Bitwig Studio 5.1: new filters, waveshapers, and more for complex sound design

Software

Bitwig Studio 5.1: new filters, waveshapers, and more for complex sound design

By Connor EdneyOctober 19, 20238 mins read

Bitwig Studio continues to push the envelope of innovative software-based music production with Bitwig Studio 5.1.

After 5.0 came packed with new MSEGs and expanded modulation destinations, 5.1 brings a wealth of new tools focused on sound design.

Bitwig Studio continues to stand out in the competitive world of DAWs, emphasizing creativity, modularity, and sound design, making it a compelling choice for producers looking to push sonic boundaries.

Bitwig Studio 5.1

While Bitwig Studio initially bore some resemblance to Ableton Live, the rogue DAW has evolved to define its identity as a forward-thinking, modular music production environment.

For example, The Grid is an integral part of Bitwig’s arsenal and allows users to craft their own instruments and effects, much like Max For Live, but The Grid is thought to be more fun to use than M4L.

What’s new?

Bitwig Studio 5.1 introduces ten new modules, comprising four filters and six waveshapers, each with its unique sonic personality.

With that said, these modules aren’t just ordinary filters or waveshapers. The Bitwig team has designed them to offer new and exciting sound design possibilities, all while being accessible in the form of Grid modules.

Therefore, you can use them as part of Filter+ and Sweep audio FX containers and enhance your sound design toolkit.

New filters:

Fizz: This versatile filter adds sparkle, shimmer, and vocal characteristics with two separate cutoffs and feedback.
Rasp: A bright and resonant filter with the capability to venture into extreme and “screamy” territory.
Ripple: This filter, named after its hyper-resonant nature, is built for playful feedback and elemental sound manipulation, offering three “prominent” modes: earth, wind, and fire.
Vowels: A morphing formant filter that adds a unique touch to your sound design.

New waveshapers:

Push: A soft clipper for gentle shaping.
Heat: An S-shaped clipper with a distinct tonal character.
Soar: A soft wavefolder that can bring out subtle details.
Howl: A double-S wavefolder that delivers edgy and dynamic results.
Shred: A non-linear wavefolder for complex sound manipulation.
Diode: A classic circuit with modern, zero-delay math for a warm sound.

Bitwig Studio 5.1 doesn’t stop at filters and waveshapers. It also introduces a new oscillator module called “Bite”, a dual oscillator you can use in both The Grid and Polymer, offering a wide range of features such as hard sync, audio-rate PWM, exponential FM, ring modulation, analog drift, custom shapes, and more.

Furthermore, voice stacking tools have been enhanced in Bitwig Studio 5.1, allowing users to create multiple layers of sound with up to 16 voices per note. You’ll also find eight new modes in the Stack Spread modulator offering harmonic, rhythmic, and randomized relationships between various parameters.

Bitwig Studio 5.1 also features significant workflow improvements for audio editing and mixing. Now, the mixer is draggable nad provides a clearer view of your workflow while a new audio quantization feature makes for easy snapping audio to the grid.