Bitwig Studio review

Bitwig Studio combines a linear Arranger with a Clip Launcher, so you can jam ideas as clips and lay them out on a timeline in the same project. Its real strength is modulation. The full edition includes 43 polyphonic modulators that you can attach to devices, plugins and connected hardware, and The Grid lets you build your own synths, effects and note processors from modules. Notes carry their own pitch, pressure and pan data, with MPE and CV support for expressive controllers and modular gear. Bitwig sells three editions: Essentials with 51 devices and 10 modulators, Producer with 105 devices and 18 modulators, and Bitwig Studio with 188 devices and The Grid. Every edition allows unlimited tracks and VST or CLAP plugins, and purchases include 12 months of free upgrades. It also runs on Linux. The webshop showed EUR prices from our location, so check USD prices on Bitwig's US store.

Who it is for

Sound designers and electronic producers who like modular tools, including Linux users.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Arranger timeline and Clip Launcher in one project
• The Grid modular environment for building instruments and effects (full edition)
• Up to 43 polyphonic modulators in the full edition
• Per-note expression with MPE and CV support
• Unlimited tracks and VST or CLAP plugins in every edition

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
• Strength: Every edition has unlimited audio, instrument and hybrid tracks
• Strength: 12 months of free upgrades after purchase
• Weakness: The Grid and the full 43-modulator system are only in the top edition
• Weakness: The modulation depth takes time to learn
• Weakness: The webshop showed EUR prices from our location, so we could not confirm USD prices

Key facts

• Editions: Essentials, Producer, Bitwig Studio
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
• Devices in full edition: 188 instruments, audio and note FX
• Modulators: 10, 18 or 43 by edition
• Free upgrades: 12 months

Where it ranks

Bitwig Studio is No. 6 in our Best DAW Software verdict.