Bitwig Steps Module - Step Sequencer with dynamic Steps
Bitwig Guide | Aug 31, 2022
The Steps module in Bitwig Studio 3.2, now with interpolation mode, looks similar to a multi-stage envelope generator but is more limited, as you can only interpolate between steps without flexible curve adjustments or additional point insertion. Despite these limitations, the Steps module is highly versatile and can be used as a drawable oscillator, for wavetable synthesis, phase modulation, and inventive sound design when combined with other Grid modules. The video demonstrates creative ways to use the Steps module within musical contexts, emphasizing the limitless potential of combining Grid devices in Bitwig Studio.
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Short Overview #
In this video, I explore whether the Steps module with interpolation mode in Bitwig Studio 3.2 can truly be considered a multi-stage envelope generator. I walk through its features and show how, while it can mimic some envelope shapes, it lacks the full flexibility of classic MSEGs since you can't independently adjust step lengths or curve shapes between points. However, I demonstrate several creative ways to use the Steps module, like drawing custom oscillators, morphing between waveforms, and building interesting pads and synth patches within the Grid. Along the way, I share workflow tips and highlight just how versatile and inspiring this module can be when combined with other devices.
- The Steps module in Bitwig Studio 3.2 with interpolation mode is discussed and compared to a true multi-stage envelope generator (MSEG).
- While interpolation mode allows smoother transitions between steps and visual resemblance to an MSEG, it does not offer the full flexibility of a real MSEG, such as adjustable curve shapes between points or precise step durations.
- The Steps module allows up to 64 steps, can be set to bipolar mode for negative values, and offers basic envelope-like drawing capability.
- Key feature: The interpolation between steps is not customizable; it's a simple smoothing rather than fully controllable curves.
- Steps module can be used creatively as a drawable oscillator by connecting phase sources and using audio-rate modulation.
- Demonstrates how to use Steps as a waveform source for custom oscillator shapes in the Bitwig Grid.
- Shows how to set up polyphony, blend between multiple drawable oscillators, and morph or modulate between them.
- Utilizes the merge module and AM/RM (amplitude/ring modulation) for more complex synthesis possibilities.
- Explains phase modulation and further modulation by chaining multiple Steps modules and applying additional effects.
- Highlights the flexibility and creative sound design potential of the Steps module in combination with other Grid modules, not just as a visual MSEG but as part of broader synthesis workflows.
- Encourages experimentation and context-based use of the Steps module for unique sound creation.
Introduction: Exploring the Steps Module in Bitwig Studio 3.2 #
In this video, I set out to answer a common question among Bitwig Studio users: with the introduction of interpolation mode, is the Steps module now a true multi-stage envelope generator? Along the way, I not only address this question but also dive deep into the creative potential of the Steps module inside The Grid, showcasing how it can be used far beyond basic modulation. Additionally, I share several production tips and demonstrate how flexible and powerful The Grid environment can be in Bitwig Studio 3.2.
Getting Started with the Steps Module #
To start, I open a new Poly Grid in Bitwig. With an empty canvas, I navigate to the Data category to drag in the Steps module, which has been part of Bitwig since version 3.0. By default, the Steps module behaves like a simple step sequencer with adjustable step amounts. However, when I activate interpolation in the left pane, the transitions between steps become smooth rather than abrupt, creating curved transitions between each step value.
Is the Steps Module a Multi-Stage Envelope Generator? #
Many users are curious whether this new interpolation mode makes the Steps module function like a true multi-stage envelope generator (MSEG), similar to specialized plugins like Gatekeeper. While the interpolation feature allows for smoother curves, the core limitations of the Steps module remain:
- You cannot set custom breakpoints or freely place points along the time axis.
- The interpolation between points is not editable; it’s always the same shape.
- You are still restricted by the fixed number of steps for defining your envelope.
In contrast, a real MSEG lets you place as many points as you like, control step timing and curve shapes independently, providing much greater creative flexibility. Although you can mimic the shape of an MSEG using a high step count (up to 64), it still does not offer the detailed control and features unique to dedicated multi-stage envelope generators.
Using the Steps Module as an Oscillator #
One of the most accessible and creative uses for the Steps module is as a drawable oscillator. After setting the module to bipolar mode and activating interpolation, I can draw custom shapes that represent waveforms. To make it function as an oscillator:
- I connect the output directly to audio out, but the playback is initially too slow, as it is controlled by project transport phase.
- By disabling the pre-cord (pre-cord synchronizes phase to the transport), I can manually drive the phase using another audio-rate signal, such as an LFO or the Phaser module.
- Using the Phaser with its built-in keyboard tracking allows me to control pitch from my MIDI keyboard, making the Steps module behave like a playable oscillator.
- I also show how to add polyphony, so multiple notes can be played simultaneously, turning the Steps module into the core of a polyphonic synthesizer.
Wave Generation and Shaping Techniques #
Right-clicking on the Steps module, I highlight various functions:
- Generate: Quickly create standard waveforms like triangle or saw shapes.
- Transform: Apply functions like sharpen, smooth, reverse, or invert to the wave shape.
- These make it easy to experiment with sound design and endlessly tweak oscillator timbres.
Morphing, Modulation, and Oscillator Blending #
To expand the sound design palette, I demonstrate how to use multiple Steps modules in parallel:
- By employing a Merge module, I can blend between different custom waveforms.
- Using a Value knob or modulator, it’s possible to morph smoothly between two or more oscillators.
- Further, amplitude and ring modulation using the AMRM module can produce complex timbres by interacting different drawable shapes.
Phase and Frequency Modulation #
The Steps module’s drawable waveforms make it perfect for experimenting with phase and frequency modulation synthesis techniques. By connecting phase modifiers or additional random LFOs, I show how one can create FM, PM, or evolving timbres, all within The Grid’s flexible modular environment.
Building Complex Patches: Pads, Effects, and Parallel Processing #
Taking things further, I build up a larger patch:
- Four custom Steps oscillators, each with unique wave shapes.
- A blend module to morph between all four oscillator outputs.
- Use of the XP filter and Steps-modulated filtering to add movement and space.
- Parallel processing is demonstrated using stereo splitting, combining filtered and blurred signals, and spatially manipulating the audio.
- I show how random LFOs can modulate pitch offsets, while envelope shapes from additional Steps modules can automate filter cutoffs.
Creative Possibilities and Final Thoughts #
The Steps module’s value in Bitwig’s Grid comes not just from its simple step sequencing or even its ability to mimic classic envelopes, but from its sheer flexibility as an audio-rate modulator, oscilloscope, and creative sound source. Whether you want to design complex pads, leads, or experimental textures, the Steps module can be a central building block.
Conclusion and Takeaway #
In summary, while the Steps module now enables smoother wave shapes and some envelope-like behaviors, it is not a full-featured multi-stage envelope generator. Its true strength lies in its versatility as a drawable oscillator or modulation source. Combining it with other Grid modules, you can craft unimaginable and original sounds, limited only by your creativity. As always, I encourage viewers to experiment, share tips in the comments, and see how far they can push The Grid’s modular environment.
Thank you for watching, and if you have further questions or tips, please leave them below for potential coverage in future videos!
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.
Click to expand Transcription
[00:00:00] Is the steps module now with interpolation mode in Bitwig Studio 3.2 actually an multi-stage
[00:00:06] envelope generator? That's the question you want to answer in this video. So stay tuned.
[00:00:11] Use my code polarity in the shop to save 10% on the price and support my channel.
[00:00:21] So when we open up a new pulley grid and everything is empty here and you want to
[00:00:27] insert the steps module you have to go to the data category at the top, drag in a steps module
[00:00:33] and this is how it looks basically and this is how it looks since version 3.0 since we had the grid
[00:00:38] and now when you select this module and go to the left pane here you can activate basically the
[00:00:45] interpolation mode and this is how it looks with the interpolation active and a lot of people thought
[00:00:52] this looks a lot like a multi-stage envelope generator right and you can kind of do the same
[00:00:58] you have maybe go here with the step count up to 64 so you have more room and then you can draw
[00:01:06] in basically a random line and maybe we make this bit wider here
[00:01:15] and when you go to bipolar here and so you have negative values possible then you can even draw
[00:01:22] something like a multi-stage envelope or can do so when we open up here gatekeeper to compare it
[00:01:30] it's kind of the same but not really so with the multi-stage envelope generator you can
[00:01:36] define how big a step is you can draw in additional points can change here the curve
[00:01:44] between the steps and so on and with the steps module itself we only have basically interpolation
[00:01:52] between the steps and the interpolation is not changeable so you can have maybe a 64 steps and
[00:01:58] then you are pretty free to draw in everything you want but it's not really a multi-stage envelope
[00:02:06] generator so now that we got this out of the way what can you actually do with the steps module
[00:02:13] and the obvious first example is probably use it as an oscillator so we drag in one steps module here
[00:02:22] we select it we go to bipolar on the left pane here go to interpolation mode and maybe raise the
[00:02:30] step count and now we can draw in some random shape you want and to use this now as an oscillator
[00:02:37] all we have to do is basically use an out one audio out and just send it to our speakers
[00:02:44] but you can see something is happening but we don't hear anything because the audio rate
[00:02:50] or the playback speed is too slow so we need something to amp this up and you can use basically
[00:02:57] anything as an input here in the purple input jack and to make this basically possible you have to
[00:03:06] disable here the pre chord which basically gets the phase information from the transport
[00:03:11] from bitwig studio so we disable this so now we can hook in a signal by ourselves to this
[00:03:17] purple input jack here and you can use basically anything you want so for instance you can use an
[00:03:23] LFO and the LFO has an audio rate kilohertz here so we can use this and hook this up you can see
[00:03:31] the playback speed is now much faster
[00:03:37] but now you you need something like to change the pitch with keyboard we need something like
[00:03:48] to change the frequency basically here and you can hook something up to the pitch jack here if
[00:03:56] you want but there's an easier way just delete the LFO and maybe use the phaser module phaser module
[00:04:06] sends out and phase out as you can see here and phase out signal we can hook this up this is also
[00:04:11] purple and this has an pre chord to the keyboard so now we can change the pitch with the keyboard
[00:04:26] so all what we need now is an gate basically so we use one of the new additions to bitwig studio
[00:04:40] 3.2 the loopable ad device or ad envelope
[00:04:48] so and this is still monophonic because we only can play one note so to change this we have to
[00:05:00] go here to the grid so just select something or select here the device itself then you go to the
[00:05:07] left pane and you can raise the voices here to maybe 12 and then you can play multiple
[00:05:13] voices to have something like a polyphonic synthesizer
[00:05:18] just works nice and as you saw before i didn't draw in the saw wave here i just clicked with
[00:05:32] the right mouse button on the on the steps module and you have some nice functions here
[00:05:38] generate and transform so you can generate maybe a try wave something like this
[00:05:44] and then you right click on it and you can go to transform and maybe
[00:05:50] sharpen to apply some function or some smoothing function to the wave shape so go to sharpen here
[00:06:00] or used smooth or maybe reverse the the wave or inverse
[00:06:09] remove dc so there's a lot of functions here to actually shape the
[00:06:20] yeah the shape of your steps module right so that's basically the most obvious example for
[00:06:29] the steps module where you can use it as an drawable oscillator and you can do a lot of stuff
[00:06:38] with this um actually you can kind of make some a wave table synthesizer where you draw in a lot
[00:06:46] of waves and then you morph between them so we can basically just duplicate this here so we have two
[00:06:54] and instead of mixing these two together we use a merge module so this up there this there so now
[00:07:05] we have input one what you can use a value knob you can hook this up here and you can now morph
[00:07:18] between input one and two we need of course here the input maybe we use an
[00:07:27] saw below and here we use a sign
[00:07:31] so now you blend or mix between these two waveforms you can also use maybe an
[00:07:47] amrm module where you have an amplitude modulation and a ring modulation here
[00:07:53] so put in these two waves so when you read the description of the amrm when you are at
[00:08:01] i think at 50 percent you have am amplitude modulation and we go when you go full 100 you
[00:08:10] are ring modulating the signals
[00:08:14] what you also can do is um because this is now a phase signal here um you can use all the phase
[00:08:33] modifiers so maybe reverse the phase for the top oscillator so it plays backwards or you can use
[00:08:42] maybe an yeah let's use and shift here below
[00:08:47] and what you can do now is you can make some kind of um frequency modulation or phase modulation
[00:09:01] synthesis happening inside the grid with just a
[00:09:04] modulator or maybe you don't need a modulator we can actually use this small handle here
[00:09:11] use this handle and go to 100
[00:09:30] as so you can basically emulate some kind of phase modulation with the steps modules
[00:09:40] so now that we have two uh drawable oscillators in the grid why not use more so
[00:09:47] just duplicate this maybe here we use now four drawable oscillators and we remove this module here
[00:09:55] and we're going back to our merge
[00:09:58] use all the inputs raise the inputs here to four at the left side
[00:10:08] and change some shapes here go for this for three and maybe use
[00:10:17] something custom here and we need of course input from the phaser
[00:10:26] and we need the value knob again so we can change
[00:10:35] so
[00:10:52] so now we can blend um overall for oscillators and we can of course use again a steps module
[00:11:01] and you can use here the handle again to change the value or the blending between all these four
[00:11:07] oscillators maybe also activate here um the interpolation
[00:11:26] so
[00:11:34] maybe also change here the decay time
[00:11:46] and maybe we add some kind of fx down below in the device itself maybe and
[00:11:54] just a reverb just for the space and then delay two
[00:12:13] uh
[00:12:30] so um this um the steps module plays too
[00:12:41] fast so i'm going for a face in
[00:12:45] hooking this up and just deselecting here the face uh precord and now it's the same result as before
[00:12:54] but now we can hook up something in between these two mod modules so i'm going for scaler
[00:13:03] uh
[00:13:30] maybe try out some pads
[00:13:46] okay this sounds a bit too static so i'm trying to change a bit the frequency of the oscillator
[00:14:00] at random so i'm going for a random lfo um and go to hertz and just change here a bit the offset
[00:14:11] pitch offset just a touch
[00:14:24] um
[00:14:35] and maybe we need the filter yeah at the end um
[00:14:53] let's go for the new xp filter we have a lot of filter types here low pass too
[00:15:04] and we can also use an steps module here to open up the filter over time
[00:15:20] um
[00:15:31] and maybe also use here um something like this where you can change the speed of the playback
[00:15:48] um
[00:15:58] okay so now we have filter here and maybe i'm using parallel processing here so i'm going
[00:16:15] for a filter there and maybe a stereo split here so we have two two lines now connecting these two
[00:16:26] and at the end we mix everything together with the blend
[00:16:31] something like this
[00:16:43] so now i'm delaying the right channel
[00:16:52] or maybe i'm not delaying it i'm using an lpass device for a bit of blur effect
[00:17:10] um
[00:17:21] um
[00:17:32] um
[00:17:43] um
[00:17:54] um
[00:18:11] okay
[00:18:24] maybe a low pass at the end here
[00:18:34] and you have a new preset a new pad so these are just some small examples what you can do
[00:18:49] with the steps module inside the grid there are of course a lot of more possibilities for the steps
[00:18:55] module and like with everything inside the grid you can combine everything with everything there
[00:19:01] are no limits with everything is possible that's why the grid is great of course and with this video
[00:19:07] i don't want to just cut out the steps module and talk about how it works i wanted to show you
[00:19:15] what you can do with it in a context like with everything in life and music everything happens
[00:19:20] in the context and the surroundings are pretty important too so these are my intentions for
[00:19:26] this video or basically for all my videos and i hope you learned something today the steps module
[00:19:32] if you have some questions please leave me a comment of course um if you have some additional
[00:19:37] tips because a lot of people leave additional tips to my under my videos which is pretty great
[00:19:43] and some of them i want to highlight in a future video i may highlight it and make
[00:19:49] videos about these tips too um yeah leave me a comment leave a like if you like the video
[00:19:55] subscribe to the channel subscribe to patreon of course and uh yeah i see you in the next video
[00:20:02] thanks for watching and bye
[00:20:15] you
[00:20:18] you
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