Bitwig

KleinAberFein · Post by **KleinAberFein** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:33 pm

Hi everybody,

While I was about to buy Live I've found about Bitwig and I felt excited because it seems a bit more visual and touchy and somehow more intuitive than Ableton, and I can get very easily overwhelmed and give up of the learning phase is more frustrating than enjoyable and I feel like I'm in the cockpit of an airplane in free fall and I have no idea what are all those things for.

That say, I was very excited about the audio to midi feature in ableton, because at least 50% of my inspirations come by singing (let's say, a mix of beatbox and human synth).
Of course a physical instrument (I've been gifted a Launchkey Mini MK3) is also important, but without audio to midi I would soon feel in prison.

By audio to midi I don't mean jus triggering drums with a mic with Replace like Matt shows in a video.
I mean also the pitch of the notes, their duration, volume, etc.
So that I can use my voice as a midi controller also for Synths, bit just drums.

I've been told to use Melodyne.
But that's so expensive and I'm at noodles and love negotiating 10 USD on the price of a used license.
Maybe the very basic version, used, I could.
But not more.

So the questions are:
1) is the very basic version of Melodyne enough for what I want to do?
2) how do I use it in Bitwig if there is no Rewire?
3) which alternatives are there, which people are already using successfully with Bitwig, possibly cheaper than Melodyne but still effective?

I really wouldn't want to choose Ableton only because of audio to midi...

Thanks!

Edit: yes, windows 10

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:49 pm

KleinAberFein wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:33 pm So the questions are:
1) is the very basic version of Melodyne enough for what I want to do?
2) how do I use it in Bitwig if there is no Rewire?
3) which alternatives are there, which people are already using successfully with Bitwig, possibly cheaper than Melodyne but still effective?

1) Based on Melodyne's website, you'd need at least Assistant version

2) It doesn't need Rewire. Melodyne would benefit if Bitwig (or Live for that matter) had ARA, but they don't. It will work without ARA, just requires more hassle.

3) This is gonna be a weird recommendation, but you might want to look at Reason 11 Intro (https://www.reasonstudios.com/en/reason/buy) because it has an option to convert monoponic (i.e. melody, not chords) audio into MIDI and I can't see it is not available in Intro; but make sure to contact support and ask them about it. You'll get a lot of extra instruments & FX to use in Bitwig, but for audio conversion you'll have to do it in Reason, which might not be what you're looking for

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:57 pm

KleinAberFein wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:33 pmThanks!

Oh, also try this plugin - it's for recognising key & scale, but perhaps it will just output the MIDI note if its fed with a melody? They're very frequently selling their plugins at -40 or -50%, so you should be able to get it very cheaply if it does what you need.

https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/h ... ngkey-mk3/

KleinAberFein · Post by **KleinAberFein** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:01 pm

antic604 wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:49 pm For audio conversion you'll have to do it in Reason, which might not be what you're looking for

Thanks!

And if I end having to use another software, not within Bitwig..., how do I import in Bitwig the midi track which I've generated with the other software?
Is that possible?

And thank you for the other plugin, I'll write them.

Anyway, let's see what other people might have to recommend.
The thread is open

Etienne1973 · Post by **Etienne1973** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:18 pm

Windows user? If yes, you could demo Bitscrew Pitch A Bitch VST effect plugin ($19).

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:24 pm

Etienne1973 wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:18 pm

Windows user? If yes, you could demo Bitscrew Pitch A Bitch VST effect plugin ($19).

Jeez. How come some people don't have any self-criticism to release a monstrosity with such a GUI!

But hopefully it works

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:29 pm

KleinAberFein wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:01 pmAnd if I end having to use another software, not within Bitwig..., how do I import in Bitwig the midi track which I've generated with the other software? Is that possible?

Yeah, you'd just export MIDI clip from Reason and drag that file onto a Instrument Track in Bitwig.

The real risk is you might end up liking Reason, because it IS awesome and based on your post I really think you should consider - or at least look at - it

KleinAberFein · Post by **KleinAberFein** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 3:46 pm

Yes, windows 10, thanks. I forgot to say, I edited now.
Looks good.

Yes, I had the impression that reason might be good, I actually downloaded them all (Live, Bitwig, Reason, FL) to try. But well, if it's already overwhelming trying to figure out how one DAW work, comparing 4 different ones is for a newbie as good as impossible.
But I wrote them for the audio to midi, let's see.
If it's supported in the intro, it might be cheaper to find a used license of that, than of Melodyne.

My impression is that for EDM Bitwig might be more powerful than reason, and I like the clip system, I had a go at ableton few years ago and found it too complicated, but liked the clips stuff.
From the few I've seen, I'd say Bitwig is somehow between Ableton and Reason, which is probably what I'm looking for.

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 3:58 pm

KleinAberFein wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 3:46 pmFrom the few I've seen, I'd say Bitwig is somehow between Ableton and Reason

Yes, that's a very good conclusion. I agree

KleinAberFein · Post by **KleinAberFein** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:57 pm

Talking of reason, I've just found out a reason plugin in my trial copy of Bitwig.
With all those beautiful racks.
Is this just, included in Bitwig?
Or do I need to buy reason to have this plugin?
I mean, I do have the trial of reason, and when I open this plugin in Bitwig, it says I still have 29 days, like if it's looking for a licensed reason in my notebook.
This makes me think i have to buy reason for this?
But on the other hand, i didn't do anything to install this plugin in Bitwig.
It is just there....

(EDIT: I uninstalled reason. The plugin is gone. It was too beautiful to be true)

And, I wrote to Bitwig, they suggested me imitone.
Google it, it's freaking real time!

Yokai · Post by **Yokai** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:55 pm

Eh. I retract this earlier comment.

Kongru · Post by **Kongru** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:08 pm

antic604 wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:24 pm
Etienne1973 wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:18 pm

Windows user? If yes, you could demo Bitscrew Pitch A Bitch VST effect plugin ($19).
Jeez. How come some people don't have any self-criticism to release a monstrosity with such a GUI!

But hopefully it works

Never judge a plugin by it's GUI! (especially coming from Reason

)

Remember Synth1.

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:35 am

Kongru wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:08 pmNever judge a plugin by it's GUI! (especially coming from Reason )

I've no idea what you mean by "especially coming from Reason" - it's beautiful, but pixelated. Those are two totally separate issues.

And I'm a shallow, "form over function" guy. I only bought Serum after it got the Promethean skin and Zebra after it got the current 2.9 skin

antic604 · Post by **antic604** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:08 pm

Apparently Wave's new OVox plugin was updated today to include ... MIDI Out! So you can use that and sooner or later it will be available for $29

https://www.waves.com/plugins/ovox-voca ... lled-synth

Kalamata Kid · Post by **Kalamata Kid** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:41 pm

antic604 wrote: Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:08 pm Apparently Wave's new OVox plugin was updated today to include ... MIDI Out! So you can use that and sooner or later it will be available for $29

https://www.waves.com/plugins/ovox-voca ... lled-synth

I thought that Ovox was an audio fx plugin and had ignored it for the most part.
So thanks that you mentioned that it does voice to midi.
What has been the lowest price for Ovox so far?
I'll just wait for the $29 sale.

Edit: Just received the Ovox update ad showing the new midi out feature.

Bitwig

KVR Audio

What's at the moment the best way to have audio to midi? (Win 10)