bitwig 2 is here

[SLiC]

Here is a list of what we have been given free in the last 2 free updates in just over a year. I think the future is bright....

Group Tracks – When building up a Bitwig Studio project, the individual parts can get out of hand. In most cases, there comes a point when it’s essential to get a handle on the mix in the most efficient way. Group Tracks is a tried and true way to quickly manage multiple parts of a mix at once. Tracks that have common mix or tonality settings can be set in groups to minimize large sections of a project.
Consolidate your mix and get organized with Group Tracks.

Pop-up Browser – To accelerate the browsing workflow, all devices in Bitwig Studio 1.2 feature the Pop-Up icon. This advanced browsing feature appears in a new window that uses Bitwig Studio’s tagging system to eliminate the boundaries between devices. The result is a meta view of all available sounds in one category. Searching for the right bass? It doesn’t matter if it’s a Polysynth preset or a sample, you now have the freedom to audition all your content in place while playing on the fly. Use the Pop-Up Browser to find the right sound quickly and to get back to what is most important, making music.

Histogram Display for Dynamic Devices – Several audio devices in Bitwig Studio 1.2 feature a new window into a visual environment illustrating the dynamics of sound over time. The Histogram Display makes use of scale, light, shade, and volume on an XY grid to visualize sounds. The result can be found on the Audio Mod, Compressor, Dynamics, LFO Mod, Peak Meter, Gate and Transient Control devices. The Histogram Display allows for quick analysis of device settings as they dynamically affect sound using animated graphic displays.

Project Templates – Project Templates eliminate repetitive tasks by predefining the most commonly used project setups for the style of production you work with most often. Making several custom Project Templates containing various devices and routings can offer a great starting point for any production.

Customizable Shortcuts- Extending on the freedom that exists throughout Bitwig Studio, customizable shortcuts are now available. Now it’s easy to see the factory shortcuts available for anyone to change, and all the parameters to which can be freely assigned. The shortcuts feature is now available in the Bitwig Studio preferences.

Per Project Mappings – Bitwig Studio makes every effort to eliminate the boundary between controllers and those who use them. This is immediately noticeable from community designed controller scripts or the newly enhanced MIDI mapping functionality. The depth of these mappings can get extremely detailed, and keeping track of their unique settings in each project is no small task. In the 1.2 update a new finger-pointing icon in the lower right of the project window. Pressing this icon reveals a new mapping panel. The mapping panel keeps track of any parameter mapped to a controller or computer keyboard and is completely editable.

Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression – In the past few years, multi-dimensional controllers have pushed the boundaries of MIDI, and created a gap between the degrees of freedom they are capable of and what DAWs and plug-ins were designed to utilize. Multi-dimensional controllers send gestural data that most software is not equipped to deal with, which limits the creative use of multi-dimensional controllers.Music instrument manufacturers and music software editors alike share a strong interest to agree upon a set of conventions that enable an improved user experience of new controllers, allowing to achieve more with electronic music than before.
This is where MPE (Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression) or “Expressive MIDI” comes in. By supporting this preliminary standard, Bitwig Studio 1.2 is among the first DAWs capable of capturing and utilizing the precise features of the most advanced MIDI controllers available on the market today.

Expressive MIDI allows for natural articulations which creates a significantly deeper connection to sound.
The following additional features:
Oscilloscope
Device Inspector
Delay-4
Expand Clip Height
High-DPI and Retina Display Support
Jack Support + Jack Transport
Poly to Mono Modulation Mappings
Pressure Note Expression
Roger Linn “LinnStrument” Support
Roli “Seaboard” Support

Multi-Touch – Control multiple faders, knobs, and device displays at the same time. Multi-touch is limited only by the capabilities of the hardware on which Bitwig Studio is installed.

Radial Menu – Press and hold anywhere on the screen for a quick access menu for multiple actions.
Touch Keyboard – An integrated keyboard that includes X/Y axis controls independent for each finger. An additional dimension, “Pressure” is available when using the Touch Keyboard with Pen and Microsoft Surface Pro.

Track Header – One single button has effectively replaced four.  Simply tap and swipe in a direction to activate

New E-Cowbell Device – You’ve got a fever, and the only prescription …is more cowbell.

[SLiC]

DP

[Numanoid]

The VST3 support is long overdue, which of the most used DAWs doesn't support VST3 these days ?

[Daags]

I hope this doesn't become a trend. I'd much rather see what's included in an update Before spending money on it.

Exactly. Especially with Bitwig who has 0 track record (went 2 years basically adding 0 features to their DAW apart from Cowbell ) and have yet fulfilled any of their promises.

Here is what is included (2 threads above your post!) - upgrade or don't based on this alone for 160 buck, Simple.

I'm not sure if you're trying to misunderstand their point, i.e being disingenuous, or if you genuinely forgot what the proposed official policy is going forward. Either way: kool, we can see now what is in 2.0 ... but going forward, the official policy is you pay your subscription and unspecificed features will come at some unspecified point in time. That's an obvious red flag for people - both existing customers and potential ones alike, and of course the biggest red flag of all is paying a subscription fee for bug fixes and stability updates. In either case, we need only look to the past to reasonably predict what the future will bring.

you look at Bitwig's sales rankings at online retailers, and you wonder how on earth they are even going to maintain the marketshare they have, much less gain any.

[shonoob]

I hope this doesn't become a trend. I'd much rather see what's included in an update Before spending money on it.

Exactly. Especially with Bitwig who has 0 track record (went 2 years basically adding 0 features to their DAW apart from Cowbell ) and have yet fulfilled any of their promises.

Here is what is included (2 threads above your post!) - upgrade or don't based on this alone for 160 buck, Simple. FYI- Bitwig have added more free features than any other DAW I have owned (Cubase, S1 and Live Suite) you could not be more wrong....for example:

Actually everything in my comment still stands 100% true, you must've misread if you think I 'couldn't be more wrong' . I have read their new 2.0 features many times by the way.

I was referring to their history previous to 2.0, as I have had almost 2 years experience with 1.0, and for that time period they had only added Cowbell . And 2.0 still hasn't even delivered on any of the key features they hyped about - no modular, online collaboration etc. Which is why I agreed with the previous poster agreeing this is a bad theme, especially for Bitwig who haven't fulfilled a single thing and are the kings of empty promises/bad customer relations. It's easy to be tentative about paying an exorbitant annual fee with these things considered.

Even their 2.0 update is lackluster, they added a bunch of excessive stuff - looks a lot like quantity over quality. I would take an updated sampler over all of their new features combined as theirs still is miles behind Abletons. Or a better timestretch algorithm - also miles behind abletons. Or at the least maybe they can add a 4-4 grid to their arrangement view/piano roll finally etc.

[SLiC]

No bug fixes after your 12 months runs out. Unless you pay.

Not at all, it doesn't say that, you are just making up your own interpretation. It could easily just relate to major versions (ie you could be on 2.3.2 and that could go 2.3.3 for a bug fix but you wound not get 2.4 with 'new features' unless you subscribed). No software company at is going to leave a paying customer with a version that doesn't work.

Why not just wait and see when the full official information is announced?

[Numanoid]

You have a minimum of two LOL's per post

[memyselfandus]

I don't like the thought of paying for something a Before knowing what I'm getting. To each their own though. There's nothing stopping them from adding features in between releases with the old model.

[rod_zero]

The new BW offers less value to users:

1.- It offers less updates over time for the amount of money, especially since your new v2 license will only come with 12 months of updates.
2.- It is based on promises "we will deliver stuff as we finish it" not on finished features, they are making this point central to their new model and the justification for the 12 months update limit. "But you get on board when there are features you care", so what is different then than an anual update cycle? The difference is that the release of new features is the justification for the new model.
3.- Secondhand licenses will lose value, so you can't recoup your investment.
4.- It is more expensive overtime vs the competition.

It is a new lower standard in software as a service and it is not even cheap.

[ghettosynth]

The VST3 support is long overdue, which of the most used DAWs doesn't support VST3 these days ?

AFAIK, Live, I'd love to be wrong about that though.

[shonoob]

I hope this doesn't become a trend. I'd much rather see what's included in an update Before spending money on it.

Exactly. Especially with Bitwig who has 0 track record (went 2 years basically adding 0 features to their DAW apart from Cowbell ) and have yet fulfilled any of their promises.

Here is what is included (2 threads above your post!) - upgrade or don't based on this alone for 160 buck, Simple.

I'm not sure if you're trying to misunderstand their point, i.e being disingenuous, or if you genuinely forgot what the proposed official policy is going forward. Either way: kool, we can see now what is in 2.0 ... but going forward, the official policy is you pay your subscription and unspecificed features will come at some unspecified point in time. That's an obvious red flag for people - both existing customers and potential ones alike, and of course the biggest red flag of all is paying a subscription fee for bug fixes and stability updates. In either case, we need only look to the past to reasonably predict what the future will bring.

you look at Bitwig's sales rankings at online retailers, and you wonder how on earth they are even going to maintain the marketshare they have, much less gain any.

Exactly. I would feel much more comfortable paying for features straight up, if the updates are worth the price, people would pay for them anyway. This policy/subscription feels like a scheme and I worry will be an annual payment that comes with very little recompense.

[SLiC]

I hope this doesn't become a trend. I'd much rather see what's included in an update Before spending money on it.

Exactly. Especially with Bitwig who has 0 track record (went 2 years basically adding 0 features to their DAW apart from Cowbell ) and have yet fulfilled any of their promises.

Here is what is included (2 threads above your post!) - upgrade or don't based on this alone for 160 buck, Simple. FYI- Bitwig have added more free features than any other DAW I have owned (Cubase, S1 and Live Suite) you could not be more wrong....for example:

Actually everything in my comment still stands 100% true, you must've misread if you think I 'couldn't be more wrong' . I have read their new 2.0 features many times by the way.

I was referring to their history previous to 2.0, as I have had almost 2 years experience with 1.0, and for that time period they had only added Cowbell . And 2.0 still hasn't even delivered on any of the key features they hyped about - no modular, online collaboration etc. Which is why I agreed with the previous poster agreeing this is a bad theme, especially for Bitwig who haven't fulfilled a single thing and are the kings of empty promises/bad customer relations. It's easy to be tentative about paying an exorbitant annual fee with these things considered.

Even their 2.0 update is lackluster, they added a bunch of excessive stuff - looks a lot like quantity over quality. I would take an updated sampler over all of their new features combined as theirs still is miles behind Abletons. Or a better timestretch algorithm - also miles behind abletons. Or at the least maybe they can add a 4-4 grid to their arrangement view/piano roll finally etc.

Why do you keep saying they only added a cowbell in the last 2 years when they added below:

Group Tracks – When building up a Bitwig Studio project, the individual parts can get out of hand. In most cases, there comes a point when it’s essential to get a handle on the mix in the most efficient way. Group Tracks is a tried and true way to quickly manage multiple parts of a mix at once. Tracks that have common mix or tonality settings can be set in groups to minimize large sections of a project.
Consolidate your mix and get organized with Group Tracks.

Pop-up Browser – To accelerate the browsing workflow, all devices in Bitwig Studio 1.2 feature the Pop-Up icon. This advanced browsing feature appears in a new window that uses Bitwig Studio’s tagging system to eliminate the boundaries between devices. The result is a meta view of all available sounds in one category. Searching for the right bass? It doesn’t matter if it’s a Polysynth preset or a sample, you now have the freedom to audition all your content in place while playing on the fly. Use the Pop-Up Browser to find the right sound quickly and to get back to what is most important, making music.

Histogram Display for Dynamic Devices – Several audio devices in Bitwig Studio 1.2 feature a new window into a visual environment illustrating the dynamics of sound over time. The Histogram Display makes use of scale, light, shade, and volume on an XY grid to visualize sounds. The result can be found on the Audio Mod, Compressor, Dynamics, LFO Mod, Peak Meter, Gate and Transient Control devices. The Histogram Display allows for quick analysis of device settings as they dynamically affect sound using animated graphic displays.

Project Templates – Project Templates eliminate repetitive tasks by predefining the most commonly used project setups for the style of production you work with most often. Making several custom Project Templates containing various devices and routings can offer a great starting point for any production.

Customizable Shortcuts- Extending on the freedom that exists throughout Bitwig Studio, customizable shortcuts are now available. Now it’s easy to see the factory shortcuts available for anyone to change, and all the parameters to which can be freely assigned. The shortcuts feature is now available in the Bitwig Studio preferences.

Per Project Mappings – Bitwig Studio makes every effort to eliminate the boundary between controllers and those who use them. This is immediately noticeable from community designed controller scripts or the newly enhanced MIDI mapping functionality. The depth of these mappings can get extremely detailed, and keeping track of their unique settings in each project is no small task. In the 1.2 update a new finger-pointing icon in the lower right of the project window. Pressing this icon reveals a new mapping panel. The mapping panel keeps track of any parameter mapped to a controller or computer keyboard and is completely editable.

Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression – In the past few years, multi-dimensional controllers have pushed the boundaries of MIDI, and created a gap between the degrees of freedom they are capable of and what DAWs and plug-ins were designed to utilize. Multi-dimensional controllers send gestural data that most software is not equipped to deal with, which limits the creative use of multi-dimensional controllers.Music instrument manufacturers and music software editors alike share a strong interest to agree upon a set of conventions that enable an improved user experience of new controllers, allowing to achieve more with electronic music than before.
This is where MPE (Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression) or “Expressive MIDI” comes in. By supporting this preliminary standard, Bitwig Studio 1.2 is among the first DAWs capable of capturing and utilizing the precise features of the most advanced MIDI controllers available on the market today.

Expressive MIDI allows for natural articulations which creates a significantly deeper connection to sound.
The following additional features:
Oscilloscope
Device Inspector
Delay-4
Expand Clip Height
High-DPI and Retina Display Support
Jack Support + Jack Transport
Poly to Mono Modulation Mappings
Pressure Note Expression
Roger Linn “LinnStrument” Support
Roli “Seaboard” Support

Multi-Touch – Control multiple faders, knobs, and device displays at the same time. Multi-touch is limited only by the capabilities of the hardware on which Bitwig Studio is installed.

Radial Menu – Press and hold anywhere on the screen for a quick access menu for multiple actions.
Touch Keyboard – An integrated keyboard that includes X/Y axis controls independent for each finger. An additional dimension, “Pressure” is available when using the Touch Keyboard with Pen and Microsoft Surface Pro.

Track Header – One single button has effectively replaced four.  Simply tap and swipe in a direction to activate

New E-Cowbell Device – You’ve got a fever, and the only prescription …is more cowbell.

[shonoob]

No bug fixes after your 12 months runs out. Unless you pay.

Not at all, it doesn't say that, you are just making up your own interpretation. It could easily just relate to major versions (ie you could be on 2.3.2 and that could go 2.3.3 for a bug fix but you wound not get 2.4 with 'new features' unless you subscribed). No software company at is going to leave a paying customer with a version that doesn't work.

Why not just wait and see when the full official information is announced?

Are you sure about that? Didn't the CEO of bitwig say on Facebook that they would make bug fixes available to all outdated license holders, as you are suggesting, but shortly afterwards delete that post?

[memyselfandus]

No bug fixes after your 12 months runs out. Unless you pay.

Not at all, it doesn't say that, you are just making up your own interpretation. It could easily just relate to major versions (ie you could be on 2.3.2 and that could go 2.3.3 for a bug fix but you wound not get 2.4 with 'new features' unless you subscribed). No software company at is going to leave a paying customer with a version that doesn't work.

Why not just wait and see when the full official information is announced?

You may be right but you left out the part where I said

"Unless they plan on having separate installs for bug fixes only?"

Edit

It's pretty clear

"The upgrade plan is only required if you want access to the latest version"

No bug fixes after your 12 months runs out. Unless you pay? It seems pretty clear. Which is fine for those who are fine with that.

About the new feautures. I'm not seeing much of Anything related to the sequencer, time signatures or basic piano roll stuff being added which is really disappointing. I do see some really cool stuff being added with instruments and stuff but I also see that as their main focus for updates in the future and not any of the sequencer and piano roll stuff. Only because there was really nothing added to version 2 as far as that stuff is concerned. Reminds me of Propellerhead and the RE only (mostly) related updates..

[Daags]

Bitwig have NEVER said that if you don't upgrade you wont get support, all it says is that when you subscribe you get 'priority email support'. They have also NEVER said there will be no bug fixes, just no free 'new features' unless you subscribe. It doesn't mention anything about what you wont get, that is all speculation.

This is the sum total of information anyone has: https://www.bitwig.com/en/17/new-license-model.html

They have changed that. It used to say:

12 MONTHS OF FREE UPGRADES
Alongside the announcement of Bitwig Studio 2 we are also introducing a new license model.
Starting with the release of Bitwig Studio 2, you’ll get 12 months of free upgrades and updates with your purchase. This plan also includes email support.

See copy/paste from the site here: viewtopic.php?p=6674908#p6674908

There you go then, they listened (or it never meant to read that way) problem solved

Cute. So much for 'NEVER'.

Either way, the evolution to 'priority email' is still uncomfortably vague. Not quite as explicit as the original wording, but still essentially allowing them to do the exact same thing ... treat you as 'non priority' if your subscription is up.

At any rate, perhaps this tacit acknowledgement of yours that the 'squeeky wheel gets the oil' will maybe mean you'll now stop with smarmy posts like this:

So I asked for a refund given:

They changed their update policy to subscription. Only 12 month bug fixes. Considering it's taken them 3 years I can't see them releasing anything significant in 12 months .

They are not offering a reasonable upgrade price . 3/4 of original price every 12 months is not reasonable.

They did not deliver on promised V2 features - modular environment , network collaboration .

They banned me from Bitwig forums for expressing this view

Support reply was - We have not implemented a subscription model and you've been too long a customer for a refund.

I'll stick with Logic and Live . Much better.

OK- point made. Bye.

it's people like him, who are making their point, and even make it 'over and over' if needs be, that get positive results that YOU benefit from. remember that.