Stop! Bitwig Time! - Track from Scratch (Patreon)

Today's tutorial in Bitwig Studio covered creating a complex track from scratch, focusing on building rhythms, melodies, and atmospheres within the Bitwig environment. Here's a summary of the process and techniques used:

• Started with the Grid: Began by setting up a pulley grid in monophonic mode for simplicity. Deleted unnecessary tracks for a streamlined workspace.

• Basic Sound Design:

  • Utilized a sine oscillator and an audio envelope to craft a basic sound.

  • Adjusted BPM to 85 for a downtempo feel, with a 16-step pattern for the rhythm.

  • Introduced voice stacking for richer textures and a pitch module for controlling pitch directly, circumventing keyboard control for a fixed pitch setup.

• Complex Harmonies and Rhythms:

  • Employed a quantizer to lock pitches to a D# minor scale, selectively omitting dissonant notes.

  • Implemented voice stacking to create harmonies, using stack spread modulators to fine-tune the harmonic spread.

  • Manipulated pattern lengths among voice stacks for intricate rhythmic patterns, aiming for a polyrhythmic effect.

• Creating a Soundscape:

  • Added effects like convolution reverb, chorus, and phasers to enrich the texture.

  • Utilized MIDI note export to integrate with other elements in the project, creating cohesive melodies and harmonies.

• Kick Drum and Rhythmic Elements:

  • Designed a kick drum from a sine wave, augmented with envelopes for amplitude and pitch modulation.

  • Incorporated noise and filtering for texture, adding a knock element for additional punch.

• Bassline and Melodic Elements:

  • Introduced a bassline using Polymer, carefully shaping it to fit around the kick drum frequencies.

  • Explored melodic content using a piano sound, controlled via a complex setup of random triggers and modulation to fit within the established scale and harmony.

• Glitch Sounds and Rhythmic Complexity:

  • Crafted glitch sounds and additional rhythmic layers using noise and phase modulation for hi-hats and snares, aiming for a richly textured rhythmic backdrop.

• Lead Sounds and Final Touches:

  • Created a lead sound within the Grid, exploring various synthesis techniques and effects to sculpt a distinctive voice for the track.

  • Finalized the composition by adjusting elements to sit well together, such as making room for the bass in the mix and ensuring a cohesive sound.

The tutorial encapsulates a detailed exploration of Bitwig Studio's capabilities for sound design, rhythm creation, and melodic composition, showcasing how to build a track from the ground up. Techniques like voice stacking, modulation, and the innovative use of the Grid illustrate Bitwig's powerful tools for electronic music production.

Download the Project: https://bit.ly/3PAKkCY