Topics / Bitwig Studio / Bitwig Grid / Bitwig Grid Modules / Grid Pitch Modules / Freq → Pitch

Freq → Pitch

Bitwig Platform

Freq → Pitch module panel in Bitwig Grid
Freq → Pitch in Bitwig Grid 6.0.6.

A logarithmic converter from frequency in hertz or kilohertz to Bitwig's semitone pitch signal.

What it does

Freq → Pitch turns a linear frequency value into the logarithmic pitch representation expected by oscillators and pitch processors. The Unit setting decides whether an input value of one means 1 Hz or 1 kHz; an unpatched input uses +1.0 according to installed localization.

Controls and ports

In accepts frequency and defaults to +1.0 when unconnected. Unit selects Hz or kHz, optional Stereo-ize behavior can create a stereo pitch relationship, and Out emits a pitch signal with C3 at zero.

Practical uses

  • Convert the frequency output of an analyzer or custom calculation into a signal that can drive a Grid oscillator's pitch input.
  • Build frequency-domain modulation first, then return to semitone space for quantization or transposition.
  • Use kHz when a convenient control range is centered around values such as 0.1 to 10 instead of 100 to 10000.

Things to know

  • Frequency is linear while pitch is logarithmic: doubling frequency always adds 12 semitones.
  • In Hz mode, approximately 261.6256 Hz becomes C3 or raw pitch 0; 440 Hz becomes A3 or raw pitch +0.075, displayed as +9 semitones.
  • Zero frequency maps mathematically toward negative infinity and negative frequency has no real logarithmic pitch, so exact invalid-input handling must be measured.
  • The automatic Hard Kick candidate is unrelated and has been rejected.

Technical details

No Nitro implementation has been confirmed for this visible module. The behavior is described conservatively from module metadata and editorial research.

After unit conversion to hertz, the raw output is pitch_raw = 0.1*log2(freq_hz/261.625565). The readable semitone distance is 120*pitch_raw = 12*log2(freq_hz/261.625565). This is strongly corroborated by recovered toSemitones/fromSemitones usage and DSP using 440*2^((midi_note-69)/12), but the visible converter's invalid-domain policy is unrecovered.

Open questions

  • Measure exact outputs for 1, 20, 261.625565, 440, 1000, and 20000 Hz and equivalent kHz values.
  • Test zero, negative, subnormal, infinity, and NaN input plus unit-switch smoothing.
  • Verify the advertised stereo detune or Stereo-ize option, mono/stereo lane handling, sample accuracy, and voice scope.

Version and sources

Checked against Bitwig Studio 6.0.6. This page combines Bitwig's module metadata, the existing Grid course and guides, and Nitro analysis where the mapping is strong enough to support a technical statement.

Return to Bitwig Grid Modules or the Grid Modules course lesson.

Also matches: Bitwig Freq → Pitch module, Bitwig Grid Freq → Pitch, Freq → Pitch Grid module