Chapter 7. Introduction to Devices
The word \"devices\" has come up a few times now. For one thing, we have been using them already on instrument tracks (seesection <>). For another, we have seen how other Bitwig Studio interfaces give us access to devices we were already using (seesection <>). But in this chapter, we are finally dealing with the nuts and bolts of loading and using devices. This small exploration will benefit users of all levels. Note More \"advanced\" device concepts are covered in chapter 14 <>, which assumes familiarity with the concepts found in this chapter. The purpose of this chapter is not to teach you the particulars of any device. Instead, it is to acquaint you with accessing devices, their general interface concepts, and the layout of theDevice Panel. A short section about the Bitwig devices themselves can be found at the end of this document (seechapter 15 <>). To expand slightly on chapter 1 <>, each track in Bitwig Studio is equipped with adevice chain. Each track passes all played-back audio, note, and MIDI signals to this device chain, which passes the messages from one device to the next, like a bucket brigade. The final device in the chain returns its audio output back to the track so that the mixing board controls (volume, panning, etc.) can be applied before the audio is passed to the track's assigned output buss. Devices are grouped into the following descriptive categories: * Analysis. Devices that merely visualize the signals that reach them. They make no effect on the audio chain they are a part of. Examples include Oscilloscope, which shows a time-domain representation of incoming audio signals. * Audio FX. Devices that manipulate incoming audio signals before passing them onward. Examples include various \"modulation\" audio effects (such as Chorus, Flanger, Comb, and Blur), and other assorted processors (such as Freq Shifter, Ring-Mod, Rotary, and Tremolo). * Container. Utility devices whose primarily function is to host other devices. Examples include Drum Machine (for individual note splits), Instrument Layer (for stacks), andMultiband FX-2 (for multiband audio processing). * Delay. Delay line-based processors that operate on their incoming audio signals. Examples include various configurations of single tap delay lines (Delay-1 and Delay-2) and multitap delay lines (Delay-4). * Destruction. Distortion and other mangling processors that operate on their incoming audio signals. Examples include Bit-8 (a signal degrader) and Distortion. * Drum. Individual drum piece emulators that use incoming note messages to synthesize audio. Examples include such electronic drum emulators as E-Kick, E-Snare, and E-Hat. * Dynamic. Processors that operate on their incoming audio signals, based off of those signals' amplitude levels and trends. Examples include Compressor, Gate, Peak Limiter, and Transient Control. * EQ. Sets of frequency-specific processors that operate on their incoming audio signals. Examples include various configurations of equalizers (such as EQ-5 and EQ-DJ). * Filter. Frequency-specific processors that operate on their incoming audio signals. Examples include a multimode Filter unit and a layered Resonator Bank. * Hardware. Interface objects for sending signals and/or messages to devices beyond Bitwig Studio (such as hardware synthesizers and effect units, etc.). This can include transmitting and/or receiving audio signals, control voltage (CV) signals, and clock messages. Examples include HW Clock Out, HW CV Instrument, and HW FX. * Keyboard. Keyboard instrument emulators that use incoming note messages to synthesize audio. Examples include Organ. * MIDI. Transmitters for sending various MIDI messages via the track's device chain. This is useful for sending messages to plug-ins or to external hardware (when used in conjunction with Bitwig'shardware devices). Examples include MIDI CC, MIDI Program Change, and MIDI Song Select. * Note FX. Devices that manipulate incoming note messages before passing them onward. Examples include Arpeggiator (for animating held notes), Multi-Note (for using single notes to trigger multiple notes), andTransposition Map (for transforming incoming notes to desired pitch shapes). * Reverb. Time-based processors that operate on their incoming audio signals. Examples include the eponymous Reverb device. * Routing. Devices that divert a track's signal path, allowing signals to exit and/or reenter the track. Examples include Audio Receiver (for bringing in audio signal from other track or input) andNote Receiver (which does the same for note messages). * Synth. Synthesizer instruments that either generate their audio from rudimentary source material or use audio samples. Incoming note messages are used to synthesize audio. Examples include Polysynth, FM-4, and Sampler. * Utility. An assortment of devices sporting various, basic functionality. Examples include simple signal generators (such as Test Tone) and processors (such asTool). So while devices aren't always necessary, they can make things a whole lot more interesting and open up possibilities that you may not have previously thought of.