Moving from FL Studio -> Bitwig 6 - Any reason to maybe consider Ableton?

[Rastkovic]

stuff like Strumming etc. should be possible without adding devices, I want to make a simple Piano/Guitarmelody with some basic strumming in the Piano Roll, not having to use a device. this is good for more complex melodies and mostly electronic music and ambient etc. i didnt find a BASIC strumming in the operator section as well, would be neat.

Well, you can always print midi data. That's how I used NI Reaktor and Ableton Live for many years. A bit different workflow, of course.

yesterday I was finding out that it seems a TRADITIONAL mixer isnt in Ableton, was odd but then I saw some advantages, you dont need to switch windows, but i like it maybe more like more traditional and bigger knobs etc like FL Studio and Bitwig is mixing both nicely (though the buigger faders etc. would be welcome). I might not get into the looks of Ableton though which might be th KO for it for me atm, so still Bitwig on the lead so far.

I guess you are using Live 11, at least that was solved in the 12 version.

live-12.png

[Fornicras]

As a previous FL user for about 6 years and Studio One user for about 4 years I'm looking to change as well.
FL Studio's beat creation (for R&B and trap) workflow was godly for me, but the thing it lost me was recording audio (vocals mostly) and mixing.
One thing I miss most is that you can pan the notes individually (for hi-hat rolls, etc) in a single sampler channel/track.
I don't think it's possible in any other DAW. Certainly not possible in Studio One.

Studio One, on the other hand, is perfect for audio and mixing, but it's too clunky for me to create beats with it, mostly because you have to work with a drum rack plugin or a sampler plugin for each drum sound you want to use. It certainly makes it harder to program drums fast, and it's not as intuitive as FL's channel rack, which I loved. Also, Studio One's MIDI editor is much worse than FL's.

Any idea how things are in Ableton according to what I explained above? Is it worth trying?

[Dionysos]

One thing I miss most is that you can pan the notes individually (for hi-hat rolls, etc) in a single sampler channel/track.
I don't think it's possible in any other DAW.

That's definitely possible in Bitwig with the built-in sampler using note expressions; it's not as simple to use as in FL (very fiddly if you're not using the expression overlay UI), but more powerful in principle.

[Trancit]

...
stuff like Strumming etc. should be possible without adding devices, I want to make a simple Piano/Guitarmelody with some basic strumming in the Piano Roll, not having to use a device. this is good for more complex melodies and mostly electronic music and ambient etc. i didnt find a BASIC strumming in the operator section as well, would be neat.

For me the biggest differences between using something like Midi Tools in Ableton or the Tools in FLS´ PR editor and Midi devices:
1. and foremost: changes are directly reflected in the Midi and I don´t have to record anything to a new track, replace my current clips etc...
Midi devices are cool for some stuff but for kind of "editing" Midi they aren´t convincing for me...
2. by using devices for such kind of "editing" it´s more or less "all or nothing"...
means I cannot easily select a few wished notes and add for example strumming just to them...
It´s possible in Bitwig but needs more complex setup...
With PR tools I can just select the wished notes and edit just them...

So for kind of experimental or generative stuff where I know I want to use this "effect" on all notes, Midi devices can be really great...
For "editing" or just selective processing of some notes they are too cumbersome for me...
Ableton leads here in this regard with offering this directly in the PR...

[Caine123]

...
stuff like Strumming etc. should be possible without adding devices, I want to make a simple Piano/Guitarmelody with some basic strumming in the Piano Roll, not having to use a device. this is good for more complex melodies and mostly electronic music and ambient etc. i didnt find a BASIC strumming in the operator section as well, would be neat.

For me the biggest differences between using something like Midi Tools in Ableton or the Tools in FLS´ PR editor and Midi devices:
1. and foremost: changes are directly reflected in the Midi and I don´t have to record anything to a new track, replace my current clips etc...
Midi devices are cool for some stuff but for kind of "editing" Midi they aren´t convincing for me...
2. by using devices for such kind of "editing" it´s more or less "all or nothing"...
means I cannot easily select a few wished notes and add for example strumming just to them...
It´s possible in Bitwig but needs more complex setup...
With PR tools I can just select the wished notes and edit just them...

So for kind of experimental or generative stuff where I know I want to use this "effect" on all notes, Midi devices can be really great...
For "editing" or just selective processing of some notes they are too cumbersome for me...
Ableton leads here in this regard with offering this directly in the PR...

I'm installing ableton 12 now, the demo version, 200 bucks to upgrade is too steep atm for me.

It just baffles me that you have no simple strumming, or i found out you cannot move a midi not up and down while holding left mouse button, you get locked in Bitwig, and seems the Bitwig community are kinda stubborn to have more options/give the user more options, which is sad as i was fully onto learning Bitwig further now but now im reconsidering and yeah going through everything in Ableton and comparing again. Ableton also has the Freeze function which might be another win for me. sadly i hate the look of Ableton, I needa see if i can really overlook it or if i just hate it and go back to Bitwig/FL Studio.

[Caine123]

stuff like Strumming etc. should be possible without adding devices, I want to make a simple Piano/Guitarmelody with some basic strumming in the Piano Roll, not having to use a device. this is good for more complex melodies and mostly electronic music and ambient etc. i didnt find a BASIC strumming in the operator section as well, would be neat.

Well, you can always print midi data. That's how I used NI Reaktor and Ableton Live for many years. A bit different workflow, of course.

yesterday I was finding out that it seems a TRADITIONAL mixer isnt in Ableton, was odd but then I saw some advantages, you dont need to switch windows, but i like it maybe more like more traditional and bigger knobs etc like FL Studio and Bitwig is mixing both nicely (though the buigger faders etc. would be welcome). I might not get into the looks of Ableton though which might be th KO for it for me atm, so still Bitwig on the lead so far.

I guess you are using Live 11, at least that was solved in the 12 version.


live-12.png

thanks a lot, I'm installing Ableton 12 Demo now, as my Upgrade for 200 bucks is too steep atm, really disappointed that Bitwig lacks some basic options..... after so many years I didnt expect it.

[Rastkovic]

really disappointed that Bitwig lacks some basic options..... after so many years I didnt expect it.

stuff like Strumming etc. should be possible without adding devices, I want to make a simple Piano/Guitarmelody with some basic strumming in the Piano Roll, not having to use a device. this is good for more complex melodies and mostly electronic music and ambient etc. i didnt find a BASIC strumming in the operator section as well, would be neat.

You might not yet be fully familiar of doing things the Bitwig and (originally) the Ableton way. Every parameter of the Midi FX devices is intended to be played, or modulated. Even the on/off switch. Simply automate it within the midi clip.

I'm actually pretty happy, that the Bitwig guys have a clear concept in their mind and doesn't try to please everyone. YMMV

[MrJubbly]

I just watched the video about the new updates in FL Studio 2026...



Gotta be completely honest here. This is probably the most underwhelming update I can ever remember for this DAW.

The video is 20+ minutes long and it features barely anything I will be using and most of the stuff that they have shoehorned in, I would remove in an instant, given the option to. It's just crammed with a whole load of either nothingburgers, or else completely unwanted bloat and slop to further convolute the software, when they should be trying to streamline and improve its features and workflows instead.

FL Studio's development seems to be steering in completely the wrong direction under their current (ex-Native Instruments) CEO, if these recent releases under his leadership are anything to go by.

Bitwig Studio is looking better and better by each passing day. I may need to seriously give that DAW a chance in future. Their developers seem really forward-thinking by comparison.

[Caine123]

I just watched the video about the new updates in FL Studio 2026...



Gotta be completely honest here. This is probably the most underwhelming update I can ever remember for this DAW.

The video is 20+ minutes long and it features barely anything I will be using and most of the stuff that they have shoehorned in, I would remove in an instant, given the option to. It's just crammed with a whole load of either nothingburgers, or else completely unwanted bloat and slop to further convolute the software, when they should be trying to streamline and improve its features and workflows instead.

FL Studio's development seems to be steering in completely the wrong direction under their current (ex-Native Instruments) CEO, if these recent releases under his leadership are anything to go by.

Bitwig Studio is looking better and better by each passing day. I may need to seriously give that DAW a chance in future. Their developers seem really forward-thinking by comparison.

yup, and thats why I consider Bitwig and/or Ableton now. Just need to see how productive/inspiring these are for me. Muscle memory etc. is of course heavily for FL Studio over 10 years.... but just spending over 2 weeks with Bitwig makes Ableton's trial easier to understand. Ableton is so ugly for my taste but the stronger Piano Roll/Midi tools and the Freeze function make me undecided to use this or Bitwig further first. Bitwig on the other hand is just more appealing GUI wise, the modulation is really great, the automations seems also easier and i like the more traditional mixer view as well. but i use the Piano roll in FL Studio so much it can be a pain and uninspiring in Bitwig.... the cumbersome "freeze" version of Bitwig isnt such a disaster. coming from FL Studio nearly everything is better as FL Studio doesnt have such a function at all.