Bitwig GmbH announced the release of the next update Bitwig Studio 5.1. The update adds 10 new modules to the DAW, voice combining tools, as well as improvements to the mixer and audio signal analysis options.
The main innovation of Bitwig Studio 5.1 was 10 new modules – four filters and six waveformers. The developers note that the devices are distinguished by their “own unique timbre color.” Modules are available in the Filter+ and Sweep effects containers, as well as in The Grid environment, where they act as patches.
Filters and an additional oscillator are also available through the Polymer semi-modular synthesizer included in Bitwig Studio. The authors of the program also allocated voice addition modulators into a separate category of effects, which, according to the developers, will simplify access to these treatments.
The modules differ in their operating principles and the generated signal. The effects catalog has been replenished with the following treatments:
- Fizz is a flexible filter for creating phasing effects;
- Rasp – resonant filter for signal shaping in the upper middle region;
- Ripple – “extreme resonant circuit” filtering for creating acid signals;
- Vowels – morphing formant filter;
- Push – soft clipper;
- Heat – S-shaped clipper;
- Soar is a tool for changing the “soft details of an audio signal”;
- Howl – a shaper with the ability to focus on different aspects of the signal to produce sharper, punchier sounds;
- Shred – nonlinear waveformer;
- Diode is a classic shaper.
Filters and waveformers available in The Grid can be added anywhere, and users can convert them into FX Grid patches. It is noted that this approach makes the new modules more flexible.
Inside the Filter+ container you can now use 14 waveformers and 10 filters, applying them to any track, channel, bus and send. In turn, the Sweep container received a filter bank with a routing regulator. With it, a DAW can mix a signal from multiple patches.
Bitwig Studio 5.1 comes with new tools for adding and summing votes. For example, polyphonic devices and compatible plugins can sum their signal to form layers of sound consisting of 16 voices per note. Eight new Stack Spread modes have also been added to the program to visualize almost all parameters.
Changes have also been made to the standard mixer in the DAW. The developers have added the ability to completely customize the appearance of the mixer, including freely changing the position and scaling of elements. It is noted that in this way users will be able to customize the mixer for themselves, while the created layout can be saved as a preset for quickly recalling their own settings. The option will also allow you to change the appearance of the mixer depending on the tasks.
The developers claim that they have improved the audio analysis functions, making them more productive. In particular, users will now have additional sections for slicing and time-stretching audio files, and new quantization options. The program has also added a dual Bite oscillator, running inside The Grid and Polymer and offering a wide range of “analog controls and modulation options.” Improvements have also been made to the mechanism for transferring DAWproject projects , presented earlier along with the announcement of PreSonus Studio One 6.5 .
Bitwig Studio 5.1 is already available to all registered users of the program, as well as subscribers to the Upgrade Plan. You can view the full list of changes to the program on the official Bitwig website .
