Bitwig Studio 3.1 Is Now Available

Bitwig Studio 3 .1 delivers expanded pitch features, new modulation features, editing and workflow enhancements, and more.

EXPANDED PITCH FEATURES

More than thirty new tuning presets. These include theory-based tunings (such as overtone and undertone series, quarter-tone ET, and historic temperaments such as Pythagoras and Werckmeister), cultural tunings (including traditional Chinese instruments and Javanese Chromatic 7), artist-made tunings (including Wendy Carlos Optimized), and original performance-minded tunings that reshape the keyboard).

New Note FX Device: Micro-pitch. Micro-pitch is a new Note FX device for re-tuning note streams in a variety of ways. By making the world of tuning accessible, you can load or craft a world of sounds.

NEW MODULATION CAPABILITIES

New Modulator: Pitch-12. The new modulator, Pitch-12, provides a modulation signal when any note type is being pressed (C, D, etc.). This could trigger a unique effect on “out” notes, or take classic ideas in a new direction (like the Constant Portamento preset, where every note glides from the same root pitch).

New Grid module: Transpose. Extending pitch control to The Grid is the new and deceptively simple Transpose module. It improves a range of tasks, like stacking oscillators into chords, or creating just intonation intervals. Since every signal is stereo in The Grid, Transpose has three stereo configurations, and while it’s a processor, it can even create chords when no input is provided.

Window Footer Shows Frequency + Pitch. Since version 3, the window footer has featured a wealth of helpful information. Now when you hover over or edit any frequency parameter, the equivalent note value (and whether it is in tune, sharp, or flat) is shown right beside the frequency. Because with a filter frequency or an EQ band, sometimes it is easier to think in pitch. 

EDITING AND WORKFLOW ENHANCEMENTS

Quick Draw. With Quick Draw, you can swiftly and effortlessly paint notes in the note editor. Simply hold the Alt key while using the pen tool to draw a series of notes on the current beat grid (for example, 16th notes, 8th notes, etc.). Quick Draw locks to one pitch by default (think hi-hats, etc.), but it can also be used freehand to drag each note to any pitch, kind of like inputting notes with a step sequencer.

Quick Slice. With Quick Slice, cutting clips, notes, and events is easier as well. Just select the knife tool and hold the Alt key. Now on click and drag, lines will appear at every interval of the beat grid, showing where cuts will be made on release. And then go straight to drum editing or whatever else you had in mind.

Slice In Place. The new function Slice In Place allows you to slice selected clips, events and notes either at detected audio Onsets, at inserted Beat Markers, or at a set beat interval.

Interactive Help View is coming to all devices. The Interactive Help View is now available for all devices throughout Bitwig Studio. This puts documentation and notes of every instrument, effect, and modulator parameter right in the program. Select any device and hit F1 on the keyboard (or click Show Help either in the Inspector or from the Device menu) to focus on that one device, still fully interactive and with full descriptions in sight.

FURTHER ADDITIONS

Cue Volume and Mix Control. The Studio I/O Panel now sports a dedicated — and mappable — Volume control for Cue output level. And an added blend knob lets you blend your cue buss and the master output. This is similar to a DJ mixer, which will be familiar to many. (Even if you aren’t using cue output for monitoring, this provides a level setting for clip previews from the Browsers.)

Wavetable WAV file Importing. Back in version 2.4, our Sampler introduced a new approach to wavetable playback with Cycles mode. With version 3.1, WAV files coming from other wavetable synths (like Serum) can now be imported directly into Sampler, including proper root settings for perfect alignment. So whether using the regular instrument or the Grid module version, Sampler import is just a drag and drop away.

Note Chase. With this new note playback option, starting the transport in the middle of a note will sound the note. While the alternate behavior is good for some situations like performance, editing a project with the occasional long note is much easier when you can hit play anywhere in the timeline.

New Grid modules. Bitwig Studio 3.1 brings the module count in The Grid to 159. In addition to Transpose, there are four new entries to the Envelope category. Pluck is an envelope generator modeled after a plucked string, with a built-in amplifier for easy connection. Slope ↗ and Slope ↘ are modifiers for changing the curve or rising and falling signals (kind of like our unique Transient Control audio device, but for any Grid signal). And Follower provides a symmetric envelope follower.

More Controller support. Many more controllers now work out-of-the-box in Bitwig Studio, such as Novation Launchpad Pro (using our new beat repeat API function), Arturia KeyLab MkII 49/61 and KeyLab Essential 49/61, and the PreSonus Atom, as well as the PreSonus FaderPort 8 and 16 as well as Nektar SE25, SE49, GX and LX+.

Bitwig Studio 3.1 is out now and available for all customers with a Bitwig Studio license and an active upgrade plan. For more information, visit Bitwig on the web.