Bitwig Studio

Digital audio workstation

Bitwig Studio

Developer(s)	Bitwig GmbH
Initial release	26 March 2014; 10 years ago (2014-03-26)

Stable release	5.2.0 / 25 July 2024; 25 days ago (2024-07-25)

Written in	C++, Java^{[citation needed]}
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
Type	Digital audio workstation
License	Proprietary
Website	www.bitwig.com

Bitwig Studio is a proprietary digital audio workstation developed by Bitwig GmbH. Bitwig is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Bitwig is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for composing, recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering. It offers a suite of controls for beatmatching, crossfading, and other effects used by turntablists. Bitwig supports both traditional linear music arrangement and non-linear (clip-based) production. It has multi-monitor and touch screen support. Bitwig is notable for its strong modulation,^[1] and automation capabilities.^[2] In 2017, Bitwig Studio was named DAW of the year by Computer Music magazine.^[3]^[4] In 2023 it was named DAW of the year by Future Music magazine^[5] and Music Radar magazine.^[6]^[7]

History

Bitwig was founded and developed in Berlin by Claes Johanson, Pablo Sara, Nicholas Allen and Volker Schumacher in 2009.^[8] Since 2010, Placidus Schelbert has been the CEO after he left his position as an International Sales Manager at Ableton, in the same year.^[9]

In 2022, Bitwig GmbH was one of the main sponsors for a new audio plug-in interface, CLAP.^[10]

Spectral Suite Controversy

In 2022, Bitwig added a new "Spectral Suite" range behind a paywall, against their sales agreement with customers that Bitwig would not introduce additional purchases beyond its annual update fee. This caused outrage amongst its niche community, causing them to revert the decision and offer refunds. ^[11]

Major Version & Release History

Caption text
Version	Date
5.2	25th April 2024
5.1.3	21st February 2024
5.0	29th June 2023
4.4	11th October 2022
4.3	11th May 2022
4.2	10th March 2022
4.1	25th November 2021
4.0	14th July 2021
3.3	27th November 2020
3.2	4th June 2020
3.1	18th December 2019
3.0.2	11th September 2019
2.5	3rd May 2019
2.4	19th September 2018
2.3	1st March 2018
2.2	12th October 2017
2.1	16th May 2017
2.0	2nd March 2017
1.3	12th November 2015
1.2	22nd October 2015
1.1	25th November 2014
1.0.7	6th May 2014

References

^ Rothwell, Nick. "Bitwig Studio 2". www.soundonsound.com.
^ Staff (26 March 2014). "Bitwig Studio review". MusicRadar.
^ "Bitwig | News | Daw of the Year". www.bitwig.com.
^ "DAW of the Year - Winner - Bitwig Studio 2". Computer Music. No. 251. United Kingdom: Future Publishing. January 2018. p. 65.
^ "DAW of the Year - Bitwig Studio 5". Future Music. No. 404. United Kingdom: Future Publishing. January 2024. p. 39.
^ Andy Price. "6 of the best new DAWs in 2023". www.musicradar.com.
^ "Bitwig | News | Daw of the Year". www.bitwig.com.
^ "BITWIG – About us". 7 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011.
^ "Placidus Schelbert". LinkedIn.
^ Kirn, Peter (15 June 2022). "CLAP is a new open-source plug-in format from Bitwig, u-he – do we need it, and who will use it?". CDM. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
^ https://www.bitwig.com/stories/to-our-community-218/