Any projects or demos you'd like to share or talk about? Exploring any new sound design or composition techniques?

[released 11 July 2024]

#Improvements

Now when importing audio, holding the [CTRL] key will Insert Audio as Raw

Various improvements to audio import behavior:

Better tempo estimation for audio loops based on loose numbers in filenames

Can now read tempo/beat-length information from ACID chunks of WAV files

Can now read tempo/beat-length information embedded by Logic Pro into WAV files

New combination Zoom In Vertically and Zoom Out Vertically functions are now available:

These work both in the Arranger Timeline Panel (for tracks/automation lanes) and the Detail Editor Panel (for notes in the piano-style view, or when using layered editing)

Default shortcuts are [SHIFT]+[CTRL]+[+] ([SHIFT]+[CMD]+[+] on Mac) to zoom in, and [SHIFT]+[CTRL]+[-] ([SHIFT]+[CMD]+[-] on Mac) to zoom out

Zoom In and Zoom Out functions have been renamed Zoom In Horizontally and Zoom Out Horizontally:

To cover all horizontal cases, these functions also work to change track widths in the Mixer Panel

Default shortcuts are the same as before: [CTRL]+[+] ([CMD]+[+] on Mac) to zoom in, and [CTRL]+[-] ([CMD]+[-] on Mac) to zoom out

Menu functions are now grouped into the following submenus:

Content Scaling submenu - contains Scale…, Scale 50%, Scale 200%, Scale 50%…, and Scale 200%… (when available)

Quantize submenu - contains Quantize, Quantize…, Quantize Audio, and Quantize Audio… (when available)

Transpose submenu - contains Transpose a Semitone Up, Transpose a Semitone Down, Transpose an Octave Up, and Transpose an Octave Down (when available)

Slice / Fold submenu - contains Slice In Place…, Slice to Drum Machine…, Slice to Sampler…, and Fold to Takes… (when available)

Tempo submenu - contains Detect Event Tempo…, Set Event Tempo…, Apply Tempo Curve to Arranger, and Set Project Tempo (when available)

Device Defaults submenu - contains Load Default Preset and Save as Default Preset, when a device is selected

These submenus are used both in normal window menus and in context menu (on right-click of objects)

Waveforms are now displayed with higher precision [36283]

Generic controller now supports polyphonic aftertouch [36336]

VST3: Implemented the IPlugInterfaceSupport interface

#Fixes

Fixed crash with Set event to current project tempo function [36115]

Fixed a bug where there was a difference in beginning of the waveform, when bouncing with record-arm active (a regression) [36280]

Smaller Beat Grid Subdivision action now works in all the proper places, including the Arranger Timeline Panel [36402]

Showing the File Browser in the Browser Panel no longer causes the program to hang [36372]

Nudging selected items move thru the timeline more elegantly, keeping them onscreen in a better way [36354]

Audio System No Longer Available notification now disappears after selecting a valid device (a regression) [32396]

Tool (Utility) device: No longer creates a short audio burst (under certain circumstances) when being grouped [36117]

HW CV Instrument (Hardware) device: Fixed a delay compensation error (a regression) [36394]

Peak Limiter (Dynamics) device: Fixed a graphic glitch in the VU meter when adjusting Ceiling [36340]

Instrument Selector, FX Selector, and Note FX Selector (Container) devices: No longer afflict the interface, etc., when chains are renamed with obscenely long names containingnospaces

Fixed a crash when touching outside of a device's Interactive Help [34702]

Particular preset(s) no longer causes the audio engine to hang [36342]

Gray automation circles no longer remain in the Transport section after deleting tempo or time signature automation [36346]

Fixed a crash when closing a project [35733]

Fixed a crash when undoing grouping of a track, when certain controller scripts were running [36404]

Windows: Fix loading DLLs from non-standard locations when installed using MSIX (affected JACK, Acustica Audio plug-ins etc..)[36391]

Windows: Fixed DLLs from within an MSIX installer

macOS: Bitwig Studio sends MIDI timecode again when hidden (a regression) [36357]

macOS: Fixed random crashes [36325]

Plug-ins: Better handling when invalid parameter value changes are reported [36393]

Controller scripts for MCU, Faderport: Controller-focused tracks now follow selected tracks more correctly [35818]

From the creator the brilliant DrivenByMoss scripts for Bitwig and Reaper.

Changelog

New Features

• Bitwig Studio v5.1 User Guide is now available in ¡Spanish! [PDF] 
• Bitwig Studio v5.1 User Guide is now available in Korean~^^ [PDF] 

Improvements

• Automatic handling of audio stem import: 
  • When multiple audio files are dragged into a project at once, files with identical lengths are grouped
  • Beat analysis will happen for those files together, giving all grouped files the identical Beat Markers (for stretching) and lengths
  • If non-matching files are dragging in as well, they will be analyzed individually
  • If analysis should be (re)done for any file individual, select those file(s) and use either Detect Event Tempo… (with parameter options) or Detect Event Tempo (which uses the default parameters)
• Improved default stretch mode preferences (Dashboard > Settings > Behavior):
  • The Defaults section now includes:
    • Default Stretch Mode (replacing the previous Long and Short samples and file options)
    • Record / bounce stretch mode (was previously On record / bounce)
  • Files still import based on the Audio Preview/Import Mode setting, to either:
    • Play at Original Speed, or
    • Stretch to Project Tempo
  • Now when importing audio, holding the [ALT] key inverts the import mode
• Various editing/selection improvements:
  • Added mappable function for Play from Left Edge of Current Editor
• Compressor+ (Dynamics) device: Improved the device's reset behavior
• Windows: Installer is now provided as an MSIX file 
  • Installer distinguishes between 'beta' and 'release' versions, allowing one of each to be installed 
• macOS 14: Now support display refresh rates up to 144 Hz, and when multiple monitors are in use, each will use their own refresh rate
  • Earlier macOS versions max out at 60 Hz
• VST3 plug-ins: Now includes note name support
• Controller scripts for SSL UF1, iCON V1-M and iCON P1-M: Beat Display is now easier to read

#Fixes

• Sculpt and Focus (EQ) devices: Fixed clicks when switching Color mode
• Touchscreen: Scrollbars now get less sticky [34872]
• Fixed crashes related to Time Selection editing of start and end objects [36193, 35763]
• Plug-in undo: Some plug-ins were writing an undo step upon opening project [36216]
• It is now possible to deselect tracks after making a "global" time selection in the Arranger ruler (a regression) [36140]
• Fixed Audio Quantize function, where Amount in the dialog now has the proper effect [36207]
• Slice to Drum Machine dialog is now big enough to show all controls, all the time [36275]
• When adjusting parameters from a controller, sometimes the value would not always be correctly adjusted [36219]
• Particular WAV files are no longer garbled and distorted after import [36271]
• Library index directory can no longer grow to an enormous size (if there are symbolic links that include the index storage location) [36153]
• Plug-ins that reported an empty vendor now work when Plug-in Hosting Mode is by Vendor [36262]
• Fixed an audio engine crash in some cases when a sandboxed plug-in crashed [35609]
• Various graphics fixes:
  • Windows: General frame rate & latency improvements 
  • White cursor line in Arranger no longer destroys clip names when mousing around [36264]
  • Group track headers (in both the Arranger Timeline Panel and the Mixer Panel) are less accidentally rounded
  • Browser Panel no longer loses the play (preview) button when long sample paths are shown [36062]
  • The About page (Dashboard > Help) shows the current graphics backend now
  • Windows: Fixed a crash when resizing windows on some backends [35690]
  • Windows: Fixed slow frame rate and missing graphics on some backends [36220]
  • Windows: Hardware that only supports feature-level 11_0 & 11_1 now uses Direct3D 12. Affected GPUS include:
    • NVIDIA: GTX 400-700 series
    • AMD: HD 7000, 8000, R7 200
    • Intel: HD/Iris Graphics 4000-6200
  • Windows & Linux: The OpenGL fallback for even older GPUs is now more performant
  • macOS: Maximizing a window now fills the entire screen, even with the system preference to Always Hide Menu Bar Automatically [35776]
  • Windows: A better fix for a previous fix [36119]
• Fixed text appearance in Stretch Mode chooser for Japanese localization [32047] 
• Certain ALS file can now be imported [36139]
• Windows: Fixed a crash when the MIDI output buffer was full [34198]
• Controller script for SSL UF1: Track number is now shown correctly on the two-digit display

I still think Rent-to-Own via Splice is a better deal for new users (two years upgrade with no additional cost/interest) but if you already have a copy this is a good way to renew your upgrade license.

For those who don't know, unlike Reason for example, which has a subscription model where access is lost upon cancelling, Bitwig offers one year of all upgrades after purchase but you never lose access to the software and upgrades licenses can be purchased whenever a new update tempts you. If you feel like the current version you have is enough there's no need for additional payment. People would even buy it on sale and wait to activate however I cannot confirm this is still possible.

In a world of ever numerous subscriptions I appreciate the more fair approach to long-term monetization.

Also, despite my bitwig love as far as I know FL Studio still offers updates indefinitely after a one time purchase, which I have to respect, but innovation is worth regularly investing in my eyes.

Let's pretend I haven't looked into Linux at all in over a decade (because I haven't), What Linux distro would you recommend to get my feet wet in Linux again? With current hardware I have limited storage space and I need to keep Windows (at least for now). My intent is to partition and get acclimated to audio work in Linux. My DAW is Linux compatible but I'm looking for something where I won't have to get too into the weeds of things to get my hardware such as midi controllers and my audio interface to work.

Is there a distro with an audio work focus or am I overthinking it? Should I just see how much space I need to free up to partition for Ubuntu and dive in? The reason I ask is the laptop I'm on is pretty full so if there's a smaller distro with a relatively painless path to audio then I'd be interested.

Thanks in advance. This is a momentary curiosity in my mind as I get ready for the new year and I wanted to capture it now.

What software/hardware did you begin with? What were your biggest hurdles? Was there a moment when it suddenly "clicked" for you?

For all your preset and clip sharing needs the unofficial source is Bitwiggers (yes it's still called that).

I've found some neat things there and with Bitwig's approach to modulation the possibilities really are endless.

Have any of you browsing local or all tried Bitwig Studio? Or any good experiences with modular systems in general? I'd love to hear it.