Tags: posts bitwig-guides Bitwig Tutorial

Bitwig Modulation Workflow - Efficiently Copy and Manage Modulation Mappings Across Devices and Layers

Bitwig Guide | Jul 24, 2023

You can easily copy all modulation routings and their specific amounts from one modulator to another in Bitwig by right-clicking the modulator handle, selecting copy, and then pasting it onto a new modulator. Similarly, you can synchronize parameter values or modulation mappings across all layers by right-clicking a knob and choosing either copy value to all layers or copy modulation to all layers. For multiple modulators, hold Alt to select them, then drag with Control to move or duplicate them while retaining or copying all their mappings, streamlining complex modulation setups.

You can watch the Video on Youtube

Short Overview

I find it really convenient to copy or move modulation mappings between different modulators and layers in my devices. By right-clicking on a modulator handle, I can quickly duplicate all the modulation routings to another modulator, which saves a lot of setup time. When I’m working with layered instruments, I can easily copy parameter values or full modulation routings to all layers with just a right-click, keeping everything consistent. Even handling multiple modulators at once is simple, letting me maintain detailed sound design across complex setups without repeating manual work.

Introduction to Modulation Mapping in Bitwig

In this walkthrough, I demonstrate efficient techniques for working with modulation mappings in Bitwig Studio. The strategies shown here apply to various devices, such as Polygrid, Polysynth, and Polymer Synthesizer, but the focus is on methods for duplicating and managing modulation targets and mappings across devices and layers.

Copying Modulation Mappings Between Modulators

Starting with an Example Setup

In the example, I have a Polygrid device with two modulators: a MIDI modulator and a vibrato modulator. The MIDI modulator has several modulation targets inside the grid, each with specific modulation amounts. For example, it modulates attenuate and amplifier by precise amounts, which are visible in the interface.

Creating and Assigning a New Modulator

If I want to introduce a new modulator, such as a macro knob, it starts with no mappings. To copy all existing modulation targets and their respective amounts from the MIDI modulator to the macro knob:

This is an effective way to clone or duplicate complex modulation routings from one modulator to another.

Copying Parameter Values Across Layers

Working with Instrument Layers

Suppose I use Ctrl+G to group a Polysynth into an Instrument Layer, then duplicate the first layer to create multiple instances. When I change a parameter like cutoff frequency in one layer, it does not affect the others by default.

Synchronizing Parameter Values

To copy the value from one layer to all others:

Now, all instances across the layers have the same parameter value. This can be repeated for any number of parameters, ensuring consistency across devices.

Managing Modulator Placement for Global Control

Moving Modulators to Parent Containers

Often I’ll want a macro knob or other modulator to affect parameters on all layers. If I create a modulator on just one layer, it won’t control the same parameter in others without duplication.

To move a modulator from a single layer to the parent container:

Cloning vs. Moving

If I drag without holding Control, the modulator is cloned, not moved. The original mapping remains only in the initial layer, and the new container instance has no mappings. Holding Control ensures the mapping remains intact during the move.

Copying Modulation Routings Across Layers

Transferring Modulation to All Layers

Even after moving a modulator to a parent layer, it may only control the parameter on its original layer. To propagate the modulation mapping to all layers:

Now, the modulator affects the same parameter on every layer at the same modulation amount.

Working with Multiple Modulators Simultaneously

Selecting and Moving Multiple Modulators

Bitwig makes it easy to manage several modulators at once:

Duplicating Modulation Mappings for Multiple Targets

Once multiple modulators are in place, I can right-click each target parameter and use “Copy modulation to all layers”. This way, macro controls and their corresponding modulation amounts are instantly unified across all instrument layers and synthesizers.

Conclusion: Efficient Modulation and Parameter Management

These techniques for copying values and modulation mappings within Bitwig Studio dramatically simplify complex sound design and workflow management. Right-clicking to copy both modulation values and routings enables fast setup when using multiple layers or devices. The ability to move or clone modulators, and then to synchronize their mappings across all layers, provides both flexibility and control, especially in advanced modulation-heavy patches. These features are particularly valuable for those who want consistency, speed, and organization in their modular or layered Bitwig projects.

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] So in this example, we have here one polygrid device,
[00:00:04] and it doesn't matter that's in polygrid.
[00:00:06] It can also be in polysynth or polymersynthesizer.
[00:00:10] It doesn't matter.
[00:00:12] It works with all devices.
[00:00:14] And we have two modulators attached to this polygrid here.
[00:00:18] We have a MIDI modulator,
[00:00:19] and we also have a vibrato modulator.
[00:00:22] And this MIDI modulator has a lot
[00:00:24] of different modulation targets,
[00:00:26] as you can see on the left side here.
[00:00:28] We modulate attenuate here inside of the grid
[00:00:31] by this amount, we modulate amplifier by this amount.
[00:00:34] So a lot of different modulation targets
[00:00:37] with very specific amounts.
[00:00:39] So let's imagine you want to create another,
[00:00:42] a new modulator, in this case here, we use a macro knob.
[00:00:46] And this one has no mappings because we just edit it.
[00:00:50] And we want to copy over all these modulation targets
[00:00:54] with these specific amounts over to the new modulator.
[00:00:57] And you can do that by right clicking
[00:01:00] on this blue modulator handle here, we right click.
[00:01:03] You can see here modulation routings for MIDI.
[00:01:06] And we just go here to copy.
[00:01:08] And then we right click on this modulator handle here
[00:01:12] and say paste.
[00:01:13] And now we copied over all the modulation mappings
[00:01:18] from this modulator, do this macro knob.
[00:01:21] And you can see when we turn here the knob,
[00:01:24] all these modulation targets work as expected.
[00:01:28] So it's an easy way of copying or cloning
[00:01:31] or duplicating modulation mappings
[00:01:34] from one modulator to the other.
[00:01:36] And because we talk about modulation mappings
[00:01:41] and copying modulation mappings from one device to the other,
[00:01:45] I maybe show you also the other tricks.
[00:01:49] So let's say we have a pulley sent here
[00:01:54] on this new channel.
[00:01:55] And we want to put this into an container.
[00:01:58] So we use control and G to group this
[00:02:01] into an instrument layer.
[00:02:03] And you just duplicate the first layer
[00:02:05] to have multiple instances of the same synthesizer
[00:02:08] in different layers.
[00:02:10] So now we have multiple instances of this pulley sent.
[00:02:14] And when we change for instance here
[00:02:16] the cutoff frequency on this instance,
[00:02:19] it doesn't change on the other layers, right?
[00:02:22] It's the same value as before.
[00:02:24] We changed only the cutoff knob in the first layer,
[00:02:27] as expected.
[00:02:29] So now we can just copy over the value of this one
[00:02:32] to all the other layers by right clicking on this knob here
[00:02:36] and say copy value to all layers.
[00:02:39] And now we have the same cutoff frequency
[00:02:43] on all the other layers, right?
[00:02:45] So it's an easy way of just copying over values, right click,
[00:02:50] copy value to all layers.
[00:02:51] Now the resonance has the same value
[00:02:54] on all the other instances.
[00:02:56] Easy way of copying basically just values.
[00:03:00] So let's imagine you want to add here a macro knob.
[00:03:04] And this macro knob changes the cutoff frequency
[00:03:10] on the first layer on this synthesizer.
[00:03:13] Kind of works.
[00:03:15] But we only have the modulator now on this layer
[00:03:18] and it's not only all the other layers, right?
[00:03:21] So we have to copy everything over.
[00:03:24] But the easy way to do this is basically
[00:03:27] to just move this modulator here one level higher
[00:03:32] by just clicking, dragging, and then you hold down control.
[00:03:37] And now we have copy and paste it or cut this out here
[00:03:44] and paste it this here into this parent container.
[00:03:47] And the mapping is still intact, right?
[00:03:49] You can see we still modulate here the cutoff frequency.
[00:03:53] So it still works.
[00:03:55] If you just copy this over, let's say you just click and drag,
[00:04:01] you can see we have a small little icon on the cursor here.
[00:04:04] It's just a small little plus symbol.
[00:04:07] If you just drag this over without using control,
[00:04:10] you basically clone or copy the modulator.
[00:04:14] You have the same modulator here as before
[00:04:18] with the mapping to the cutoff.
[00:04:20] And then we have this new modulator here,
[00:04:22] but there's no modulation mapping happening here at all.
[00:04:26] It's completely empty, right?
[00:04:28] So you need to use control.
[00:04:33] So you click, drag, and then you hold down control.
[00:04:37] And we just removed this here, removed it over here.
[00:04:40] Mapping is still intact.
[00:04:42] But now we have only a mapping from this container
[00:04:45] to the first layer, to this cutoff frequency
[00:04:48] of the first polysynth.
[00:04:50] But all the other, you know, mappings are missing.
[00:04:54] So we can also copy this over by right-clicking on this
[00:04:57] and say copy modulation to all layers
[00:04:59] instead of copy value to all layers.
[00:05:02] So now we want to copy the modulation mapping.
[00:05:05] So we use this, and now we may change the frequency
[00:05:08] or this modulator, we change the frequency
[00:05:10] of the first layer, and all the other layers too, right?
[00:05:15] So it's also a quick way of copying modulation mappings
[00:05:20] from one layer to the other layers.
[00:05:24] And if you do a lot of modulation,
[00:05:27] you have a lot of modulation targets,
[00:05:28] a lot of specific values for all these modulation targets.
[00:05:32] And it's pretty easy and pretty nice to have a feature like this
[00:05:36] to just copy mappings to other layers
[00:05:39] by right-clicking on the knob and say copy value to all layers
[00:05:43] or copy modulation to all layers.
[00:05:45] This also works for multiple modulators.
[00:05:50] So we are back here on the first layer.
[00:05:53] We add a macro and this macro changes the cutoff frequency
[00:05:58] and we add another one here
[00:06:01] and we change the resonance of the first layer.
[00:06:05] And now we just hold down the Alt key
[00:06:08] on Mac, it's probably the opposite.
[00:06:11] You have to use Control or Apple or whatever or Command key.
[00:06:16] I have no idea what it's called at the moment
[00:06:18] on the Apple ecosystem, but you have to experiment.
[00:06:22] I think it's just the Control or the Command key.
[00:06:25] On Windows, it's Alt, so you hold down Alt key
[00:06:29] and then you get this cross or this plus symbol, right?
[00:06:34] And then you just click and drag
[00:06:36] and you can select multiple modulators at once.
[00:06:40] And then you hold down Control and just drag this over here.
[00:06:43] And we have now copied over multiple modulators
[00:06:48] and all the modulation targets are basically in place.
[00:06:53] And you can do your copy modulation to all layers,
[00:06:57] copy modulation to all layers.
[00:06:59] And now we can change the frequency and the resonance
[00:07:02] on all the layers in the same amounts.
[00:07:06] so it works equally nice.