DrivenByMoss: Bitwig extension for many hardware controllers (version 26.6.1)

[moss]

Hi. I seem to be observing that when I use DBM for the Novation Launchkey 25 I am not able to record into Bitwig CC messages sent from Pad or Knob custom modes.

Does DBM for the Novation Launchkey 25 automatically discard all incoming CC data? If so, is this optional/configurable, or is it the hard-fact way-it-is?

Thanks.

You can use the custom modes but the CC is not showing up as pure CC in Bitwig (that's a Bitwig thing). Instead you can use it to map to any of the Bitwig controls (right click to learn).

[sj1]

Hi. Thanks much for your reply.

I believe I track what you are saying, but it still leaves me technically puzzled.

I have found that if I use Bitwig's built-in Generic Keyboard controller on the LK25 port:

Bitwig - Built-in Generic Kbd for LK25 01.jpg

then I am able to record the CCs as CCs. (I've proven this out.)

So, in what way is it a Bitwig thing that DBM can't or doesn't operate the same?

Does the Bitwig Built-in here use an internal interface that is unavailable to you in DBM?

[BobArctor]

Hi! Currently trying out Bitwig I stumbled upon your script and it looks very promising. Fantastic work! I'm using a Launchpad Pro.

I've just a question for now. How can I manually stop the recording of a clip in one press when I'm in playing in the note page? In Ableton Live, I can press the record button and that will end the recording of the clip - which will start playing what has been recorded - but in Bitwig, I have to go back to session page and tap the currently recording clip for it to stop (which makes it very hard not to miss the end of the bar).

[toovy]

Hi Jürgen,

great work, I'm so happy that I can use the launchpad pro (mkIII) with bitwig! Thanks a lot!

I'm currently building a live setup using some hardware and bitwig as live looper with effects, primarily using the custom view to crossfade between the live track and the recorded loop, map various FX on/off buttons and control the FX mix value. Primarily I want to create awesome transitions between song sections that I cannot easily program on my Syntakt (which acts as main sequencer, drives some other synths).

Imagine it like this:

• I record a 4 bar loop in the session view from the live signal (Syntakt)
• In the custom view I use a fader to fade between the live and loop track (brilliant that I can map two bitwig controls to the same fader with inversed values)
• I trigger a 4 bar drum roll + white noise riser in the session view
• I go back to the custom view and switch on some effects (yes, switch them on using faders)
• then I slowly fade the effects in using the main FX mix (mapped to a FX chain mix)
• in between I mute/unmute some tracks on the Syntakt (or other hardware)
• when the transition is over (at the end of the 4 bars) I set the fader which fades between loop and live signal to 0 => back to live signal, no FX any more

Well, while this works I asked myself, If the custom view could be "better". I imagined that instead of having 8 big faders it could consist of a mix of controls that would better suite a live situation. I thought of e.g. (see attachment)

• having a small 4x4 session view (record the loop, start 4 bar drum rolls, risers)
• a 4x2 button/switch grid (push buttons in bitwig, e.g. FX on/off, Midi CC buttons I guess)
• a 4x2 drum view (improvise drum fills, trigger one-shots, Midi Notes I guess)
• 8 faders, half size (each 1x4, Midi CCs I guess)

So the big question is: With all your experience, is it possible to create something like this? I'm a developer, Java lies back a couple of days, but maybe, if you point me into the right direction, I could help with this).

BR, toovy

[moss]

Hi. Thanks much for your reply.

I believe I track what you are saying, but it still leaves me technically puzzled.

I have found that if I use Bitwig's built-in Generic Keyboard controller on the LK25 port:


Bitwig - Built-in Generic Kbd for LK25 01.jpg


then I am able to record the CCs as CCs. (I've proven this out.)

So, in what way is it a Bitwig thing that DBM can't or doesn't operate the same?

Does the Bitwig Built-in here use an internal interface that is unavailable to you in DBM?

What Bitwig has told you is correct. It is either pure CC or mapping. I always choose mapping because that is normally what users want to do. Furthermore, you can still send CC by using the MIDI CC device from Bitwig and map that.

[moss]

Hi! Currently trying out Bitwig I stumbled upon your script and it looks very promising. Fantastic work! I'm using a Launchpad Pro.

I've just a question for now. How can I manually stop the recording of a clip in one press when I'm in playing in the note page? In Ableton Live, I can press the record button and that will end the recording of the clip - which will start playing what has been recorded - but in Bitwig, I have to go back to session page and tap the currently recording clip for it to stop (which makes it very hard not to miss the end of the bar).

This is Shift+Record but there is a setting to flip Arranger and Clip record: Transport -> "Flip arranger and Clip record / automation"

[moss]

Hi Jürgen,

great work, I'm so happy that I can use the launchpad pro (mkIII) with bitwig! Thanks a lot!

I'm currently building a live setup using some hardware and bitwig as live looper with effects, primarily using the custom view to crossfade between the live track and the recorded loop, map various FX on/off buttons and control the FX mix value. Primarily I want to create awesome transitions between song sections that I cannot easily program on my Syntakt (which acts as main sequencer, drives some other synths).

Imagine it like this:

• I record a 4 bar loop in the session view from the live signal (Syntakt)
• In the custom view I use a fader to fade between the live and loop track (brilliant that I can map two bitwig controls to the same fader with inversed values)
• I trigger a 4 bar drum roll + white noise riser in the session view
• I go back to the custom view and switch on some effects (yes, switch them on using faders)
• then I slowly fade the effects in using the main FX mix (mapped to a FX chain mix)
• in between I mute/unmute some tracks on the Syntakt (or other hardware)
• when the transition is over (at the end of the 4 bars) I set the fader which fades between loop and live signal to 0 => back to live signal, no FX any more

Well, while this works I asked myself, If the custom view could be "better". I imagined that instead of having 8 big faders it could consist of a mix of controls that would better suite a live situation. I thought of e.g. (see attachment)

• having a small 4x4 session view (record the loop, start 4 bar drum rolls, risers)
• a 4x2 button/switch grid (push buttons in bitwig, e.g. FX on/off, Midi CC buttons I guess)
• a 4x2 drum view (improvise drum fills, trigger one-shots, Midi Notes I guess)
• 8 faders, half size (each 1x4, Midi CCs I guess)

So the big question is: With all your experience, is it possible to create something like this? I'm a developer, Java lies back a couple of days, but maybe, if you point me into the right direction, I could help with this).

BR, toovy

Sure, you can do such things. Did you watch the new Bitwig videos with Richie Hawting? He did (or let do ) exactly such tuned scripts for his workflow.
If you want to get started with coding, check out the Bitwig API series (playlist) on my Youtube channel. That should set you on the right track!

[niborsilliw]

Hi there Jurgen.

I'm having problems getting an NI m32 running with bitwig.

I used your most current script. And installed it as per your instructions.

I am using the current version of bitwig on a pretty fully loaded gaming laptop with the current version of windows 11.

I'm getting a memory error.

I've attached a screenshot.

[moss]

Hi there Jurgen.

I'm having problems getting an NI m32 running with bitwig.

I used your most current script. And installed it as per your instructions.

I am using the current version of bitwig on a pretty fully loaded gaming laptop with the current version of windows 11.

I'm getting a memory error.

I've attached a screenshot.

This means that the MIDI port is either blocked by another application or there is something mixed up with the Kontrol drivers (not too uncommon).

First check if the MIDI port is not accessed by another application. Reboot and try again.
ALso unplugging and replugging the controller might help (also try different ports).
If all fails reinstall Komplete Kontrol.

[catzilla]

Hi,

how do I load a sample into a Sampler instance to preserve tweaks I made to it?
When I go Browse on Push and then choose a sample Bitwig replaces a sampler that was in a track with a new one losing its settings.
What I've noticed is that when I press the browse button in Sampler GUI the Browser actually shows up in Push as usual and there I can even switch between Samples/Multisamples/Music, and then when I choose a sample from Push Bitwig loads it into exising Sampler so my tweaks are preserved.

I guess there is no way in the Bitwig controller API to trigger that Sampler's pop up sample browser from Push, right? If so, kinda bummer.

Why do I even need that? I've made some sampler presets with embeded modualators for different play modes: single cycle waveform, slicing, wavetable, granular, resonant key-tracked filter and so on. So, whan I have a specific preset of sampler already loaded in, let's say, the 'wavetable mode sampler', I'd like to try out different samples with that mode without the need to switch to a mouse. That'd be fantastic.

By the way, your extension is an amazing piece of work. Way more features than the whole Ableton team have implemented for Live/Push during all these years.

[egor]

I’ve been having problems with the patch name feature in Flexi for the past year. Specifically, I create a new generic Flexi for a hardware synth and name it “<synth-name>.properties”. Then I create a patch name list for that synth, saving it is “<synth-name>.programs”

I do this for each of my hardware synths… but when I click on their respective Generic Flexi entries in Bitwig’s right side bar, each entry has MULTIPLE patch names from all sorts of different hardware synths I’ve added to other generic Flexi definitions. Many of these don’t work, and I have to go hunting through all the various banks until I find the one that does. Each time I try to create a new generic Flexi and a new patch name document, generic Flexi somehow remembers the OLD <synth-name>.programs files and displays those (even though they were deleted).

Attached is a screen shot of what I mean… Notice how the Prophet-X Flexi has program banks for two different PX program bank groups, plus my OB6... but only the top PX program group works. The others don't. I can pm you the actual .properties and .programs files if needed.

I’d love to straighten this out so that I have one set of bank/patch names per Flexi synth. As it is, sometimes the correct (functioning) name bank is under a different synth's Flexi, making it tough to find.

[BobArctor]

Hi! Currently trying out Bitwig I stumbled upon your script and it looks very promising. Fantastic work! I'm using a Launchpad Pro.

I've just a question for now. How can I manually stop the recording of a clip in one press when I'm in playing in the note page? In Ableton Live, I can press the record button and that will end the recording of the clip - which will start playing what has been recorded - but in Bitwig, I have to go back to session page and tap the currently recording clip for it to stop (which makes it very hard not to miss the end of the bar).

This is Shift+Record but there is a setting to flip Arranger and Clip record: Transport -> "Flip arranger and Clip record / automation"

Thanks a lot for your fast answer. I activated the "Flip arranger and Clip record / automation" setting which reverses the function of the button: now "shift+record" arms arrangement record (the big O button next to the Stop in main bar). But the "record" alone still does nothing: it changes the launchpad button from light orange to light red without changing anything on the interface and does not seem to end a record in session mode.

I must misunderstand something.

[moss]

Hi,

how do I load a sample into a Sampler instance to preserve tweaks I made to it?
When I go Browse on Push and then choose a sample Bitwig replaces a sampler that was in a track with a new one losing its settings.
What I've noticed is that when I press the browse button in Sampler GUI the Browser actually shows up in Push as usual and there I can even switch between Samples/Multisamples/Music, and then when I choose a sample from Push Bitwig loads it into exising Sampler so my tweaks are preserved.

I guess there is no way in the Bitwig controller API to trigger that Sampler's pop up sample browser from Push, right? If so, kinda bummer.

Why do I even need that? I've made some sampler presets with embeded modualators for different play modes: single cycle waveform, slicing, wavetable, granular, resonant key-tracked filter and so on. So, whan I have a specific preset of sampler already loaded in, let's say, the 'wavetable mode sampler', I'd like to try out different samples with that mode without the need to switch to a mouse. That'd be fantastic.

By the way, your extension is an amazing piece of work. Way more features than the whole Ableton team have implemented for Live/Push during all these years.

Yes, as you notice the browser API can handle it when the dialog is opened but there is currently a command missing to execute the openeing.

[moss]

I’ve been having problems with the patch name feature in Flexi for the past year. Specifically, I create a new generic Flexi for a hardware synth and name it “<synth-name>.properties”. Then I create a patch name list for that synth, saving it is “<synth-name>.programs”

I do this for each of my hardware synths… but when I click on their respective Generic Flexi entries in Bitwig’s right side bar, each entry has MULTIPLE patch names from all sorts of different hardware synths I’ve added to other generic Flexi definitions. Many of these don’t work, and I have to go hunting through all the various banks until I find the one that does. Each time I try to create a new generic Flexi and a new patch name document, generic Flexi somehow remembers the OLD <synth-name>.programs files and displays those (even though they were deleted).

Attached is a screen shot of what I mean… Notice how the Prophet-X Flexi has program banks for two different PX program bank groups, plus my OB6... but only the top PX program group works. The others don't. I can pm you the actual .properties and .programs files if needed.

I’d love to straighten this out so that I have one set of bank/patch names per Flexi synth. As it is, sometimes the correct (functioning) name bank is under a different synth's Flexi, making it tough to find.

That's a long standing bug in Bitwig (my #1 currently). Only workaround is to use a clean Project template.

[moss]

Hi! Currently trying out Bitwig I stumbled upon your script and it looks very promising. Fantastic work! I'm using a Launchpad Pro.

I've just a question for now. How can I manually stop the recording of a clip in one press when I'm in playing in the note page? In Ableton Live, I can press the record button and that will end the recording of the clip - which will start playing what has been recorded - but in Bitwig, I have to go back to session page and tap the currently recording clip for it to stop (which makes it very hard not to miss the end of the bar).

This is Shift+Record but there is a setting to flip Arranger and Clip record: Transport -> "Flip arranger and Clip record / automation"

Thanks a lot for your fast answer. I activated the "Flip arranger and Clip record / automation" setting which reverses the function of the button: now "shift+record" arms arrangement record (the big O button next to the Stop in main bar). But the "record" alone still does nothing: it changes the launchpad button from light orange to light red without changing anything on the interface and does not seem to end a record in session mode.

I must misunderstand something.

Ah, you are absolutely right. Will think about if it makes sense to also stop clip recording.