Sound Design

In this video, I show viewers how to use a sound design approach to create music in Bitwig Studio. We start with a generative patch to create random patterns of notes and sounds. Then, we bounce this out as an audio file and use it as a sample source. We add a simple kick drum pattern and use an audio sidechain to modulate the amplitude of the music group. Next, we create a bassline using the Phase-4 device and add a Classic LFO and FX2 device for added effects. We bounce out the created sounds and create collages of these sounds to keep the track interesting. This approach doesn't focus on harmony or chords but rather heavily relies on the sound itself. You can create more sounds and variations to make the song even more interesting. Overall, this is a sound design-based approach to music creation in Bitwig Studio.

I just installed the Morph EQ by Minimal Audio and wanted to share my first impressions of it. It is an EQ that allows you to draw in the desired EQ curves, giving you a lot of sound design possibilities. You can assign an LFO to it or use automation to modulate the curves. It also has a randomize option which can create some great results. It's a great plugin for sound design and I would definitely recommend it.

The Bitwig Studio Test Tone device is a versatile tool that generates various sounds like sine, triangle, square, saw, white noise, pink noise, and direct impulses, making it ideal for testing speakers, effect chains, or system setups. Clever use of modulation and containers allows you to transform it into monophonic or polyphonic synthesizers, customize sound shaping with macros and envelopes, and even create impulse responses for convolution effects. Additionally, the Test Tone can be creatively combined with devices like ring modulators for unique sound design possibilities.

In this video, I share some tips and tricks for sound design in Bitwig Studio. I start by showing how to use the System Audio Bridge and Rolling Sampler tools to record audio from the browser into Bitwig. Then, I demonstrate how to use a sample to shape a sign oscillator in order to create a richer kick drum sound. Next, I show how to use a convolution device to add tonality to a hi-hat and how to apply this technique to synth sounds as well. Finally, I demonstrate how to use convolution for clap and percussion sounds and how to shape these sounds using various modules in Bitwig. Overall, the key to getting the most out of these techniques is to pay attention to the input sound and shape it appropriately to achieve the desired results.

The Bitwig Studio Polysynth features two identical oscillators with flexible waveform shaping, unison, sync, blend operators, and the ability to blend with noise and modulate filter parameters. It offers robust filtering options, two envelope generators for amplitude and filter shaping, and extensive modulation and voice control for a highly customizable sound. Additional options and voice modes can be accessed through the inspector panel, providing versatile sound design capabilities.

In this video, I discuss Visco, a new drum sampler that was released five days ago. It is a unique drum sampler that divides the samples into the spectral domain and allows for morphing and twisting using modifiers. This tool is perfect for sound design and specifically designed for percussive sounds.

Last week, I attended Superbooth in Berlin, where I checked out a lot of synth and software gear, including a standout product from GRM Tools called Atelier, a semi-modular VST focused on sound design and ambience that really impressed me with its intuitive interface and high-quality sound. Developed by just two people (one being a musician), Atelier reminds me of Bitwig’s modular approach and looks promising for creative sound exploration, especially with its excellent modulation options and channel routing features. Look out for its release in September, I’ve included a link to their site below if you want to stay updated!

In this video I demonstrated how to use the Supermassive reverb plugin by Valhalla to create unique sound designs. I showed how to use the noise module and the pitch shifting capabilities of the plugin to create strange, disharmonic sounds. I also demonstrated how to add distortion and filters to shape the sounds, as well as how to use multiple instances of the plugin for even more sound design possibilities. Finally, I showed how to bounce the sounds out and use them in a sampler or in a track.

In this video, I discuss how I created a track for my YouTube shorts playlist. I start by explaining my mastering chain, including a glitch plug-in, DSEQ, and a multi-band limiter. Then I move on to discuss the drums, using a Transient Clicker preset and UltraFat to bring out the frequencies. I also use a Deep Blue Glitch, DSEQ and hard clip to add complexity. For the bass, I use a pattern of three notes and a quantizer, as well as a phase four. I also use a pitch map to create melody harmonics, a tool device for side-chaining, and a Poly-Grid to make a "scratch" sound. Finally, I discuss how this track is unfinished, and I use it to practice and learn new techniques.

The Curves LFO is a customizable LFO that allows you to draw your own modulation shapes, synchronize them to tempo, and fine-tune settings like smoothing, retriggering, and polarity for precise control. You can edit the shape grid, snap points to rhythm divisions, save and recall curves, and apply modulation to synth parameters such as filter cutoff, supporting both monophonic and polyphonic modes. Its versatility enables you to create dynamic, rhythmically synchronized modulations and unique sound design movements, all fully integrated with your project’s groove and timing.

The DC Offset device in Bitwig Studio is a simple tool designed to correct DC offsets in audio recordings but becomes much more powerful with modulation, enabling creative sound design techniques like custom synthesizers, saturation, and bit-crushing effects. By converting audio signals into modulation sources, users can reshape, process, and reintroduce signals in unique ways, utilizing the full range of Bitwig modulators. This foundational device, while basic in concept, opens the door to a variety of experimental audio effects and advanced signal manipulation.

The LFO in Bitwig Studio offers unique features, including audio-rate modulation and pitch-following based on MIDI input, making it versatile for both sound design and sequencing. It provides flexible synchronization options, customizable wave shapes, delay and fade-in functions, as well as polarity, phase, and polyphony controls for deep creative modulation. With these powerful tools, users can shape sounds, create evolving sequences, and even build entire synthesizers using the LFO module.

Parsec-8 in Bitwig Studio is an 8-step bipolar sequencer modulator with individual step disabling, holds, and output handles for each step, offering flexible modulation and creative playback options, including phase offset, smoothing, speed control, and direction modes. Unique to Parsec-8, each step can be modulated independently, with playback synced to transport, free-running, or even driven by note or pitch inputs, enabling advanced rhythmic and sound design possibilities, from stepped LFOs to monophonic synths. The device supports intricate timing adjustments, groove integration, and real-time musical manipulation, making it a versatile tool for dynamic modulation and draw-your-own oscillator shapes.

The Wavetable LFO in Bitwig Studio lets you swap traditional LFO waveforms for wavetables, allowing for fluid modulation between shapes like sine, triangle, saw, and square, and offering advanced options like polyphonic mode, bipolar switching, and synchronized timing. This modulator can control various parameters or even act as an oscillator, especially when paired with pitch-tracking and phase options for creative sound design. You can layer multiple Wavetable LFOs on any device for unique and complex results, making it a powerful tool for both modulation and synthesis.

The Filter+ device in Bitwig Studio is a highly versatile and modular audio effect combining distortion and filtering, allowing users to shape and enhance sound in creative ways. It offers extensive customization, from swapping distortion and filter modules to flexible modulation options using built-in or external modulators, and even supports polyphonic processing for advanced sound design. With features like pre- and post-FX slots and the ability to convert to an FX grid for deep editing, Filter+ stands out as a powerful tool for everything from subtle coloring to building complex resonators and synthesizers.

Forever 89 has released VISCO 2.0, a drum sampler and synthesizer that allows users to morph between different sounds and easily play them in key without needing to set a root note. The update introduces new tonal features, enabling users to turn samples into playable synth patches, create pads, and experiment with harmonics and modulation for unique sonic results. The upgrade is free for existing owners and brings enhanced flexibility and creativity, making it even more useful for sound design and music production.

In this video, I explain how to use frequency modulation (FM) synthesis in Bitwig Studio, showcasing different and unusual ways to apply FM. I demonstrate how to modulate the frequency in a linear way using the speed knob in a sampler, creating harmonic and disharmonic sounds. Additionally, I explore FM techniques using wavetable LFOs, feedback modulation, and modulating the delay time.

This transcript explores how warp modes and phase manipulation in synthesizers like Vital, Zebra, and Bitwig’s Grid can greatly expand the sound possibilities beyond the basic wavetable or sine oscillators. By creatively altering the phase or ramp signal with effects and modulators, you can transform simple waveforms into diverse and complex sounds, even simulating unison and adding rich movement without using traditional wavetable oscillators. The process is accessible, flexible, and allows for the export and reuse of custom waveforms, encouraging experimentation and sound design beyond standard limitations.