Bitwig Studio
A modern DAW with clip launching, a modular sound-design environment and native Linux support.
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- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
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- 0
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About Bitwig Studio
Bitwig Studio was started in Berlin by former Ableton developers and shares Live's idea of combining a clip launcher with a linear arranger, but it pushes further into sound design. Almost any parameter can be modulated with LFOs, envelopes and other modulators, and The Grid is a modular environment for building your own synths and effects from small blocks. It supports MPE controllers, CV output to modular hardware, sandboxed plugin hosting so a crashing plugin doesn't take down the session, and hybrid tracks that hold both audio and MIDI. Unusually for a commercial DAW, it runs natively on Linux as well as Windows and macOS. It is sold in three editions, Essentials, Producer and the full Bitwig Studio, each a one-off purchase that includes 12 months of updates; after that you can keep using the version you have or renew the upgrade plan. A free trial is available. Its user base is smaller than Ableton's, so there are fewer tutorials.
Best for: Sound designers and electronic producers who want deep modulation, or a pro DAW on Linux.
Pros and cons
What works
- Modulation system and The Grid are excellent for sound design
- Native Linux version alongside Windows and macOS
- Plugin sandboxing keeps crashes contained
- Licence keeps working after the update period ends
Why people leave
- Smaller community and fewer tutorials than Ableton
- Updates beyond the first 12 months cost extra
- Audio editing and comping tools are less mature than studio DAWs
Top Bitwig Studio alternatives
See all 6- 1
Ableton Live66.5The bigger community and the original clip-launching DAW, with Max for Live.
- 2ReREAPER62.6
Cheaper, very light and also runs on Linux.
- 3
Ardour59.6Open-source DAW for Linux users who prefer free software.
- 4
FL Studio57.2Pattern-based beat making with lifetime free updates.
- 5
Renoise55.3Keyboard-driven tracker that also runs on Linux, for a very different workflow.
Why people left Bitwig Studio
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Bitwig Studio: common questions
Is Bitwig Studio free?
No, Bitwig Studio is a paid product. Full edition price: EUR 399 (checked on Bitwig Studio's own site).
Is Bitwig Studio open source?
No, Bitwig Studio is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Ardour and Zrythm.
What platforms does Bitwig Studio run on?
Bitwig Studio is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to Bitwig Studio?
The highest-ranked Bitwig Studio alternatives right now are Ableton Live, REAPER and Ardour. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.