Bitwig and Cubase

[ChamomileShark]

I've used Cubase for a long time (like decades) - I probably still only know and use 20% of it. I tend to use it as a digital tape recorder, but I do use the step sequencer quite alot. Audio editing not so much. I do ambient stuff, no vocals, a mix of hardware and software synths. I don't have a DC coupled interface so I don't do CV out from the PC to the modular hardware. I don't perform live - right now I'm doing music just for myself so no real time pressure.

I've given Bitwig 2.4 a go because I was curious about the clip based approach and the modulators for composition. Also I thought the sampler looked fun.

I'm trying to learn the basics of Bitwig but it's slow going (probably the same reason I only understand and use 20% of Cubase). I've picked up a couple of limitations of Bitwig, no normalisation, Meleodyne doesn't work in it (more for spectral editing). I've not tried mixing yet.

I'm wondering whether I should ditch the idea of completing whole tracks within Bitwig and use it for sound design using the modulators (and if I get 3 for the grid that looks easier that Reaktor) and the clip based thing and then export the audio to Cubase and edit / mix in there.

Interested to know if others do anything similar, or whether I should try and stick with completing stuff in Bitwig. Or that if I go for the approach of doing stuff in Bitwig is there anything other than the sound design and clip features that I should explore before sending it all to Cubase?

Thoughts?

[PieBerger]

I think you should just go with whatever works best for you and try not to box yourself in. I've been using Live for 6 years now, having been a Cubase user (and Logic before), and while I find it the fastest, easiest and most fun DAW for me to use personally, it is quite limited in a lot areas especially audio and mixing. I decided to pick up Cubase again during the sale, because although it lacks the non-linear, experimental and "fun" tools of Live, it's much better to work with audio and the mix console is miles ahead of Live, so I'm going to see if a two DAW workflow will allow me to enjoy the best of both worlds. If not, then it's still nice to have two different but complimentary DAWs to choose from, so depending on your mood and what you're trying to achieve creatively, you can choose the workflow that will suit best.

[antic604]

You said it yourself - Cubase is an awesome "tape recorder", Bitwig excels in sound design especially using modulation, hardware integration and - since v3 - the grid. You can do full tracks in both, but their strengths will make certain tasks easier or tougher.

I understand that for years you've been doing music in Cubase, not having access to modulators, hardware integration, etc. and I assume it worked fine? So maybe now try doing the same with just Bitwig and see if you're still able to also arrange, mix and master your track there? Lots of people do, so it's certainly possible. But at the same time there's nothing wrong with bouncing stems from Bitwig and finalising the work elsewhere. Personally - and I'm also a hobbyist, so no time pressure or release schedule - I prefer to stay in one DAW per project, but that's me.

[dellboy]

Rather than Bitwig, have you got a copy of Ableton Live Lite kicking around ?

It gives you 8 tracks of pattern based tracks to play around with, and when you are happy, export all 8 tracks as audio waves,along with the FX and import them into Cubase.

Personally, for my time of music (YMMV), I find 8 tracks is sufficient. Bitwig 8 track only allows 16bit export, and only as one track, whereas Live is unrestricted.

You then have the best of both worlds - linear and pattern based.

If and when you find you would like to go patterned based you know better what to expect.

[antic604]

Rather than Bitwig, have you got a copy of Ableton Live Lite kicking around ?

That's a solid advice, but only if the goal is to use session view in particular, because otherwise Lite lacks (full) Bitwig's modulation system, CV hardware integration, the grid. To get equivalents of those, you'd need to go for Live Suite, which is almost 2x the cost. Too bad Bitwig 8-Track is so limited

[ChamomileShark]

I do have Ableton Lite and I will try that at some point - I've now edited my original post to clarify that I have the full Bitwig 2.4 - at the time my 8 track version was still at version 1 so with the restriction on number of tracks it made it not worth it other than to upgrade.

CV hardware integration doesn't work for me as I don't have a DC coupled interface and I think also I prefer doing my CV stuff within the modular hardware environment.

The addition of Bitwig was because after 40 years of doing music and nearly 15 years on Cubase (longer when I include Cubeat) I'm looking for new ways of doing things and seeing where it takes me.

The downside of adding Bitwig is that I'm a slow learner and even though there is no real time pressure I get frustrated trying to do simple things I could do in Cubase quickly.

But all the answers here were good and thoughtful - I'm just working through things at a time when traditionally I'm not trying to compose and record pieces - summer is my learning time while spending more time outside.

[xbitz]

just a remark, lot of things can be done with Snap Heap too, this is what I'm using in Cubase
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqxhUBnF3lU
it's a nice intermediate step between Cubase and Bitwig
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https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/prod ... byome.html also would be nice but as I read the MIDI triggering comes only with the next version (someday)