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 such as Nektar's Impact LX range to pad controllers, expressive MPE controllers, and hybrid mixing consoles. 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. The special Roto-Control Bitwig Edition is available now.
New in Bitwig Studio 6
Bitwig now offers a deep integration with the Softube Console 1 Mk III, a modern mixing system that gives you a classic console-style interface and a library of premium effects. Our integration features Direct DAW Control, meaning you can control Bitwig’s Mixer with the Console 1 as soon as you load a project. The status of the Bitwig Mixer, including details such as the show/hide status of group tracks, is perfectly reflected on the console. And – in a first for any DAW – Bitwig lets you conveniently add Console 1 plug-ins to a track with a single button push, giving you speedy access to Softube’s world-class effects.
In the live realm, Bitwig is the first DAW offering extensive integration with the compact and powerful Allen & Heath Xone:K3. Switch between three modes while you perform – mixer, DJ EQ, and Device/Track/Project Remotes – and use the pad matrix to launch clips and scenes. You can even combine two K3 units for double the expressive potential.
For those with complex setups, the Neuzeit Instruments Drop can serve as a comprehensive control hub – now with seamless Bitwig integration. Use the pad matrix to control Bitwig’s Clip Launcher, schedule the launch of clips and scenes while you perform, and use snapshot recall to build the perfect drop.
Two further integrations offer intuitive control whatever your setup. Bitwig’s extension for the Novation Launch Control 3 gives you hands-on access to the Bitwig Mixer (in Mixer Mode) and 16 Remote Controls, plus transport controls for navigating your project. With the Akai MPK Mini IV, you can access your remote control pages (at the Device, Track, or Project level), and use the pads to trigger clips, control tracks, play drum sounds – and even play notes in key, thanks to integrated scale support.
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.
The SSL 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.
Bitwig supports the Launch Control XL 3, the latest generation of Novation’s beloved 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.
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.
The premium Arturia KeyLab mk3 MIDI keyboard supports a range of Bitwig workflows and performance styles. Aside from the aftertouch keyboard (with additional scale, chord, and arpeggiator modes), it 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:
Softube Console 1 Mk III
Allen & Heath Xone:K3
Neuzeit Instruments Drop
Novation Launch Control 3
Akai MPK Mini IV
Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series
Novation Launch Control XL 3
SSL UF8 and UF1
Arturia KeyLab mk3
Reloop Keypad Pro
Nektar Impact LX mk3
Tags:On Bitwig Studio
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