Bitwig 4.2

ManualsBrandsBitwig ManualsSequencing SoftwareSoftware for composition, intuitive production and live performances

’ve been a vocal fan of Bitwig

Studio in these pages since

version 1, but I was, initially,

slightly underwhelmed by

version 4 when I reviewed it. Whereas

versions 2 and 3 introduced seismic

new features that radically expanded

the capabilities of the DAW – the

uniﬁed modulation system and

modular Grid, respectively – the

comping and note Operators

introduced for Bitwig 4 were

comparatively conservative additions.

As acknowledged at the time

though, this comparison was arguably

unfair due to the way Bitwig’s update

plans works. Rather than simply buy

each version outright, users activate a

12-month update plan that

immediately gives them access to the

latest version, but also any new

updates – however big or small –

within the time the plan is active. As

a result, the developers seem to have

shifted emphasis away from big,

headline-grabbing reinventions of the

DAW in favour of regular, signiﬁcant

‘point’ updates throughout the

lifespan of each version. It makes

more sense, in that case, to give

Bitwig Studio 4 a proper appraisal

now, 12 months on from when it ﬁrst

launched in public Beta.

Any user that rushed out to

reactivate their upgrade plan the

moment Bitwig 4 was announced will

have also subsequently gained access

to version 4.1 and 4.2 in the months

since. Taken together, the package

offered by those updates is

considerably more substantial than

the update to version 4 alone.

The Note FX that were the main

focus of 4.1 feel very much like a

complimentary side dish to v4’s

Operators. Whereas the Operators

were randomising and retriggering

tools that applied variations directly

to MIDI notes on the piano roll, the

Note FX are an array of devices that

can process incoming MIDI in real

time. The general remit of the two

features is very similar though,

allowing users to apply complex but

highly controllable variations to

Bitwig Studio 4.2 €399

12 months on, Bitwig have doubled down on

the creative sequencing tools added in version

4. Si Truss takes another look

CONTACT WHO: Bitwig WEB: bitwig.com KEY FEATURES Fully-equipped DAW with 130+ devices and modulators, plus Grid modular

environments with 150+ modules. Purchase includes 12-month update plan

Long-term test | Xxxxxxxxx

LONG-TERM TEST

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Summary of content (2 pages)

PAGE 1
FM | LONG-TERM TEST Long-term test | Xxxxxxxxx Bitwig Studio 4.2 €399 12 months on, Bitwig have doubled down on the creative sequencing tools added in version 4. Si Truss takes another look CONTACT KEY FEATURES WHO: Bitwig WEB: bitwig.com Fully-equipped DAW with 130+ devices and modulators, plus Grid modular environments with 150+ modules.
PAGE 2
Bitwig Studio 4 | Long-term test THE PROS & CONS BITWIG VS ABLETON: THE LONG VIEW When Bitwig Studio was first launched, much was made of it shared history with Ableton Live. Despite developing in its own direction in recent years, the comparisons between the two are still unavoidable, in the overall design, workflow and several notable tools. However, this similarity is actually a large part of the appeal.