Zebra 3 MPE in Bitwig?

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Hi there,

I posted this to the Zebra 3 thread and thought it might go better here since different DAWs have different ways of handling MPE. Here is my question:

I have some mental block about how to setup Zebra in Bitwig. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything since I just started using MPE alot lately.

Plunk Zebra 3 on a track
Set device header to "Use MPE"
Set track header to "Same"
Set Pitches->Pitch Bend to MPE for Up and Down

Is that it?

Thanks,

Greg

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killmaster wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 12:03 pm Hi there,

I posted this to the Zebra 3 thread and thought it might go better here since different DAWs have different ways of handling MPE. Here is my question:

I have some mental block about how to setup Zebra in Bitwig. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything since I just started using MPE alot lately.

Plunk Zebra 3 on a track
Set device header to "Use MPE"
Set track header to "Same"
Set Pitches->Pitch Bend to MPE for Up and Down

Is that it?

Thanks,

Greg
Why are you using the Zebra 3 VST3 version instead of CLAP?

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pdxindy wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 3:05 pm
killmaster wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 12:03 pm Hi there,

I posted this to the Zebra 3 thread and thought it might go better here since different DAWs have different ways of handling MPE. Here is my question:

I have some mental block about how to setup Zebra in Bitwig. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything since I just started using MPE alot lately.

Plunk Zebra 3 on a track
Set device header to "Use MPE"
Set track header to "Same"
Set Pitches->Pitch Bend to MPE for Up and Down

Is that it?

Thanks,

Greg
Why are you using the Zebra 3 VST3 version instead of CLAP?
No reason. Could be ignorance. Why should I use CLAP instead?

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pdxindy wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 3:05 pm
killmaster wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 12:03 pm... since different DAWs have different ways of handling MPE...
Why are you using the Zebra 3 VST3 version instead of CLAP?
Being CLAP or not not, MPE is badly documented and poorly configurable in general in audio tools. From my understanding as VST, MPE flag in Bitwig just split channels arbitrary (and maybe does something with channel 1?). If your input is already MPE, they are just 16 midi channels for Bitwig and it's Zebra responsibilty to dispatch things internaly as MPE (-48/+48) setting. So, I think MPE flag is useless in this case. And even could be worst as you have no control on Bitwig MPE channel remapping.

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killmaster wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 6:16 pm
pdxindy wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 3:05 pm Why are you using the Zebra 3 VST3 version instead of CLAP?
No reason. Could be ignorance. Why should I use CLAP instead?
With CLAP, you don't need to configure MPE in Bitwig.

Plus of course Bitwig's Note Expressions and Poly Modulation also works with the CLAP version.

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There are anyway two sides, the device and the player. So customization is important. Is there any doc regarding MPE implementation in Bitwig? I just saw a blackbox MPE button that I never saw any technical explanation about it. I have spend much time monitoring MPE with 3rd party tools in Bitiwig.
If anyone can tell me if MPE button is needed for MPE controllers, I would be happy to see specs and what it does with an MPE input signal?

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The one thing one must understand in Bitwig, is the relations between Midi, expressions and the script for the controller.
If you use a dedicated script for your controller, it will translate MPE to note expressions. But most plugins just deal with Midi. Even those which support MPE. Thus that switch in the instruments inspector for MPE. You also need to set the Midi channel information to all->same…
But U-He CLAP plugins do read note expressions correctly, thus in this case the CLAP version is the one you should use in Bitwig. The VST version needs the above mentioned settings and does not provide the per note modulation of CLAP

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Tj Shredder wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 3:01 am The one thing one must understand in Bitwig, is the relations between Midi, expressions and the script for the controller.
If you use a dedicated script for your controller, it will translate MPE to note expressions. But most plugins just deal with Midi. Even those which support MPE. Thus that switch in the instruments inspector for MPE. You also need to set the Midi channel information to all->same…
But U-He CLAP plugins do read note expressions correctly, thus in this case the CLAP version is the one you should use in Bitwig. The VST version needs the above mentioned settings and does not provide the per note modulation of CLAP
Thanks for this!

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