Bitwig has announced the release of its first add-on product for Bitwig Studio.
Spectral Suite includes 4 audio FX devices that offer a new level for mixing and sound design. It comes with a companion sound package which showcases some of what the new devices make possible with 100+ presets and clips.
The Spectral Suite audio FX are tools for new sonic exploration. Each device focuses on a different musical element (like loudness, harmonic content, transients, frequency), and then gives you individual controls for those different aspects of a sound. Where you need detailed mix tweaks or creative sonic ruptures, this work is now possible within each sound.
Spectral Suite works in the frequency domain, which separates the incoming sound into hundreds of frequency bands for analysis. Each moment of a sound isn’t simply loud or quiet, for example, because there are always frequencies that are loud and those that are quiet. Bitwig does the math and then groups related signals into “channels”. From there, you mix the channels as you normally would: adjust the volume, move the panning, or insert any Bitwig devices or VST/CLAP plug-ins.
All four devices have an identical structure for each of their channels, and the same output section (with Pre FX and Post FX chains, as well as a Mix control for blending dry signal back in). What makes each device unique are the musical/sound qualities it gives you access to.
The accompanying Outer Spectra Sound Package includes over 70 audio FX presets for Freq Split, Harmonic Split, Loud Split and Transient Split, which can be loaded as audio FX or (in some cases) as synths with spectral devices in the FX slots.
What you put into a spectral analyzer goes a long way in determining what you’ll get out of it, so you’ll also find 75 clips and 57 audio files that correspond to Outer Spectra’s audio processors. This ready-made audio content covers a broad range of musical styles, from heavy techno to live instrumental loops, basslines, pads and beats. Load the presets with their corresponding clips to get a sense of what each one does and what Bitwig’s spectral devices are capable of, whether that’s sound design-related or mixing tasks, like widening the stereo field or reducing reverb.
The Spectral Suite add-on for Bitwig Studio is available with an introductory price of 79 USD/EUR (regular 99 USD/EUR) or as a bundle with Bitwig Studio + Spectral Suite for 479 USD/EUR. Users of an older version of Bitwig Studio can now get the 12-month Upgrade Plan + Spectral Suite for 199 USD/EUR. The introductory offers are available through October 23rd, 2022.
Bitwig Studio users can try Spectral Suite by downloading the Spectral Suite Demo Project.
More information: Bitwig