Bitwig Studio 2: 8-Track vs the full version
As generous as Bitwig Studio 2 8-Track is, as you’d expect, there are a few limitations compared to the full Studio version. There’s the track count, of course, whereas the full version places no limitation on that – if your CPU can handle it. Further to the eight audio/MIDI tracks, Bitwig Studio 2 8-Track also allows a pair each of Group Tracks and Effects tracks. Don’t let this last bit scare you – you can still pile the included Bitwig effects devices into the other eight tracks – you just can’t put more than two on dedicated busses. Likewise, Bitwig Studio 2 8-Track only loads a pair of VST plugins at any given time.
Bitwig Studio 2 8-Track also limits your Scene count to eight. A Scene is a group of clips that can be played simultaneously. We’ll get more into that later.
Bitwig Studio 2 8-Track allows users to sequence outboard hardware. Several devices are available for controlling MIDI- and CV-compatible hardware effects and instruments. However, you can only use a single instance of each at any given time. They can be run simultaneously, so you can, say, sequence a MIDI synth and trigger an analogue modular synth simultaneously.
Fortunately, Bitwig have not scrimped on their own instruments, leaving out only their Phase-4, an unashamedly digital polysynth that recalls the popular Casio CZ series of yore. Most, however, are onboard, including all the drum machinery, virtual analogue, and sampling needed to create awesome electronic soundscapes. There’s also a virtual Organ, as well as FM-4, a handy FM synthesiser not unlike Yamaha’s famous DX synths of the 1980s.
A whopping 30 of Bitwig Studio 2’s 37 audio effects devices are included in Bitwig Studio 2 8-Track. Dual Pan, Amp, DC Offset, Phaser, Spectrum Analyser, Time Shift and Treemonster are omitted; but there are more than enough delays, chorus, EQs, flangers, filters, mix effects and more to keep the creative juices flowing.
Modulators and more
Bitwig’s Modulators have earned the program much love among modular synthesists and experimental musicians. Consisting of all manner of modulation sources, they transform the DAW into something like a patchable electronic music studio. The pared down 8-Track incarnation provides the basics: ADSR, AHDSR, Classic LFO, Expressions, HW CV In, Keytrack, Macro-4, Macro, Step Modulator, XY and MIDI modulators. The big Bitwig offers another 20, including such niceties as Envelope Follower, Beat LFO, Audio Sidechain, Sample and Hold, Random and Voice Stack, among many, many others.
MIDI effects come in the form of Bitwig’s Note Effects. You get the most important here – the Arpeggiator is included, thankfully, as is Diatonic Transposer. MIDI CC, MIDI Song Select, MIDI Program Change, Note Filter, Note Harmonizer, Note Pitch Shifter, Note Receiver, Note Velocity, and Transposition Map are all included: a very respectable list. Missing are Note Length, Note Latch, Note Echo, Note FX Layer, Multi-Note, Channel Filter, and Channel Map. The last two would have been great… but then you’re already getting a lot!
As with most modern DAWs, Bitwig versions come with bundled content in loop and multisample form. Bitwig Studio 2 8-Track predictably offers the Essentials Collection, while full-fat versions have the Extended Collection, Artist Collection, and Partner Collection. A ‘Teasers’ demo of the Partners Collection has been funneled out to Bitwig 8-Track.
One final note: 8-Track only exports 16-bit files, as opposed to the full Studio’s choices of 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit export options.
Clearly, 8-Track offers a lot to inspire. For some, it’s all they need to create complete tracks, while others will find it to be an excellent introduction to the broader Bitwig environment.