Let‘s speculate about 6.0

[_leras]

Sounded like Polarity had some ideas of the 6.0 content

I'm sure he gets a bit more information than the average punter.

They have already teased some insight into Bitwig 6 though. Especially if he's read this thread.

Definitely after all the structural/groundwork releases ARM, CLAP, GUI and multi interface audio engine changes, its exciting that they are working on what seems core functionality again (arranger and piano roll).

[xbitz]

Just don't spread it, not even in whispers my prediction

"Grid on the Board" — Bitwig Pioneer FPGA + DSP Audio Interfaces

The Premise
Bitwig Studio already offers the most modular "soft eurorack"-like environment with The Grid.
Increasingly, hardware manufacturers (like Antelope, UAD, Waves SoundGrid) are turning to FPGA + DSP hybrids for zero-latency plugin processing. FPGA technology allows for custom routing, real-time modulation, and internal patching — exactly what Grid already does in software.

What Would "Grid on the Board" Actually Be?
Imagine:
A Bitwig-compatible audio interface that runs Grid patches natively on hardware — not on your CPU.
Real-time modulation routing inside the box (e.g., LFO → filter → audio-rate modulation).
Fully integrated with Bitwig projects, but offloaded from your system resources.
A stable, stage-ready performance box that works like a dedicated modular synth — powered by your own Grid patches.

Why Would This Be Revolutionary?
This could be the first DSP–modular hybrid where the modulation and audio engine comes from a DAW, yet runs as a standalone hardware synth/fx unit.

Think Bitwig Audio Interface + Synth Box combo:
Connected via USB
You drop a Grid patch in Bitwig
The box starts playing that patch as hardware
"Grid on the Board" would be a fitting slogan — imagine Bitwig’s modular environment running on a dedicated FPGA+DSP platform.

Are There Any Precedents?
UAD – runs plugins on DSP chips (but no modular environment).
Antelope Synergy Core – FPGA + DSP FX chains.
Waves SoundGrid – server-based plugin offloading.
Percussa SSP, Axoloti Core, Z-DSP – modular DSP boxes.

But:
None of them run a DAW-based modular system like Grid directly.
None offer patch compatibility with a software synth engine at this scale.

What Are the Challenges?
FPGA development is complex and expensive — Bitwig would likely need a hardware partner (RME, Antelope, UAD, etc.).
A dedicated SDK would be needed to export and compile Grid patches for hardware execution.
Preset compatibility and plugin parameter mapping would need careful handling, as the Grid is currently DAW-bound.

But If They Did It?
It would be the "Endgame" of software–hardware modular integration.
🎛 A fully programmable modular synth and FX unit
🎚 Built from Bitwig Grid patches
Running on low-latency, zero-CPU FPGA + DSP hardware
Controlled from your DAW, but lives outside of it

So I predict there will be a version 5.5 to calm the users down, and after that, like Neo, they'll try to break through the barrier between the virtual and physical worlds. ( https://en.antelopeaudio.com/synergy-core/ )

[wintoid]

I certainly hope you're wrong. I could just about get behind them working on code to use GPUs to speed things up, but if they built some proprietary system it would feel like the wrong direction to me. It would have to work on Linux.

Speaking personally, I don't really have CPU issues 99% of the time, and CPUs are getting faster and faster all the time.

[coroknight]

As interesting as dedicated hardware acceleration would be, that would be an insane next step for the grid given how many feature and quality of life requests people have made over the years. I'd say there's a 0/10 chance that happens.

[xbitz]

I'd be on board... if it sounded like this — but first, make it sound like this.

[_leras]

I'd be on board... if it sounded like this — but first, make it sound like this.

Well... Chainsaw is a digital oscillator so...

That clip does sound great. In theory you'd be able to replace that module with something from the grid. Grid modules with vermona or happy nerding filters would be pretty nice

I watched the soundcard demo video, perhaps it's possible to replace some modules already.

[tumface]

I used PowerCore and TDM systems, which do exactly what you're describing with offloading DSP, except using purpose-built ASICs instead of half-assed FPGAs, in the 90s and early 2000s. You do not want this. It is bad. Very bad.

If a company announced they were going to do this, I would jump ship immediately, because I would not want to experience its inevitable collapse after losing its marbles.

[don_looney]

I think for offloading plugins from the CPU it would be nice if Bitwig supports something like GPU audio https://www.gpu.audio/
Most of us could easily use the existing GPU or swap to a new one. No need to buy dedicated hardware for one special use case. But I don't think CPU power is a really big problem nowadays if you have a modern CPU.

[tumface]

GPU is not that great at many audio tasks. And I am guessing it would be a large amount of work to implement and then maintain, due to the M x N matrix of hardware platforms and API platforms. And usually has high minimum latency requirements. In my opinion, as an ongoing paid user, Bitwig has more important things to focus on than esoteric audio processing experiments. I do not want anything like that. I want them to focus on the core of the program: arrangement editing, automation editing and management, MIDI/sequence recording, keybindings, file/session/project management, etc. Fix mouse interaction jank. Stuff like allowing a way to have default grid settings for newly created clips, instead of having to set it every time.

More weird, difficult-to-develop, risky-experiment stuff is not what I want.

Sorry if this sounds kind of bitter or annoyed. It's not anyone's fault in particular. I just want to make it clear, by posting myself and adding another voice, that there are users who really want the core editing and "get productions to the finish line" features of Bitwig to receive more focus. So, I want to take energy away from random off-the-wall ideas and distractions when much of the core product feels incomplete in obvious ways.

[Scotty]

VCV Rack now has the 4MS MetaModule for Eurorack. The module is low latency and powerful enough to be extremely useful in a modular synth environment. You can build compatible projects in VCV rack on a computer as you normally would and run the projects on the board. You can also develop patches on the front screen from scratch but that is a time consuming. Running Bitwig projects on a board like that would be of interest.

https://4mscompany.com/metamodule

[xbitz]

Connecting with Bitwig at Superbooth 2025: A Community-Driven Interview with Fredrik Larsson
https://auralflow.notion.site/Connectin ... 4acfaa3532

...
**Me:** You announced an update for the arranger and piano roll. Many people are excited. Can you tell us a little bit about these improvements, maybe not specific, but general idea?

**Fredrik:** There will be a lot of things that people have been wishing for, but not all of them. So, be happy for the things you get. And not focus on the things that are not in there. I'm kidding, I'm kidding a little bit, because yeah, it's kind of a combination of our visions, but we're also taking inspiration from the community. So we really hope that some people will enjoy this new development we're doing. It will be quite fundamental.
...

ps. By the way, if any of the devs are reading this: honestly, the most useful feature in the entire piano roll is multi-track chord detection in tooltips—especially when you know which extension does what. Just saying.



priceless

[The Mantra]

'It will be quite fundamental.'

I cant wait to find out what he means by this.

[tumface]

Yes. Sounds exciting. I'm not in love with the existing arrangement view in Bitwig, so something new and different is fine with me. I get the feeling this will have some features we would never be able to predict.

[duanosforde]

Connecting with Bitwig at Superbooth 2025: A Community-Driven Interview with Fredrik Larsson
https://auralflow.notion.site/Connectin ... 4acfaa3532

...
**Me:** You announced an update for the arranger and piano roll. Many people are excited. Can you tell us a little bit about these improvements, maybe not specific, but general idea?

**Fredrik:** There will be a lot of things that people have been wishing for, but not all of them. So, be happy for the things you get. And not focus on the things that are not in there. I'm kidding, I'm kidding a little bit, because yeah, it's kind of a combination of our visions, but we're also taking inspiration from the community. So we really hope that some people will enjoy this new development we're doing. It will be quite fundamental.
...

ps. By the way, if any of the devs are reading this: honestly, the most useful feature in the entire piano roll is multi-track chord detection in tooltips—especially when you know which extension does what. Just saying.



priceless

Can't wait for the piano roll update. To be honest, Studio One's ^^ is really good, espcially when you combine with macros and Harmony Wizard. So hoping for something similar

[duanosforde]

--