Quick Tip for Channel Comparing Frequencies in Bitwig

Tutorial | Feb 09, 2024

In this video, I show a quick tip for mixing and mastering in Bitwig Studio. Instead of constantly moving the spectrum analyzer to compare different elements, I suggest using FX or return busses. By sending different tracks to the spectrum analyzer on separate FX channels, you can easily compare and adjust the frequency distribution of various elements in your mix.

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In this Bitwig Studio tutorial, I shared a quick tip for mixing and mastering, especially focusing on comparing frequency distributions between elements such as kick drums, bass, and other parts using spectrum analyzers. Here are the key points:

• Using Spectrum Analyzers: Normally, to compare the frequency distribution of elements like the kick drums and the bass, you'd use a spectrum analyzer placed after the bass synth to see the frequency distribution and identify overlapping frequencies.

• Switching Comparisons: Switching elements to compare, like music bus or pads with drums/bass, can be tedious due to the need to move the spectrum analyzer or change inputs.

• Efficient Method: I discovered a more efficient method by utilizing FX or return buses in Bitwig Studio. By creating an additional FX track and using a spectrum analyzer on it, you can compare different elements by simply using the send knobs on the tracks.

• Practical Implementation: This method allows for quick and easy comparisons without the hassle of moving analyzers around. It's particularly useful on the mixing screen, providing direct access to send knobs for fast switching between elements to analyze.

• Use of Oscilloscope: I also mentioned the possibility of using an oscilloscope instead of a spectrum analyzer, noting a small issue with color coding being opposite (e.g., drums appearing blue in one case and orange in another), which might be a bug.

This approach streamlines the mixing and mastering process in Bitwig Studio, making it quicker and more convenient to compare the frequency distributions of various elements in your mix.

Questions & Answers #

Maybe you dont watch the video, here are some important takeaways:

What is the main tip for mixing and mastering inside of Bitwig Studio? #

The main tip for mixing and mastering in Bitwig Studio is to use spectrum analyzers to compare the frequency distribution of different elements in the mix, such as kick drums, bass, and pads. This can be done by importing the different tracks into the spectrum analyzer and overlaying their frequency distributions for quick comparison.

How can the FX or return busses in BitX Studio be used for this purpose? #

Instead of moving the spectrum analyzer around or using multiple analyzers to compare different elements in the mix, FX or return busses can be used. By creating separate FX tracks and setting up the spectrum analyzer on these channels, different tracks can be sent to the analyzer using the send buttons or knobs, allowing for quick comparisons without the need for constant adjustments.

What is the advantage of using the spectrum analyzer on the mixing screen? #

Using the spectrum analyzer on the mixing screen provides direct access to send different tracks to the analyzer for quick comparisons. This eliminates the need to navigate through different windows or screens, making the mixing and mastering process more efficient and streamlined.

Are there any limitations or issues when using the oscilloscope function? #

When using the oscilloscope function in conjunction with the spectrum analyzer, there is a small problem regarding the coloring of the tracks. The colors of the tracks in the oscilloscope do not match the colors in the spectrum analyzer, which can sometimes be confusing and misleading. This issue may need to be reported to the software developers for a potential fix.

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.

[00:00:00] In this video, I want to give you a quick tip for mixing and mastering inside of Bitwig Studio.
[00:00:06] So usually when you want to compare the frequency distribution of, let's say, the kick drums
[00:00:11] or the drums in general and the bass, right, you use usually some kind of spectrum analyzer
[00:00:18] here.
[00:00:19] I use it after the bass synth.
[00:00:21] You can see here the frequency distribution of the bass, right?
[00:00:25] And then you import here for the second input, you just take the drums and then you can overlay
[00:00:32] here the frequency distribution of the drums and compare it to the bass, right?
[00:00:38] You can see here there are some overlapping frequencies.
[00:00:41] So this is pretty well known, I guess.
[00:00:45] But sometimes you want to quickly change what you compare.
[00:00:49] So you want to compare maybe the music bus or the pads with the drums or the pads with
[00:00:55] the bass and so on.
[00:00:56] And then it becomes more tedious because you have to move the spectrum analyzer around
[00:01:01] or you have to use multiple spectrum analyzers and then move them around and then you select
[00:01:07] different here inputs, right?
[00:01:08] So it's a bit tedious.
[00:01:10] So I found out sometimes it's more interesting or better or quicker to use it on the FX or
[00:01:18] return busses in BitX Studio.
[00:01:20] So here I have FX1 already in place and I usually don't use FX buses or these return
[00:01:27] buses in general because I like to have all my effects on the track itself.
[00:01:32] So here I have just one FX track and I create another one, two.
[00:01:37] And here I basically use a spectrum analyzer on the second channel and I import for B here
[00:01:45] the FX channel one, three.
[00:01:48] And then I send here the output to no output and also here no output, right?
[00:01:56] So now we can just take the spectrum analyzer, detach it as a separate window here and can
[00:02:03] maybe use this on a second screen or just in the corner here.
[00:02:07] And then all I have to do is I just go to my tracks here and use the send buttons or
[00:02:12] send knobs.
[00:02:17] So now I have here the drums and then I bring in here, let's say the bass.
[00:02:21] You can compare it quickly to the bass.
[00:02:24] You can also go here maybe to the synth.
[00:02:28] You can see if the drums are actually overlapping here with the drums and so on.
[00:02:34] So this is more or better or quicker sometimes and it's also pretty handy on this mixing
[00:02:42] screen because you have direct access here to these knobs, right?
[00:02:45] So you can quickly go around and send different things to the spectrum analyzer and then
[00:02:50] compare it quickly.
[00:02:52] So this is my idea for mixing and mastering with the spectrum analyzer.
[00:02:59] By the way, you can also use here instead only using the spectrum analyzer, you can
[00:03:03] also use the oscilloscope if you want to.
[00:03:07] But that's a problem, a small problem.
[00:03:09] So here B we select also FX1, pre.
[00:03:14] And then we have to use, of course, certain things.
[00:03:18] You can see the problem here is the coloring is completely the opposite.
[00:03:23] A is blue and here A is orange.
[00:03:26] So if you detach this here also and put it on a second screen or in the corner here,
[00:03:35] it kind of messes you up sometimes.
[00:03:37] So here the drums are blue and here drums are orange and then you bring in here, let's
[00:03:44] say the bass.
[00:03:46] It's completely opposite.
[00:03:47] So it's a bit, yeah, it's probably a bug.
[00:03:51] I probably have to report this.
[00:03:54] So just the coloring is basically the opposite, right?
[00:03:57] A is blue and here A is orange.
[00:03:59] But yeah.
[00:04:01] So I thought it's kind of handy to show you this.
[00:04:03] Maybe it's useful to you.
[00:04:05] If you like it, please like the video, subscribe to the channel.
[00:04:08] Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next video.
[00:04:10] Bye.