What’s New in Bitwig Studio 3.1 [released 18 Dec 2019] EXPANDED PITCH FEATURES
New device: Micro-pitch, a note effect allowing micro- and macro-tuning of each note type, octave interval, and Scala (SCL) file import (for scales of seven or 12 notes) [tutorial video here] New modulator: Pitch-12, providing a modulator source for each pitch class (C, D, etc.) when played
New Grid module: Transpose (Pitch category), for creating chords with or without signal input (with Stereo-ness options)
New Grid module: Pitch → Ø (Phase category), wraps pitch signal’s octave as phase signal
30+ tuning presets included, of various origins:
Theory-based tunings, using the overtone (Otonal) and undertone (Utonal) series, Quarter-tone ET, and even A4 = 432 Hz
Historic temperaments, including scales from Pythagoras, Werckmeister, Broadwood, Euler, and more
Cultural tunings, including a number of traditional Chinese instruments (such as Ti-tsu 7 (flute), Yang-chin 7 (dulcimer), and Yün-lo 7 (gong-chime)), as well as the Javanese Chromatic 7, which is the source for various modes (like pelog, dangsoe, bem, barang, etc.)
Artist-made tunings, either as concepts (Ives’s Stretched Major, Wendy Carlos Optimized, and Johnston that blends the overtone and undertone series) and scales used for particular works (Partch from Harry Partch’s “Two Studies on Ancient Greek Scales”, and Blues – Harmonic, used in Ben Johnston’s “Suite for Microtonal Piano”, Wendy Carlos’s “Beauty in the Beast”, etc.)
Original performance-minded tunings, which reshape the keyboard and coax new and unexpected outcomes from even experienced players (such as Beating Lydian, Phrygische Mütze, and Constant Portamento, which glides every note from a defined root)
All of these presets are tagged with scale and tuning
For frequency parameters (like filter frequency or EQ band), the window footer now shows frequency + pitch
NEW FEATURES
Quick Draw action: holding [ALT] with the Pen tool will draw multiple notes at the current beat grid interval
Quick Draw action: drawing defaults to a single pitch for each note (think hi-hats), but adding [SHIFT] allows various pitches to be drawn (like a step sequencer)
Quick Slice action: holding [ALT] with the Knife tool will cut any clip/event at the beat grid interval, for as far as you drag the mouse
Quick Slice action: slicing snaps its initial cut position to the beat grid, but adding [SHIFT] allows an off-grid starting position
Slice In Place function: will slice any selected clip(s)/event(s) at the detected audio Onsets, the set Beat Markers, or at a set beat grid interval
Interactive Help is now available for all 93 devices, 33 modulators, and 160 Grid modules
Cue / Preview Cue Level control now exists in the Studio I/O Panel (and can be mapped via context menu)
Cue / Preview Cue Mix control now exists in the Studio I/O Panel (and can be mapped via context menu), setting the balance between the cue and master outputs
Note Chase option: when enabled (Dashboard > Behavior > Resume Playback), starting the transport in the middle of a note will sound the note (if the note duration is longer than an eighth note)
Sampler (device and Grid module) now imports wavetables WAVs that use the “clm” metadata chunk, as used by Serum and others
Audio paths can now be added from any audio I/O chooser (Add Buss… option)
MIDI controllers can now be added from any MIDI I/O chooser (Add Controller… option)
New Grid module: Pluck (Envelope category), an envelope generator modeled after a plucked string, with a built-in amplifier for easy connection
New Grid module: Slope ↗︎ (Envelope category), a slope shaper for rising signals
New Grid module: Slope ↘ (Envelope category), a slope shaper for falling signals
New Grid module: Follower (Envelope category), a symmetric envelope follower with configurable math
New controller scripts: for the Novation Launchpad Pro, Arturia KeyLab MkII 49/61, Arturia KeyLab Essential 49/61, PreSonus Atom, and PreSonus FaderPort 8/16
Controller API: All Bitwig-made controller scripts are now available as examples or for modification on GitHub
Controller API: Added Arpeggiator/Note-repeat functionality to NoteInput class
Controller API: New high-level API for defining low-latency hardware controls and simplified script development
English manual is now updated with all version 3.1 information
IMPROVEMENTS
macOS: Now uses Apple’s Metal framework (if available)
macOS: Graphics performance is now improved overall
In Clip Launcher: + button now appears when hovering over empty clip slots, for inserting clips from the Pop-up Browser
Improved tempo detection when bringing audio into a project
Audio fade handles are easier to grab on shorter fades, especially when zoomed out
Window footer shows both the set parameter value and the currently modulated value (when a modulator is mapped)
Fewer plug-in version conflict dialogs
All oscilloscope widgets (Polysynth, Phase-4, Oscilloscope device & module, etc.) now draw smoother, with less flickering
The Grid: Improved CPU performance of Grid devices with the Grid editor open
Poly Grid device: Will now sleep when unused — unless in True Mono mode
Poly Grid & FX Grid devices: Device Phase now follows time signature when set in bars
Poly Grid & FX Grid devices: Device Phase setting now defaults to one bar (which follows project time signature)
Poly Grid & FX Grid devices: Phase Offset now works when using bars
Steps, LFO, Random, ParSeq-8 & Sample and Hold modulators: now use modern timebase options, correctly uses the beat unit multiplier, and properly follow time signature changes when set to bar units
LFO & S/H LFO Grid modules: properly follow time signature changes when set in bar units
EQ-DJ device: visualized crossover frequencies are now interactive
Ladder device: frequency modulation amounts are all set in semitones now
FM-4 device: Can now drag ratios by whole numbers (read: harmonics)
Dynamics device: Input Meter now reflects input gain and Sidechain FX
Oscilloscope device: Trace B channel can now be selected
Voice Stack modulator: Individual voice modulators are now available in the detail panel
Multi-Note device: All pitch and velocity offsets now have default values of zero (on double-click)
MIDI Program Change device: Allows bank select LSB only when also using MSB
Rotary device: volume modulation now shown in percent
E-Cowbell device: Shape parameter is now in percent, as in Polysynth
Assorted devices: improved parameter names and improved interfaces, like dynamically dimming parameters that aren’t currently functional, etc.
Audio MOD, LFO MOD, Note MOD & Step MOD legacy devices: Documentation suggests related, supported modulators to try
APC40 MKII controller script: using the Shift + Record/Session buttons toggles arranger recording and automation recording
German manual is now updated with all version 3.0 information
FIXES
Sustain pedal messages (CC64) were not returning to 0 when stopping the transport
Grid Envelope modules: visualizations were broken when curvature was set to 0 %
Deselecting a clip did not work when selection cursor pointed to unselected clip
When using the scroll wheel while performing a rectangular selection in audio expression editor (pitch or formant), the selection rectangle moved instead of growing in size
VST Multiout chains were getting muted when adding VSTs to chains based on order
Playing project with Elastique Pro samples could freeze the audio engine
If an output port was configured in both a mono and stereo buss, it would sometimes not sound
Previously crashed when undoing Launcher clip insertion with a controller connected in some situations
Note audition was sounding wrong notes when moving them with arrow keys in drum editor mode
Touch interface: Notes inserted by touch interaction are always auditioned, regardless of the audition setting
Touch interface: Previously crashed when adjusting various parameters (e.g., clip loop length)
Controllers that required no physical input or output (MIDI or USB) were not auto started
Clips of various hidden tracks were still accessible via keyboard navigation
Fixed random crashes when adjusting modulation amounts, etc.
Crash when setting note channel of all notes in some clips
Long, straight-line automation recording sometimes went wrong if adjusted in minute detail after a very long time. Rarely.
Some plug-ins were getting the wrong value for modulated parameters after loading or connecting the engine
Note Counter modulator: Current step readout is displaying correctly again
Oscilloscope device: Downward slope option now works
AHDSR modulator: All graph points are now drawn correctly
Diatonic Transposer device: some scales were buggy
HW Clock Out device: some parameters were improperly disabled when not in Clock mode
MIDI Song Select device: Song select messages above 32 are now possible
MIDI Song Select device: No longer sends malformed MIDI byte after song select message
Mac: while dragging a clip, the tab key did not work to switch between Arrange and Mix views
macOS: Sometimes would crash when typing into the tag field on preset save
macOS: No longer scans 32-bit plug-ins on macOS 10.15 and later