Fade Between Different Audio Effects and Instruments in BitwigStudio
Tutorial | Dec 07, 2020
In this video, I showed how to use BitwigStudio's new FX Fader and Instrument Fader container devices to combine multiple instruments, audio FX and VSTs. I demonstrated how to use the modulator curves to create smooth transitions between layers and how to use the devices to add different effects to a hip hop loop and a synth patch. I also highlighted how to use the FX Fader to add random preset layers to a polygrid. Finally, I encouraged viewers to download the free presets and leave comments with any questions.
You can watch the Video on Youtube - support me on Patreon
Questions & Answers #
Maybe you dont watch the video, here are some important takeaways:
What are the container devices in BitwigStudio? #
Container devices in BitwigStudio are devices which allow users to combine multiple instruments, audio FX, VSTs, and other larger devices within one device. They include the FX layer which allows multiple audio FX to play at the same time in parallel, and the FX selector which allows one layer to be selected at a time with multiple options.
What is the new FX Fader preset in BitwigStudio? #
The new FX Fader preset in BitwigStudio is an empty 8 slot FX layer which allows users to fade between layers of effects seamlessly. It is possible to do this due to the new update which includes modulator curves with logarithmic scaling to the modulation.
How can the Instrument Fader preset in BitwigStudio be used? #
The Instrument Fader preset in BitwigStudio allows users to add different instruments and VSTs to each layer and then fade between multiple instruments. This can be used to create interesting sounds and effects.
How can someone access the free FX Fader and Instrument Fader presets in BitwigStudio? #
The free FX Fader and Instrument Fader presets
Transcription #
This is what im talking about in this video. The text is transcribed by AI, 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.
[00:00.000] Hey guys, welcome back to another video.
[00:02.920] BitwigStudio has these so-called container devices where we can combine multiple instruments,
[00:09.240] audio FX, VSTs, too much, much larger devices, and for instance we have the FX layer where
[00:17.000] we can have multiple audio FX playing at the same time in parallel or we have the FX selector
[00:23.080] where we can just select one layer at a time switching through these layers with multiple
[00:29.000] options.
[00:30.000] But there's one container type missing and I want to show you what I mean.
[00:40.560] So I have here this hip hop loop running inside BitwigStudio and I also increase the scaling
[00:45.760] of BitwigStudio so you can see or watch this tutorial on your smartphone and no, I'm
[00:50.800] not blind.
[00:52.800] Yeah, on this audio track here we can insert now one of my new presets so it's called
[00:59.680] FX Fader and from the name you can probably tell what it does.
[01:05.920] It's an empty 8 slot FX layer and you can fade between these layers pretty seamlessly.
[01:13.000] As you can see here.
[01:19.880] There's no volume gap whatsoever between the transitioning of layer 1, 2 or 3.
[01:27.080] And this is possible because of the new update we have now here these new modulator curves
[01:34.600] where you can apply here logarithmic scaling to the modulation.
[01:39.360] So all these layers are empty at the moment but you can apply a lot of effects to each
[01:45.520] of these layers of course and this gives some interesting results.
[01:49.880] For instance we can go here for pitch shifter or pitch shifter 12 semitones up on re-brop or
[02:08.360] we can go here maybe for filter, low pass, maybe we can go for a filter high pass here
[02:22.800] and then just blend between these options.
[02:48.360] If you apply some modulation to the fading knob here you can also create some interesting
[02:53.520] riddening effects if you now sync it to the beat.
[02:57.760] So this can be interesting but there's also the possibility to apply this to certain sounds
[03:03.840] for instance pad sounds, the boolean for instance there we go for boolean and then you take
[03:13.000] an fx fader and then you apply a lot of different reburbs to the layers.
[03:23.200] For instance we can go here for supermassive just load you some different effects on each
[03:32.080] layer or different preset on each layer.
[03:37.480] You have to make sure that you actually put these devices on the layer and you don't
[03:43.240] replace the layer.
[03:44.640] If you replace the layer then the modulation for the volume of this layer is of course removed
[03:50.560] so make sure you move the device on the layer itself.
[03:55.440] Not just here just move it here okay so this is something you have to be aware of so maybe
[04:03.240] choose your different reverb preset maybe this one here, I call this quarter note maybe
[04:13.640] something like this okay so let's try this out, close this down and we have here just
[04:20.680] a regular synth patch, nothing special but reverb will make it epic.
[04:36.000] There you put here another reverb, a bit too big one.
[05:01.480] Maybe you can apply us some pitch shifting before the reverb, got it 12.
[05:31.280] So
[05:58.340] This is also nice here to just use a random and move between the layers slowly.
[06:28.340] So it can be an interesting effect to more between different layers of effects, audio effects in this FX
[06:41.660] Fader preset here. There's also of course a device or preset called Instrument Fader and it works
[06:49.300] exactly the same. You have an instrument layer, you have a polygrid or FX grid and you can add some
[06:58.740] of your instruments to these layers. So you can go here completely for different polysens.
[07:04.940] And maybe we go here for one of my presets, Rumble, Rumble, which creates random presets on the fly.
[07:21.140] This here generate, generate, generate, and this should be, yeah, interesting, hopefully.
[07:51.140] Maybe create some more, yeah. Just for the fun. Okay, so eight layers of polysens with random presets on it.
[08:21.140] Could be more interesting if you actually use different instruments, different VSTs and so on on these layers
[08:49.700] and then fade between multiple instruments. Can be interesting. Of course, try it out. These presets are free.
[08:57.780] You can download them in the description. Tell me what you think. So leave me comments if you want.
[09:02.980] If you have some questions, of course, then leave it in the comments too. Subscribe to the channel. Leave a like if you like this video.
[09:09.220] And please go to my Patreon and subscribe on Patreon because it helps me a lot. Thanks for watching and I see you in the next video. Bye.