Bitwig Studio 5 is out now. It features a family of MSEG/curve devices, elevated modulations, new performance gestures, reborn browsers, and more. Yes, please.

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 5.0.9 [released 26 September 2023]

Fixes

DAWproject: Files can be opened by double-clicking them in the OS file explorer/finder, or by dropping them onto the Bitwig icon
DAWproject: Export was not available for some users
DAWproject: Improved handling of missing audio files on import
Copying track modulators that inter-modulate each could produce duplicate modulations on paste [33628]
When duplicating a track, all MIDI CC automation lanes of the source track were called "pitch bend" (a regression) [33662]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.8 [released 22 September 2023]

New Features

DAWproject files can now be exported (from the File menu) and imported
- This new format allows transferring project data from one audio sequencer to another
- More information on the format is here

Fixes

When selecting a scene, the Inspector Panel was too wide in some languages
Saturator Distortion device and Shaper Grid module: Were consuming too much CPU when fed with silence on AMD/Intel CPUs

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.7 [released 08 September 2023]

New Features

Controller script added for AKAI MPK mini Plus
Controller script added for iCON Platform M+

Improvements

Controller integration updated for M-Audio Oxygen Pro Series (Mini/25/49/61/Hammer Pro 88)

Fixes

Snap to events works correctly in note Detail Editor Panel [33492]
Step drawing of expressions in audio Detail Editor Panel no longer misses some boundary events [33529]
Expression Spread was not creating individual spread for automation points [33551]
Select All did not work properly with closed groups [33425]
Double-clicking now open projects in the Browser Panel's File Browser (a regression) [33336]
A track's arm, solo, and monitor mode states are now ignored when saving a clip [33260]
Duplicated tracks which are colored with "x" in the Inspector were getting a random color (a regression) [33385]
Convolution (Reverb) device: Wet Gain control was breaking after dragging in an audio clip. The second time. [33409]
Wavetable LFO (LFO) Grid module: Hold Shape during Cycle didn't work as expected [33386]
Saving a project with a Grid module selected in the Browser Panel was leading to a crash [33019]
When adjusting bipolar controls (e.g. pan, crossfade) from a MIDI controller, it is now always possible to hit the center value [32854]
LaunchControl XL controller script: use factory 8 instead of 7 as the 7 sends the wrong CCs [33429]
Fixed NoteStep.setTranspose(), which now has a range from -96 to +96 (a regression)
Bug when updating the sibling track bank (details)
Random crashes while reading preset discovery presets [31088]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.6 [released 15 August 2023]

Fixes

Message "audio engine appears to be hung" could get shown during playback of certain projects.

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.5 [released 10 August 2023]

Fixes

Better performance when playing very large grid patches.
Improved anti-aliasing in Transfer module. [33317]
Consolidate now takes deactivated clips into account [32947]
Preview play button shown on list entries in the side browser does not work in the file browser tab [33282]
Consolidating a launcher clip now keeps its loop settings [33156]
macOS: application could crash when running on macOS 14 beta [33261]
Midi Clock master timing was early during pre-roll [33319]
Controller-API: the selected remote controls page was lost when switching projects in some cases
Launchpad Pro Mk3 extension is now compatible with the latest firmware (1.2.2)
LaunchControlXL regression: it now is possible again to switch back to template 1 [33367]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.4 [released 25 July 2023]

Fixes

VST3 Presets VST3 presets didn't show up in the default plug-in preset locations (a regression in v5.0.1)
Couldn't map Project Remotes to Shuffle Amount and related parameters. [33246]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.3 [released 21 July 2023]

Fixes

Device default presets are written to the user library again (a regression in v5.0.2) [33219]
Fixed a crash for controller scripts that make various assumptions about how keyboard shortcuts are categorized (such as the DrivenbyMoss Flexi script)

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.2 [released 20 July 2023]

Fixes

Fixed a crash at startup for some users when importing collections from v4.4 or earlier (a regression in v5.0.1) [33175]
Fixed a crash when using keyboard shortcuts in a browser to add and remove items from collections after some collections had been deleted [33053]
Impulses loaded with the Pop-up Browser now load within a Convolution device (instead of Sampler) [33076]
Older Launchpads (MK1, S, etc.) were crashing (a regression) [30816]
PreSonus FaderPort controller script was sometimes crashing [33187]
Novation Launchkey 49 controller script wasn't forwarding sustain pedal [33158]
Linux: App wouldn't start on some Ubuntu systems if libxcb-randr0 was not installed [33193]
Fixed random engine crashes on all platforms [32656, etc.]

Changes in Bitwig Studio 5.0.1 [released 13 July 2023]

Improvements

Track remote controls now follow the remotes for current chain in the Instrument Selector, FX Selector, and Note FX Selector devices
- If the top-level device itself has a remote control page, that will be preferred

Fixes

Bitwig Studio will now automatically reimport v4.4 collections if they are not present in v5.0.x [32789]
MIDI files could not be previewed or loaded for some editions of Bitwig Studio [33155]
Harmonize (Note FX) device: Fixed some sleep issues (a regression) [33067]
Logic Delay (Logic) Grid module: Was sometimes triggering too fast [33002]
Fixed a sleeping issue with nested device chain slots
The eraser tool can be used to create breakpoints in the automation lane again (a regression) [33071]
Curve Editor: Copy Curve followed by Reset Curve followed by Paste Curve now works [33097]
Fixed a crash when using Bounce or Slice to Drum Machine with audio files that have no detected onsets [32236]
Removing a device with latency was sometimes causing hung notes [33081]
Removing a location via the Show All Sources page now removes the location in the preferences, no longer crashing the app [32010]
Plug-in presets were sometimes being listed twice [33078]
Dragging in samples into the empty area once again creates color-distributed tracks [33147]
Audio files that contain invalid sample data was sometimes causing the audio engine to output garbage [31335]
Fixed a crash when an image couldn't be decoded [33023]
Windows: Fixed some random application crashes [30047]

What's New in Bitwig Studio 5 [released 29 June 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 Minutes, Seconds, Milliseconds, Bars or other beat-time units, Pitch (of current note) [modulator only], 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) [modulator only], 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 unipolar mode (when Bipolar is off) has two options:
- Clip - To truncate signals below zero at the value set there
- Reflect - To mirror signal below zero negatively, good for processing a bipolar signal symmetrically

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 Subdivision 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 Subdivision 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 switches to the curve browser for loading other content. The save icon beside it 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 (or the Keytrack+ modulator)
[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, Pan, Mute, FX send levels, and Crossfade Mode), which can all be mapped in the Mixer Panel (and mostly in the track's Inspector Panel as well)
Available modulation targets for group tracks include:
- All device parameters on that track, and those within any child track
- All available mixer controls on that track, and those within any 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 in 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 tasks
- 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 these individual sound-descriptive sources:
    - Drum Presets
    - Basses
    - Keys
    - Synths
    - 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
  - Music for all audio files in your chosen music locations
  - Multi-samples for all MULTISAMPLE, SFZ, and SF2 files (available to both the 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
  - Curves for all BWCURVE files (used by any of the various "curve"-based devices, modulators, and modules), 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 these sources:
    - Bitwig Presets, for BWPRESET files in the Bitwig library or in your chosen sound content locations
    - Plug-in Presets, for H2P files, as well as FXP, FXB, VSTPRESET, and any vendor-specific formats that CLAP preset discovery offers
  - All Devices is the parent source of these sources:
    - Bitwig Devices, for our internal devices within the Bitwig Studio application
    - Plug-ins, for CLAP, VST 2, and VST3 plug-ins, installed in one of your chosen plug-in locations
  - Modulators is available in the Browser Panel, allowing one or more of Bitwig's modulators to be dragged into a device's modulator pane
  - Modules is available in the Browser Panel, allowing one or more of Bitwig's Grid modules to be dragged into a Grid device's editor window
  - Samples + Clips is a parent source for all audio and timeline materials, including the sources:
    - Samples, for all audio files, either in the Bitwig library or in one of your chosen sound content locations
    - Note Clips, for all note-based BWCLIP files as well as MIDI files, either in the Bitwig library or in one of your chosen sound content locations
    - Audio Clips, for all audio-based BWCLIP files, either in the Bitwig library or in one of your chosen sound content locations
  - Templates is available in the Browser Panel for loading BWTEMPLATE files, either in the Bitwig library or in one of your chosen sound content locations
4. LOCATIONS - for local folders sources — including (your) My Library, each of your chosen sound 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 defaults 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
To redefine the defaults for any context, right-click into the Browser Settings menu and select Use current selections for this context
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
- File Type [F] - present for File Kind selections that include more than one specific file extension
- 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 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 Wavetable LFO (LFO) modulator/Grid module: A morphable LFO, with Bitwig WT file support
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 an integer Exponent parameter between -9 and +9
New Roots (Math) Grid module: Provides a root of the incoming signal, with an integer Degree parameter between 1 and 9
SVF (Filter) Polymer/Grid module: Now has a Notch mode
Button & Buttons (Interface) modulators, and Button (Logic) Grid module: All have a Bipolar option now, for toggling between +100 % (+1) and -100 % (-1)
Ø Split (Phase) 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
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
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

Internal overhauls:
- Devices now sleep more often, often resulting in CPU performance improvements
- Copy and paste have been reworked to work much better for incoming modulations, manual mappings, Grid signal connections, I/O buss routings, Sends etc.
Manual controller mappings that launch clips now also trigger their release action when the button is released [32470]
Modulators and Grid modules now have both panels for showing Modulation Routings by Source and Modulation Routings by Destination
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
MIDI (Note-driven) modulator: Now has an Inspector parameter for whether to apply Smoothing or not [32452]
Organ device: Drawbar names now start with the drawbar number
Instrument Selector, FX Selector, Note FX Selector (Container) devices: All have a panel menu for setting the Mode, allowing notes and other messages to cycle to other layers without using modulators
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
Various Gain labels in devices have been clarified to better describe their position in the signal flow
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, for adjusting 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)
Mute/Solo/Arm shortcut commands now operate on all selected tracks [32244]
Formant and pitch expression zoom settings are now remembered independently [32882]
Akai APC40mk2 controller script: Updated to take advantage of project- and track-level remote controls

Fixes

Distortion device: Fixed issues when the device wakes up after sleep [31090] [31043]
Arpeggiator (Note FX) device: No longer crashes the audio engine when creating notes below MIDI note 0 [32570]
Instrument Selector, FX Selector, and Note FX Selector: Fixed a timing problem with the Index parameter [29357]
Bend and Pinch (Level) and Ø Bend and Ø Pinch (Phase) Grid modules: Improved numeric stability at extreme (> 95 %) settings [32684] [32192]
Distortion (Distortion) device: Now has a wider spectrum display, keeping all frequency parameters on screen [32838]
Audio Sidechain (I/O) Grid module: Is now properly delay compensated [31208]
Fixed a delay compensation issue with delay devices and plug-ins, that was causing latency on the master [29035]
Folded note ("drum" editor) mode was dropping selection when scrolling offscreen while selecting [32775]
Option to Convert Track (to Instrument/Audio/Hybrid) now works in the Mix view [15422]
Crash in some cases of double-clicking on clip loop bar when there is automation in the track [30786]
Slice in Place did not work with a reversed audio event [32840]
Copy/paste clip or time selection was always including automation, even when Automation Follows Clip Editing was deactivated [32929]
Fixed an assortment of random engine crashes
Increased the size of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean fonts
Mapping transport position or loop setting positions now has a usable range [31558]
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]
Modulators now have a full and shaded gap between their square interface and their additional pane of parameters [30729]
VST: plug-ins with an infinite tail would start processing right after activation
CLAP plug-ins: Fixed a crash with polyphonic modulations [32763]
CLAP: Selected plug-in remote control page is now properly restored on project reload [32575]
CLAP: Plug-in's output note expressions in Bitwig no longer cause a gliss on note start [https://github.com/free-audio/interop-tracker/issues/44]
CLAP plug-ins: Fixed note expression gain scaling
Controller API: fixed a bug that could lead to different TrackProxy elements controlling the same RemoteControls [32756]
Removed incorrect deprecated message in extensions API [27649]
Linux: Re-enabled VSync on X11 [27603]
Linux/X11: Fixed some uninitialized xcb response types in the plug-in host
ALS (Ableton) Import - Wasn't displaying the names of the cells from Drum Racks [27834]
ALS (Ableton) Import - Some volume levels were importing incorrectly [32661]
New FL Studio (FLP) files can be imported [30864]
Other things too