Beta Testing of Bitwig Studio 4.2

Bitwig Studio 4.2 is now in beta testing for users with an active Upgrade Plan. It features Chorus+, Flanger+, Phaser+, and Note Grid. Would you care to dance?

NOTE: Do not use a beta version to work on important projects! Project files created or saved with the beta cannot be opened in previous versions of Bitwig Studio. So if you are opening working projects, save copies of them for beta testing (instead of saving over your original files).

If you think you have found a bug, please drop us a line at beta@bitwig.com. Please be sure to include:

And if you get a crash report dialog from the program, please click Send Report. Adding a comment is most helpful, but this can still be useful to us regardless.

Try it out. New sounds and new horizons await.

System Requirements

Windows - Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 (all in 64-bit)
Mac - macOS 10.14 ("Mojave") or above
Linux - Ubuntu 18.04 or later
a CPU capable of SSE 4.1

Changes in Bitwig Studio 4.2, Beta 3

Improvements

In Layered Editing mode with the drum-style editor, you can now move notes to different keys of another clip
Arrow keys can now move notes to different keys in drum editing mode

Fixes

Preferences from previous versions were not loaded correctly (regression)

Note: Bitwig Studio 4.2 Beta 3 will ignore 4.2 Beta 2 preference files, instead loading any older preference file that it finds. If you want to use a Beta 2 preference file, simply rename it to 4.2 Beta 3.prefs, etc.

Changes in Bitwig Studio 4.2, Beta 2

Improvements

Note Grid device: Added Audio Thru option, allowing audio to pass through unaffected (on by default)
Channel-16 modulator: Added Release with Note Offs toggle, to return to zero when in poly mode [27952]
Note In Grid module: Velocity Out port now defaults to 80% until the first note is played
Note Out Grid module: Channel In port is now clamped, so signals below 0 go to channel 1, and those above 15 go to channel 16
Gates Grid module: Now has three modes for how transitions are handled:
- Gate (previously G[ate]) - Stays high/low for each step, allowing ties when successive steps are on
- Pulse (previously T[rigger]) - Sends the state for the first half of each step, then low for the second half
- Trigger (new) - Good for random/trigger-based access, briefly dropping to zero whenever changing steps
macOS Trackpad: Added option for Trackpad "scrolling" always pans (under Dashboard > Settings > User Interface > Mouse), so it can be disabled
macOS Trackpad: "Force Click" gesture…
- On device headers, opens the Pop-up Browser for presets
- In empty track area of Arranger opens up the Pop-up Browser (just like the + button does)
macOS Trackpad: Grid Editor window…
- Pinch gesture will zoom the interface
- "Smart Zoom" puts zoom level back to 100%
macOS ARM: account for performance cores instead of also efficiency cores if applicable for parallel processing
VST API Version is now shown (under Dashboard > Help > About)

Fixes

Note Grid device: Pre FX and Post FX slots both pre-populate with note FX (in the Pop-up Browser) [27953]
Note Grid device: Could sometimes lose repeated notes with 100% gate length at the same pitch when polyphonic [28009]
Phaser+ Grid module: Using signal Mod In port with the Barber curves now works[27955]
4-Stage modulator: Small curve previews were sometimes oriented wrong [23422]
Shaper Grid modules: Anti-aliasing (AA) short names are now more consistent [27939]
Pitch → Ø (Phase) Grid module: Was outputting bad values (regression) [27956]
Cyclic Stretch Mode was broken (regression) [27930]
Flickering notification about loading samples when selecting Arranger time ranges [27975]
Was not possible to move audio events between clips in Layered Editing mode (regression) [27938]
Exporting audio files with multiple periods in file name was not possible anymore (regression) [27897]
Mouse-wheel scrolling with [ALT] modifier now works with both [ALT] keys again [27970]
Expression points that are "hidden" beyond note margins no longer affect next note on same key [27967]
Session recording a Launcher audio clip to the Arranger would end early on stop [20320]
Session recording into Arranger while the Arranger Loop is enabled would break recording [27983]
When session recording, triggering a clip with automation would not allow automation takeover if Write automation on record was turned off [25418]
Imported audio into comping clips didn't properly Fold to Takes, but was spreading out [27887]
Fixed a waveform painting bug when using reversed raw audio events with note repeat [27933]
Bouncing hybrid tracks in a project with significant latency would have silence at the boundaries between note and audio clips [23720]
Bouncing PreFX (such as Bounce In Place) would not properly compensate delays [27405]
Track's note output routing to a plug-in did not wake up the plugin [27951]
ALS import: Wrong output was assigned for nested groups [27427]
Feedback cycle now prevented when loading certain project [26792]
macOS: Fixed rare "Force Click" crash [27980]
macOS: Was not always correctly recalling which screen windows were on regression

Changes in Bitwig Studio 4.2, Beta 1

New Audio FX device: Chorus+

Four different Character modes, each with its own DSP architecture and different X + Y controls:
- CE - A synth-style friend, with different inspirations in the tone (Tone + Width)
- DD - Subtle, 80s, and coming from all sides (Time + Balance)
- 8v - Eight voices swirling thru caverns of feedback (FB + Width)
- x2 - Classic voice doubling circuit (Time + Width)
Parameter controls for the LFOs' relative Speed and the modulation Depth, as well as a dry/wet Mix control
New Grid module: Chorus+ (Delay/FX), a module version of the audio effect device
- All the same parameters as the device
- Like all Grid modules, it will work polyphonically (a separate instance for each voice) when in a polyphonic patch
- Available in all Grid devices (Poly Grid, FX Grid, and Note Grid)

New Audio FX device: Flanger+

Four different Character modes, each with its own DSP architecture:
- DP - That digital, scrapy cousin who chews up sound
- MX - A firm, pedal-style classic
- TFX - Smooth and sparkly, with some edge
- WA - Stronger, but subtly delicate
Alternate Character (ø) toggle, for a slight variation of the currently selected Character
Added Dirt option, to insert a little noise for additional coloring
With a Color control for the starting tone, and FB for how pronounced the feedback is
Parameter controls for the LFOs' relative Speed and the modulation Depth, as well as a dry/wet Mix control
Stereo-ize toggle to invert the LFOs' value on the right channel
Option to replace the internal LFOs with Manual Override
- This replaces the Speed control with one called Mod, which is used as the device's "modulation" signal
- Any one (or combination) of Bitwig's 38 modulators can be mapped to this parameter, in addition to automation or direct control
- Even in Manual Override mode, the modulation Depth and Stereo-ize controls are still operative, allowing simple creation of a rich control signal
New Grid module: Flanger+ (Delay/FX), a module version of the audio effect device
- All the same parameters as the device
- Instead of Manual Override and Mod controls, a stereo input port is available for direct, oversampled control
- Like all Grid modules, it will work polyphonically (a separate instance for each voice) when in a polyphonic patch
- Available in all Grid devices (Poly Grid, FX Grid, and Note Grid)

New Audio FX device: Phaser+

Four different Character modes, each with its own DSP architecture:
- GS - Our spikey #1 friend
- EHx - Classy and smooth, with silky motion
- MX - A raspy devil, but solid
- MF - Pleasantly greasy and deep
Alternate Character (ø) toggle, for a slight variation of the currently selected Character
Added Dirt option, to insert a little noise for additional coloring
With a Color control for the starting tone, and FB for how pronounced the feedback is
Parameter controls for the LFOs' relative Speed and the modulation Depth, as well as a dry/wet Mix control
Modulation Curve options are available:
- Phaser - A more "traditional" modulation curve (the default)
- Speaking - A shape that can produce "vowel" sounds
- Barber ↑ - Barber pole-esque effect, spinning upward
- Barber ↓ - Barber pole-esque effect, spinning downward
Stereo-ize toggle to invert the LFOs' value on the right channel
Option to replace the internal LFOs with Manual Override
- This replaces the Speed control with one called Mod, which is used as the device's "modulation" signal
- Any one (or combination) of Bitwig's 38 modulators can be mapped to this parameter, in addition to automation or direct control
- Even in Manual Override mode, the modulation Depth, Modulation Curve, and Stereo-ize controls are still operative, allowing simple creation of a rich control signal
New Grid module: Phaser+ (Delay/FX), a module version of the audio effect device
- All the same parameters as the device
- Instead of Manual Override and Mod controls, a stereo input port is available for direct, oversampled control
- Like all Grid modules, it will work polyphonically (a separate instance for each voice) when in a polyphonic patch
- Available in all Grid devices (Poly Grid, FX Grid, and Note Grid)

New Realm of The Grid: Note Grid

New Note FX device: Note Grid, for using The Grid to create note processors or note generators, etc.
New Grid module: Note Out (I/O), for creating note output
- Gate In port triggers a note to be created
- Pitch In, Velocity In, and Channel In can either be set with fixed values, or provided with signals
- When Enable All Expressions (… toggle) is on, Timbre In, Pressure In, Gain In, and Pan In ports are available for signal control of all note expressions
- When Enable All Expressions (… toggle) is off, connections to these additional expression ports are remembered but inactive
- As with any module, multiple Note Out modules can be loaded, helpful for sequencer or "groovebox" style patches, or whenever you want to group notes onto different MIDI channels, etc. etc.
New Grid module: Note In (I/O), with incoming (read: output) versions of all Note Out module ports
New Grid module: CC In (I/O), receives a specified control change message from any/all MIDI channels
New Grid module: CC Out (I/O), outputs a signal as a specified control change message on any MIDI channel
New Grid module: Poly→Mono (Level), flattens any polyphonic signal, making it the same for all voices. With five different modes.
As with all 184 Grid modules, these modules are available in all Grid devices (Poly Grid, FX Grid, and Note Grid)
Note Grid is the one note FX device with optional polyphony and Voice Stacking (just as FX Grid is the one audio FX device with these options)
Note Grid presets are shown when browsing for Note FX — just as Poly Grid presets show in instrument searches, and FX Grid presets show when looking for audio effects
All Grid devices now have Note Thru and Control Thru toggles, in case you want to disable notes or MIDI messages (including control change messages) from being forwarded directly from device input to output
Right-click the header of any Grid device to Convert to the other devices

New Features

The Bitwig Studio application is now localized in French
- The language is set from the Dashboard under Settings > User Interface > Language, at the top of that page
- Device and parameter names are the same, but most functions, labels, and in-app documentation (for the 300+ devices and modules) are translated
New Modulator: Channel-16 (Note-driven), providing 16 individual modulator signals that fire when notes are received on that particular MIDI channel. Good for turning MIDI channel information into different sounds from Note Grid or wherever else.
New Grid module: Hard Clip (Shaper), for hard clipping with optional Anti-aliasing mode
Grid module updates: Distortion, Quantize, Rectifier, and Wavefolder (Shaper) all have an Anti-aliasing (AA) mode option, for smoother shaping

Improvements

Device updates: Oscilloscope and Spectrum (Analysis) both have a Mini view option, which is the new default
Added conversion option between Stereo Split and Mid/Side Split devices (just right-click in either device's header)
Grid module updates: All Data sequencers (Gates, Pitches, Probabilities, Steps and Triggers) now have an option to Mute when stopped, so that steps/notes end when the global transport is stopped
Grid module update: Probabilities (Data) now has a Confidence output, useful for velocities, etc. when randomly creating note patterns
Grid module update: Dice (Random) now has a Bipolar option, for any random use including generating a full panning or timbre signal with each note trigger
Most modulators now show user-provided names within the modulator panel, useful when using multiple envelopes, LFOs, etc. etc.
New mappable action to Insert Cue Marker Here, which creates an arranger cue marker at playback position [24002]
New option to Always send MIDI clock even if the transport is stopped (under Dashboard > Settings > Syncronization)
New context menu action for clearing the displayed expression (Timbre, Pressure, Gain, or Pan) of selected notes
macOS: Improved Touchpad support for Mac-specific gestures:
- Use "Smart Zoom" gesture to toggle between zoom-to-fit and zoom-to-selection
- Use "Force Click" to:
  - Create a clip on the Arranger or in a Launcher slot
  - Add/remove notes, automation, or expression events
  - Insert devices in device chain
  - Play project/clips in ruler area
  - Open device chain (on track header)
  - Open clip in Detail Editor Panel
  - Commit browser choice (except for Samples tab)
  - Preview samples in browsers
- Touchpad pan & zoom always works now (regardless of the middle-button navigation setting)
- Touchpad pan works in both axes simultaneously
- Improved touchpad zoom (hold [ALT] to toggle the zoom axis)
Updated window header to feel more at home in Windows 11 and macOS 12
macOS: Now has its own set of cursors
New control surface API to launch clips with specific options. In the APC40mkII and Launchpad Pro scripts, you can:
- Hold shift to immediately launch a clip or a scene
- Release the clip or scene button while holding shift, to return immediately to last playing clip(s)

Fixes

Dragging modules in The Grid close to their edge sometimes didn't work
Note playback would sometimes produce note events one sample too late [27443]
Un-arm tracks when loading project if they use an audio source which cannot be found
Voice Stacking in True Mono did not work properly with modulators (until receiving note input) [27768]
Instrument Layer device: Solo was not working when copy/pasting instrumenting [26968]
Classic LFO modulator: No longer breaks synchronization after some time [23381]
Modulators on plug-ins are correctly time-aligned [27329]
Pitch Quantize Grid module: Wasn't rounding before quantizing
When editing multiple MIDI channels in drum editor mode, notes couldn't be moved between note lanes [27577]
Elastique stretching was not transposing beyond +11 tones when 96kHz is used in a 44.1 kHz project [27635]
The "Show Plug-in Window" button was sometimes hidden behind a scrollbar in the Mix Panel [27054]
Waveform generation would fail with large file sizes [25749]
Scrollbar in device chain was not working correctly when using Studio/Touch display profile [26317]
Fixed font rendering bug that would sometimes load the wrong font
macOS ARM: Plug-ins that were hosted separately from the audio engine may perform better now [27261]
macOS: GUI was becoming unresponsive when program was started on a secondary display and then dragged over to primary display, on some systems [26772]
macOS: Mouse cursor offset is now correct when scaling the window to 300%, on some systems [27087]
macOS: Window content was rendered too small when moving window from non-Retina to Retina screen, on some systems [26785]