Topics / Bitwig Studio / Bitwig Grid / Bitwig Grid Modules / Grid Oscillator Modules / Phase-1

Phase-1

Bitwig Platform

Phase-1 module panel in Bitwig Grid
Phase-1 in Bitwig Grid 6.0.6.

A phase-distortion oscillator with five algorithms, controllable Shape, integer Formant harmonics, and output-to-phase Feedback.

What it does

Phase-1 reshapes the speed at which a sine cycle is traversed instead of directly drawing a new waveform. Algorithm selects the phase-distortion topology, Shape controls its breakpoint or compression, Formant inserts additional sine cycles, and Feedback sends the previous output back into phase.

Controls and ports

Control Label Official description
algorithm Algorithm [various shapes] Defines the waveshape used across all possible Shape settings:
shape Shape Determines the waveshape within the current Algorithm
formant Formant [harmonic 1 (fundamental) to 9] Harmonic inserted as additional sine cycles within the waveshape
feedback Feedback Amount of output signal fed back for phase modulation

Practical uses

  • Choose an Algorithm, keep Feedback low, and sweep Shape to learn that topology's harmonic direction.
  • Raise Formant for brighter, vocal, or metallic spectra while the root pitch remains controlled separately.
  • Add Feedback last for sharper and more chaotic spectra, because it makes the oscillator state-dependent.

Things to know

  • Phase distortion changes phase timing before a sine lookup; it is related to classic CZ-style synthesis but includes Bitwig-specific algorithms.
  • Formant is an integer harmonic selector from the fundamental through harmonic 9.
  • Feedback is phase modulation from the oscillator's own previous output and therefore changes both spectrum and initial transient.
  • Use Ratio 0:1 and 100-percent Phase In amount when an external phase signal should drive the algorithm without internal phase progression.
  • The implementation has five algorithm branches numbered 0 through 4, but their visible icon names still need a curated mapping.

Technical details

A high-confidence Nitro implementation candidate supports the technical summary, but the visible-module mapping remains inferred.

The confirmed grid_phase1 implementation derives algorithm-specific pre- and post-breakpoint gains from Shape and Formant, maps phase through that piecewise function, then evaluates sineWF5 with an algorithm-specific quarter-cycle shift. Shape is limited below 1 to keep the divisor finite. Feedback is applied recursively within each four-sample processing group: the previous output offsets the first phase, then each newly calculated sample offsets the next. Trigger, additive external phase, ratio, and stereo detune surround this core.

Nitro port Type
pitchValue InputAudioPortType
pitchOffset InputAudioPortType
numerator InputValuePortType
denominator InputValuePortType
triggerIn InputAudioPortType
phaseIn InputAudioPortType
phaseMod InputAudioPortType
stereo InputValuePortType
shape InputAudioPortType
detune InputAudioPortType
algorithm InputValuePortType
formant InputValuePortType
feedback InputAudioPortType
out OutputAudioPortType

Open questions

  • Map Algorithms 0 through 4 to their visible icons and publish their exact piecewise equations as separate diagrams.
  • Measure Feedback scaling, reset state, block-boundary behavior, and spectra across Formant values.

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 Phase-1 module, Bitwig Grid Phase-1, Phase-1 Grid module