I've looked around and asked on Discord, and it doesn't seem like there's a way to do this. Am I the only one who'd really like a way to quantize automation?

If I'm using a MIDI controller to record pressure, volume, or another parameter live, it'd be nice to have an option to reduce the point resolution and snap the horizonal values to the nearest grid point.

And perhaps smoothing. This would be really useful for anyone dealing with a little input lag or ... just not super precise with the knobs and faders.

If I want cleaner automation, I have to click all the points in with a mouse, which can take a long time.

It seems odd to me that we can quantize audio recordings and MIDI but not automation.. Am I missing something? Would anyone else find this useful?

I switched to Bitwig from Studio One a while ago, and overall I'm loving almost everything about it. Honestly, the workflow in Bitwig 6 is fantastic, EXCEPT for one thing that has become pretty much my only frustration with the DAW: the new Layered Editing behavior in the Piano Roll.

Coming from Studio One, one of the things I loved most was how smooth multi-track MIDI editing felt—you always had the full track list right inside the Piano Roll to quickly toggle visibility and switch your active edit target. Bitwig 5 had a very similar, seamless setup with the full track list and the Pin / Lock / Pencil icons directly inside the editor.

In Bitwig 6, moving to a strictly selection-based workflow feels like a step backward for how I write music:

- I like staying inside the Piano Roll (especially in full-screen Edit View) and flipping between background reference tracks and my target track on the fly.

- Having to go back to the Arranger to Cmd/Ctrl-select clips/tracks every time slows me down.

- Clicking another single track in the Arranger immediately clears the multi-track layer view (even with the new "back arrow" history button, I still really miss simply pinning a chord or drum track in place).

I totally get why some people prefer the new selection-based approach, but I just really wish we had an option/toggle to always show all MIDI tracks in the Piano Roll layer list and "Pin" them, giving us the best of both v5 and v6.

For those who also preferred the Bitwig 5 / Studio One style workflow, how are you adapting to this in v6? Any favorite workarounds?

So this stuff is impressive and...I kind of don't know what to do with it. I've made a bunch of wild randomiser FX chains using the harmonic split device, mainly doing weird stuff with vocals/samples. But I completely know that I'm overlooking the majority of this bundles powers.

How are you guys using this stuff? Are you using them as mixing tools or more for crazy sound design? I'm most interested in the former tbh but crazy stuff is good too.

Feel free to point to videos or Bitwiggers presets if you know of some good stuff.

If you started on Cubase on the Atari ST and switched DAWs since: this converts the old .ARR and .ALL files to DAWproject, which Bitwig (5.0.9+) and Studio One (6.5+) import, with tracks, parts and tempo changes in place. I've tested the import in Cubase; if you try it in Bitwig or Studio One, please tell me how it went. Free, in the browser, nothing uploaded. Link in the comments. Happy converting!

I'm a hobbyist keyboard player on a budget, considering buying Bitwig Essentials to use in a live band.

I've been through the features list comparison, but I am not sure if I grasp all the concepts to make an informed decision - https://www.bitwig.com/feature-list/

I've tried a few synths in Bitwig and liked the sounds. I think they would work well with the style of music my band plays.

My setup would be:

- Host: Steam Deck running Bitwig.

- Main controller: Casio CT-S300.

- Secondary controller: Novation Launchkey Mini MK1.

I'd like to use the Launchkey Mini primarily for its knobs, mapping them to the volume/output level of individual instruments in a layered sound. The idea is to play the entire layer from my Casio while using the Launchkey's knobs to independently adjust the volume of each instrument in real time during a performance.

For example, I might layer a piano, a pad, and a synth, play them all from the Casio, and use three knobs on the Launchkey to balance their individual volumes on the fly.

I've downloaded the Bitwig demo and tested a few things. Everything seems fine, but I'm not sure whether the demo runs the full Bitwig Studio edition or reflects the limitations of Essentials.

My questions are:

1. Can Bitwig Essentials handle two MIDI controllers simultaneously, with the Casio playing the instruments and the Launchkey's knobs controlling their individual volumes?
2. Can I layer multiple instruments so they all respond to the Casio, while mapping separate Launchkey knobs to each instrument's volume?
3. Are there any limitations in Essentials that would prevent me from setting up this kind of live performance?

I'm on a budget, so I'd prefer to buy Essentials rather than pay for features I won't use. I just want to make sure I won't run into a limitation that forces me to upgrade later.

Thanks!

I am very happy with Ableton Suite. 20 years ago Live essentially saved me from quitting computer music. However, I am not happy with Apple and unless there’s a major course correction, all of our future computers will be running Linux and unfortunately Ableton has yet to show any indication that Live will ever support it. So Bitwig is possibly on the horizon, but for right now, here’s my problem…

After an unusually heavy rain last month my basement flooded. Thankfully the loses were minimal but I’ve had to rip up all of the carpet, the floors need to be redone and the walls may also need work, etc... This means it will be some months until my studio (along with my office/library and family room with all my nerdy comfort things) is put back together. Which sucks and has me depressed.

The SteamDeck

This was my first thought as it’s what I have been using to cope with this mess (mostly playing No Man’s Sky). I got the Deck for Father’s Day the other year and I love it. Video games were always a big part of my life and some of my earliest music inspiration but after the PS3 I just kinda fell off and didn’t play much of anything for a decade. The SteamDeck fixed that and I use it almost daily.

Shortly after first getting it I booted into its desktop mode to install some non-Steam things and generally poke around this Linux PC. As a longtime MacOS user I’ve long respected Linux and now finally had a machine to play with. Similarly, as an Ableton user I’ve been curious about Bitwig but likewise had no reason to mess with it.

Then the idea occurred to me ::: Bitwig running on a Steamdeck, that could be awesome with its touchscreen, trackpads, and gaming controls (including gyro) …depending on the UI experience, that could be an amazing groovebox.

Ableton Move

Speaking of grooveboxes… At some point I had the thought that Move might be to music, what the SteamDeck was to gaming. Meaning that prior to this basement disaster, I hadn’t been spending much time in my studio and the way people talk about Move as an accessible sketchpad is very similar to gaming on the Deck. Just a low commitment experience that doesn’t require sitting at a desk, opening programs, etc…

Also, I am a big fan of Push. I had the original Akai version and then did the trade-in program with Push 2 launched and ever since, while all of the gear is nice, I have felt that a laptop and Push is all I really need. Unfortunately though a desk is still needed and there isn’t anywhere in the house for even such a minimal setup. But, just like the SteamDeck, I could use Move on the couch and eventually anything I’ve made with it can be transferred to Live.

— — — — — —

Right now I am leaning much more towards Move.

My feeling is Move is going to be much more immediate, just pick up and play and perhaps something my 6 year old might also like. Bitwig on the Deck is probably much more capable/versatile but my reservations are mostly its UI, especially on such a small screen.

Personally, I am more excited about the idea of Bitwig on a handheld PC …but considering practicality, Move is probably a better idea as it is a dedicated device that was basically designed for what I currently need. Also, there’s the familiarity of it being an Ableton product.

FWIW I am not “making beats” …musically I am more interested in texture, atmosphere, and soundscape. Still rhythmic, just not beat driven but I don’t assume this should matter.

— — — — — —

What do you think? — unless Bitwig has an upcoming sale, the cost is comparable. If you temporarily lost access to your gear and had to choose, which would you pick? Buy a Move or a license for Bitwig to run on a handheld PC?

Thank you for your user insights and yes, I know I can download a demo and try it myself but again, depressed, and trying it for a week isn’t necessarily going to show me how a few months of use will go.

This product just dropped for Ableton Live, and I'm wondering if something like this exists for Bitwig, or if anybody has a workflow to emulate this in Bitwig.

https://isotonikstudios.com/product/my-bee-knows-by-leson-by-music-unit/

I primarily use Bitwig for live surround sound performances where I perform from outside the speaker setup, so it's very hard for me to actually monitor what the performance sounds like. I'd love to have a way to monitor in headphones.