Topics / Bitwig Studio / Bitwig Grid / Bitwig Grid Modules / Grid Math Modules / Subtract

Subtract

Bitwig Platform

Subtract module panel in Bitwig Grid
Subtract in Bitwig Grid 6.0.6.

Subtracts the second input from the first input, sample by sample.

What it does

Subtract outputs the difference between its inputs. Identical inputs cancel to zero; a difference remains wherever the two signals disagree.

Controls and ports

The wrapper exposes two ordered signal inputs and one output: the second or lower input is subtracted from the first or upper input. An unconnected inlet contributes zero.

Practical uses

  • Compare two signals: a zero result means their current sample values are equal.
  • Leave the first inlet at zero and patch the second to obtain a polarity-inverted signal.
  • Subtract right from left to derive an unnormalized stereo side or difference signal.

Things to know

  • Input order matters: a - b is the polarity inverse of b - a.
  • There is no clipping or normalization in the mapped operation.
  • Identical finite inputs cancel, but feeding the same +∞ signal to both inputs generates NaN; Value Readout shows that result as blank.
  • The common phrase phase inversion is used in production, but this module performs polarity inversion and does not introduce a time shift.

Technical details

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

Confirmed by the mapped Nitro AST: out = in1 - in2. With an unconnected first input behaving as zero, the useful special case is 0 - x = -x. In the live diagnostic patch, Reciprocal(0) - the same Reciprocal(0) output generated NaN, represented by a blank Value Readout while the source control displayed +∞.

Nitro port Type
in1 InputAudioPortType
in2 InputAudioPortType
out OutputAudioPortType

Simple process assignments:

  • out = (in1 - in2)

Open questions

  • Test NaN behavior and recovery at audio rate.

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 Subtract module, Bitwig Grid Subtract, Subtract Grid module