Has Bitwig ruined other synths/plugins for you?

[PhilipVasta]

As the Black Friday sales start hitting us full-force, I've been doing the usual scanning, trying to maintain some semblance of objectivity in evaluating what I actually need. To be honest, for some time I've felt kind of jaded toward this market and the glut of options we have. That said, lately I've begun to wonder if perhaps I'm underestimating the value of different plugins and instruments. Even if they are essentially the same thing, there is ostensibly some value in how they do those things and how you interact with them.

So for instance, Softube's Model 84 is on sale right now, and something about having the sound and limitations of that old hardware is appealing to me. But then I think, I could almost certainly create a very similar sound in Bitwig. Even Parallels, which supposedly has unique bespoke waveforms to play with, has me wondering, "Ok, but how different is the end result really?" Similarly, Eventide's new SplitEQ allows you to treat the transient and sustain of a signal separately. Sounds really useful! ... Except, again, Bitwig's modulation system lets me key one device to any other device, in whatever fashion I choose.

It feels like Bitwig has almost ruined me for other synths and plugins because of how flexible it is. I know, saving money is a terrible plight, right? But seriously, does anyone else ever feel like this?

[brendaningram]

The way I challenge myself with this issue is by asking myself "are you an expert with all the OOTB Bitwig synths? Yes? You are allowed to buy external synths. No? Keep learning." So far the answer is still no - I am not an expert and haven't reached the full capability of Bitwig!

[] Peter:H []

Yes kind of ... the moment when you add the voices module to a 3rd party module and think "ah, damn ... it won't work here".

A different example is the different unisono modes of polymeres wavetable osc ... they are pretty good, even better what other wt synths offer as unisono.

[anoise]

No, I almost never use the Bitwig synths, except the sampler, because I already have excellent (better sounding IMO) soft synths.

[antic604]

No, not really.

But that's only because I'm not great at designing my own sounds or effects. I can do a basic kick drum or bass, maybe even a lead or pad, but they all sound - for the lack of better word - "Bitwiggy", i.e. I can tell they were made by me in Bitwig. And that's not a dig at Bitwig, because many of the factory patches are fantastic, creative and high quality. But for some reason when I'm using 3rd party VSTs I get more creative, probably because certain decisions were already pre-made and most choices I need to make are aesthetic and artistic, rather than technical or architectural. Sure, Bitwig and Grid in particular make it easier than many other environments, but it can still distract from reaching the goal, by "forcing" one to focus on the minutiae rather than big picture. And it's also true that Bitwig's synths offer more flexibility, especially with full MPE support, but for decades people have been producing emotional, deep and touching music without MPE technology, like they did without native modulation system, operators, etc. Sometimes limitations breed creativity.

However, that's just me. If I was a teenager or young man with a lot of time on my hands, no demanding job, no family and a talent for sound design, Bitwig would probably cover 80% of my needs (still no proper granular or additive synthesis, for example). Because I'm not, I'd rather reach for ABL3, The Legend, Hive, Valhalla Echo, Turnado and Saturn; find samples and patches that's close to what I nead and tweak them to make my own.

In other words - it hasn't for me, but I can see how it could for others

[perpetual3]

As the Black Friday sales start hitting us full-force, I've been doing the usual scanning, trying to maintain some semblance of objectivity in evaluating what I actually need. To be honest, for some time I've felt kind of jaded toward this market and the glut of options we have. That said, lately I've begun to wonder if perhaps I'm underestimating the value of different plugins and instruments. Even if they are essentially the same thing, there is ostensibly some value in how they do those things and how you interact with them.

So for instance, Softube's Model 84 is on sale right now, and something about having the sound and limitations of that old hardware is appealing to me. But then I think, I could almost certainly create a very similar sound in Bitwig. Even Parallels, which supposedly has unique bespoke waveforms to play with, has me wondering, "Ok, but how different is the end result really?" Similarly, Eventide's new SplitEQ allows you to treat the transient and sustain of a signal separately. Sounds really useful! ... Except, again, Bitwig's modulation system lets me key one device to any other device, in whatever fashion I choose.

It feels like Bitwig has almost ruined me for other synths and plugins because of how flexible it is. I know, saving money is a terrible plight, right? But seriously, does anyone else ever feel like this?

I use Bitwig exclusively and model 84 is one of my most used plugins. It is impossible for me to duplicate the tone and character in the grid. Similarly, SplitEQ transient tonal spectral separation algorithm is unique and in my opinion best in class.

[antic604]

...SplitEQ transient tonal spectral separation algorithm is unique and in my opinion best in class.

That's not a feat if it's first of its kind, is it?

[SpaceCadetOnLeave]

to the left:
an amateur using a DAW with a version of a software modular system made (bitwig guy's own words) to introduce the possibilities of the modular world to new and beginning users.
to the right:
a highly educated and passionate team of DSP programmers determined to created beautiful solutions for pro's and amateurs.

Now, Lets get ready to rumble!

3.
2.
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[pdxindy]

It feels like Bitwig has almost ruined me for other synths and plugins because of how flexible it is. I know, saving money is a terrible plight, right? But seriously, does anyone else ever feel like this?

For me, Bitwig plus u-he and I am fairly well covered. Add in Fabfilter and Valhalla FX and I am covered. I really like Plasmonic so happy to have that. Plus Serum or Icarus for synthesizing audio or in other ways generating wavetables.

I've got that, plus a number of choice hardware synths. I'm set and don't need to buy anything. It's been a while since I felt an interest in buying some software synths or fx and Bitwig devices are a part of that.

I use the Bitwig stuff quite a bit, more than any DAW previously. The integration with all of Bitwig makes the Bitwig Instruments more than the sum of the parts and kinda unique. Unlimited per voice modulation, MPE, voice stacking and multi-core support.

Some of the Bitwig FX also have uncommon attributes. For example, being able to nest other FX inside them. Delay-4 may be the most powerful delay you can buy.

[enCiphered]

For me, Bitwig plus u-he and I am fairly well covered. Add in Fabfilter and Valhalla FX and I am covered. I really like Plasmonic so happy to have that. Plus Serum or Icarus for synthesizing audio or in other ways generating wavetables.

I've got that, plus a number of choice hardware synths. I'm set and don't need to buy anything. It's been a while since I felt an interest in buying some software synths or fx and Bitwig devices are a part of that.

Thats quite a lot

[antic604]

For me, Bitwig plus u-he and I am fairly well covered. Add in Fabfilter and Valhalla FX and I am covered. I really like Plasmonic so happy to have that. Plus Serum or Icarus for synthesizing audio or in other ways generating wavetables.

I've got that, plus a number of choice hardware synths. I'm set and don't need to buy anything. It's been a while since I felt an interest in buying some software synths or fx and Bitwig devices are a part of that.

Thats quite a lot

If that's all (or most) @pdxindy has, then it's basically nothing by KvR standards. So actually that means he doesn't need much outside of Bitwig.

[enCiphered]

For me, Bitwig plus u-he and I am fairly well covered. Add in Fabfilter and Valhalla FX and I am covered. I really like Plasmonic so happy to have that. Plus Serum or Icarus for synthesizing audio or in other ways generating wavetables.

I've got that, plus a number of choice hardware synths. I'm set and don't need to buy anything. It's been a while since I felt an interest in buying some software synths or fx and Bitwig devices are a part of that.

Thats quite a lot

If that's all (or most) @pdxindy has, then it's basically nothing by KvR standards.

I know, I´m no better

However, I think there is still a difference between just owning something and using it regularly.
I have a lot of instruments and sample libraries but I only use a few of them most of the time to get my work done. I just cannot imagine how Bitwig is ever supposed to replace any of them, regarding sound and workflow.

[pdxindy]

For me, Bitwig plus u-he and I am fairly well covered. Add in Fabfilter and Valhalla FX and I am covered. I really like Plasmonic so happy to have that. Plus Serum or Icarus for synthesizing audio or in other ways generating wavetables.

I've got that, plus a number of choice hardware synths. I'm set and don't need to buy anything. It's been a while since I felt an interest in buying some software synths or fx and Bitwig devices are a part of that.

Thats quite a lot

Yes, and I consider it a happy indulgence

Plenty of people have hundreds of plugins. One person mentioned 1500 recently. How do you describe that if you have already used up the word 'lots' for the couple dozen I have

[enCiphered]

Well, 1500 is indeed an unusual high number of plugins

[Echoes in the Attic]

Not at all. Bitwig synths jus don't sound anywhere near as good as other ones I have. I'd love to be able to use less third party plugins but there are too many that sound unique and too great. I barely use the bitwig instruments at all.