What is the future of Bitwig?

[foosnark]

I don't think this is the sort of thing where one can claim "objective superiority" tbh. More of... a general but not universal consensus of subjective preference.

It's objective in the fact that there's stuff you can do in other DAWs that are not possible in Bitwig.

From features like multitrack elastic audio editing, managing articulations, Atmos, etc, to seemingly small workflow things like having configurable defaults in the piano roll that can have a big impact.

That's still not objective. The usefulness of those features is a matter of opinion. I don't care at all about Atmos, multitrack elastic audio editing, anything about the piano roll, and don't even know what you mean by "managing articulations" (seems like something you'd handle by modulating envelopes or timbral controls perhaps with standard host automation or modulators?)

Generally, "better" is not a thing that can be subjective -- unlike harder, faster and stronger which all can be compared with specifically defined units of measurement

(OK, I'm done with pedantry... for now)

[j wazza]

I don't think this is the sort of thing where one can claim "objective superiority" tbh. More of... a general but not universal consensus of subjective preference.

It's objective in the fact that there's stuff you can do in other DAWs that are not possible in Bitwig.

From features like multitrack elastic audio editing, managing articulations, Atmos, etc, to seemingly small workflow things like having configurable defaults in the piano roll that can have a big impact.

That's still not objective. The usefulness of those features is a matter of opinion. I don't care at all about Atmos, multitrack elastic audio editing, anything about the piano roll, and don't even know what you mean by "managing articulations" (seems like something you'd handle by modulating envelopes or timbral controls perhaps with standard host automation or modulators?)

Generally, "better" is not a thing that can be subjective -- unlike harder, faster and stronger which all can be compared with specifically defined units of measurement

(OK, I'm done with pedantry... for now)

I think he meant objectively better only in some areas, not in general, like just for multitrack elastic audio etc, idk wtf that is but i guess if bitwig doesnt have it then other daws are objectively better at elastic audio editing

im not fussed about those features either though apart from some piano roll features but not a big deal to me, and bitwig is subjectively the best daw for me, im also not sure wym about articulations

[PhilipVasta]

Articulations usually refers to different playing styles in certain kinds of instruments. For example, violins can play legato, staccato, pizzicato, etc.

[pierb]

multitrack elastic audio etc, idk wtf that is but i guess if bitwig doesnt have it then other daws are objectively better at elastic audio editing

First time I saw elastic audio was in Logic 8 or 9 but I think it was a feature initially found on Pro Tools like 15 years ago. The idea is you can drag some marker in audio and the rest of the audio will stretch, hence elastic. It's for quantizing audio and aligning audio between tracks.

Each daw calls it differently. In Logic it's called Flex, in S1 bend tool, in Cubase it's warp, etc. Most big daws have had this for many years and slowly they have been introducing the capacity to do it in multiple tracks at the same time.



As for articulations, different instrument have different ways of being played. Like in a cello there are different ways to use the bow etc. In orchestral sample instruments you change the articulation by pressing or writing a very low key but this is a pita so DAWs have introduced solutions for this.

Here's how Studio One has integrated with VSL for automatic articulations (I think I might have shared this video already):




Both of these feature are really bread and butter stuff when working with live recording and orchestral instruments.

[j wazza]

ok i get you, i meant not sure what he means about bitwigs articulations rather than i dont know what articulations are but guess i was vague, seems bitwig could have a lot of potential for articulations in the future with its modulators, timbre, mpe etc, maybe it could be set up with samplers in an instrument selector, but it would be better to have a way to do it automatically and integrated with vsts with better multisamples, some of the bitwig multisamples are great but some sound bad, and dont think it has everything yet, dont think it has a sax, this is another thing that they could even do as add ons as its hard to find good wav and sfz multisamples, most seem to be kontakt instruments etc

[BobDog]

My ideal "future Bitwig" would host devices (including VST plugins) inside Grid. That way I could work like I do now, or each channel would consist of just one Grid, or I'd simply have one channel with a Grid in it and do everything right there. But not having this is not much of an obstacle, to be honest.

Bitwig excels as a modular / sound design playground, so to speak. There is really no better tool out there for this kind of stuff.

If I could load Bitwig's bottom device chain inside any other DAW, something like Bitwig Rack, I'd be happy. Like some sort of Reaktor or VCV Rack with midi effects, plugin host, etc.

People that are happy with the current state of the Bitwig DAW (everything outside the device chain) could keep using that. But others would still be able to use the best aspect (IMO) of Bitwig in other DAWs that are objectively superior in many other areas.

And it would open up Bitwig to a huge market of users. The devs could keep improving the Bitwig DAW while having an extra revenue stream. Bitwig Rack could really become a Trojan horse and bring users into the Bitwig DAW a couple of years later.

I know this is most likely not going to happen. I'm also sure the hardcore Bitwig fans are probably getting their pitchforks at hearing of this heresy. But one can dream

Totally agree with this, I try to get on with the "DAW" aspects of BW and just cannot however much I try. The device chain part though is golden, I would love a "Bitwick Rack" plugin then I can just use that in another DAW.

[elnn]

My ideal "future Bitwig" would host devices (including VST plugins) inside Grid. That way I could work like I do now, or each channel would consist of just one Grid, or I'd simply have one channel with a Grid in it and do everything right there. But not having this is not much of an obstacle, to be honest.

Bitwig excels as a modular / sound design playground, so to speak. There is really no better tool out there for this kind of stuff.

If I could load Bitwig's bottom device chain inside any other DAW, something like Bitwig Rack, I'd be happy. Like some sort of Reaktor or VCV Rack with midi effects, plugin host, etc.

People that are happy with the current state of the Bitwig DAW (everything outside the device chain) could keep using that. But others would still be able to use the best aspect (IMO) of Bitwig in other DAWs that are objectively superior in many other areas.

And it would open up Bitwig to a huge market of users. The devs could keep improving the Bitwig DAW while having an extra revenue stream. Bitwig Rack could really become a Trojan horse and bring users into the Bitwig DAW a couple of years later.

I know this is most likely not going to happen. I'm also sure the hardcore Bitwig fans are probably getting their pitchforks at hearing of this heresy. But one can dream

Totally agree with this, I try to get on with the "DAW" aspects of BW and just cannot however much I try. The device chain part though is golden, I would love a "Bitwick Rack" plugin then I can just use that in another DAW.

1oo%

rack pls

[j wazza]

yeah im keen for a rack vst and/or rewire (both rewiring daws into bitwig and rewiring bitwig into daws) but tbh id probably still mostly use bitwig as its so quick to do everything, but id love to be able to use studio one's analog mixer with bitwigs modular stuff

another thing i definitely see in bitwigs future is a wavetable editor, its strange it doesnt have one as its one of the simpler things to make in a basic form, but maybe they're waiting til they make a really good and full featured one

edit: it just occurred to me you might be able to trigger the steps modulator in grid at audio rate with interpolation on for a monophonic wavetable editor

[Whytejacks]

the future bitwig will allow you to write the most interesting tracks with just your mind

[JHernandez]

I've just come back from the future, 15 years in the future. Sorry but Uliwig still doesn't have MSEG and it's still rocking the same piano roll. Still no VST version of Uliwig and or the grid. No elastic audio, nor articulations and no chord/scale tracks. They do have 6,301 cloned modulators and they built Polarity right into the DAW. Also, you can finally use themes/skins in 2034. As you may have guessed Behringer bought out Bitwig. That happens in 2025.

[Dionysos]

and they built Polarity right into the DAW.

This is where I stopped reading and bought 27 new license renewal codes.

[pierb]

This is the type of updates I'd love to get from the Bitwig team on a yearly basis.

https://reasonstudios.com/blog/being-pr ... riorities/

Right now there's no transparency and no roadmap. It's really frustrating.

[Dionysos]

While personally I'd appreciate such updates as well (just out of curiosity), I feel like there's not much in it for the devs. Unless you know you actively have to manage expectations to avoid disappointment (ie you're in a position of defensiveness), any disclosure of future plans will be used to make decisions or recommendations against your product to the same or a greater degree than for it.

It's like how demos for video games are a risk for developers as they may "help" people realise that a game is not for them.

I think in music software, you'll want too sell your product for what it is, not what it may or may not be. Someone's always going to take your plans as announcements or promises.

And I'd say Bitwig have some experience with that...

[liquidsound]

^^^It can work the other way around too.

[pierb]

While personally I'd appreciate such updates as well (just out of curiosity), I feel like there's not much in it for the devs.

Of course all approaches have pros and cons, but I think transparency and actively engaging with users is a net positive for any software company. Radio silence is really not the approach one would expect of a small indie company.

I started this thread hoping to get some official info, like U-He regularly do here on KVR. But after a couple of weeks I ended up buying a license for another DAW and will most likely end up selling my Bitwig license.

Maybe I would have been willing to stick with Bitwig until the next major update. But I have no idea where this train is going and have nothing to look forward to.