Ohm Bitwig Control Script
Contents
[hide]Overview
The Ohm 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 Ohm 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. The OhmRGB's large clip grid is ideal for mixing large sets, and the sequencer is ideal for editing and creating new clips for Drum Machines and Instruments.
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
Make a backup of your current "Livid" Codec and Maps folders for Reason Remote. These folders are in:
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.
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.
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 comprehensive video that shows how to the OhmRGB with Bitwig can be found 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 Ohm Control Script attempts to access as many different functions in Bitwig as possible, while keeping tasks focused and available as needed. There are two basic modes in this script for Mixing and Seqeuncing, plus a Shift button for momentary access to special functions. Remap some buttons to quickly access additional functions by holding down the currently lit button adjacent to the Ohm's crossfader. There is another momentary trick: if you hold down the current Track Select button, the 8x8 grid will reveal track controls for Stop all Clips, Mute, Solo, and Arm Record for all tracks in the Clip Grid.
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.Video
Sliders and Knobs
The continuous controllers on the OhmRGB do not change with Mode, though their assignments will change when the Clip Grid and selected Track changes. They are always used to control Track Volumes, Sends, Device parameters, Master Volume, and Effect Track levels and Device parameters. See graphics in the following sections for a more detailed description.
Function Buttons
The top right function buttons on the OhmRGB do change with Mode. In Mix Mode, they are normally mapped to
- Play
- Stop
- Clip Grid navigation
Clip Grid navigation remaps the clips and tracks that are mapped to the 8x8 grid. This is made visible by highlights on the clips in the Bitwig interface. By moving the Clip Grid, you can access any track, any clip, and any device in your set.
When in Sequencer Mode the function buttons map to
- Play
- Stop
- Selected Clip navigation
Use the function buttons to select a clip anywhere in your current Clip Grid. This allows you quickly get to a clip and edit or create notes and sequences on any track in your Clip Grid for exceptionally fast production.
When the shift button (the crossfader buttons) is held down in Mix or Sequencer Mode, the buttons' mappings change to device-related features
- Device enable
- Knobs mapped to device macros or device parameters.
- Device navigation (latch to Next/Previous device in chain)
- Device bank (latch to next set of parameters in device, when there are more than 8 parameters in a device)
Mix Mode
Activate Mix Mode by pressing the left crossfader button on the OhmRGB. Mix mode is for triggering clips in Bitwig Studio's Mix or Arrange View, and for navigating which clips are in the clip grid. The bottom rows of buttons are dedicated to several tasks related to track control:
- Track Selection
- Clip Grid Navigation
- Effect and Master Track Selection
- Transport control
- Mode Selection (Mix or Sequence)
- Shift
- Scene Launch
- Automation Recording
The center 8x8 grid is used to trigger audio and MIDI clips in your tracks. Hold the Mix Mode button to access additional controls on the top right function and Livid buttons:
- Record
- Device Navigation and Banking
- Overdub Recording
Video
Mix Mode + Track Select button
Hold down the Track select button to re-map the lower half of the grid to control
- Mute
- Solo
- Record Arm
- Stop all Clips
Sequence Mode
Press the right crossfader button on the OhmRGB to enter Sequence mode. This re-maps the 8x8 grid to functions for editing and creating sequences in a MIDI clip. Drum Machines and Instruments have layouts appropriate for sequencing those devices. You can select which measure in a clip to edit, change timings, transpose the available notes, and enable follow mode to keep the Sequence toggles updated with the current measure of notes. You can sequence with regular step sequencing, or use sequence flip mode to add notes to a clip in a way that is more appropriate for melodies and chords.
In the top right button area, use the Clip Up, Down, Left, and Right buttons to navigate and trigger clips in your current track and immediately start editing them with the Sequencer. If there is no clip in the slot, use the Create Clip button to create a clip and begin editing.
Video
Sequence Flip Mode
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 OhmRGB's top left knobs: Macros and Parameters. The macros or parameters switch on the Livid control surface will assign controls to the appropriate area of the device. 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.
On the OhmRGB, hold the shift button, then use function button 2 to switch the left knobs between controlling the parameters and macros.