Modulators

Each modulator is a special-purpose module that can be added to any Bitwig device or plug-in. The modules output is then assigned to control various parameters of the device.

As in Bitwig Studio, the modulators are categorized below by the type of function they perform. For more information on using modulators, see Modulator Devices.

Audio-driven Category

Devices that convert audio into a modulator signal

Audio Rate

An instantaneous (read: non-averaged) sidechain control, routable from any audio signal within the current project. Gain control, an optional low-pass filter with adjustable cutoff frequency, and a Rectify switch (to convert the incoming signal to all positive values) are all available.

Audio Sidechain

An averaged sidechain control, routable from any audio signal within the current project. Analysis of the incoming signal uses adjustable gain, switchable averaging modes, high- and low-pass filters, and Attack and Release times.

Envelope Follower

A sidechain control that uses the device's incoming audio signal. Analysis of the incoming signal provides adjustable gain, switchable averaging modes, and Attack and Release times.

HW CV In

A sidechain control for control voltage devices that are connected to your audio interface's inputs. Parameters include Gain, Smooth(ing), and a toggle between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) modes.

Envelope Category

Periodic generators triggered by note ons or offs.

ADSR

A standard envelope generator with attack, decay, sustain, and release segments. There is also a Single Trigger option, and an option to Pre-delay the envelope start in musical or real time.

AHD on Release

An attack–hold–decay envelope generator triggered by note off messages, with Single Trigger option. The timed segments also have individual curve controls.

AHDSR

A standard envelope generator with attack, hold, decay, sustain, and release segments. The timed segments also have individual curve controls. There is also a Single Trigger option, and an option to Pre-delay the envelope start in musical or real time.

Note Sidechain

A standard envelope generator with attack, decay, sustain, and release segments. The gate message driving the envelope generator is routable from any note message source within the current project. There is also an option to Pre-delay the envelope start, in musical or real time.

Ramp

A simple ramp generator with switchable direction, curve, and optional looping.

Segments

A freely drawable, segmented envelope generator, with BWCURVE file support, making use of the Curve Editor (see The Curve Editor & Pop-out Editors)

  • With all familiar envelope modulator controls

  • Four Play Mode options are available:

    • One-shot (⇀) - Plays thru the entire shape (while the voice is alive) at note on

    • Hold (䷿) - Uses any one of the curve's points as the hold/sustain level, which is also the release start

    • Looping (⥤) - Uses any two of the curve's points, and loops forwards between them on sustain; the loop end point is also the release start

    • Ping Pong (⇌) - Uses any two of the curve's points, and loops forwards and backwards between them on sustain; the loop end point is also the release start

    • The hold point or loop region & start/end points are shown in blue

    • You can either drag one of these points to another point, or right-click on any point and choose the appropriate option — either Set Hold Point (when in Hold mode), or Set Loop Start / Set Loop End (when in Looping or Ping Pong modes)

  • A set Rate (from 0.2 to 50) with regard to the set Timebase (either Minutes, Seconds, Milliseconds, Bars or other beat-time units, Pitch (of current note), or Hold)

    • Both the Rate and Timebase can be modulated for each note, for example by Velocity (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source

    • This RateTimebase pair defines the primary interval of the whole envelope, which defaults to a setting of 1 bar, and with a shape that ends after one iteration

    • The Curve Editor is scrollable and shows a time ruler in the primary interval (1, 2… n), with the set number of grid units displaying within each primary interval

    • Clicking and dragging in the ruler area allows for zooming and scrolling, just as with the Arranger

    • Points can be added or dragged to extend the length of the envelope, so taking the default settings and adding a point at the 4 line would extend the shape to be 4 bars long

  • Option to Enabling Smoothing, with Smoothing Time set in milliseconds/seconds

    • Both settings can be automated and modulated, for controlling the sharpness vs. smoothness of each voice, for example by Poly Pressure (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source

    • On the Polymer module version of Segments, both parameters are available in a context menu when right-clicking on the module's background

  • A Bipolar toggle (±) maintains the curve's shape but rescales it, so that the minimum value is -1 and the middle value is now 0 (zero)

  • A Single Trigger option to keep the envelope from retriggering when overlapping notes are received

  • An Amount parameter controlling output scaling of each voice

Interface Category

Providing panel elements for better/unique control, or access to Transport-level interface items.

Button

A binary toggle control. Selecting the modulator and viewing the Inspector Panel shows an optional smoothing parameter.

Buttons

Two independent binary toggle controls. Selecting the modulator and viewing the Inspector Panel shows an optional smoothing parameter that applies to both buttons.

Globals

Provides modulator signals for three project-wide controls:

  • Fill - A modulator signal reflecting the current Fill mode state (see Transport Section)

  • A◆B - A bipolar modulator signal reflecting the current Global Crossfader value (see Crossfader Section)

  • Play - A modulator signal reflecting whether the transport is currently playing (1) or not (0)

The Fill and A◆B sources can be used as global control sources, routing hardware controllers or automation (from Master > Transport) to any and all tracks.

Macro

One continuous knob control.

Macro-4

Four independent, continuous knob controls.

Select-4

Four control sources derived from one continuous fader control. The single fader is essentially a crossfader whose position determines which one or two control sources will receive a modulation value.

Vector-4

Four control sources derived from one continuous XY control. The single fader is essentially a crossfader whose X and Y positions determine the modulation values received by each control source.

Vector-8

Eight control sources derived from one continuous XY control. The single fader is essentially a crossfader whose X and Y positions determine the modulation values received by each control source.

XY

Two control sources derived from one continuous XY control. The single fader is essentially a joystick whose X and Y positions are used as the control sources' values.

LFO Category

For regularly repeating patterns or noise.

Beat LFO

A tempo-synced (including the option to follow global shuffle) low-frequency oscillator, with shape, phase, and polarity controls.

Classic LFO

A tempo-synced low-frequency oscillator, typically used in Bitwig Studio version 1 devices. Provides a Note Trigger option and a Per-Voice toggle (when applicable).

Curves

A freely drawable, segmented LFO, with BWCURVE file support, making use of the Curve Editor (see The Curve Editor & Pop-out Editors)

  • With all familiar LFO modulator controls

  • A set Rate (from 0.2 to 50) with regard to the set Timebase (either Hertz, Kilohertz, Bars or other beat-time units, Pitch (of current note), or Hold)

    • Both the Rate and Timebase can be modulated for each note, for example by Velocity (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source

    • This RateTimebase pair defines the speed of the oscillator, which defaults to a setting of 1 Hz

  • Phase parameter allows for full control of the envelope's position, small variations, or anything in between

  • Option to Enabling Smoothing, with Smoothing Time set in milliseconds/seconds

    • Both settings can be automated and modulated, for controlling the sharpness vs. smoothness of each voice, for example by Poly Pressure (from the Expressions modulator), or any other source

  • A Bipolar toggle (±) maintains the curve's shape but rescales it, so that the minimum value is -1 and the middle value is now 0 (zero)

  • Five Trigger Mode options, similar to other LFOs:

    • Free - All voices play freely and never reset

    • Note - Each voice resets to the current Phase when it receives a note

    • Sync - Follows the relative phase (Phase + Global transport position) while transport is playing

    • Grv (Groove) - Follows the groove-relative phase (Phase + Global transport position, including groove) while transport is playing

    • Rnd (Random) - Each voice goes to a random position when it receives a note

  • An Amount parameter controlling output scaling of each voice

LFO

A fully functional low-frequency oscillator, with shape, phase, and polarity controls. It can also be tempo synced, set to fade in, given various reset modes, and be toggled to a polyphonic mode.

Random

A tempo-synced random low-frequency oscillator. Output can be discrete or slewed, be unipolar or bipolar, be retriggered by Note or Sync messages, and be monophonic or polyphonic (when applicable).

Vibrato

A musical LFO whose amount can be normalled to Modwheel or polyphonic Pressure (which will use channel aftertouch if poly pressure isn't present).

Wavetable LFO

A morphable LFO, with Bitwig WT file support

Modifier Category

Processor modulators.

Math

One control source derived from two continuous knob controls. The output signal is a mathematical relation of the two signals, which is derived either by MUL(tiplying), ADD(ing), or SUB(tracting) the two signals, or simply taking the MIN(imum) or MAX(imum) of the two values.

Mix

One control source derived from two continuous fader controls. The output signal is determined by the current crossfade position between the two fader values.

Polynom

A transfer function for reshaping an incoming modulation signal with a basic polynomial equation. The way to pass a signal into the module for processing is by modulating the x= parameter with any other modulator(s).

Each of the four additional parameters represent a term of the cubic function used. x 0 represents the offset applied to the function. x 1 represents the function's slope (or rotation). x 2 represents the parabolic curve applied to the function, and x 3 represents a cubic curve (like an S-curve). The graphical interface helpfully visualizes the transfer function being used, and the processor will clip the output signal to stay within range.

Quantize

A processor for reducing the resolution of an incoming modulation signal, often used to transform a fairly continuous signal into one that is more discrete. The way to pass a signal into the module for processing is by modulating the Input parameter with any other modulator(s).

The Quantize factor sets the resolution of the output signal. A low setting restricts the output to be more like a pulse signal, and a high setting preserves the more continuous elements of the original signal. Additionally, four shape options (Linear, Log, Exp, and Sinh) adjust the spacing of the resolution grid used by the device.

Sample and Hold

A processor that sustains (or holds) an incoming signal's value at the moment of each clock event. The way to pass a signal into the module for processing is by modulating the Input parameter with any other modulator(s). The Smooth parameter represents the transition time between successive samples.

The sampling clock can be set to various metronomic values (such as 4th for quarter notes, 1/8. for dotted eighth notes, bar for one measure at the project's current tempo, etc.), to free time values (either hertz [Hz] or kilohertz [kHz]), to the Pitch of the latest received note message, or to Hold, which keeps the output signal from changing. This base clock rate can then be scaled by the adjacent modulation knob, which at center is 1.00 (100% or no change), at far left is 0.02 (2%), and at far right is 50.00 (5,000% or 50x).

At bottom, this device offers three modes of operation. Free allows the sampling clock to run independently, Gate restarts the clock whenever a new note message is received, and Sync restarts the clock whenever the transport is started.

Note-driven Category

Devices triggered by notes or MIDI.

Channel-16

Sixteen control sources, one for each MIDI channel received. With global Amount and Lag controls, and an option to Release with Note Offs or not (for per-voice uses).

Expressions

A module to extract incoming VEL(ocity), REL(ease velocity), TIMB(re), and PRES(sure) messages. Right-clicking the modulator's title or selecting the modulator itself and viewing the Inspector Panel shows parameters for enabling smoothing on all expressions and making the timbre expression relative at the time of each new note. All expressions are polyphonic when applicable.

Keytrack+

Uses an embedded Curve Editor for drawing, saving, or loading keytracking curves (see The Curve Editor & Pop-out Editors)

MIDI

A module to extract either continuous controller (CC), PRESSURE, or pitch BEND messages arriving at the device's input.

Note Counter

A module whose modulation output is incremented with each new note message received. The number of Steps counted and the value Increment-ed at each step can be set, as well as the OUTPUT SCALING method to be used for the modulation signal.

Pitch-12

Twelve control sources, one for each pitch class (C, D, E, etc.) received. With global Amount and Lag controls.

Relative Keytracking

Note pitch modulator, with Root note and Spread options.

Sequence Category

Providing step-/segment-based modulations.

4-Stage

A looping four-stage envelope generator, with definable times (optionally tempo-synced) and levels (optionally bipolar).

ParSeq-8

A special parameter sequencer, with the same global parameters as Steps (see Steps). Each step is its own modulation source so assigned parameters are modulated and then reset when advancing to the next step.

Each step starts with its step number, which can also be clicked to temporarily disable that step's modulations from taking effect. Next is a button with a musical fermata icon, which holds any previous modulations when this step begins (instead of resetting them to zero). Finally each step has a bipolar fader for scaling the depth of all modulations on that step.

Steps

A tempo-syncable, bipolar step sequencer. Parameters include step count, direction (forward, backward, and/or ping-pong mode that switches direction on each loop), polarity, and phase (ø) for manual control of the play position. Trigger modes determine when the step sequencer advances:

  • Transport - Links to the global transport for play–stop status, tempo, and beat position

  • with Groove - Links to the global transport for play–stop status, tempo, and beat position with groove

  • Free running - Plays at the set rate, independent of the transport and incoming notes

  • Note / Restart - Plays at the set rate, with new notes restarting the pattern

  • Note / Random - Plays at the set rate, with new notes randomizing the position

  • Note / Advance - Holds the playhead in place, advancing only on incoming new note

Right-clicking on the pattern interface also provides options to copy and paste the pattern, as well as to Generate a preset pattern to replace the current one, or to Transform the current pattern .

Voice Stacking Category

Devices that work differently on each of the individual voices within an active voice stack. Proper function of these modules requires Voice Stacking to be active on the parent device (see Voice Stacking).

Stack Spread

Offers 12 spread modes, for varying all voices in a stack with one modulation mapping to any parameter(s). All modes visualize the relative effect on each voice in the Inspector Panel.

The first four modes offer simple splits, most of which are evenly distributed:

  • 0 to 1 spreads voices in a unipolar fashion, from 0% of the set modulation level to 100%.

  • -1 to 1 spreads voices in a bipolar fashion, from -100% of the set modulation level to 100% (just as the built-in Voice Stack Spread ± modulator works).

  • Value spreads voices from 0% in successive increments of 100% for each additional voice, making it easier to set amounts in some cases and to work with enumerated list parameters.

  • Manual allows you to manually create the distribution of values across voices with faders in the Inspector Panel (which can even be automated/modulated themselves).

The middle four modes offer various defined distributions, all starting with maximum modulation on voice 1, and then reflecting to smaller and smaller values:

  • Flipped provides simple reciprocals [1, 1/2, 1/3, ... 1/n].

  • Straight gives harmonic relationships [1, 1/2, 1/4, ... 1/2n], whether for pitch or rhythms.

  • Primes is the series of prime numbers, inverted [1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, 1/11...].

  • Golden provides the Fibonacci sequence [1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/5, 1/8, 1/13...].

[Note]Note

If you want to reorient any of these distributions, consider using the modulation transfer functions (see The Modulation Sources Tab, Modulation Transfer Functions, and Modulation Scaling). For example, the Toward Zero mode would flip any of the distribution modes, giving the last voice a maximum modulation and the earlier voices getting smaller and smaller.

The bottom four modes offer unique kinds of randomization, relating all the voices in any particular stack to each other. In this way, you'll either get centered values that tend to peak on few voices each time (with the first and third modes), or you'll get more pronounced values that extend to the minimum and maximum each time (with the second and fourth modes):

  • Rand+ creates a unipolar random value for each voice (at note on), with all values adding up to 1.

  • Rand+ ↕ offers a scaled, stronger version of Rand+, tending towards more large values.

  • Rand± creates a bipolar random value for each voice (at note on), with all values adding up to 0 (zero).

  • Rand+ ↕ offers a scaled, stronger version of Rand±, tending towards more large values.

Voice Control

Offers individual control of each voice with an active voice stack, with individual modulators for Stack Voice 1 thru Stack Voice 16 directly in the modulator square.

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