it have some slope control, or more than the basic ADSR?

No envelope that can be triggered via midi but but there is an envelope follower for tracking audio signals.

Also, if you don't mind, can you say a bit more about the FM synth. I notice it has a hold stage on the envelopes. Would you say the FM synth is similar to Operator? Any particular features you think to mention?

FM-4 is pretty different from Operator. There isn't an additive mode but there is a matrix for freely routing operators. The noise generator has it's own filter section which gets pretty out of control. Each envelope can be routed to an parameter, however there is no hold stage. Here is an image:

[justin3am]

I think he means you could put a vst into the slot, not that vst's would have a per note effects slot

Yes, that is correct. Also modulation signals from instruments and containers can be applied to VST parameters.

I also saw in one of the NAMM videos a list of the audio fx... there is a filter and also something called a ladder. What is that? How does the resonator bank sound?

Ladder has quite a few more filter types, a modulation section and responds to MIDI input. Here are images of Ladder and Filter:


The resonator bank sounds great, it has a key track parameter and you can shift all bands frequency, Q and gain globally.

I also recently learned that you can make midi events snap to audio "onsets" (the Bitwig term for transients) when the snap mode is set to 'Snap to object'. It's a really cool feature.

[pdxindy]

Thanks for the explanations...

So the FX slot on the Polysynth could have say a compressor and it would be per voice? Sweet! Oh, and there is a Filter device yes? So that could be put in the Polysynth FX slot and so one could have a second filter (per voice)?

Yes and yes!

That is exciting! Impressive functionality...

[Bronto Scorpio]

Thanks for the explanations...

So the FX slot on the Polysynth could have say a compressor and it would be per voice? Sweet! Oh, and there is a Filter device yes? So that could be put in the Polysynth FX slot and so one could have a second filter (per voice)?

Yes and yes!

That is exciting! Impressive functionality...

Indeed!

[Ogopogo]

Cool stuff, thanks Justin.

[pdxindy]

Is there an envelope device? And if so, does it have some slope control, or more than the basic ADSR?

No envelope that can be triggered via midi but but there is an envelope follower for tracking audio signals.

Seems like the Polysynth could use another envelope. For example, there is the filter envelope, and the amp envelope, but then if one wanted to put a separate envelope on PW, or OscFM, or Osc Pitch, there is no way to do that.

I suppose one could forgo the Polysynth filter and use the FEG for something else, and then use the Ladder device in the Polysynth FX slot since it is polyphonic and has its own envelope...

Also, while there are 3 LFO's in the Polysynth, only one of them is polyphonic...

If you put an LFO device in a track, and drop the Polysynth into its FX slot, then when you modulate something in the Polysynth like PW, is it monophonic or polyphonic (per voice)?

[pdxindy]

Also, if you don't mind, can you say a bit more about the FM synth. I notice it has a hold stage on the envelopes. Would you say the FM synth is similar to Operator? Any particular features you think to mention?

FM-4 is pretty different from Operator. There isn't an additive mode but there is a matrix for freely routing operators. The noise generator has it's own filter section which gets pretty out of control. Each envelope can be routed to an parameter, however there is no hold stage. Here is an image:

Ahh... if you go to the bitwig site the image showing the devices is quite old... that old version of FM4 has 2 AHDSR envelopes with adjustable slope for each of A, D and R... quite different from the current version you are showing... with 4 simpler envelopes and an FM matrix.

Thanks again for your explanations...

[pdxindy]

Ladder has quite a few more filter types, a modulation section and responds to MIDI input. Here are images of Ladder and Filter:


The resonator bank sounds great, it has a key track parameter and you can shift all bands frequency, Q and gain globally.

I also recently learned that you can make midi events snap to audio "onsets" (the Bitwig term for transients) when the snap mode is set to 'Snap to object'. It's a really cool feature.

The Ladder device looks great with an Envelope, LFO and Envelope Follower too!

I am looking forward to playing with the demo!

[virtualmark]

It seems to me that more envelope types would be good. Hold is useful, so is the loop function in Massive. I hope they add more types in newer versions.

Still, this is looking nice so far.

[Ogopogo]

Maybe when the modular system comes out you could set up your own envelopes. Dom stated that they use the modular system to create the plugs and that with it you can "remix" the plugs. That would be cool. I like the one shot envelope in massive.

[Ingonator]

Just had a look at Live 9 Suite.
LFOs and Envelopes are not included with the Live standard effects but with the default/free Max4Live effects (included with the "Max4Live Essentials" package). Those could be routed to any synth parameter that could be added to automation (with "Configure" and clicking on the corresponding control in the synth). Those standard Max4Live devices also include a step sequencer (up to 64 steps).


Ingo

[pdxindy]

Just had a look at Live 9 Suite.
LFOs and Envelopes are not included with the Live standard effects but with the default/free Max4Live effects. Those could be routed to any synth parameter that could be added to automation (with "Configure" and clicking on the corresponding control in the synth). Those standard Max4Live devices also include a step sequencer (up to 64 steps).

Ingo

Actually, I would much rather have a built-in LFO device in Live...

To add the LFO, you have to launch M4L... then the LFO is always running, even if Live is not playing. This means that whatever parameter it is modulating is modulating even when Play is halted. It's bothersome. The LFO does not feel like a built-in Live device. M4L still feels like a not quite fully integrated add-on.

There are some great M4L devices, but there is even more stuff that is unfinished, or not working quite right, or out of date for the latest Live version. So trying stuff from the library is hit or miss with miss being more frequent.

The Bitwig devices look and appear to function as completely integrated in the program.

[Cyoon]

ablewhat? xD

[Ingonator]

Actually, I would much rather have a built-in LFO device in Live...

To add the LFO, you have to launch M4L... then the LFO is always running, even if Live is not playing. This means that whatever parameter it is modulating is modulating even when Play is halted. It's bothersome. The LFO does not feel like a built-in Live device. M4L still feels like a not quite fully integrated add-on.

I dont see this as an actual problem as long a the LFO only has an effect on the sound when i play a note (which is the case). In the advanced options ("Key Control") of that standard Max4Live LFO you could also add aftertouch and/or Modwheel modulation which is great for synths that don't offer this.
BTW if you click at the checkbox left to the "Depth" for "Keytrack" in the "Key Control" (color changes from grey to blue) the automatic LFO pplay is deavtivated and you could only add it by Aftertoucjh if you like.


Ingo

[virtualmark]

Actually, I would much rather have a built-in LFO device in Live...

To add the LFO, you have to launch M4L... then the LFO is always running, even if Live is not playing. This means that whatever parameter it is modulating is modulating even when Play is halted. It's bothersome. The LFO does not feel like a built-in Live device. M4L still feels like a not quite fully integrated add-on.

I dont see this as an actual problem as long a the LFO only has an effect on the sound when i play a note (which is the case). In the advanced options ("Key Control") of that standard Max4Live LFO you could also add aftertouch and/or Modwheel modulation which is great for synths that don't offer this.


Ingo

It could be a problem if you want the LFO to retrigger with the note and start at a certain phase.

Ableton is also notorious for timing issues. Automation isn't delay compensated and that's part of Ableton. So I hate to think about Max devices, I don't know if they're in time or not?

If Bitwig works as promised, it should be far superior to Ableton for the sort of thing I like to do.