Bitwig has introduced its first hardware product, Bitwig Connect 4/12, a class-compliant, 4-in/12-out CV and MIDI-enabled audio interface.
In addition, Bitwig Connect 4/12 features monitor- and DAW-control functionalities and a unique “Bitwig Mode”.
Here’s the official video intro:
The “Ultimate Studio Sidekick”
Connect is a three-in-one audio/MIDI interface, monitor and DAW controller.
Six mode buttons allow its 360-degree, touch-sensitive dial to adjust interface parameters or control software. It can set input gain, regulate the volume levels for two sets of monitors and your headphones, or even move the playhead and control any Bitwig Studio parameter with exceptional resolution.
The front panel gives you immediate visual feedback, with accurate input and output meters and a ring of 32 RGB LEDs around the dial to visualize parameter values and automation data. Gain settings are accessible and saved within Bitwig Studio, so you can pick up right where you left off next time you open it.
Bring Bitwig Studio to Life
Connect’s unique “Bitwig Mode” puts Bitwig Studio at your fingertips with DAW controller functionalities.
Seamless integration makes lets you write automation, fine-tuning settings, and navigating the timeline in Bitwig Studio with Connect’s main dial. You can access any control with the high-resolution dial by hovering over it with your cursor, and lock a selected parameter to Bitwig Connect by double-tapping.
The LED ring indicates its current task by matching the color of the parameter or track in Bitwig Studio so you’ll never get lost.
CV Connects the Best of Both Worlds
Bitwig Connect also features two DC-coupled inputs and four outputs, accessible via 3.5 mm minijacks on the front panel, for musicians with CV-enabled hardware. This lets you control external devices from Bitwig Studio and other programs, or use hardware sequencers and modulation signals to control your software.
Bitwig Connect is factory calibrated to control pitch CVs accurately Bitwig Studio, right out of the box. And, since jacks can also be used for audio signals, they can act as additional ins and outs for line-level signals, making them useful to all types of users.
Audio Quality
Bitwig Connect uses balanced connections, a premium mic preamp, and high-quality instrument/line inputs feeding into AKM converters, capable of up to 192kHz, 24-bit resolution. That means you should be able to capture any source with ultra-low noise floors.
Here’s what they have to say about Bitwig Connect 4/12:
The concept behind Bitwig Connect was driven by two key goals: to create an audio interface that seamlessly integrates hardware and software, and to offer a way to physically interact with Bitwig Studio.
Bitwig Connect bridges your hardware devices, like synths and modular systems, and Bitwig Studio’s comprehensive Hardware Out tools (CV in/out, Analog Clock, MIDI CC, etc.). Its bidirectional CV capabilities extend Bitwig Studio’s unique modulation system and The Grid to your hardware, and vice versa. Bitwig Connect makes this powerful connectivity effortless with plug-and-play simplicity and visual feedback.
The second idea is embodied in the high-resolution main dial, which offers precise control over everything in Bitwig Studio. Designed to complement your mouse, keyboard, and other MIDI controllers, this intuitive dial delivers a tactile, haptic experience.
Combined Audio Devices in Bitwig Studio 5.3. Bitwig Studio 5.3 adds major improvements to the program’s audio settings, such as auto-configuration and Combined Audio Devices. The latter option allows macOS and Linux users to integrate Bitwig Connect into their existing audio routing setups by combining multiple interfaces.
Pricing and Availability
Bitwig Connect 4/12 will be available in spring 2025. It costs $549 USD/499 EUR. Pre-ordering will be available soon through the Bitwig webshop and selected retailers worldwide.
Wow, it’s rare to see a genuinely innovative audio interface that’s useful for anyone, or one so brilliantly integrated with a particular DAW. Saving up for this one.
I hope they bring mouse hover and knob turn to any midi controller. Would love that.
Interfaces with DC-coupled inputs that are not on a Eurorack module are very rare
Check out Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig
Seems like only outputs.
Even on the Arturia it looks like only the outputs are DC coupled. That is probably enough for most use cases, but DC coupled inputs allow one to bring modulation signals from Eurorack back to software, which allows for more complete intergration.
Exactly.
DC-coupled outputs are relatively common.
https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/which-audio-interfaces-are-dc-coupled/
https://www.expert-sleepers.co.uk/siwacompatibility.html
The kind of hardware integration those things allow is interesting, of course. You can drive full Eurorack systems from a laptop or even a tablet.
What’s missing is the other way around: using CV to drive something on a computer. A few DAWs (notably, both BWS and Live) have software devices which allow you to use CV signals in neat ways. Part of the reason this matters has to do with the limitations of MIDI (1.0). In some cases, that might be latency. Yet resolution is way more important, to me.
To be clear, there are many modules which do CV input and can send that through USB. Technically, you can describe those as “audio interfaces” and might be able to win a court case about that. Yet it’s a very different interpretation of the concept of an “audio interface” from the one typically used in the market.
“Why would you need an audio interface to handle CV input when you can have modules in your Eurorack system which send CV signal to a computer through USB?” Well, there can be multiple reasons. In my case, it’s because I have CV out on a windcontroller and I want to be able to use that directly on a computer without a Eurorack case (fewer devices and cables).
Besides, these modules are as expensive as this full audio interface from Bitwig, which is bus-powered.
Also, there are plenty of ways to convert CV to MIDI. That can be quite convenient, as a way to integrate Eurorack and plugin systems. Yet it basically defeats the purpose of DAWs’ CV tools.
MOTU
Nop.
Indeed! Even those which are close to three times as expensive (like the AudioFuse 16Rig) only do DC-coupled outputs, not inputs.
The only other DC-coupled inputs I find are from the ES-8 and ES-9 modules, which are both more expensive than this audio interface.
Wish we had dedicated CV to USB-C options.
My particular use case is breath control. With the 7-bit resolution of MIDI 1.0 CC, stepping/zipping occurs. Of course, slewing is always an option. Unsatisfying, though. Having tried breath to CV on (semi-)modular gear, I dream of having that in the DAW. Did rig something up through AM, at some point. While it was a finicky setup, the smoothness of the breath control in Bitwig Studio was really satisfying.
So, I might end up saving money for this one. Just to get CV in.
I believe all MOTU interfaces use DC coupled in/outs except for mic/line ins.
I used to run 4 of them as a single aggregate audio interface on Mac OS.
If you have older computer with firewire or thunderbolt (using a firewire to thunderbolt adapter) you can pick up older MOTUs such as 828MKll for dirt cheap.
No Motu devices have only DC-coupled outputs