Bitwig Note-Sidechain Modulator - Modulate and Duck Audio with Note/MIDI Input

Bitwig Guide | Jul 18, 2022

The Note-Sidechain modulator allows you to use MIDI input or note clips to modulate parameters like volume or filter cutoff, making it perfect for tasks like ducking a bass to a kick drum. You can easily route MIDI from any channel and customize the envelope's timing, depth, and sensitivity, offering flexible control over your modulation targets. By saving the Note-Sidechain on a utility device as a default preset, you can quickly apply ducking across multiple tracks without repetitive setup.

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Short Overview #

I love using the Note-Sidechain modulator because it makes dynamic control effortless in my projects. By feeding it note input from a MIDI keyboard or another track, I can easily shape modulation envelopes to match musical events, like ducking a bassline when a kick hits. It’s versatile, allowing me to choose sources and adjust parameters like pre-delay, modulation depth, and velocity response to fit any scenario. This simple workflow saves time and keeps my mix responsive and tight.

• The Note-Sidechain modulator requires at least one note input, either from a MIDI keyboard or a note clip.
• It can use note inputs from different channels, making it useful for sidechaining effects like ducking a bass track to a kick drum.
• If no input is selected, it defaults to taking input from the same channel it is on, functioning similar to an ADSR envelope.
• The modulator offers standard ADSR controls: attack, decay, sustain, and release, along with a pre-delay option to offset the envelope trigger.
• Modulation depth is adjustable and can be reversed to either increase or decrease a parameter.
• Sensitivity control allows the modulator to react to note velocity, making modulation more expressive depending on how hard keys are pressed.
• The signal display provides visual feedback of incoming notes and the output envelope shape.
• The workflow recommendation is to attach the Note-Sidechain to a Tool device for easier duplication and ducking setup across multiple channels, rather than directly on instruments.
• Saving the Tool device with the Note-Sidechain as a default preset streamlines the process of setting up sidechain ducking in future projects.

Introduction to the Note-Sidechain Modulator #

In this video, I discuss the Note-Sidechain Modulator, a flexible modulator tool I use frequently in my workflow. This device allows for precise control of modulation via MIDI note input, whether from a keyboard or from a note clip in your DAW. It's a mainstay in my setup, especially for tasks like sidechain ducking, modulation routing, and envelope triggering.

How Note Input Works #

To use the Note-Sidechain Modulator, you need at least one note input. This can come from playing a MIDI keyboard or from a programmed note clip. When you trigger a note, you see visible signals in the modulator, showing that it's responding and ready to modulate a chosen parameter with its envelope shape.

Channel and Source Selection #

One great feature is that you can assign the source of the note input. For example, you can set the modulator on a bassline and have it respond to the note input from a kick drum channel. Every time the kick drum plays a note, the bassline can react accordingly, perfect for classic sidechain ducking. If you do not manually select an input, the device defaults to using the note input from its own channel, acting much like a standard ADSR envelope.

Envelope Controls: ADSR and Pre-Delay #

The Note-Sidechain Modulator includes the usual ADSR parameters: Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release. This allows you to shape exactly how the modulation envelope behaves in response to each incoming MIDI note.

Additionally, the inspector panel provides a pre-delay option. You can offset the envelope's triggering by specifying a delay time (for example, a two sixteenth-notes delay). This feature is useful for finetuning the timing of your modulation relative to the incoming note input, giving you extra control over groove and feel.

Modulation Depth, Reversing, and Sensitivity #

You can control modulation depth to determine how much effect the envelope has on the mapped parameter. There is also an option to reverse the modulation direction. For example, you might want to increase a parameter like filter cutoff instead of decreasing it when the envelope triggers.

A sensitivity setting controls how much the envelope responds to MIDI velocity. At zero, every note is treated as maximum velocity; as you increase sensitivity, the modulation more closely tracks the actual velocity of played or programmed notes. This makes expressive playing and dynamic programming easy.

Visual Feedback and Handling Multiple Channels #

The modulator features a signal display so you can monitor both incoming notes and the resulting envelope shape visually in real-time.

One advanced but practical technique is using the Note-Sidechain across multiple channels. For instance, you can have the modulator respond to notes played on one track (like a kick drum) and apply the envelope to another track (like a bass). By setting different instruments or tracks as inputs, the modulator lets you build intricate, track-dependent automation and effects.

Why Use the Note-Sidechain on Utility Devices #

Instead of putting the Note-Sidechain directly on the instrument, I recommend attaching it to a utility device like a tool device. This way, you are not limited to just the instrument’s own volume or modulation parameters, you can use the same preset across any track, clone it easily, and quickly apply ducking or modulation to multiple sources without resetting everything. This modularity speeds up the workflow and maintains consistency across projects.

Personal Workflow Tips #

I always include a Note-Sidechain in my default preset for utility devices. This means every time I add a tool device, it already has the modulator ready to go. This approach streamlines the process of setting up sidechain ducking (typically tied to kick or snare tracks), letting me reuse the same setup quickly across new projects or channels.

Conclusion #

The Note-Sidechain Modulator is a central part of my modulation workflow. Its ability to trigger envelopes from any MIDI note source and its flexible routing makes it invaluable for sidechaining, ducking, and dynamic modulation. By saving it in my default tool device preset, I ensure it is always at hand, making my music production process faster and more creative. I highly recommend integrating it into your own workflow for precise, musical modulation and automation.

Full Video Transcription #

This is what im talking about in this video. The text is transcribed by Whisper, so it might not be perfect. If you find any mistakes, please let me know.
You can also click on the timestamps to jump to the right part of the video, which should be helpful.