Bitwig Select-4 Modulator - Morph Modulation between 4 Stages

Bitwig Guide | Aug 04, 2022

Select-4 in Bitwig Studio is a morphing modulator that allows you to smoothly transition between four different modulation setups using a single slider, enabling dynamic sound changes and creative modulation stacking when the fill mode is activated. Each point on the slider corresponds to different modulation handles, letting you apply unique parameter changes to your synth and effects for each stage, while also allowing automations or step modulators to morph between these variations. This makes Select-4 a versatile tool for creating evolving, preset-like transformations and rich sound design possibilities.

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Short Overview #

With Select-4 in Bitwig Studio, I can morph smoothly between four different groups of modulation targets using a single slider. At zero percent, no modulation is applied, but as I move the slider in increments of 100 percent, each set of modulators comes into play, replacing the previous one and transforming the sound completely. I can also enable a fill mode to stack modulations for an even richer effect, or automate the slider for evolving textures and transitions. This makes it incredibly versatile for creative sound design, allowing me to blend between completely different patches and modulation setups on the fly.

• Select-4 is a modulator in Bitwig Studio, acting as a crossfader with four modulation targets.
• The slider allows morphing smoothly between four different modulation settings.
• At 0%, no modulation is applied; at 100%, only the first modulator’s settings are applied, at 200% only the second, and so on.
• The color of the modulator handle indicates which one is currently active.
• Fill mode allows all modulated targets to stack their effects cumulatively when enabled.
• With Fill mode off, only one modulator's settings are applied based on slider position, allowing for smooth morphing between presets.
• Each modulator handle can be assigned to different synth or effect parameters, creating distinct sound variations.
• Morphing between different modulator positions effectively works as a morphing preset modulator, enabling creative transitions between sounds.
• The Select-4 modulator itself can be modulated using step modulators or other sources for automated or randomized morphing.
• Smoothing can be applied for gradual transitions between modulation states, allowing for more expressive and evolving sound design.

Introduction to Select-4 in Bitwig Studio #

In this video, I walk through the Select-4 device in Bitwig Studio, which functions as a modulator, specifically, you can think of it as a kind of crossfader for modulation sources. It allows you to smoothly morph between different modulation setups using a slider. Select-4 features four separate modulation pickups, and its main appeal is how dynamically it lets you shift between completely different modulation routings and sounds.

How the Select-4 Slider Works #

The heart of Select-4 is its slider, which acts as a morphing control between four modulation "handles" or sources. As I explain, nothing is applied if the slider is set to zero percent, this is a neutral position, so no parameters are being modulated. Moving the slider up to 100 percent activates all the modulators linked to the first handle; continue to 200 percent for the second, 300 for the third, and 400 for the fourth. At each stage, only the current handle's modulations are active, and the rest are deactivated.

To clarify visually, the color coding in the interface indicates which modulator handle is currently contributing to the output. The handle in use fades to white while others dim depending on the slider's position. This gives immediate feedback about which modulation set is in effect.

Fill Mode: Stacking Modulations #

There's a "fill mode" available in the inspector, which changes the behavior of the slider. When you activate fill mode, all activated handles remain at 100 percent as you move through them. This means you can cumulatively stack modulations from multiple handles instead of switching between them exclusively. In fill mode, the visual feedback turns all handles white as their effects are stacked. The inspector helpfully describes fill mode: "Use the output of all modulator sources at maximum."

I personally prefer to keep fill mode off for most applications, letting the slider morph between distinct modulation states rather than creating a pile-on effect.

Practical Example: Modulating a Synth Patch #

To demonstrate Select-4 in action, I set up a synth patch. At the zero percent position, the sound is untouched, completely dry with no modulation in play. Sliding up to 100 percent brings in all the modulations attached to the first handle. This creates, for all intents and purposes, a new preset or variant of the patch with its unique sound.

At 200 percent, the second handle takes over; all its linked modulations are applied and those from the first handle are muted, so I instantly get a completely different timbral result, like another preset. This continues for all four handles.

With the third modulator handle, I do something slightly different. Instead of just modulating synth parameters, I use it to modulate the modulation amount (depth) of the LFOs themselves. So, the Select-4 is now not just controlling synth parameters but also the modulators, which intensifies or changes their effect.

The fourth handle, at 400 percent, is set up to modulate the pitch via LFOs, cutoff, and also controls some audio effects' mix knobs, such as a reverb at the end. Again, moving the slider here yields yet another entirely different sound.

Morphing Between Modulation States #

The key strength of Select-4 is its ability to morph smoothly between these dramatically different modulation routings. Since each handle can have a completely different set of targets, moving the slider is like fading between presets, but with modulation, not just static parameter values. This opens up rich possibilities for sound design and live performance, making it easy and fun to generate evolving textures and switch moods on the fly.

Modulating the Select-4 Slider Itself #

Another powerful aspect is the ability to modulate the Select-4 slider itself. For instance, I can use a step modulator, set it to randomize values at every quarter note, and let it automatically morph the patch through the four handles in time with my music. Adding smoothing/interpolation to the slider morph can further create organic, seamless transitions between the states rather than abrupt jumps.

By syncing this slider morph to tempo and using smoothing, you can create evolving transitions across several modulation setups, perfect for complex soundscapes or dramatic performance shifts.

Conclusion: Select-4 as a Morph Preset Modulator #

In summary, Select-4 is best understood as a morphing preset modulator. It allows me to craft four distinct modulation environments, then seamlessly morph or automate the transitions among them. Each position on the slider essentially recalls a different "preset" of modulation, and I can interpolate, automate, or manually ride the fader for expressive results. The creative potential is huge, especially as you can use Select-4 to modulate not only synth parameters, but also other modulators and effects for maximum flexibility.

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.