Topics / Bitwig Studio / Bitwig Grid / Bitwig Grid Modules / Grid Pitch Modules / Pitch Class

Pitch Class

Bitwig Platform

Pitch Class module panel in Bitwig Grid
Pitch Class in Bitwig Grid 6.0.6.

Outputs a chosen note class in a selected octave as a constant Grid pitch signal.

What it does

The current editorial summary is: Outputs a chosen note class in a selected octave as a constant Grid pitch signal.

Pitch Class is a note-formatted constant. It turns the selected chromatic note, octave, and optional wrapping threshold into the pitch value used throughout the Grid.

Controls and ports

Control Label Official description
note Note Key formatted as a pitch
readout Current Pitch [display] Readout of the current pitch

Practical uses

  • Create a readable fixed pitch reference for an oscillator or note-processing calculation.
  • Subtract it from Root Key to calculate the interval between an assumed source key and Bitwig's current global root.
  • Use several Pitch Class modules as note constants when constructing chords or scale logic.

Things to know

  • Pitch Class describes a fixed note chosen in the patch; it does not follow the global key signature by itself.
  • Octave sets the register, while Wrap Key can move selected pitch classes down one octave to keep a preferred voicing range.
  • The pitch-signal output uses Bitwig's semitone conversion with C3 as the zero reference.

Technical details

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

The exact Nitro mapping calculates key = pitch_class + 12 * (octave + 2). If wrapping is enabled and the pitch class is at or above the selected Wrap Key, it subtracts 12 semitones, except in octave -2. It then applies Bitwig's fromSemitones conversion and also retains the raw semitone key internally.

Nitro port Type
pitch_class InputValuePortType
octave InputValuePortType
wrapping_pitch InputValuePortType
out OutputAudioPortType
pitch_out OutputAudioPortType

Simple process assignments:

  • out = fromSemitones(cast(key, f32))
  • pitch_out = cast(key, f32)

Open questions

  • None currently.

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 Pitch Class module, Bitwig Grid Pitch Class, Pitch Class Grid module