Crazy reactive Modulation!

Today it's all about audio reactive modulations in ‪@bitwig‬ . And i got another message from a patron. And the question made me delve deeper and explore the whole idea around the topic. But it keeps hitting me how many possibilities Bitwig offers to solve things. The possibilities are virtually endless. Today, it's all about modulations and why it's genuinely mind-blowing what you can actually do with Bitwig.
--
💕 Support me on Patreon: bit.ly/3PgbxZz
💰 or donate via Paypal: bit.ly/3cae9t8
🎧 Buy my Music: polarity.bandcamp.com/
💾 Download my Tools / Github / Resources: polarity-dnb.de/blog/polarity...
💻 Check out my gear on Kit: kit.co/polarity/polarity-musi...
--
DEALZ:
🛒 Buy Bitwig Studio & Support me bit.ly/3yQEyDU
🛒 Upgrade Bitwig Studio & Support me bit.ly/3OimEjc
🛒 VST/AU Plugin Deals bit.ly/3zcvo66
--
SOCIAL MEDIA
Discord: / discord
Blog: polarity-dnb.de/blog/
Twitter: / polarity
Reddit: / polarity-berlin
Business Inquiries: [e-mail]
Paypal Donations: [e-mail]

[@R3ckii]

you got me with jennifer lowpass

[@AlmerosMusicCode]

😂😂 i'm still chuckling.... Have to rewind now...

[@LoaySax]

😅

[@juschu85]

I really hope some female producer still looking for an artist name sees this video.

[@paraciteofficial8155]

😂😂😂

[@pnutbuttajellee1394]

please put the timestamp because I missed it!

[@paraciteofficial8155]

I've never seen anybody do these kind of things in any DAW. You are a unique specimen. You drop knowledge bombs with every video you put out

[@PolarityMusic]

Thank you! I aim to provide useful information, helping others maximize the benefits from their tools. 🙇‍♂️

[@jonasharp3]

For real. I love Bitwig for the global modulators and grid, but my favorite thing about being a bitwig user is this channel lol.

[@VeryXXL]

Holy shit, this is how you answer a question! Very inspiring stuff

[@PolarityMusic]

One thing leads to another. 😅

[@AndrewDuncanNZ]

Watching your videos is like drinking from a firehose! :-) So much information!

[@PolarityMusic]

I need to be careful not to overwhelm people 😅

[@unklmic]

@@PolarityMusic you need to be more careful.

[@micromando4669]

@@PolarityMusicdon’t hold back, we can watch multiple times until 💡

[@davisbindejazz]

Wow, this approach is so satisfying!

[@radpix]

Getting easy to drum n’bass

[@PolarityMusic]

I agree!

[@paraciteofficial8155]

Whoa this is awesome. I have been sleeping on the CC modulator all this time. Thank you for this

[@PolarityMusic]

best thing about the cc modulator, you can send it around to other tracks! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZ_Zc3anZrCMZ80

[@paraciteofficial8155]

@@PolarityMusic Thank you polarity I was searching for something like this on your channel yesterday. Exactly what I needed

[@macronencer]

Bitwig is astonishing. When someone asks me to describe it I often tell them "imagine a DAW and a modular synth had a baby". I've used the grid features a little more now. At first I found them very daunting, but I've begun to understand that the best way to learn is probably to wait until you have a problem that needs solving, then see if the grids can help - motivation to achieve a goal helps you to learn.

[@PolarityMusic]

Yes, having a problem that needs solving is a great driver to get involved with the grid. You can't really learn the grid any other way, since there are way too many possibilities.

[@noodlesushii]

bloody amazing man. i am constantly blown away by your creativity, no idea how you keep coming up with these cool ideas, and providing solutions to your patreons' questions

[@PolarityMusic]

🥰 thanks for the praise! motivates!

[@stylabmusic]

Great video!!! Very inspiring approach. A whole universe of modulation capabilities. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@PolarityMusic]

Thanks! 🚀

[@chimpana]

Putting aside the fact it's a DAW, Bitwig really is a great example of well architected software, benefitting from years of hard won experience (with Ableton!) and then going back to design and build from first principles. I kinda wish they also did video editing software too!

[@PolarityMusic]

Absolutely! Bitwig does shine as an example of software built with a lot of insight and attention to detail. It's that blend of experience and the willingness to start fresh that gives it such a robust and innovative edge. And I'm with you on the video editing wish-that level of innovation in the video world would definitely stir things up!

[@iso_brown]

another great tutorial by Polarity. thanks !

[@PolarityMusic]

You're welcome!

[@ghfjfghjasdfasdf]

Sound design never gets old!

[@barramundi4196]

YES and YES, Thank you

[@trejohnson7677]

sonification of the sidechain signals will help. get a drone tone, hard pan, map the modulation 2 pitch, frequency, or whatever parameter(s). u can try making signal mixers in the grid too, devices that only modify the signal. bitwig is so damn good, even use it to sonify random data.

[@yove2934]

Very cool and inspiring!

[@amegara666]

yo ushould have 1M+ subscribers. Amazing vids. All ive been watching since getting bitwig a week ago.

[@lazyabeats]

As a sucker in sidechain and modulation I approve this video.

[@Jimantronic]

super powerful. thanks for the explanation

[@briancase6180]

Just excellent. This is my favorite tutorial of 2024, so far. Well, it's only 21-Feb, but still. I've been doing things like this for a year+ with audio sidechain (that one modulator is worth the price of bitwig, I think 😏), but I was leaving possibilities on the table (no surprise; so much is possible). Bitwig is tremendous fun. Thanks!!! I should add that I solved a problem I had where I wanted a modulation signal to last "long enough" so I tried using a sample-and-hold modulator modulated by the audio sidechain and it worked great.

[@PolarityMusic]

Awesome! Sounds sensible. The more you use it, the more ideas you get about what you can do with it. Thanks for the feedback!

[@t3ch_n0]

You can do this type of stuff very easily in FL studio with a peak controller, you can even separate bands of frequencies in patcher with some EQs and affect each signal uniquely. Id assume Ableton's effects rack can do similar stuff too. No hate to bitwig, but I always see people talking about how it can do "so much" that other DAWs cant, and then proceed to do things that most DAWs can do. Its not about the tool, its about the craftsman.

[@berniehcc]

Crazy stuff !!! 😍😍😍

[@pbrninja19]

I was kind of amazed to see the CC modulation work so well, but I guess it does not actually have any MIDI speed restriction. Edit: Oh, I just realized what you probably meant about lack of smoothness: CC protocol may only allow 8-bit resolution or something, whereas some other modulator is probably more like a float in that it has relatively a zillion values.

[@PolarityMusic]

i think the resolution is fine, but i think there is some kind of smoothing / averaging / lp applied, which makes sense.

[@rtplayer3543]

That’s awesome!

[@creatingspacesproducer]

You and Bitwig are 🔥

[@PolarityMusic]

🤝

[@itsJadeCicada]

oh lawd he cookin

[@PolarityMusic]

👨‍🍳

[@cebenezer]

Although once you clone the same modulator you could also put it on the track level. Also if they ever manage to bring in groove pools can you imagine the combined power - instant j-dilla on any element of your track.

[@tobiastho9639]

6:10 he is using the tool device to lower the volume. This is better than the whole track level because you still can change the track level when mixing without an automation on it. 😉

[@cebenezer]

@@tobiastho9639 That's not what I mean, there's no need to clone the sidechain modulator across devices. As of 5 you can now put it as a track level modulator and then use it to modulate any device one the track (it makes sense to put in in the tool device if you are dragging it around, but you can also put it on the project in that case).

[@PolarityMusic]

yea true, so many ways to do things! also, i did a "groove machine" preset a while back to add groove and swing to individual tracks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2rKeaOCorSJg6M

[@cebenezer]

@@PolarityMusicYeah I saw that and made my own presets for it -- will have to think about how I can integrate this idea into it.

[@adamarmstrong9408]

Another cool video, polarity is smashing it 🤙

[@PolarityMusic]

Thanks!

[@turgutbelen6374]

Genious 👨‍💻💣

[@westoncogswell8656]

Bitwig is not just a DAW, it’s a weapon

[@PolarityMusic]

pew pew

[@juschu85]

It's much simpler in Bitwig, but this should also be possible with Max For Life in Ableton.

[@aguztmar1378]

🔥

[@SpaceAmbientMusic]

How to max out Bitwig, brilliant 👍

[@pnutbuttajellee1394]

You can do this with Reaktor, but it's definitely not as easy as it is with Bitwig being integrated right in the DAW. Reaper might the be the next closest with all of its modulators with JSFX. Still NUTS !😁

[@gossipboynyc9625-VN]

Correct ❤

[@bass27check]

Love all your videos, but this was HUGE!

[@PolarityMusic]

Thanks man! 😘

[@deandonga]

beautyful

[@4i20]

Thanks for share that. I have one topic for a video, I miss the beats stretch algorithm from Ableton in BW. Can u show the ways to do the same as Ableton Beats algorithm in BW?

[@PolarityMusic]

Noted! Have you tried the "slice" mode? It should do exactly the same thing (using onsets, preserving transients, individual pitch for each slice, etc.). I always use it for drum loops.

[@Selbstzensur]

i don't like bitwig but i love your creative energy as an artist. 🙂

[@PolarityMusic]

😘

[@lovely-shrubbery8578]

I switched to bitwig because I could no longer use ableton after switching to linux. I can't tell you how much the modularity of bitwig blew me away, and still does.

[@ywenp]

Anyone here knows how Bitwig deals internally with CCs? Are they already bitreduced in the example shown in the video, or does the downsampling to 7 bits (as per MIDI standard) happen only when the CCs leave the world of Bitwig native devices (ie. are sent to a VST or a hardware instrument)? Because I believe Bitwig doesn't support NRPN or high-rez CCs when interfacing with external gear anyway.

[@PolarityMusic]

Bitwig internally does not use MIDI but converts between its internal note system and MIDI when the signals exit Bitwig. I'm not completely certain about their processing of internal CC/note signals. Likely, it involves smoothing and oversampling, and I think there are high-resolution capabilities.

[@KiR_3d]

Hi! Does Bitwig has some kind of "formula" feature? So you can create a kind of a "code" (just a line in a small window) which depends on few control knobs and a lot of outer parameters? It's about song's position, random values, arythmetic calculations, parametric calculations like "bitcrushing" but for control values (to create steppiness from smooth graphs) and etc. For these days I use FL Studio and it's Formula Controller feature (as the internal plugin) is probably the only thing that keeps me creating the new tracks in this program. I'm not happy with FL but I don't see an easy alternative yet.

[@PolarityMusic]

Sadly no. I hope we get a "code module" in the future for the Grid!

[@matheusrocha5596]

I don't know if it's better to give suggestions here or on patreon, but I'd love to see what kind of bitwig madness you would come up with if you were to try doing some sequenced glitching like in the classic song "Fahrenheit Fair Enough" by Telefon Tel Aviv. Or, perhaps, to suggest a similar thing with a simpler scope, you could show us how you would recreate something like Glitch 2 in bitwig, if you haven't done it already.

[@PolarityMusic]

cool idea, i did some presets in the past but i will do something new and modern. noted!

[@joshka7634]

2:24 Polarity sees Envelope follower in the list of devices,... Just Kidding, YOLO let's build one from scratch ;)

[@PolarityMusic]

To be fair, Bitwig makes it easy ❤

[@aguztmar1378]

On 5:07 when you added the AS to the EQ+ can you use that to make it into like a dynamic eq?

[@PolarityMusic]

Yes! 🔥

[@briancase6180]

Yes, I do this a lot and I really like it for, say, ducking the output of a global FX channel reverb. I can duck a certain frequency range in the reverb output according to the amplitude of a certain frequency range in, say, the vocal to create an interesting give-and-take interplay. This can be used to achieve compressor-like effects, though you might need more modulators (perhaps a sample and hold in some cases: modulate the SAH with the audio sidechain). And you can "un-duck" (increase the amplitude in, say, a competing instrument) the signal this way also (maybe you want the two instruments to give-and-take prominence in a certain frequency band: "I want instrument A to 'own' these frequencies, relatively speaking, but instrument B to own everything else").

[@gossipboynyc9625-VN]

It’s probably the main feature or a first goto😊

[@porkroll-egg-and-cheese]

[MIND BLOWN] Thanks :)

[@PolarityMusic]

🤝

[@alfa156c]

Nice . Die Frage entwickelt sich zur Mixing Antwort . Ich automatisiere das rauben und schenken von Frequenzen (eq) immer noch induvidiuell , per Hand und controller , so wie man es Tanzt , so wird es gedreht und entsprechend verhalten sich die Bänder vom EQ . Es zu fixen mit Followern ist immoment noch zu kompliziert , weil Alle parts sich Alles Ändert . Also wären follower Nice für einen part oder in parts wo es sich wiederholt . Was es bräuchte wären wären schon die Follower, aber man müßte ein On Off plugin Knopf haben , um sie abzuschalten, wie plugins . Ich glaub , das ging nicht mit den direktfx . Nice wäre , wenn man etwas leichtes ausgrübeln könnte , um die follower (direkt fx) irgendwie für verschiedene parts ............... obwohl grad fällt Mir ein , es gibt ja att release oder rise fall und die lassen sich automatisieren ........also bleibt die Frage , was schneller ist , ein Band per Hand und rythmisch zu automatisieren und als controllerlane zu schreiben und aufzuzeichnen , oder follower zu nutzen. wie ist die Workflowerfahrung ? Nutzt man die follower Technik um dann direkt zu recorden und damit die Sache gleich abzuschließen oder ist es noch sinnvoll auf tracklänge von 8-10min ? Weil auf 10min betrachtet , erscheint es Mir immer noch schneller , es per Hand hinzudrehen . Für Parts erscheint es Mir aber schneller zu gehen , wenn man Follerwer oder Trigger einsetzt , welche die Handbewegung übernehmen . Vielleicht liegt es daran , das Ich "around the world in a tea daze" ott remix als referencetrack verwende und das Gefühl nicht loswerde , das keine 2 Bar einen anderen 2 Bar gleichen (280bar tracklänge) , obwohl die sicherlich follower Technik einsetzten , um die EQ zu bewegen ...wahrscheinlich ist nur Meine Denkweise zu verdreht - wahrscheinlich ist es beim ott remix getriggert und die follower kommen von den unterschiedlichen Spuren , die hinzugeschaltet werden (Was nicht spielt , kann ja nicht triggern , wenn es POST FX ist - bei PRE FX täte es weiter triggern , auch wenns abgestellt wäre?) Ich frage Mich wirklich , wie es besser geht , per Hand oder automatisch getriggert . Und spielt es eine Rolle wann, ob noch beim producing in Midi oder beim mixing in Wavelines, bezüglich Cpu Auslastung ? OHHH , Ich sehe grade , das Video steht still bei 12:54min ....wahrscheinlich wird die sache noch aufgeklärt :-) Video regt zum Denken an ! Daumen hoch 302.

[@alfa156c]

10spur oder 8spur track mixing setup mit ein paar aux oder so ! ein paar Ideen wie man es ott mäßig live mixt und halt seinen Stuff ein paar Stunden feiert und dann recordet . du weißt schon , ein mixing setup mit 3-4 aux , ein paar stereo bus . vielleicht dub mix , trance mix , psy mix , d&b mix . Ein Setup bei dem man nix falsch machen kann , wäre toll .-) Also eines mit distortions , reverbs , delays , modulators - Sorry , Ich weiß das eine Serie von Videos ist , Allein schon wegen den genre und den Dingen die man anders macht in Setups. Ausgangsmaterial wären wohl : drums , bass, synthgroup 1 oder 1+2 ? , vocal .... 4 Spur :-) , Ich glaube man kann es weiter aufsplitten , in Kick , Drums , Percs, synths mitte , synths hoch , synths fx , hihats , vocal , bass und so sind schon 10 Spuren fast zusammen auf`m Mixer ... Also ist der Prozeß gemeint , um es zu verdeutlichen , VORM (PRE) Mastering - Ich Meine das Mixing, das wo man sein sound feiert und recordet und sagt , das ist die Version , es ist Mix8 der gemastert wird ;-) Ich kenne Mich nicht aus mit der Bezeichnung des Equipments , aber könnte es sein , das es "Mixing Setup" heißen könnte ? Ich Meine Simon Posford hat ja mal ein Studio Interview gemacht und so nebenbei am 32Spur mixer gesagt , da sind die Fx , da die Eq , mehr ist es nicht .-) lol Ich Meine , man produziert doch die Ganze zeit nur , um Material zu haben , was man Mixen kann- Mixen ist doch der Geilste Part ever in der Produktion und kaum Einer macht es (klingt Alles gleich, sagen Komentatoren) in der Hobby Musiker Welt . Ich glaube , Mixing ist der wichtigste Teil überhaupt in der Produktion, das Ausschlaggebende . Okay , zumeist hat man ja in der DAW alles vorgemixt. Im Grunde überflüssig ein Mixing Setup Video zu machen ,weil doch klar wäre , wie es sein müßte - genauso , wie das Setup in der DAW, wo man es ja Vormixt . Ich überlege lieber weiter , was für ein Video Thema toll wäre . Mixing Setup hat sich erledigt , mit ein bischen nachdenken. VOSNE hat vor ein paar Jahren auf KZbin Videos gepostet , das Setup zu haben wäre Toll . Er hat 3-4 Hardwareteile als Fx , simple und effektive . Ich kenne leider nicht mehr den Namen von den Effektgerät , was er angeschlossen hatte, aber das angestellt wäre sicherlich FETT (multifx , wo wohl gephasert,geflangert und verdreht wird) und dann space echo und vielleicht ein delay . Aber das Effektgerät nachzustellen , wäre der Burner ! Wahrscheinlich war neben der Kunst von Vosne auch das Effektgerät , was er angeschlossen hatte dran Schuld , das Seine musik so gut lief auf KZbin .

[@l.a.p.alifeaspoorartists8151]

Is it my display or your bitwig interface look different ? I see different "orange" colour than mine. If so, how can I do that? thx

[@zofloyax]

could be a closed beta

[@l.a.p.alifeaspoorartists8151]

That would be a great thing even if it's simple one🤣 @@zofloyax

[@zofloyax]

Bitwig 6 changelog: changed orange colour. end 😂

[@auedpo]

I was thinking the same thing! Noticed how much different the red looked when loading devices

[@Italliving]

drop the red hue and done, looks similar like mine

[@noodlesips]

Peak limiter on the master, hah!

[@PolarityMusic]

Im always open for "feedback" 😅

[@noodlesips]

@@PolarityMusic Haha you should know there was an internal war between the "be a chill internet citizen" and "audiophile hypernerd sensibilities" aspects inside me before writing that comment on the last vid. Love all you do, ty for the amazing videos!

[@angelite6027]

thank you for having limiter on the master 😂

[@PolarityMusic]

Im learning fast 😅

[@BorisBarroso]

Great video 😁. I have been doing kind of what you did in this video but you went way deeper than I was used to. I see new ways to make my music. I wonder if you can show a video about modulating with noise I have asked you before about generating notes with noise but also you can use noise to make really cool synth sounds like this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5nZgGudp6qFa9U I have done something similar using noise and it sounds very similar. Aldo modulating with noise the filter you can achieve really cool sounds.

[@micromando4669]

Kurt I love this channel ❤ i am a long time Reason user BUT the possibilities you show here are way too limited or complicated to even roughly recreate inside Reason . Last week i decided to move to Bitwig and take Reason into it 😊 You asked for ideas for content: I’ve just seen an interesting short about the buchla, do you think it’s possible to recreate this in Bitwig?: kzbin.infoOjgg6IMCAsI?si=UGjlKScIoS42RMod

[@Italliving]

These words will keep resonating and modulating in all Frequencies ..... “Now You Have The Power Of The Grid’ Another Clean and Fast walk true , Perfect. (Apologies to all None BITWIG Users)

[@PolarityMusic]

rip other DAWs 😁

[@gossipboynyc9625-VN]

It looks like a game dev engine 😂 animation modules and modulators, Unreal engine users will feel at home 🏡

[@forabetter.future]

Incredible work, as always! I don't know if it is actually related to Bitwig, but I would love to get your take on possible Ai integrations.