Base Bitwig Control Script
Contents
[hide]Overview
The Base Control Script for Bitwig Studio is an incredibly flexible workflow that gives you access to playing, editing, and composing in any track, device, instrument, or clip. Taking full advantage of Bitwig's advanced scripting engine, the Base is easily mapped to different parts of the program: clip launching, mixing, playing drums, adjusting effects, playing synths, recording clips, and even step-sequencing midi notes. With intuitive use of the side function buttons, and clever use of shifted (momentary) settings, the compact Base controller can do almost anything in Bitwig, and do it well.
This documentation assumes some familiarity with Bitwig Studio's Clip Grid, Arrangement View, Devices, Drum Machines, Instruments, and Audio Tracks. More information can be found at Bitwig's website
Download and Installation
There is no need to download the scripts for Bitwig, as all scripts are delivered with the program. However, there may be a bug fix or new feature between Bitwig updates. If you want to try the latest scripts as we improve them, you can download them from our github repository
Installation
If you need to update the scripts, here's how you manually install the Bitwig script files. While it is possible to install these scripts in your user directory, we recommend that you replace the scripts in the Application Package itself. Otherwise you will end up with duplicate scripts in your Control Surfaces preferences which could lead to confusion.
Mac OSX
- Right click on the Bitwig Studio application icon and select Show Package Contents.
- Navigate to /Contents/Resources/ControlSurfaceScripts/livid
- Create a backup of existing script files.
- Replace existing Livid script files with files downloaded from Github.
- Alternatively, you can install in ~/Documents/Bitwig Studio/Controller Scripts/
Windows
- Navigate to C:\Program Files\Bitwig Studio\resources\controllers\livid
- Create a backup of existing script files.
- Replace existing Livid script files with files downloaded from Github.
- Alternatively, you can install in MyDocuments/Bitwig Studio/Controller Scripts/
Linux
- Navigate to /opt/bitwig-studio/resources/controllers/livid (found using the whereis bitwig command)
- Create a backup of existing script files.
- Replace existing Livid script files with files downloaded from Github.
- Alternatively, you can install in Home>Bitwig Studio>Controller Scripts
Install Video
Tutorial Video
A complete tutorial to using the Base with Bitwig can be viewed on our YouTube channel:
Watch Tutorial Video
Illustrated Guide
A PDF with all modes for all controllers illustrated can be downloaded here.
The Modes
Basic Conventions
The Base Control Script attempts to access as many different functions in Bitwig as possible, while keeping tasks focused and available as needed.
Video
There are four main Modes: Clips, Sends & Returns, Device, and Sequence. Function buttons 1-4 (beneath the LCD display) are used to select the modes. The selected mode is reflected by the currently lit Mode button as well as the left character in the alpha-numeric display.
The Mode Buttons also provide a function shift mechanism. Hold down the current Mode button, and the pads will re-map to functions that extend the current mode with features that are convenient, but not necessary for dedicated controls. Releasing the shift button will return the Base to the normal mode functions.
In Modes 2 and 3, this shift function adds controls for tracks that host synths and drum machines. The top row of touch buttons can modify how the velocity sensitive pads are mapped to notes for playing instruments. When shifted (Mode 2 or 3 button held down), the top row of Touch Pads will change from Track Select function to a Scale Modify Mode. This allows reassignment of what notes are applied to the pads. While changing manipulating these controls, the current value of the parameter will be displayed in the alpha-numeric display as well as at the bottom of Live's GUI. See the graphic Modifying Scales with shift mode in the Scale Settings section.
Function buttons 4-8 below the Mode Buttons allow the User to navigate to clips within Live, depending on the active mode. In Mode 1 (Mix) and for audio tracks these buttons are used for moving the clip grid for launching clips. In Modes 2, 3, and 4, these buttons are used to launch, create, and navigate to clips in the selected track.
The Touch Pads above the Touch Strips are always mapped to track selection (except when shifted). For the case when a MIDI track is selected in Mode 2 or 3, holding the mode select button will reassigned the Touch Pads to control how notes are mapped to the Velocity Pads.
Finally, if you are in Mode 2,3 or 4, you can hold down a Track Select button at the top to momentarily display the current clips in session view if you need to quickly fire off a clip, and the last column of velocity sensitive pads maps to scene launch for the rows in the current session view. The bottom four function buttons will re-map to Clip Grid navigation.
When you see a hand icon like this, it indicates that holding down the button will momentarily re-map the controls to new functions and the functions will revert to normal maps when the button is released.This may seem like a lot of "button jockeying," but the amount of practice needed is minimal, since the functions group around the Modes.
Clips Mode
Video
The Clips mode is for triggering clips in the Mix or Arrange View, and for navigating which clips are in the clip grid. The sliders adjust volume, and the top touch buttons are used to select a track. Press function button 1 on the side to put the Base into Clips mode. If you want to launch a Scene, hold down the top track select button, and Scenes will appear on the far-right column.
Shifted Clips Mode
Hold down function button 1 to change the pads assignments so you can control track parameters Mute, Solo, Arm Record, and Stop All Clips.
Sends/Return Mode
Video
Function button 2 accesses Sends and Returns mode. This assigns the sliders to control up to four send volumes for the selected track and control the volumes of up to four Effect Tracks. The top touch buttons are used to select the active Track to control its Send volumes. The bottom four function buttons are used for controlling individual clips. You can navigate to and select a clip to play using the clip up and down buttons, create a new, 1 bar clip in an empty clip slot, launch the currently selected clip (or begin recording into it if it is an empty clip slot)
If the selected track is an Audio Track, the pad assignments are the same as in Clips Mode, and can be used for launching clips in the Clips View.
If the selected track is an Instrument track, then the Base pads are used for playing the instrument or drum machine in the track.
Holding down function button 2 creates momentary assignments for the top touch buttons and the pads. These assignments will be different if an Audio Track is selected or |Instrument Track is selected
Holding down the track select button on the top row of touch buttons will momentarily assign the pads to Clip Launch and the bottom four function buttons to Clip Grid Navigation (as in Clips Mode)
Device Mode
Video
If you want to control effects and synth parameters, then press function button 3 to enter Device Mode. This assigns the sliders to the first eight parameters in a device. The bottom four function buttons are used for selecting, creating, and launching clips in the track. Hold down the Device Mode button to shift these buttons so you can use them to navigate to more parameters and access other devices in the chain for control with the Base sliders.
The pads are assigned to clips or instruments, depending on the type of track.
Holding down the track select button on the top row of touch buttons will momentarily assign the pads to Clip Launch and the bottom four function buttons to Clip Grid Navigation (as in Clips Mode)
Playing Instruments and Drums
If a track with an instrument is selected in the Sends or Device modes, then you can play the instrument or drum machine with the velocity sensitive pads on the Base. The pads will set up automatically for drums or synths. You can also use the Shift button (function button 2 or 3) to turn the top touch buttons into Scale editors to change the notes that are applied to the Base pads.
Drums
In Send or Device mode, you can easily play a drum machine using the Base velocity sensitive pads. This maybe the only thing you ever use the Base for, and it's a worthy specialty. Just select a track that hosts a drum machine, and the pads will automatically map.
Shifted Drums
Holding down function button 2 or 3 will momentarily re-assign the top touch buttons so you can jump banks in the drum machine.
Instruments and Scales
Pads will automatically map notes to scales when a track that hosts an instrument is selected. Instrument pads are color-coded to help you easily recognize melody and keep track of notes. Keyboardists will appreciate the reference to piano key colors: Red (or magenta) key is root, blue correspond to piano black keys, cyan correspond to piano white keys.
Available Scales
Chromatic, Major, Minor, Dorian, Mixolydian, Lydian, Phrygian, Locrian, Diminished, Whole-half, Whole Tone, Minor Blues, Minor Pentatonic, Major Pentatonic, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Dominant Sus, Super Locrian, Neopolitan Minor, Neopolitan Major, Enigmatic Minor, Enigmatic, Composite, Bebop Locrian, Bebop Dominant, Bebop Major, Bhairav, Hungarian Minor, Minor Gypsy, Persian, Hirojoshi, In-Sen, Iwato, Kumoi, Pelog, and Spanish.
Learn more about musical scales at wikipedia.
Shifted Instrument
Holding down function button 2 or 3 will remap the top touch buttons from track select to scale modifiers.
- Overdub Record
- Automation Record (mode 2 only)
- Device Enable
- Vertical offset refers to the alignment of the rows of keys above the row below. For example, an offset of 4 means the next row will be a 4th higher, similar to strings on a guitar. If you want each row to be an octave up from the previous row, set the vertical offset to 12.
- Scale up and down provides access to a wide variety of different scales and modes that can populate your pads.
- Scale root up and down transpose the pads up or down a step.
Sequence Mode
Video
The Base can act as a fully-featured sequencer for drums and instruments. Enter Sequence Mode by pressing function button 4. You can use this mode for simple 16-step sequencing for techno beats, or access greater levels of detail by editing on different time grids and measures of longer clips. The sliders are mapped directly to the Device Macros for instant control of any instruments or effects. The bottom four function buttons are used for selecting, creating, and launching clips in the track so you can quickly generate new sequences or edit existing clips. Hold down the Sequence Mode button to shift those for other sequencer functions.
Shifted Sequence Mode
Shift changes the mapping of the pads, touch buttons, and bottom four function buttons. Access sequencer timings, measure selection, and change follow mode and flip mode. With follow mode on, the sequence step pads will always be populated with the current measure of notes. With follow mode off, you can select any measure in the clip using the measure select pads to populate the note pads to one measure and not advance with time. Turn on the triplets toggle to change quantization to triplets values so you can edit notes on a triplets grid in the sequence.
You can also navigate to new devices to remap the macros to the touch sliders.
Sequence Flip
With Sequence Flip enabled, sequencing melodies is much easier. Rather than selecting a note and enabling steps of that note (a mode suited for Drum Machine editing), in flip mode, you hold down a step to view what notes are enabled at that time. Tap notes to add/delete from a step. This makes it easy to compose melodies in time, as well as build up chords. In other words, rather than selecting a note and placing it in time, you are selecting a time, and placing notes at that time.
About Bitwig Studio Device Control
The Instruments and Effects in a Bitwig Studio track have two different areas that can be controlled with the Base touch sliders: Macros and Parameters. Device mode gives you access to parameters of the Device, where as Sequence Mode offers control of Macros. Macro knobs can be easily assigned to one or more parameters in a device, and are great for customizing and organizing controls for a device, but parameters can give you specific control over any parameter in a device. Refer to the Bitwig Studio documentation for more details on using Macros.