Bitwig 2.3 is out (free for all holders of 2.x license)

[SLiC]

I hope they add a video player/video track in the near future.

There are a few VST video players (some free) that work OK until then.....

[Muziksculp]

I hope they add a video player/video track in the near future.

There are a few VST video players (some free) that work OK until then.....

Yup, I'm aware of that. But, it makes a lot of sense for Bitwig Studio 2 to have its native, built-in Video Track. Why Not ? I hope more Bitwig Studio users request this, so we can have it built-in to BWS in the near future. Hopefully before version 3.

[pdxindy]

I hope they add a video player/video track in the near future.

There are a few VST video players (some free) that work OK until then.....

Yup, I'm aware of that. But, it makes a lot of sense for Bitwig Studio 2 to have its native, built-in Video Track. Why Not ? I hope more Bitwig Studio users request this, so we can have it built-in to BWS in the near future. Hopefully before version 3.

I'd like to have a video track in Bitwig. However, just having a video track is not so exciting by itself. Just by itself I would still use Logic for video because of other video related features.

[pdxindy]

The new Instrument Selector device in Bitwig 2.3 is kinda under the radar. However it is impressive. You can add multiple instruments to it and switch between them on the fly. When you hold a note and switch layers, the held note does not get cut off. Same for any released notes with longer release.

So it is easy to do something like play a drone sound and hold the note, then switch layers on the fly via midi controller and play another instrument. Switch presets on the fly without a glitch or cut notes for any instrument. Switch between articulations. Etc.

Even if you have a bunch of layers, only the sounding layer(s) use cpu.

There is also the FX Selector which is the same but for FX. So you could add 2-3 delays as layers each with different timings and swap between them on the fly.

And since it is Bitwig, you can also modulate active layer so you could for example, make it switch randomly between layers.

[killmaster]

The new Instrument Selector device in Bitwig 2.3 is kinda under the radar. However it is impressive. You can add multiple instruments to it and switch between them on the fly. When you hold a note and switch layers, the held note does not get cut off. Same for any released notes with longer release.

So it is easy to do something like play a drone sound and hold the note, then switch layers on the fly via midi controller and play another instrument. Switch presets on the fly without a glitch or cut notes for any instrument. Switch between articulations. Etc.

Even if you have a bunch of layers, only the sounding layer(s) use cpu.

There is also the FX Selector which is the same but for FX. So you could add 2-3 delays as layers each with different timings and swap between them on the fly.

And since it is Bitwig, you can also modulate active layer so you could for example, make it switch randomly between layers.

It is so great! Sometimes I do like the glitching that happens when switching presets though. Sometimes not. Its incredibly more useful than I originally imagined. For instance, for plugins that don't do preset changing, you can just load another instance of the plugin with a different preset.

I can't figure out out how to automate the switching of the layers though.

[pdxindy]

I can't figure out out how to automate the switching of the layers though.

You can use regular automation. Instrument Selector - Index is the name of the parameter.

You can also assign any Bitwig modulators to the index parameter. So suppose you have 2 layers, you can add a button modulator and use the button to switch between the two layers. Click the assign arrow to active and then drag up and down on the Index field (top of device) to set modulation amount. If you have a number of layers, use a Macro modulator. Or use the Midi modulator to set up a physical knob on your midi controller.

Likewise you can do something like use an LFO modulator with a square wave to jump back and forth between two layers every 1/2 or 1/4 or whatever. And you could use the Keytrack modulator and dedicate a couple low notes on your keyboard to switching layers.

Another handy thing with the Instrument Selector, the 8 Device Macros also auto switch to the default Device Page of the selected instrument. So when you switch layers, so do the Macro knobs.

One other thing... I appreciate that the Instrument Selector layer automatically takes the preset name. This works with Bitwig instruments and also works with VST instruments such as the u-he synths (because Bitwig 'sees' their presets) when selecting via the Bitwig preset system.

[kaspy003]

Still no AU support

I cant understand way you complain about AU, use Logic X with your AU

[EnochLight]

Exactly a year after 2.0 was released, 2.3 is up for free download for owners of 2.x license.

Small list of things added in 2.x:
- universe of 30+ modulators, to be attached to native & 3rd party devices,
- new devices (Amp, Phase-4 synth) + numerous improvements to existing ones,
- new audio & note (MIDI) effects,
- improved integration with hardware, through MIDI as well as CV/Gate,
- improved stretching, incl. Elastique algorithms,
- time signature changes,
- Ableton Link,
- VST3 support,
- and lots more - details here: https://www.bitwig.com/en/bitwig-studio ... dio-2.html

Gotta say, it's been an impressive year!

I've got Bitwig 8-Track (bundled with a Nektar controller I just picked up). Seriously considering upgrading to full Bitwig, but it's just a $40 reduction for the upgrade, which doesn't seem like much. I suppose if I can sell my Studio One 3.5 license to offset it, but they go for so little these days.

Ugh...

[Tj Shredder]

Still no AU support

I cant understand way you complain about AU, use Logic X with your AU

You need Mainstage anyway if you want to incorporate the Apple instruments (and who does not want that?...) Not so much more drawback... less than a handfull of AU-only plug-ins around...
I connect the spdif ins and outs of my interface to route the audio, you could as well use soundflower or dante to get it into Bitwig...
More important for me would be a better MPE support, I will only upgrade if they record Midi channel information properly...

[Stefken]

I've just been checking out Bitwig. It has answers to a lot of Ableton gripes that I have.

But the interface is graphically quite cluttered and too busy.
Is there a way to make or download skins for Bitwig?

I googled but found almost nothing.
Best I found was this post but it's a post from 2014.
https://answers.bitwig.com/questions/61 ... lour-theme

It's not obvious to change this theme file without some reference and it's a huge file...

[SLiC]

I've just been checking out Bitwig. It has answers to a lot of Ableton gripes that I have.

But the interface is graphically quite cluttered and too busy.
Is there a way to make or download skins for Bitwig?

I googled but found almost nothing.
Best I found was this post but it's a post from 2014.
https://answers.bitwig.com/questions/61 ... lour-theme

It's not obvious to change this theme file without some reference and it's a huge file...

No skins yet, but if you turn off the left and right inspector and put it in clip (arrange) mode it is pretty much the same as Live's clip view.

[dangayle]

Still no AU support

I cant understand way you complain about AU, use Logic X with your AU

A few reasons:

- I dislike dealing with the VST2/VST3 issue
- I like using AU only (Sinevibes) plugins in Ableton
- I like to save HD space, where possible. Having 4/5 different versions of the same plugin (some of which are rather large) seems illogical.
- Logic isn’t my primary DAW, but I do like it for recording audio