Bitwig Studio’s music making software gets even better with a whole host of new features available in their 2.5 update now available in beta in time for the new year.

Early last year Bitwig launched the second iteration of their popular DAW which recreated the software with new features, new instruments, better integrations and much more. Now almost 2 years later they’re launching the beta of Bitwig Studio 2.5 for testing out all of the great new features that their new iteration introduces.

Just in time for Christmas and the New Year the beta lets users  on the Upgrade Plan download the update and get to grips with it so that Bitwig are prepared for a full launch in 2019. New features introduced or enhanced in 2.5 were inspired from a mixture of community response and requests as well as optimisation and streamlining of how the DAW works in general.

The most notable new feature is clip blocks which creates a whole new way of arranging tracks or laying out a performance. A lot of love lies in Bitwig’s Audio Editing capabilities and that feature has been streamlined even further in 2.5 and users can slide audio thanks to the update. There are loads of great new features that Bitwig Studio have introduced in 2.5.

WELCOME TO CLIP BLOCKS

Teaching your clips new tricks.

Whether building an arrangement or crafting a performance, clip launching is essential to any modern DAW. And with the added concept of clip blocks, new arrangement possibilities are now available.
By leaving a blank slot between a group of clips, you have now defined separate clip blocks that Bitwig Studio’s Next Action feature can jump between. Treat these blocks as sections, and now your clips can automatically navigate your arrangement. Possibilities abound.

AUDIO EDITING, DEEPLY SIMPLE

Now with Audio Slide.

From the start, an audio clip in Bitwig Studio could contain any number of audio events. This uniquely powerful technique is a user favourite, but they have (unsurprisingly) asked for more. So with version 2.5, audio editing has been streamlined while preserving the advanced options.

One new feature here is the ability to slide audio. This keeps the clip in place while you freely move the audio within it. Dropped in a file that doesn’t start on the downbeat? Slide it immediately without leaving the Arranger. Or select multiple clips and slide them all by the same amount. Spend less time on edits and more on music.

NOTES THAT CAN MORPH

Selector your adventure.

Bitwig Studio’s various note FXs allow you to expand your music by arpeggiating, harmonizing, delaying, echoing, and more. And with the new Note FX Selector device, you can sweep through endless layers with one simple knob. Whether you are creating small variations or taking a performance to exotic new places, this device puts the whole musical journey within arm’s reach.

FIRMING UP THE FOUNDATIONS

Better finding, zippier interface.

A few framework elements have been improved as well. Browser search results are now ordered by relevance, and plug-ins are scanned faster. Some import and snapping methods have been improved, only one copy of each plug-in is shown by default. And more than 50 functions have been added as user-defined key commands. Because the less you are thinking about your workflow, the more it is doing for you.

NEW SOUND CONTENT: ANALOG WAVES

The building blocks of synthesis – classic sources ready to go.

Coinciding with Bitwig Studio 2.5 is “Analog Waves.” Designed in collaboration with Boxed Ear, this package comprises 60 Sampler presets, each made with hundreds of full-frequency oscillator waveforms. From rumbling lows to guttural mids and sparkling highs, a full-bandwidth sound is the best way to bring analog sources into a digital environment.

If you prefer polished presets, then the ready-to-go sounds will have you covered. But this pack is also ideal for your own sound design. By wrapping all 760-some samples into a single multisample, one click will load all the pure and layered oscillators so your sound sculpting can begin. (Don’t worry; our recently revamped Sampler is made for any number of samples and layers.)

Analog oscillators are a thing to behold — and Bitwig Studio natively works with them. But when hardware is out of reach, this rich set of samples proves to be an excellent sidekick.