Bitwig’s latest DAW update brings some major changes to the Sampler device, kitting it out with new slicing options, two new play modes, automatic tempo and pitch detection, improved multi-sample editing and much more.
Sampler Overhaul
The new and improved Sampler in Bitwig Studio 6.1 now offers slicing in all play modes. Clicking the Sliced icon instantly converts a sample into slices that can be triggered from a MIDI controller or the DAW’s piano roll, and clips can also now be sliced from the Arranger or Launcher directly into a Sampler instance. Slices can be distributed across a sample in equal divisions or at beat intervals, and can also be placed at onsets — which Bitwig say is designed for working with rhythmic material — or at pitch changes thanks to Sampler’s new automatic pitch detection (more on that below!). Regardless of the mode that’s selected, all slices can be manually created, adjusted and deleted with just a few clicks.
A new dynamic pitch analysis function then offers improvements to sample pitching. Users are still able to define a root note manually, but clicking the orb icon in Sampler will result in the software analysing the loaded sample and match it to the pitch of incoming notes. The feature works in all play modes, and with Repitch mode selected, Sampler will dynamically speed up or slow down through the sample to match played notes, resulting in a new take on the Auto-Tune effect.
Speaking of play modes, there are two new options available in Bitwig Studio 6.1. Spectral play mode is designed to provide the cleanest possible time-stretching, and is said to excel at preserving the sound of a sample when playback speed is changed. With Preserve Onsets engaged, it ‘unstretches’ the sample around transients to preserve punch and character. Fragments then offers a new granular playback mode that generates up to 256 independent grains per voice, with each grain equipped with its own parameters for playback rate, playback direction, position and size.
Other improvements include new Analog and Digital characters for the Repitch mode. The former offers some saturation and tape-style ‘flavour’, while the latter emulates iconic 90s hardware samplers. Additionally, Cycles mode now unites sampling and synthesis, allowing users to adjust the pulse width of a sample, rebalance its odd and even harmonics or apply phase modulation. With Freeze engaged, Sampler becomes an oscillator with a vast timbral range, and the new Duophonic option crossfades between two Cycles engines for a smoother sound.
And More!
The new Sampler features plenty more upgrades across the device, including:
- Playhead visualisation improvements.
- Edits can snap to onsets for quick adjustments.
- New looping options determine what happens when a note is released.
- By dragging with a modifier, a loop region can be moved without changing its length.
- The new Bell filter is useful for quick tone-shaping of each voice.
There are also many improvements to multisample functionality , including:
- Dragging multiple samples onto a track instantly creates a round-robin Sampler.
- Dragging multiple samples with a modifier layers the samples and automatically tunes them.
- Zones can be muted and soloed for easy editing.
- With multiple zones selected, their values can be quickly edited using the Histogram.
- Live Select Updating can crossfade between samples via pressure, modulator or other inputs.
Compatibility
Bitwig Studio 6.1 is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or higher, and Macs running macOS 12 and above.
Pricing & Availability
Bitwig Studio 6.1 is available now, and is free to all users with an active Upgrade Plan.
