Beta Testing of Bitwig Studio 5.0

Bitwig Studio 5 is now in beta testing for users with an active Upgrade Plan. It features a family of MSEG/curve devices, elevated modulations, new performance gestures, reborn browsers, and more. Yes, please.

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.

System Requirements

Windows - Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 (all in 64-bit)
Mac - macOS 10.14 ("Mojave") or above
Linux - For installing the Flatpack file, any modern distribution with Flatpak installed (more information here). For installing the DEB file, Ubuntu 20.04 or later.
a CPU capable of SSE 4.1

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5, Beta 7 [released 24 May 2023]

New Features

Bottom right area of the Pop-up Browser now has:
- An X button for closing without inserting selected content
- A Confirm button for inserting selected content and closing the browser
- A pair of ▴ and ▾ buttons, for selecting the previous and next result in the list
Delay compensation (PDC) now includes group- and project-modulators

Improvements

Opening the Devices filter automatically unfolds the Devices item
Show Confirm button in Pop-up Browser, even if nothing is selected
Mute/Solo/Arm shortcut commands now operate on all selected tracks [32244]

Fixes

Duplicate instances of project remotes were being displayed [32308]
Pitch expression editing in Detail Editor Panel was more sensitive than in version 4 [32518]
Fixed an incorrect automation follow behavior adjusting the end of an Arranger clip [32387]
Recording the Launcher with Record on scene launch records clips for unarmed tracks (a regression) [32365]
Improved behavior when remote controls should follow any selection
Default sequencer latency is set to 50 ms now
Option to Convert Track (to Instrument/Audio/Hybrid) now works in the Mix view [15422]
Note FX Layer and Note FX Selector devices: Inactive note FX layers never go to sleep now [32438]
HW Instrument device: Was sometimes sending first note on wrong channel [32532]
Audio Sidechain modulator: Wasn't working well when used on plug-ins [32380]
Some old projects didn't reopen in Bitwig 5 [32433]
Crash in some cases of double-clicking on clip loop bar when there is automation in the track [30786]
Curve (MSEG) device/Pop-out Editor fixes:
- Histogram window wouldn't open with curve points selected
- Typing to edit curve points would close the Pop-out Editor
- Curves: Pre-highlighted points could 'jump' after clicking [32459]
- Moving points in the Pop-out Editor with [CTRL] pressed was opening the preset browser on release [32290]
- Crash when replacing Curves Grid module with Segments Grid module [31888]
- Some touch interaction were not working in curve Pop-out Editor [31861]
Various browser fixes/improvements:
- Favorites-only filter (the special star in the Browser) was not being saved with the Use current selections functions [32510]
- Suggested autocomplete actions are now more clever than before
- SEARCH-FIELD IS NOW FOCUSED< EVEN IF CAPS LOCK IS ON
- Allow multi-selection of Device Type (Instrument/Note FX/Audio FX) using the SHIFT modifier
- Fixed rare out-of-memory crashes with huge libraries (more than half a million files) [32334]
- Regression b5 to b6: Device/Preset browsing using cursor keys was broken [32486]
- Some invalid browser index files could crash the application [32366]
Various project modulator/remote control fixes:
- Fill button had no effect on Occurrence Operators when controlled by project modulators [32528]
- Modulating the global crossfader is now stored [32362]
- Crash when using undo after moving global modulators to Crossfade Mode [32475]
- Assigning remote controls for time signature shouldn't be (and now isn't) possible [32439]
CLAP plug-ins: Fixed note expression gain scaling
VST3: Fixed crash with iZotope BreakTweaker [32482]
Spanish localization was making Inspector width break on no selection [32513]
Removed incorrect deprecated message in extensions API [27649]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5, Beta 6 [released 28 April 2023]

New Features

Browser: Now has a Sort Order setting, available by right-clicking anywhere
- Options include:
  - by Kind / Name (default) - sorting by relevant file type, then alphabetically within each group
  - by Name - sorting as a flat alphabetical list
  - by Date - sorting by last modified date
- Each browsing session remembers the sort option
- Use current selections option to set defaults also remembers the sort option for that context
Controller script added for ASM Hydrasynth Keyboard:
- Support for poly aftertouch
- Knobs can be used in NRPN mode with 2-directional communication and be enabled/disabled (if you don't want remotes to modify your synth)

Improvements

Curve editor window: Now has a button to go straight to the Curve Browser, to the left of the Save button
Assorted Browser improvements:
- Context menus have been reorganized, now including submenu for Browser Settings, with relevant show/hide options, Rescan options, and (when appropriate) option to Use current selections for the current context
- When a preset is selected, its package is shown in the results area:
  - Clicking on the package icon or name sets the Location filter to point to the package
  - Clicking the arrow on the right makes the current Source that package
- Added an option for Suggest available Packages, so that the download suggestions can be disabled (from the Browser Settings submenu when you right-click anywhere)
- Improved the Suggest available Packages suggestions, making them more focused on your search
- Right-clicking within the Locations filter now has an option to Show all Locations, toggling whether locations with zero hits should be shown
- You can now add Sound Content, Music and Plug-in locations by right-clicking on those folders within the browser's Location filter
Modulators and Grid modules now have both panels for showing Modulation Routings by Source and Modulation Routings by Destination
Akai APC40mk2 controller script: Updated to take advantage of project- and track-level remote controls

Fixes

Browser fixes:
- Now shows all search results (instead of truncating the list)
- Clicking a device's folder to Replace content will no longer change your device settings until you select a preset
- Sample preview playback was starting immediately after loading some projects [32189]
- [→] key to start/stop the preview player in the file results list now works again
- When a smart collection is the current source, right-clicking anywhere in the browser offers an Edit Smart Collection option, which restores its original selection so you can make adjustments and then save again [32289]
- Updating a collection's color was lost after reopening app [32202]
Curve editor: Dragged curve segments were traveling further then dragged dots [32271]
Crash when switching Polymer modules with project modulators, but for real this time [31812]
Note Grid (Note FX) device: It works again (regression)
Humanize (Note FX) device: Randomization works again for everything [32270]
MIDI file import did not assign the project tempo when it contained a single tempo event [32261]
MIDI clip import was only taking the integer of the tempo [32262]
Fixed crash when dragging globally-modulated track into a new project or empty track space [30786]
Fixed playback / latency / disk streaming issues when playing back audio samples with a buffer size 2048 [32268]
Fixed a crash when opening certain v5 beta projects [32000]
Fixed some crashes when pasting a clip [32215]
Fixed index corruption (when using Soundfont 2 files)
Modulators now have a full and shaded gap between their square interface and their additional pane of parameters [30729]
Replace option for audio file's in the Project Panel was broken (regression) [32242]
Dropdown menus now work when holding [ALT] to temporarily escape modulation mapping mode [32241]
[ALT]-dragging modulation mappings from the destination was broken (regression) [31736]
Fine adjustments using [SHIFT] on Arranger track volume faders is now horizontal again (regression) [32260]
Absolute Mouse mode: Scroll bars were moving when simply hovering over the arrows [32182]
Engine would crash when selecting an audio system that could not be loaded [32024]
Nektar controller scripts: Prevent further crashes [32257]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5, Beta 5 [released 21 April 2023]

Fixes

Fixed application start-up issue for some users

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5, Beta 4 [released 21 April 2023]

New Features

Segments modulator/module: Now includes a timebase option of minutes
- When setting the rate–timebase to 1 minute, zooming out the Segments curve editor will cleanly shows minute divisions
Ø Split Grid module: Now has a Phase Shift Direction parameter, for whether the successive out ports add to the original phase (+ [Plus]) or subtract from it (− [Minus])
- Phase Shift Direction can be set from the Inspector Panel, or by right-clicking on the module

Improvements

Browser: Location filter now includes your Collections & Smart Collections, so those are readily available again
Browser: The Location filter is now sorted better, including user locations filed under their type (Sound Content, Music, and Plug-ins)
Various Gain labels in devices have been clarified to better describe their position in the signal flow

Fixes

Bypassed devices were using too much CPU [32174]
Increased the size of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean fonts
Browser fixes / adjustments:
- Use current selections (previously Remember selected filters) options now allow you to change the default Source and filters for various browsing contexts, available by right-clicking in the menu [32041]
  - Once you have changed a default, an option is also present to Restore defaults for current context
- Having many collections didn't scale well in the interface [32098]
- Wavetable browser now has the Import Wavetables… option again, available via right-click [32091]
- Impulse browser now has the Import Impulses… option again, available via right-click [32091]
- Creator settings weren't being recalled properly in defaults/snapshots/smart-collections
- In some 'tree' views (Location, Device filters), the root node was collapsable but shouldn't be
- No longer shows Tag filter columns when only Impulses are shown
- Fixed an occasional crash when opening the Pop-up Browser to swap a device that was somehow not in the project anymore [32014]
- Sort by Recent in package manager was not working correctly
The Grid: Pop-out Editor views now work when the Grid editor window is undocked / floating [32177]
Better auto-positioning of Pop-out Editors when used in track-level modulators
Segments (Envelope) modulator/module: Would crash when dragging in a curve file from the Browser Panel
Log (Math) Grid module, etc.: Was sometimes outputting invalid numbers, causing audio to break [32096]
Freq→Pitch (Pitch) Grid module, etc.: Was sometimes outputting invalid numbers, causing bad audio behavior [32094]
Ø Bend (Phase) Grid module: Was producing strange artifacts at the 100 % setting [32192]
Audio would stop when switching projects (without transport playing) [32089]
Edit File Metadata… function for curves (BWCURVE files) in the Browser Panel was not working [32160]
Dragging a clip from the Launcher to Arranger would not bring CC automation (regression) [32162]
Crash when swapping Grid modules that were modulated from a higher level [31240]
Was crashing when dragging globally modulated track to a new project [30786]
Fixed a crash when using JACK audio system [31962]
Fixed a crash when saving project [32049]
Fixed a crash when copying project or group modulator automation events to clipboard [32117]
You can now remove/restore the user defaults to the factory defaults
Adjusted the Poly Grid, FX Grid, and Polymer sleep threshold settings
When duplicating a device, track modulator were not being duplicated [32114]
Fixed some truncation issues that showed up in the Japanese localization
No longer shows an error when saving a project that contained a project modulator that was automated and then deleted [32176]
Wrong page scaling in Remote Controls editor
Manually mapping a hardware control to a device parameter was crashing [32002]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5, Beta 3 [released 14 April 2023]

Improvements

Browser: The ordering of search results has been improved, with direct name matches coming first, then consistently sorting other results by kind (device, preset, etc.)
Templates are now listed in side-browser, and are available via a Templates source (under All Sources > by Kind)

Fixes

Collections weren't showing (or accepting new) VSTs [32044]
Fixed crash when switching a Polymer module that is targeted by a project-level modulator [31812]
Some large projects could crash the audio engine when loading [31352]
Users can't save project after deleting modulator in project device [32043]
Segments Grid/Polymer module & modulator: Fixed inconsistencies in release behavior in bipolar mode, etc.
"Add automation lane" context menu entry was missing for project-level modulators [32054]
Fixed crash when copying modulators at the track- or project-level [32018] [32021]
Fixed crash when choosing template to use as default template, or when using the New from Template… action [32003] [32053]
Dropdown choosers on remote control pages were not displaying the selected value [32046]
Transfer Grid module: Would sometimes not allow other modules to come near it
Longer sound package names were not centered in browsers [31921]
Slice in Place dialog buttons looked broken [32045]
Track inspectors were too wide in non-English localizations
u-he CLAP plug-ins: Fixed a crash when using right-click to Init
Windows CLAP plug-ins: Were sometimes not reloading
VST2: Several plug-ins now work again in version 5 [32042]
Nektar controller extensions: were often crashing instantly [32009]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5, Beta 2 [released 11 April 2023]

Fixes

Fixed application start-up issue for users with collections from v4.4

What's New in Bitwig Studio 5, Beta 1 [released 11 April 2023]

1. MSEG Family — Drawing Curves for Modulation…

A multi-segment envelope generator, or MSEG, is a tool for drawing custom envelopes, automation shapes, looping patterns, and more
Based on the idea of MSEG, we've created five (5) new devices that share a common way to draw, save, and interchangeably load curves (via the new BWCURVE file format)
What every modulator/module in the family shares is a central curve component, which defines the shape of the action and is completely under the control of the user
Each curve is simply a series of points arranged on a fixed or free timeline (depending on the device)
Five separate devices means each is focused on its particular task, with only the right parameters for that job

New modulator & Polymer/Grid module: Segments (Envelope)

A freely drawable, segmented envelope generator
With all familiar envelope modulator/module controls
Four Play Mode options are available:
- One-shot (⇀) - Plays thru the entire shape (while the voice is alive) at note on
- Hold (𝄐) - Uses any one of the curve's points as the hold/sustain level, which is also the release start
- Looping (⥤) - Uses any two of the curve's points, and loops forwards between them on sustain; the loop end point is also the release start
- Ping Pong (⇌) - Uses any two of the curve's points, and loops forwards and backwards between them on sustain; the loop end point is also the release start
- The hold point or loop region & start/end points are shown in the inverse color of the interface; on the modulator, this is blue
- You can either drag one of these points to another point, or right-click on any point and choose the appropriate option — either Set Hold Point (when in Hold mode), or Set Loop Start / Set Loop End (when in Looping or Ping Pong modes)
A set Rate (from 0.2 to 50) with regard to the set Timebase (either Seconds, Milliseconds, Bars or other beat-time units, Pitch (of current note), or Hold)
- Both the Rate and Timebase can be modulated for each note, for example by Velocity (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source
- This Rate –Timebase pair defines the primary interval of the whole envelope, which defaults to a setting of 1 bar, and with a shape that ends after one iteration
- The curve editor is scrollable and shows a time ruler in the primary interval (1, 2… n), with the set number of grid units displaying within each primary interval
- Clicking and dragging in the ruler area allows for zooming and scrolling, just as with the Arranger
- Points can be added or dragged to extend the length of the envelope, so taking the default settings and adding a point at the 4 line would extend the shape to be 4 bars long
Option to Enabling Smoothing, with Smoothing Time set in milliseconds/seconds
- Both settings can be automated and modulated, for controlling the sharpness vs. smoothness of each voice, for example by Poly Pressure (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source
- On the Polymer module version of Segments, both parameters are available in a context menu when right-clicking on the module's background
A Bipolar toggle (±) maintains the curve's shape but rescales it, so that the minimum value is -1 and the middle value is now 0 (zero)
The modulator version of Segments also has standard envelope modulator options:
- A Single Trigger option to keep the envelope from retriggerring when overlapping notes are received
- An Amount parameter controlling output scaling of each voice
The Grid module version of Segments also has standard envelope module options:
- A stereo Gate In port, as well as a pre-cord to Gate on Notes
- A stereo in and out port for an internal amplifier, under the control of the envelope signal
- An Affect voice lifetime toggle to allow the module to keep voices active

New modulator & Grid module: Curves (LFO)

A freely drawable, segmented low-frequency oscillator
With all familiar LFO modulator/module controls
A set Rate (from 0.2 to 50) with regard to the set Timebase (either Hertz, Kilohertz, Bars or other beat-time units, Pitch (of current note), or Hold)
- Both the Rate and Timebase can be modulated for each note, for example by Velocity (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source
- This Rate –Timebase pair defines the speed of the oscillator, which defaults to a setting of 1 Hz
Phase parameter allows for full control of the envelope's position, small variations, or anything in between
Option to Enabling Smoothing, with Smoothing Time set in milliseconds/seconds
- Both settings can be automated and modulated, for controlling the sharpness vs. smoothness of each voice, for example by Poly Pressure (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source
A Bipolar toggle (±) maintains the curve's shape but rescales it, so that the minimum value is -1 and the middle value is now 0 (zero)
The modulator version of Curves also has standard LFO modulator options:
- Five Trigger Mode options, similar to other LFOs:
  - Free - All voices play freely and never reset
  - Note - Each voice resets to the current Phase when it receives a note
  - Sync - Follows the relative phase (Phase + Global transport position) while transport is playing
  - Grv (Groove) - Follows the groove-relative phase (Phase + Global transport position, including groove) while transport is playing
  - Rnd (Random) - Each voice goes to a random position when it receives a note
- An Amount parameter controlling output scaling of each voice
The Grid module version of Curves also has standard LFO module options:
- A stereo Retrigger In port, as well as a pre-cord to Retrigger on Notes
- A stereo Phase In port and input attenuator
- A stereo Rate In port and input attenuator
- A Phase Offset (R) control, for adjusting the right channel's phase in relation to the general Phase value

New Polymer/Grid module: Scrawl (Oscillator)

A freely drawable, segmented oscillator
With anti-aliasing on the oscillator, to help make (almost) any shape work
With all familiar oscillator module controls
All the standard module pitch controls:
- Key Tracking pre-cord, automatically connecting note pitches to the pitch buss
- Numerator and Denominator controls, for controlling pitch via ratio
- A Pitch Offset, for adjustment in semitones
- A Detune control, for adjustment in Hertz, along with the Stereo Detune toggle for an inverse detuning of the right channel
A Retrigger on Notes pre-cord, for reseting the oscillator's phase at note on
The Polymer module version of Scrawl also has:
- Phase Modulation Amount attenuator (range 0 % to 800 %) to allow modulation from the Sub
- ⬆︎SYNC⬆︎ toggle to enable hard sync from the Sub
The Grid module version of Scrawl also has standard oscillator module options:
- A stereo Retrigger In port
- A stereo Phase In port, with attenuator (range 0 % to 800 %)
- A stereo Pitch In port and input attenuator

New Grid module: Slopes (Data)

A freely drawable, segmented sequencer
With all familiar data sequencer module controls, and their common phase-driven approach
A stereo Phase In port for controlling playback, along with a Use Device Phase pre-cord
A Bipolar toggle (±) maintains the curve's shape but rescales it, so that the minimum value is -1 and the middle value is now 0 (zero)
Anti-aliasing toggle enables smoothed playback of the curve
Mute when stopped option will force 0 (zero) output when the global transport isn't running

New Grid module: Transfer (Shaper)

A freely drawable, segmented waveshaper
With familiar shaper module controls and form
Anti-aliasing (AA) toggle enables smoothed response of the shaper
Modulatable Drive control that goes in both directions (±24 dB), for pushing the incoming signal to interesting parts of the curve
A Bipolar toggle (±) maintains the curve's shape but rescales it, so that the minimum value is -1 and the middle value is now 0 (zero)

The Curve Editor

Clicking any curve display opens the curve editor in a Pop-out Editor window
Seven tools are available:
- Pointer [1] - For selecting and adjusting points and their curvature, etc.
- Pencil [2] - For freehand drawing of shapes
- Step [3] - A shape for creating flat lines within each grid line
- Half Step [4] - A shape for creating flat lines that spend the first 50% of each step at the level set (the second 50% at 0 [zero])
- Saw Up [5] - A shape for creating a ramp within each step from 0 (zero) to the level set
- Saw Down [6] - A shape for creating a ramp within each step from the level set to 0 (zero)
- Triangle [7] - A shape for creating a ramp within each step from 0 (zero) to the level set, and back to 0 (zero)
- The numbers shown above represent the key command for switching to that tool while the curve editor is open
Set the grid for drawing with the 4 x 4 type control in the bottom left
- The first number controls the number of horizontal, x (↔︎) divisions on the grid
- The second number controls the number of vertical, y (↕︎) divisions on the grid
- The Larger Beat Grid command (default mapping: [.]) also applies to the curve editor with the nearest duplet values
  - With a value of 8, this moves the beat grid to 16, then to 32, etc.
- The Smaller Beat Grid command (default mapping: [,]) also applies to the curve editor with the nearest duplet values
  - With a value of 8, this moves the beat grid to 4, then to 2, etc.
- The Next Beat Grid Subdivsion command (default mapping: [ALT]+[.]) also applies to the curve editor with the nearest triplet values
  - With a value of 8, this moves the beat grid to 12, then to 24, etc.
- The Previous Beat Grid Subdivsion command (default mapping: [ALT]+[,]) also applies to the curve editor with the nearest triplet values
  - With a value of 8, this moves the beat grid to 6, then to 3, etc.
- All of these key commands can be used even while the mouse is held down, adjusting the grid while drawing, for example
SNAP toggle visually hides the grid lines and disables all snapping with the Pointer tool
- When SNAP is on, holding [SHIFT] temporarily disables it
- Even when SNAP is off, all shape drawing tools continue to use the horizontal division to determine their drawing size)
- The Toggle Snap command (default mapping: [S]) also applies to the curve editor, and can be used even while the mouse is held
Several interactions are available within the curve editor:
- Selecting any point shows both that point's Value and its Curvature (to the next point) in the Inspector Panel
- To move a segment between two points: hold [CTRL] ([CMD] on Mac) and drag up or down on a segment
- To bend a segment: hold [ALT] and drag the area between two points up or down
- To draw inverse curves (like an S-curve) around a point: hold [ALT] and drag up or down on the point
- To draw identical curves around a point: hold [ALT]+[SHIFT] and drag up or down on the point
- To move a point as well as all points follow it: hold [CTRL] ([CMD] on Mac) and drag the point
- Right-clicking within the curve editor offers a menu of Transform options for adjusting the entire curve
The folder icon at the top left of the window allows saving your current curve, giving it a name, description, category, and any tags you wish to use

BWCURVE File Format

All of these devices save and read BWCURVE files
Each file has a category that (by default) reflects which device was used to to make it:
- Envelope for those saved in Segments
- Periodic for those saved in Curves or Scrawl
- Sequence for those saved in Slopes
- Lookup for those saved in Transfer
[CTRL]-clicking ([CMD]-clicking on Mac) any curve display opens the curve browser
Browsing defaults to the device's file Category, but any BWCURVE file can be loaded by any device (just select Any Category)
All BWCURVE files require a point at time zero
Phase-driven devices — the oscillators, Curves and Scrawl, as well as the Slopes sequencer — place a matching point at the end of the cycle, connecting the first and last points of the cycle
When an envelope curve of free length is loaded into any of the other devices, its length is normalized
When a non-envelope curve is loaded into an envelope device, the curve is fit into the first "primary interval" of the envelope (from 0 to 1)

2. Modulation Elevated — Modulator's on the Mixer…

Modulators have been available on the device level forever
Now tracks and the project level can have modulators as well
And whether you are working with the new curve devices or our other data sequencers, you can now work with your modulation data in a resizable Pop-out Editor

Track- and Project-level Modulation

From the left edge of the Device Panel, headers now exist for every level from the Project, to any nested Group tracks, down to the current track level
- If these are not visible, right-click anywhere in the Device Panel and enable Show group headers in Device Panel
Each of these headers has a Show Modulators button for opening that level's modulator pane
Insert and map modulators as you normally would
Available modulation targets for tracks include:
- All device parameters on that track
- All available mixer controls (volume, panning, mute, sends), which can all be mapped in the Inspector Panel or the Mixer Panel
Available modulation targets for group tracks include:
- All device parameters on that track or within a child track
- All available mixer controls on that track, or within a child track
Available modulation targets at the project level (via the master track) include:
- All device parameters on any track
- All available mixer controls on any track
- All transport controls that are automatable on the master track (Tempo, global Crossfade, the Fill button, and all groove parameters [Groove on/off, Shuffle amount, Shuffle rate, Accent amount, Accent phase, Accent rate), which can be mapped either in the Mixer Panel, inside the Play menu, or from the transport area
On any track-level Inspector Panel, the Show Modulation Mappings by Source view (now the third button in the middle) starts with a chooser for setting the Track Modulators Note Source, so you can define where notes that trigger the modulators are coming from
This is the same for "normal" tracks, group tracks, and for the project-level, the master track

Pop-out Editors for Working Your Way

Sometimes your modulation data is as important as your automation, notes, or audio
A new Pop-out Editor offers a resizable pane for editing modulation data
This is especially nice the The Grid, giving a clear distinction between patching mode (where all the modules live together in a structure) and data editing mode (in the larger pop-out instead of forcing you to make your data sequencer modules large)
The new curve-based devices all have a Pop-out Editor:
- The three modulators: Segments (Envelope), Curves (LFO), and Keytrack+ (Note-driven)
- The five modules: Segments (Envelope), Curves (LFO), Scrawl (Oscillator), Slopes (Data), and Transfer (Shaper)
- These all work in a standard way, as described above
Existing data sequencers also have their own custom Pop-out Editors now, available by clicking the small arrow button:
- The modulator Steps (Sequence) has a smaller default shape (like ParSeq-8), and a Pop-out Editor with its data as well as its Bipolar and Step Count settings, buttons to nudge the visible sequence left or right a step, and functions to Clear and Randomize the entire sequence
- The Grid module Steps (Data) has the same Pop-out Editor controls, as well as its Interpolation setting
- The Grid module Gates (Data) has a Pop-out Editor with its data as well as its Step Count setting, buttons to nudge the visible sequence left or right a step, and functions to Flip (invert) and Randomize the entire sequence
- The Grid module Probabilities (Data) has a Pop-out Editor with its data as well as its Step Count setting, buttons to nudge the visible sequence left or right a step, and functions to set All On (set each step to 100 %), to set All Off (set each step to 0 %), and to Randomize the entire sequence
- The Grid module Pitches (Data) has a Pop-out Editor with its data as well as its Step Count, Octave Range, and Octave Offset settings, buttons to nudge the visible sequence left or right a step, and and buttons to nudge the entire sequence up or down by a semitone

3. New Launcher Gestures — Perform in the Moment…

A performance is based on the "gestures" available to you
With more gestures available, you can go new places
And if you can decide how to trigger clips while playing, you can truly play in the moment
Good defaults can go along way, and setting them on the project level let's you quickly set the tone for each song
Finally, having some track parameters on the mixer can bring a performance alive

on Release Actions

You have to press a clip (either via computer or controller) to trigger it. So maybe you'd like something to happen when you release the mouse or pad.
In addition to a Launch Quantization and Launch Mode setting, each clip also now has a Release Action setting. Options include:
- Continue - Let the clip play and do nothing
- Stop - Stops the clip
- Return - Returns to the previously playing clip/Arrangement
- Next Action - Trigger the clip's Next Action (where 20+ more options are available)

New Launch Modes

A couple additional Play Mode options are now available as well for using different "legato" timing sources:
- Trigger from Start (previously called from Start) - Plays the clip from its start
- Legato from Clip (or Start) (previously used for Continue and Continue Quantized) - Starts relative to playing clip's position (or when nothing was playing, from clip start)
- Legato from Clip (or Project) (new) - Starts relative to playing clip's position (or when nothing was playing, from transport position)
- Legato from Project (new) - Starts relative to global transport position
The various "relative" timings take all factors into account, including various Operators that are cycle-aware (like Recurrence)

ALT Triggers

Instead of programming the one way each clip can play, you can now program two methods for each clip and then choose which to use as you perform
The Main action is what happens when normally triggering and releasing each clip or scene
The ALT action happens when triggering a clip or scene while:
- Holding down a controller's Shift button (like on the Novation Launchpad Pro MK3 or Akai APC 40 Mk2, etc.), or
- Holding down the [ALT] key (when triggering from the computer)
So your three settings — Launch Quantization, Launch Mode, and Release Action — are duplicated, with parameters for the Main trigger action and parameters for the ALT trigger
The Project Panel has a new first page for all project-specific Settings, which including the following Clip Launcher Defaults:
- Main Launch Quantization (previously Global Clip Quantize) - 1 bar, so wait for the next bar start
- Main Launch Mode - Trigger from Start, play the clip from the beginning
- Main Release Action - Continue, or do nothing on release
- ALT Launch Quantization - Off, so clip starts immediately
- ALT Launch Mode - Legato from Clip (or Project), playing "legato" from the previous clip's position
- ALT Release Action - Return, and jumps back the previous state on release
- Note that a swap button (⇄) switches all Main and ALT settings (also available via the Swap Normal and Alt Default Clip Launcher Settings command)
These project settings use Main as a normal queued trigger and ALT as the legato mode
Note that launch and release are distinct actions, so can launch a clip with the Main trigger, hold the pad, and then press controller "shift" to use the ALT trigger release action. And vice versa.
Clips default to Use Project Settings for all six of these values, meaning the settings in the Project Panel control every clip out of the box
Scenes also have their own bank of Main and ALT settings, which are used when the new Override Launch Settings toggle is on for the scene

Track & Project Remotes

In addition to track- and project-level modulators, there are also track- and project-level remote controls
Track/project remotes are configured the same as with devices, just with a larger scope
These remotes can be displayed in either Mixer Panel by enabling the Show Track Remotes view toggle
The Project Panel Settings page has a section of parameters labeled Remotes & Modulators:
- Show group headers in Device Panel - toggles whether group track and project-level headers should appear in the Device Panel
  - These headers are where remotes can be viewed/configured, where modulators must be created/mapped, and allow viewing the group or project in the Inspector Panel (including the channel strip controls and meters) by simply clicking on the header
- Alias preset remotes on tracks - toggles showing preset remotes in the place of track remotes (when no track remotes are present)
- Track remotes shown in mixer - allows you to show fewer than eight remotes in the mixer
Finally, the Project Panel has a floating Project Remotes section at the bottom of the panel:
- When open, these remotes remain visible on screen no matter what page of the Project Panel you are on
- This can pair nicely with the Sections page loaded, where you can keep all Launcher Scenes, Arranger Cue Markers, and Project Remotes accessible at once, no matter where you navigate with the rest of the application window

4. Tomorrow's Modern Browsers — Streamlined, Smarter, Focused on Sound…

The browsers in Bitwig Studio have been remade
With a growing number of file types, having all results in one list is just better
Users browse in different ways so the new browsers support various workflows
In summary:
- 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

It Starts with a Source

From most any browser, clicking the "four squares" icon (⊞) at top left — or pressing [CTRL]+0 ([CMD]+0 on Mac) — takes you to the All Sources page, which is organized under four tabs:
1. PACKAGES - Bitwig sound packages, including available packages that can be installed
2. COLLECTIONS - User-saved groups including everything marked as Favorites, as well as fixed collections and dynamic smart collections
3. BY KIND - Groupings of content by various measures, and sometimes with sub-groupings under a vertical bracket (⎴):
  - All Instruments contains all instrument devices, plug-ins, and presets; it is the parent source of the individual sound-descriptive sources — Drum Presets, Basses, Keys, Synths, and Other Instruments
  - Drum Hits is a hybrid source comprising e-drum instruments, drum sound presets, and sample files identified as individual drums
  - Audio FX for all audio FX devices, plug-ins, and presets
  - Note FX for all note FX devices, plug-ins, and presets
  - Samples for all audio files, either in the Bitwig library or in one of your chosen sound content locations
  - Music for all audio files in your chosen music locations
  - Multi-samples for all MULTISAMPLE files (used by both Sampler device and Grid module), either in the Bitwig library or in your chosen sound content locations
  - Impulses for all BWIMPULSE files (used by the Convolution device), either in the Bitwig library or in your chosen sound content locations
  - Wavetables for all WT files (used by both the Grid/Polymer Wavetable module and the Wavetable LFO modulator & Grid module), either in the Bitwig library or in your chosen sound content locations
  - Utility for devices and presets in the Utility categories, as well as devices in other special function categories (Analysis, Container, Hardware, MIDI, and Routing)
  - All Presets is the parent source of the Bitwig Presets and Plug-in Presets sources
  - All Devices is the parent source of the Bitwig Devices and Plug-ins sources
  - Modulators is available in the Browser Panel, allowing one or more modulators to be dragged into a device's modulator pane
  - Modules is available in the Browser Panel, allowing one or more Grid modules to be dragged into a Grid device's editor window
  - Samples + Clips is a parent source for all timeline materials, including the Samples, Note Clips, and Audio Clips sources
4. LOCATIONS - for local folders sources, including (your) My Library, each of your chosen content, music, and plug-in location folder, as well as the File Browser (for the Browser Panel) and the special Everything source for searching across, um, everything
Clicking a source switches to the browsing page for finding results from that source
Any source can be dragged into that browser's Quick Sources, giving access to your preferred sources for various contexts

Quick Sources, for grabbing what you want in any context

Different contexts provide both an appropriate default source, and the option to make your own Quick Sources for that context
Contexts include:
- Browsing where an instrument is expected (or when adding a new track), which default to the All Instruments parent source
- Browsing where audio signal is expected, which defaults to the Audio FX source
- Browsing where note signal is expected, which defaults to the Note FX source
- Browsing within an empty Sampler device, which defaults to an Everything source showing audio and MULTISAMPLE files
- Browsing within an empty Drum Machine cell, which defaults to the Drum Hits source
- Browsing within an empty Launcher slot on a note track, which defaults to the Note Clips source
- Browsing within an empty Launcher slot on an audio track, which defaults to the Samples + Clips parent source
- Browsing within an empty Launcher slot on a hybrid track, which defaults to the Samples + Clips parent source
- Browsing in the side Browser Panel, which like all the above contexts, stores its own Quick Sources as you have customized them
Drag items in any Quick Source area to reorder them
The default shortcuts are for [F1] to Select Everything (always the first source), and for [F2] thru [F9] to select the next eight Quick Sources, respectively
Clicking to a different Quick Source switches to that source and preserves all possible filters
Clicking on the current Quick Source clears all filters
Right-click any Quick Source area to either Remove an individual item, or to Restore Quick Sources to defaults

Filtering Your Results, and More

Filters are available for narrowing your results
When appropriate, a Source will have a useful filter open by default
Irrelevant filters aren't shown
Filter options include:
- Category [C] - showing the set category for devices, plug-ins, and presets (for example, clicking the Keys sound source will offer the Electric Piano, Organ, and Piano categories)
- Location [L] - for choosing between My Library, all sound Packages or a particular one, or any of your indexed folders
- Tags [T] - showing the most common tags in fixed order up, with other most relevant tags below
- File Kind [F] - for limiting the type of files shown
- Device [D] - for only seeing presets from one device (such as Chain) or from one device category (think The Grid)
- Creator [C] - for limiting preset or device results to one or more sound creators
- Vendor [V] - for quick sorting of plug-ins by manufacturer
- Favorites only [*] - when the star up near the Source name is clicked, only results that you have marked as a favorite will be shown
- Each character shown above represents the key command for switching directly to that filter from a result in the list
- Pressing [X] clears all current filters
For better filing, you can press the [0] number key to add the selected item to your Favorites collection
You can also press the [1] thru [9] number keys to assign the selected item to your first nine collections (right-click in either browser to see the key commands and the collection they correspond to)
A few more default keyboard navigation notes:
- When in the search field or in a new browser window, [↓] key jumps into the results list
- [S] will always jump to the search field
- Pressing [→] when a device is selected enables the special Show [Device] Presets mode, which can be exited with [←]
- The Pop-up Browser is oriented horizontally, so:
  - The [←] and [→] arrow keys move focus between the filter and results sections
  - [CTRL]-[ALT] ([CMD]-[ALT] on Mac) + [←] and [→] move between the available filters
  - [CTRL]-[ALT] ([CMD]-[ALT] on Mac) + [↑] and [↓] move between the Quick Sources
  - [PAGE UP] jumps to the search field
- The side Browser Panel is oriented vertically, so:
  - [PAGE DOWN] and [PAGE UP] move focus between the search field, filter section, and results section
  - [CTRL]-[ALT] ([CMD]-[ALT] on Mac) + [↑] and [↓] move between the available filters
  - [CTRL]-[ALT] ([CMD]-[ALT] on Mac) + [←] and [→] move between the Quick Sources
There are also two choices for preserving your current browser state:
- Right-click in the browser and choose Save Snapshot… to save the current source, search term, and filters in an editable form
  - Restore a snapshot by right-clicking in the browser and selecting its name
- Right-click in the browser and choose Save Smart Collection… to save the search term and filters in an fixed form (limiting your search results and available filter choices to the current selections) as a new source
  - Creating a new smart collection automatically adds it at the end of to your current Quick Sources, showing a magnifying glass icon in the color you selected

Power Searching Tips

Searching is now better than ever, so just start typing what you want
New and inferred metadata helps:
- Bitwig devices are now more deeply indexed. For example:
  - Searching for fm will give you various devices that do frequency (or phase) modulation
  - Searching for sync in the modulator browser shows you various devices that have beat-sync options
  - Searching for smooth in a Grid editor (or the side Browser Panel) will return various averagers, envelope followers, and filters
  - Just try things.
- All sample files are now indexed in new ways:
  - Filenames and parent folder names are searched for common keywords
  - Categories are applied based on common keywords, such as break (category: Drum Loop), ride (category: Cymbal), or sweep (category: Sound FX), etc.
  - Tags are applied when they match known tags in Bitwig Studio
  - Together, this makes searching for samples much closer to presets and plug-ins
- Preset discovery for CLAP plug-ins mean they can also have their presets indexed with tags, creators, etc.
Autocomplete suggestions keep you on track:
- If your search matches a source or relevant filter, a blue autocomplete suggestion will appear, letting you hit [TAB] and jump to that suggestion
- Suggestions also include searches appropriate to a different source, so just hit [TAB] to accept the suggestion and Bitwig will take you there
- A couple example cases:
  - When searching in the side Browser Panel for Samples + Clips, typing dru will offer ⇥ Drum Loop for jumping to the Drum Loop category
  - When searching under Samples + Clips, typing ark finds few results in that source so ⇥ Everything is suggested
  - When searching under Everything, typing ark will offer ⇥ Arksun which sets the Creator filter

New Features

The Bitwig Studio application is now localized in ¡Spanish! and Korean~^^
- 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 350+ devices and modules) are translated and current as of Bitwig Studio v4.4
- All non-English localizations will be updated for Bitwig Studio v5 during beta
The audio preview player in all browsers now has a setting for how audio is previewed and imported:
- Play at Original Speed (audio icon) plays the audio back at its original length, with no pitch/speed change
- Stretch to Project Tempo (music note icon) stretches the audio file to match the current project tempo
- This setting is stored as a preference (Dashboard > Settings > Behavior > Audio Import/Preview)
Several controller scripts already support the ALT-trigger shift button behavior, including:
- Controller script added for Novation Launchpad Pro MK3
- Controller script added for Novation Launchpad X (via reassigning the Rec Button)
- Controller script added for Novation Launchpad Mini MK3 (via the special 4th row buttons)
- Controller script added for Akai APC Mini MK2
- Controller script added for Akai APC Key25 MK2
- Controller script updated for Novation Launchpad Pro (MK1)
- Controller script updated for Akai APC40 MKII
- Additional documentation will come during beta
Each controller connected is now shown with icons in the top right of the application window; clicking any icon opens a pane with access to:
- The controller's help and system-level settings
- Visualizations of the controller's current remote bank
- The Track / Device navigation and pinning options (previously in the Studio I/O Panel, which is now called the Output Monitoring Panel)
- A new Mode option for setting what remotes the controller will follow while you click in Bitwig interface (default value is Any track / device selection, which means it will follow any item you click on)
Bitwig Studio has a new audio onset detection algorithm, improving the timing accuracy of onsets
Bitwig now keeps track of your last fired scene as the target scene, visualized by underlining the scene's name
- When you entering mapping mode (by clicking on the Mapping Browser Panel in the lower right), the Mix View now has five new icons beneath the scenes for mapping:
  - The play triangle with a minus (▶︎⁻) will Launch Previous Scene
  - The play triangle alone (▶︎) will Launch Target Scene
  - The play triangle with a plus (▶︎⁺) will Launch Next Scene (just mapping this one function to a button would let you advance thru your entire project)
  - The upward triangle (▲) will Target Previous Scene
  - The downward triangle (▼) will Target Next Scene
- Also, a play triangle button (▶︎) appears on each track, for launching that track's clip at the current target scene
While in modulator mapping mode, holding [ALT] will let you interact with parameters normally (so hold [ALT] to adjust parameter values, then let go to return to modulator mapping)
New Keytrack+ (Note-driven) modulator: Uses an embedded curve component (like the MSEG devices) for drawing, saving, or loading keytracking curves
- The previous modulator Keytrack is now called Relative Keytracking, with a modified interface and added Amount control
New Select Out (Mix) Grid module: Binary selector between two outputs
- Select In (Mix) Grid module is the new name of the old Select module, offering a binary switch between two inputs
New Amplify (Level) Grid module: Signal amplifier set in percentage (up to 800 %)
New Pinch (Level) Grid module: Imposes an S-curve onto an audio signal, with Stereo-ize option
New Freq → Pitch (Pitch) Grid module: Hertz (or kilohertz) to pitch converter, with optional stereo detune
New Pitch → Freq (Pitch) Grid module: Pitch to Hertz (or kilohertz) converter, with optional stereo detune
New Exponents (Math) Grid module: Provides a power of the incoming signal, with various Base options ( 2ˣ, eˣ, and 10ˣ)
New Roots (Math) Grid module: Provides a root of the incoming signal, with Degree an integer parameter between 1 and 9
SVF (Filter) Polymer/Grid module: Now has a Notch mode
CLAP Plug-ins: Can now share their remote control banks with Bitwig, showing them in the device's Remote Controls
CLAP Plug-ins: Now have parameter indications like Bitwig devices, showing when automation or a hardware mapping is taking place

Improvements

In the Device Panel, the Remote Controls toggle on devices and track headers now doubles as a mapping indicator:
- When the knob is surrounded by a solid orange circle (◯), an entire remote control bank is currently under control
- When the knob is surrounded by a dashed orange circle (◌), some parameters are currently under control
- When the knob is undecorated, no parameters are currently under control
Automation dots on parameters are now color-coded to their status:
- A blue dot means the automation is in control and playing back
- A green dot means the automation is current being overridden and can be restored
- A red dot means automation is being recorded
- A gray dot means automation is present but not currently being played
Micro-pitch expressions can now be drawn and recorded to a range of ±128 semitones
The Next Action section of the Launcher clip Inspector Panel has been reworked
- A power button toggle sets whether the Next Action is set to play after the clip or not
  - As on Release actions can now trigger the Next Action, the function can be selected even when the toggle is off
- By default, the Next Action timing is set in loop iterations (the loop icon button), with a value of 1x, or trigger after the clip plays once
- You can adjust the number of loop counts, or disable the loop icon to set the time in free bars and beats
Next Action for Launcher clips now fire at the designated time, even if set in the future
- Previously, Next Action for non-looping clips would trigger immediately after the clip ended. If you prefer this behavior, set the Next Action to be linked and fire after one playback cycle (1x)
When mapping a modulator, the detail panel of the source modulator now remains open [31670]
When dragging modulator mappings, detail panels now remain open [30606]
Classic LFO & LFO (LFO), and ParSeq-8 & Steps (Sequence) modulators: All allow negative phase values now, so timing can easily be adjusted as slightly later or earlier
Oscilloscope (Display) Grid module: Now has a Stereo-ize mode, that shows the first in port's signal in its color (left channel) and white (right channel)
LFO (LFO) modulator: Now has Groove (Grv) Trigger Mode, for syncing to groove timing on playback
Ramp (Envelope) modulator: Now has an Ignore Notes option to start new ramps at the destination point. Good for using Ramp as a gliding toggle (via the Invert parameter), etc.
Exp (Math) Grid modules: Now has a Base parameter for choosing between 2ˣ, eˣ, and 10ˣ of the incoming signal (x), which can be set by right-clicking on the module itself
Log (Math) Grid modules: Now has a Base parameter for choosing between log₂x, logₑx, and log₁₀x of the incoming signal (x), which can be set by right-clicking on the module itself
Transport (LFO) Grid module: Is more visually similar to the Device Ø section of all Grid device Inspectors
- Is also part of a right-click swap group of "phase providers," for going between Phase In (I/O) ↔︎ Transport (LFO) ↔︎ Phasor (Phase) ↔︎ Clock (LFO)
Voice Stack modulator: Default mode is now set to 0 to +1, since this is unique
Several right-click parameter/setting options are now available:
- Right-clicking any track solo button (either in Arranger track headers, or on the Mixer Panel) give options for toggling the Solo as Cue and Exclusive Solo preferences
- Oscilloscope and Spectrum (Analysis) devices: You can right-click on these devices now to switch between the Mini (default) and Wide Device View options
- Pitch In (I/O) Grid module: Now can be right-clicked to change its Voice Priority setting (Default method, or the Lowest, Last, or Highest note) via context menu
- Mod Delay (Delay/FX) Grid module: Now can be right-clicked to change its Clip Mode (for Feedback) setting via context menu
- Blend (Mix) Grid module: Now can be right-clicked to change its Blending Mode setting (for crossfading with Equal Gain or Equal Power) via context menu
- Velo Mult (Level) Grid module: Now can be right-clicked to change its Response setting (either Linear for straight multiplication, or Perceptual, the loudness-friendly default) via context menu
- = and ≠ (Math) Grid module: Now can be right-clicked to toggle the Exact Matches Only setting via context menu
- Value Readout (Display) Grid module: Now can be right-clicked to toggle the Voice Shown setting (either Last voice only, or a summed All voices) via context menu
  - Module has also been reconfigured for better display of user-provided names
Mixer Panel view toggles have been reorganized and beautified, as have other layouts and graphics thru out the program
Various controller mapping updates:
- The visualization color for each controller (painting the current clip targets in the Launcher, etc.) is now adjustable, as well as other style improvements
- Parameter context menu lists all active mappings from controllers and the computer keyboard
- Parameters that are mapped manually now show indication symbols (just as auto mappings from a controller script do)
New preferences that are now available:
- The amount of sequencer Latency can now be adjusted, changing the window within which Launcher clips are triggered (Dashboard > Settings > Behavior > Sequencer)
- The bit depth of new audio can now be set separately, for the Recording Resolution and the Bounce Resolution, including a 32-bit (floating-point) option (Dashboard > Settings > Recording > Created Audio)
- You can now Prefer CLAP over VST versions of plug-ins, when both are available (Dashboard > Settings > Locations > Plug-in Locations)

Fixes

Distortion device: Fixed issues when the device wakes up after sleep [31090] [31043]
New FL Studio (FLP) files can be imported [30864]
Linux: Re-enabled VSync on X11 [27603]
Mapping transport position or loop setting positions now has a usable range [31558]
Et cetera