Controller Integration in Bitwig Studio
When the trackpad doesn’t cut it any more, an external controller might be the answer. The right controller heightens expression, speeds up workflow, and makes live performances more fluid. This isn’t just a question of knobs, pads, and faders: an effective controller needs to be integrated well with the software you use, so it works in a way that feels effortless.
At Bitwig, we develop numerous extensions in-house, ensuring that virtually all popular controllers are seamlessly integrated with Bitwig Studio. We also encourage the Bitwig community to develop their own controller integrations using our Open Controller Extension API.
In this article, we’ll look in-depth at controller integration in Bitwig Studio. We’ll explore which controllers are supported, place a spotlight on Bitwig community extensions, and explain how to set up your controller in Bitwig. We’ll also showcase notable recent controller integrations in Bitwig Studio, from live performance interfaces to pro mixing tools and beyond.
Which controllers are supported in Bitwig Studio?
Bitwig collaborates with manufacturers to create integrations for controllers of all kinds. Supported controllers are plug-and-play: Bitwig Studio will detect them as soon as you connect them, and the various knobs, faders, and pads will be configured to work intuitively with the software.
Almost every widely used controller is supported in Bitwig, from versatile MIDI keyboards and pad controllers to expressive MPE controllers, hybrid mixing consoles, and exotic devices with unique functions. You can read the full list of supported controllers here.
One such controller is the Melbourne Instruments Roto-Control, whose unique motorized knobs adapt to the parameters you adjust in Bitwig, giving you haptic feedback that emulates different knob positions, ranges, and types.
The Roto-Control integration is an example of Bitwig’s close collaboration with controller manufacturers, which often involves making changes to the controller firmware to create the best possible experience for Bitwig users.
SSL UF8 and UF1
The UF8 and UF1 give you a console-style mixing workflow inside your DAW. Deep Bitwig integration makes them great for intuitive and refined control over volume, sends, plug-in parameters, and even clip launching. Combined with Solid State Logic's plug-in based mixing system, these controllers create a whole virtual mixer for your project.
Novation Launch Control XL 3
Bitwig supports the latest generation of Novation’s beloved LaunchControl series right out of the box. This versatile controller – now with a crisp OLED display – is ideal for live performance or as a studio centerpiece. With eight precision faders and dozens of buttons and rotary encoders, it’s designed to handle your entire workflow in one surface.
The Open Controller API and the Bitwig Community
If your controller doesn’t have an official Bitwig integration, don’t worry! There might be an extension for it created by the Bitwig community.
Unusually among DAWs, Bitwig encourages anyone to develop a controller extension for Bitwig Studio. This is made possible by our Open Controller Extension API, which is part of our commitment to creating and supporting free, open standards for music-making, like CLAP (the open-source plug-in standard we developed with u-he) and DAWproject (the open file format developed in collaboration with Presonus).
Bitwig users have developed many handy extensions, most of which can be found on GitHub. The most prolific creator of community extensions is Moss, whose DrivenByMoss collection features useful and interesting integrations for Ableton Push, OSC (to control Bitwig from a mobile device, for example), and many more controllers.
If you have some coding skills and want to develop your own extension, all our frameworks are available in our GitHub Repository. You can adapt any official Bitwig extension to suit your needs – they’re all open source.
If you're looking for inspiration, check out the controller extensions Richie Hawtin developed to give his Bitwig-based setup a 90’s-style workflow. You can read the whole story and download Richie Hawtin’s custom scripts here.
By the way: extensions aren’t just for controllers! Bitwig also offers integration with the visual programming environment TouchDesigner, for creating synchronized audiovisual art. And community members have developed extensions that expand Bitwig’s functionalities in other ways, such as creator Polarity’s extension for generating melodic sequences in the Bitwig piano roll.
Native Instruments Kontrol S‑Series
Bitwig now offers massively improved integration with Native Instruments’ Kontrol S-Series Keyboards, meaning you can browse and adjust your project right from the keyboard. You’ll now see parameter names and values on the keyboard’s hi-res screen, and can navigate between devices and adjust parameters with the eight rotary encoders.
Arturia KeyLab mk3
Arturia’s premium MIDI keyboard supports a range of Bitwig workflows and performance styles. Aside from the aftertouch keyboard (with additional scale, chord, and arpeggiator modes), the KeyLab offers transport controls, pressure-sensitive pads, and touch-sensitive knobs and faders – and it all works seamlessly with Bitwig Studio.
How to use a controller with Bitwig Studio
Learn the steps for setting up your controller in Bitwig Studio in this video walkthrough.
If your controller is officially supported, it will work with Bitwig Studio as soon as you plug it in. To use a community-made controller extension, you’ll need to download the extension – most can be found on GitHub – and manually add it to Bitwig.
This can be done via the Settings tab in the Bitwig Dashboard. Here you can also adjust the settings for all added controllers, and add Generic extensions for use with unsupported controllers.
Want to customize your workflow? You can map any parameter in Bitwig Studio to a knob, fader, pad, or key on your hardware controller. To do this, simply right-click the parameter, choose "Map to Controller or Key," then move the knob or fader. Or, for a Bitwig twist: use our Generic Controller extension and map your controller to Bitwig’s remote controls, in order to get dynamic control over whichever device you currently have selected.
Watch Polarity review the Reloop Keypad Pro, another controller with excellent Bitwig integration.
Explore all the controllers mentioned in this article:
Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series
Novation Launch Control XL 3
SSL UF8 and UF1
Arturia KeyLab mk3
Reloop Keypad Pro
Tags:On Bitwig Studio
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