Bitwig 4.2 adds a modular sequencer and new effects

> At first glance, it looks like Bitwig Studio 4.2 comes with three new effects, but it turns out that looks can be deceiving. That’s what Bitwig would have us believe, anyway; as each of these effects has four different ‘Characters’, they promise, you’re effectively getting 12 new audio processing tools.

Upselling aside, there are definitely three ‘main’ effects, all of which come from the modulation family. They go by the names of Chorus+, Flanger+ and Phaser+. Bitwig say that each of the Characters is similar to a different era of vintage studio hardware and, as a result, will give you a different type of sound.

Under the hood, you can mix 'n' match LFOs, step sequencers and any of Bitwig Studio’s 38 modulator devices to make the algorithms your own, and all three effects can be used as modules for Bitwig’s Grid modular sound design environment, too.

Speaking of which, Bitwig Studio 4.2 adds a third device for use with The Grid: the Note Grid. Designed for the processing and even generation of notes, this can be used in conjunction with The Grid’s 184 modules and polyphonic structure.

There’s a new Note Out module, too – connect a gate signal and this will start outputting notes. Pitch, velocity, and channel can be set manually or with dynamic signals, and MPE fans can go even deeper by accessing signals for each note’s timbre, pressure, gain and panning expressions. The Note Out module can also be used in the other Grid devices – Poly Grid and FX Grid. Note Grid comes with eight “productionready” presets that are designed to show off what it can do.

Bitwig Studio 4.2 arrives with a number of other tweaks, too, as well as a French language option. Très bon! Anyone with an active Bitwig Studio upgrade plan can download the version 4.2 beta today, with official release currently scheduled for March 2022.