Bitwig Studio 5.0 beta – existing users can test Bitwig Studio 5.0 now!
Image Credit: Bitwig
Bitwig Studio 5 is here and it’s jam packed with new features and modulation tools for electronic music producers.
Bitwig joined the DAW market a few years ago and since then it has very much been driving in its own lane. It’s packed with many live performance features that rival Ableton, and this new update sees the inclusion of new features that makes Bitwiig stand out even more.
Bitwig Studio 5
The first of Bitwg’s new tools to talk about is its new MSEGs. These multisegment envelope generators allow you to draw custom modulation, automation, and loop patterns for parameters in the mixer, effects, and so on.
Bigwig 5 offers a total of 5 new MSEGs that allow you to draw, save, and load curves in the same way across the board. As noted by Gear News, the 5 new MSEGs include:
- Segments: a node-based envelope tool with looping, can be used as a Grid or Polymer module or to control any parameter as a modulator
- Curves: an LFO modulator and Grid module with beat and groove sync
- Scrawl: an anti-aliasing oscillator for The Grid and Polymer
- Slopes: a pattern sequencer for The Grid with stereo phase features
- Transfer: a waveshaping tool for working with incoming audio and other signals in The Grid
These five separate devices are each geared towards particular tasks. You can save any MSEG shapes in the new BWCURVE file format and you can find these files in the preset browser easily. Meanwhile, these MSEGs feature Pop-out Editors which are resizable while pre-existing modulators like Steps and Keytrack+ now have these editing windows.
Furthermore, Bitwig has expanded modulation destinations in its DAW and now they include mixer controls. Now you can use any modulators (of which there are over 40) to adjust mixer controls over time, including panning, sends, and other parameters. While modulators have always been available at the device level in Bitwig, now tracks and the project level can have modulators as well, each with a resizable Pop-out Editor.
In addition, Bitwig Studio’s browser has been remade with the company stating, “With a growing number of file types, having all results in one list is just better”.
Now, the browser supports various workflows. As noted by Bitwig:
- Sources provide solid starting points
- Quick Sources customize your go-to choices for each production task
- Filters help you narrow things down
- And Searching is more powerful too, so you can always just start typing
Availability
Bitwig Studio 5.0 is currently only available for beta testing. All current Bitwig Studio users with an active upgrade plan can test Bitwig Studio 5 Beta, and you can find the installers below.