Bitwig Studio for Mac

What's new in this version:

New device: Compressor+ (Dynamics):
- Takes a different approach to compression with:
- Three modes of operation, beginning with Standard
- Character options for different styles of compression
- Multiband analysis of the incoming (or sidechained) signal
- VCA Color options for toning up only the affected signal
- And more…

Three Models in One:
- Standard parameters include:
- Threshold sets the level above which compression is engaged
- Ratio is the amount of compression applied. For example, a 1:4.00 ratio means that a 4 dB of increase in the incoming signal will cause only a 1 dB increase at output. So large values represent more gain reduction.
- Attack is the base time when transitioning from no compression to full gain reduction (when input exceeds Threshold)
- Release is the base time when transitioning from full gain reduction to no compression (when input falls below Threshold)
- Knee affects how gradual/smooth the transitions are in the dynamics curve
- Relax bends the compression curve toward 1:1 (no gain reduction), starting with the loudest signals
- Gain Reduction Mode offers three options, determining how the device operates:
- Standard (the default) offers a normal range of compressor Ratio settings, as described above
- Beyond offers an extended compressor range, adding over- and under-compression options, by replacing Ratio with a Ratio Extended control. This set the amount of compression applied, in three sections across the range:
- Bottom third
- Center third [1:1 to 1:∞] - Standard compressor range
- Top third [1:∞ to 1:-1] - Downward compression, attenuating signal above the Threshold
- Dual is a dual compressor option, replacing the Knee control with a Lift parameter, which smoothly moves thru custom curves for bumping the signal below the Threshold
- The device's central display shows the current compression curve based on the above parameters, which is filled from the bottom to represent the current status of applied gain
- The central display also shows the history of both the incoming audio signal (post Input gain) as filled gray, and the output level (pre Mix and Make-up gain) as a white line, as well as an interactive blue line for adjusting Threshold
- The size of the display adjusts for the Beyond and Dual modes, where gain increase is possible

Character Counts:
- A Character chooser offers six different styles of compression
- Each option changes various gain reduction and envelope behaviors, including numerous "under the hood" options
- The Vanilla character (the default) applies parameters literally, including Attack and Release times going all the way down to zero (Auto Timing helps determine how "grabby" compression is)
- The other five options are progressive, from smoothest to most aggressive:
- Smooth uses slow per-band response, offering minimal distortion
- Over tends to compress more quickly but in a stable way
- Glue is slow to engage and quick to release, for good transient preservation on the mix buss or anywhere else (Auto Timing opens the mid analysis bands a bit, for more space)
- Resist brings longer envelopes and tries to quickly snap back afterward, to preserve bass and also add even harmonics when pushed
- Smash over-accelerates the attacks and releases, additionally using the Auto Timing to further increase acceleration
- The special Auto Timing control is the amount that timing parameters (Attack, Release, and more) are automatically adjusted to suit the incoming audio
- Taken together, the combination of Character choice and Auto Timing setting offers a wide sonic variety

Multiband Analysis, Unified Compression:
- Analysis happens in four different frequency bands
- The central display visualizes how much gain change is being contributed by each band:
- Lows are shown in red
- Lo–Mids are shown in yellow
- Hi–Mids are shown in green
- Highs are shown in purple
- To adjust responsiveness, each band has two offset controls:
- Intensity Offset relatively adjusts the compression curve for this analysis band. Positive settings represent stronger compression, and negatives settings back off compression from this band. Changes to any band's Intensity Offset is shown on the device's central display as a diverging compression curve for that band.
- Timing Offset relatively adjusts the timing parameters for this analysis band. Positive settings represent longer times, and negatives settings are shorter than the base settings. Timing changes are only visualized in the gain reduction (and in the audio).
- These per-band controls are always available in the Inspector Panel
- The device has a special Expanded Device View, showing a display for each of the four bands:
- Each display shows only the gain change for that band, along with that band's unique compression curve (along with the global curve behind it, if different)
- Again, each compression curve is filled from the bottom to represent this band's current contribution to the applied gain
- Each display retains the global Threshold control, as well as the audio input and output meters for the unified signal
- Controls for each band's Intensity Offset and Timing Offset are shown in this view as knobs
- A chooser in the top of the device (defaulting to Device Input) allows for sidechain configurations, by choosing any project audio source for the analysis input
- A Sidechain FX slot is also there, for any pre-processing you might want to do in the analysis path

A Choice of VCA Flavors:
- VCA Color Mode determines the tonal character imbued upon the compressed signal only:
- Clear (the default) applies no coloring
- Prism gives a clean blend of true multiband compression, with unified single-band compression
- Transistor provides a consistent analog feel, with a low bump and slightly reduced highs
- Saturate is a moving analog feel, like tape saturation, with a mid-range bump and some frequency-dependent behavior
- The mode selected is shown as an icon in the output section of the device, as well as the icon and name in the Inspector Panel
- Input Gain at the left of the device provides gain for incoming audio signal
- This is helpful for adjusting the signal to be processed, and for pushing the selected VCA Color Mode to apply more (or less) coloring

And More:
- Make-up Gain offers gain of ±24 decibels at the output
- Learn Make-up Gain can be triggered via the little L button beside the Make-up label
- While running, this function listens to the incoming device level and roughly matches that level at the output by adjusting the Make-up Gain value
- The learn function will run for 15 seconds, or shorter if you click the trigger button again to turn it off
- Combo Meters are shown in the output section, comprising:
- Level meters for output
- Blue gain meters for applied gain, showing the difference between input and output (this includes Make-up Gain)
- A numeric readout of applied gain
- Stereo Independence is the amount of separation between the stereo channels of each analysis band
- The default setting is 50 %, half-coupling each analysis band
- Stereo Independence Mode - Distribution/mode of stereo separation:
- Flat (the default) applies the Stereo Inpedence setting equally to all bands
- Low separates the lows less
- Air separates the highs more and the lows a little less
- Max uses the stereo-channel with the strongest gain reduction for each band
- Wet / Dry Mix is the amount of processed signal at device output (blended with dry audio signal entering the device), for parallel compression effects
- If a project or preset uses the Compressor (no plus) device, you can right-click the device header for a Convert to Compressor+ option
- This will load Compressor+ with the settings that Compressor had, including calculating an appropriate Make-up Gain setting when Auto Makeup was used
- These are very different devices and will not sound identical, but it will give you a starting point for working with Compressor+

Inspired EQs:
- A new trio of musical EQs are here
- All three work with fewer parameters to achiever quicker, trusted results
- Each marries a classic design and interface with modern niceties, such as:
- A Stereo-ize option in the Inspector Panel, for effectively duplicating the unit and then tilting it a variable Amount in the Stereo field (to push up frequencies and gain in the left or right channel), or to apply in the Mid–Side domain
- Onscreen displays, to visualize the gain curve of each EQ both on the device panel and in the Mixer Panel

New device: Sculpt (EQ):
- A component-model and interface of the renowned Pultec EQP-1, but with variable Color options and other modern niceties
- A broadband EQ good for bass sweetening and more, using pre-set frequency choices to quickly dial in magic
- Low Shelves Frequency selects the base frequency for both low filters
- Low Boost Amount sets the gain amount for the low boost filter
- Low Cut Amount sets the gain amount for the low cut filter, which becomes more of a detail control when Low Boost is active
- Peak Frequency selects the frequency for the peak boost filter
- Peak Boost Amount sets the gain amount for the peak boost filter
- Peak Bandwidth determines the relative bandwidth for the peak boost filter. Lower values narrow the filter, and higher values make it broader.
- High Cut Frequency selects the frequency for the high cut filter
- High Cut Amount sets the gain amount for the high cut filter
- Simple Color options let you decide which saturation to use:
- Clean (the default) offers minimal saturation, to either be surgical as-is or let you add your own saturation device afterwards
- Tube gives all-harmonic warmth, like the original EQP-1
- Transitor creates odd-harmonic emphasis, with distinctive midrange drive

New device: Focus (EQ):
- A component-model and interface of the renowned Pultec MEQ-5, but with variable Color options and other modern niceties
- A good mid-focused EQ with pre-set frequency choices in a sound's power regions
- Low Boost Frequency selects the frequency for the low boost filter
- Low Boost Amount sets the gain amount for the low boost filter
- Cut Frequency selects the frequency for the dip filter
- Cut Amount set the gain amount for the dip filter
- High Boost Frequency sets the gain amount for the high boost filter
- High Boost Amount selects the frequency for the high boost filter
- Simple Color options let you decide which saturation to use:
- Clean (the default) offers minimal saturation, to either be surgical as-is or let you add your own saturation device afterwards
- Tube gives all-harmonic warmth, like the original MEQ-5
- Transitor creates odd-harmonic emphasis, with distinctive midrange drive

New device: Tilt (EQ):
- A classic tilt equalizer, putting twin shelving filters under one set of controls
- Good for a simple tone shift (brighter or darker), or to add some stereo diversity to any track
- Gain sets the amplification for the dual shelf filters. Positive values amplify the upper band, and attenuate the lower band by the same amount. Negative values quiet the upper band, and boost the lower band by the same amount.
- Frequency freely sets the center frequency for the dual shelf filters
- Slope sets the roll-off for the dual shelf filters. Lower values are a gradual ramp, and higher values go toward an S-curve.

Precision Editing:
- Bitwig has long had both object selection (when clicking on a clip, event, automation point…) and time selection (when dragging an area of time across one or more tracks)
- Time Selection mode now has key commands for jumping across areas of interest, making editing both fast and precise
- New functions are available for editing with a single point in time selected
- Object Selection improvements have come too

Time Selection + Key Commands = Quick Edits:
- With a time selection (such as clicking in the lower half of any Arranger clip, or in an editor panel), the default Bitwig Studio key commands allow:
- [←] and [→] move to the next relevant event
- These events include:
- For note clips, note start and end positions
- For audio clips:
- Onsets positions (above the set Onset Threshold)
- Fade start and end positions
- Pre-fade start times
- Event start and end positions
- Clip start and end positions
- Loops start and end times (within the Detail Editor Panel)
- Arranger Loop start and end times
- Arranger Cue Marker positions (if cue markers are visible in the current editor)
- [SHIFT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[→] create or extend a selection to the next relevant event
- [ALT]+[←] and [ALT]+[→] move using the editor's current beat grid marker value
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] move a finer amount, using a sixteenth of the editor's current beat grid value
- [CTRL]+[←] and [CTRL]+[→] ([CMD]+[←] and [CMD]+[→] on Mac) jump to the first or last relevant event
- Adding [SHIFT] creates or extends your current selection
- On the Arranger, [↑] and [↓] move between tracks or, if selection is in an automation lane, between automation lanes of the current track
- Adding [SHIFT] extends your current selection to include this track as well, even if only a single point in time is selected
- On the Arranger, [CTRL]+[↑] and [CTRL]+[↓] ([CMD]+[↑] and [CMD]+[↓] on Mac) jumps to the first or last track or, if selection is in an automation lane, to the first or last automation lane of the current track
- Adding [SHIFT] extends your current selection to include all tracks from the current track to the first or last, even if only a single point in time is selected

New Time-Selection Editing Functions:
- Set Object Start (default mapping: [SHIFT]+[8]) makes the current time the new start time for the clip or event happening here, removing any earlier material
- Set Object End (default mapping: [SHIFT]+[9]) makes the current time the new end time for the clip or event happening here, removing any later material
- Fade In to Here (default mapping: [SHIFT]+[7]) makes the current time the end of a fade in for the audio clip or event happening here
- Fade Out to Here (default mapping: [SHIFT]+[0]) makes the current time the end of a fade out for the audio clip or event happening here
- All four functions can be applied to single tracks, or to multiple tracks when selected (by [SHIFT]+[↑] and [SHIFT]+[↓], for example)
- Switch between Object and Time Selection (default mapping: [CTRL]+[T]) is available in the Edit menu
- This lets you take advantage of both workflows

Object Selection Improvements & Workflows:
- Working with objects in the Arranger Timeline Panel defaults to making a selection:
- [←] and [→] selects the next clip on the Arranger
- [SHIFT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[→] extends selection to include the next clip
- Both gestures also work when an automation point is selected
- [ALT]+[←] and [ALT]+[→] move selected clips on the Arranger by the current beat grid value
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] move by a sixteenth of the current beat grid value
- Again, these gestures are the same when an automation point is selected
- [↑] and [↓] moves selected automation points up by a coarse (larger) amount
- [SHIFT]+[↑] and [SHIFT]+[↓] moves selected automation points up by a fine (smaller) amount
- The Detail Editor Panel, on the other hand, is primed for editing:
- [←] and [→] move the selected audio or note events by the current beat grid value
- [SHIFT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[→] move by a sixteenth of the current beat grid value
- [ALT]+[←] and [ALT]+[→] selects the next audio or note event
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] extends selection to include the next audio or note event
- [CTRL]+[←] and [CTRL]+[→] extends (as in, makes longer) the selected audio or note events by the current beat grid value
- [CTRL]+[SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [CTRL]+[SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] extends selected events by a sixteenth of the current beat grid value
- [↑] and [↓] transpose selected audio or notes events by ±1 semitone (same as a half-step)
- [SHIFT]+[↑] and [SHIFT]+[↓] transpose events by an octave (same as ±12 semitones)
- When an event already contains Pitch expressions, all points are transposed by a semitone or an octave
- When an audio event contains no expression points, one is created at the beginning of the event and then set accordingly
- [ALT]+[↑] and [ALT]+[↓] adjusts gain for the selected audio event by ±6 dB
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[↑] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[↓] adjusts gain for the selected audio event by ±1 dB
- When an event contains no expression points, one is created at the beginning of the event and then set accordingly
- Expression editing (per-event automation) within the Detail Editor Panel is similar to automation editing on the Arranger:
- [←] and [→] selects the next expression point within the current note / audio event
- [SHIFT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[→] extends selection to include the next expression point
- [CTRL]+[A] ([CMD]+[A] on Mac) selects all expression points within the current event
- [ALT]+[←] and [ALT]+[→] moves the selected expression point by the editor's current beat grid value
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] move by a sixteenth of the current beat grid value
- [↑] and [↓] adjusts the selected expression point by a course value:
- Pitch expressions: ±1 semitone (same as a half-step)
- Gain expressions: ±2.5 dB
- Pan expressions: ±10 %
- Timbre expressions: ±10 %
- Pressure expressions: ±5 %
- Formant audio expressions: ±1 semitone (same as a half-step)
- [SHIFT]+[↑] and [SHIFT]+[↓] adjusts the selected expression point by a fine value:
- Pitch expressions: ±0.1 semitones (same as ±10 cents)
- Gain expressions: ±0.5 dB
- Pan expressions: ±1 %
- Timbre expressions: ±2 %
- Pressure expressions: ±1 %
- Formant audio expressions: ±0.1 semitones (same as ±10 cents)

Other Moveable Objects:
- A few other items can also be moved via default keyboard commands, with the alternate [SHIFT] function using bar units instead
- When the Arranger Loop Selector is selected (in the Arranger Timeline Panel):
- [←] and [→] move the Arranger Loop by the current beat grid value, preserving its length
- [SHIFT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[→] move the Arranger Loop by one bar
- When an Arranger cue marker is selected (either in the Arranger Timeline Panel, in a Detail Editor Panel, or in the Sections tab of the Project Panel):
- [ALT]+[←] and [ALT]+[→] moves the selected cue marker by the current beat grid value
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] moves the selected cue marker by one bar
- With the Detail Editor Panel in Clip editing mode, items in the header of the window can also be selected and moved:
- [←] and [→] moves the clip loop Start time by the current beat grid value, preserving the loop's length
- [SHIFT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[→] move the loop Start time by one bar
- [ALT]+[←] and [ALT]+[→] moves the clip Offset time by the current beat grid value
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] moves the clip Offset time by one bar
- When Looping is disabled, [ALT]+[←] and [ALT]+[→] moves the clip end marker (the clip Length) by the current beat grid value
- [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[←] and [SHIFT]+[ALT]+[→] moves the clip end marker (the clip Length) by one bar

Beat Detection and New Functions:
- Our new, higher-resolution onset detector from Bitwig Studio v5 provides even better data and allows for new functions
- By doing beat detection, beat markers (and audio start positions) are now placed more accurately, to match your project like a glove
- This includes both fix-tempo cases, as well as audio with changing tempo
- Or redefine your project based on the tempo map of imported audio

In The Groove:
- When audio is dragged into a project (with default Import Mode of Stretch to Project Tempo), beats are now detected better to identify tempo and tempo changes
- When a clear first beat is found, the playback start time of the new clip is automatically set, saving time and ready for clips to firing in a good place
- A preference has been added in the Dashboard > Behavior > Audio Import Settings section
- Detect Tempo Changes is the default, letting the program determine whether the audio should use a fixed-tempo algorithm, or an algorithm suited for material with tempo changes
- When set to Assume Fixed Tempo, the program will only run the fixed-tempo algorithm
- New preference (under Dashboard > Settings > Behavior > Audio Import Settings) to either Insert Clip from First Beat, or to Insert Clip from Sample Start (the new default) for imported audio
- Additional improvements to audio import behavior:
- Better tempo estimation for audio loops based on loose numbers in filenames
- Can now read tempo/beat-length information from ACID chunks of WAV files
- Can now read tempo/beat-length information embedded by Logic Pro into WAV files
- A new Detect Event Tempo… function is available for audio events and clips, allowing you to re-run tempo analysis with some parametric controls
- A new Set Event Tempo… function sets a fixed tempo for the contained audio events, defaulting to the current project tempo
- Automatic handling of audio stem import:
- When multiple audio files are dragged into a project at once, files with identical lengths are grouped
- Beat analysis will happen for those files together, giving all grouped files the identical Beat Markers (for stretching) and lengths
- If non-matching files are dragging in as well, they will be analyzed individually
- If analysis should be (re)done for any file individual, select those file(s) and use either Detect Event Tempo… (with parameter options) or Detect Event Tempo (which uses the default parameters)

Elevating Audio's Tempo to the Project Level:
- A new Set Project Tempo function is available on Launcher and Arranger audio clips, changing the project tempo to match the primary tempo of the selected audio
- A new Apply Tempo Curve to Arranger function is available on Arranger audio clips or time selection, writing tempo automation from the selection into the project
- The selected audio file should now play back "neutrally" as the project will change tempo to match the file
- Adding tracks around this audio will now work on a proper beat grid
- If tempo automation exists outside the selection, it will be preserved
- After the process runs, the Tempo automation lane (on the master track) will be shown

New Graphics Engine, Sporting Hardware Acceleration:
- Bitwig Studio's graphics engine has been rewritten, making the program more responsive and efficient
- Painting our interface on your computer's GPU gives us native hardware acceleration
- This also leaves more CPU for your audio
- Some style changes have come along already, with knobs popping more and scopes have a fresh look
- Drawing in general has been highly optimized as well, running fewer commands and giving springier results
- Care was taken for projects with high track and event counts
- macOS 14: Now support display refresh rates up to 144 Hz, and when multiple monitors are in use, each will use their own refresh rate
- Earlier macOS versions max out at 60 Hz

Plug-ins can Undo too:
- Changes made to VST and CLAP plug-ins are now tracked as part of Bitwig's undo history
- Triggering Undo/Redo within the program will take plug-in changes a step back, the same as with native device changes
- If a plug-in has its own undo history, that is separate from Bitwig's history
- Crash recovery now applies to plug-ins as well
- Data stored by the plug-in undo mechanism now allows restoring a plug-in to its previous state after a crash

New Features:
- New Over (Distortion) device: Anti-aliased clipper, with multiband options and more
- Threshold defines the base level above which clipping is applied (or in Delta mode, the level above which signal is heard)
- Multiband Blend mixing clipping of the entire incoming signal (0 %) and multiband clipping (100 %), with optional Multiband Tilt
- Knee control increases the width of transitions and generally softens clipping
- Also has a Wet FX chain for processing only the wet signal, as well as Wet Gain and Mix controls
- PCM Clipping option provides digital flatlining at the PCM Threshold, because
- New Crossover-2 (Mix) Grid module: Two-band frequency split for subsequent routing/audio processing of your choice
- New Crossover-3 (Mix) Grid module: Three-band frequency split for subsequent routing/audio processing of your choice
- New All-pass (Filter) Grid module: All-pass filter with adjustable slope in a simple 1×1 interface
- Note: The delay module formerly called All-pass is now called All-pass Delay (Delay/FX)
- New Shift Register (Level) Grid module: Serial level sampler, with up to eight out ports (found next to Sample / Hold)
- Chain (Container) device: Now has a Learn Wet Gain function
- When the L button beside Wet Gain is clicked on, the learn function runs
- The device then matches the wet signal loudness (by adjusting the Wet Gain) to roughly match the incoming, dry audio level
- This places the Mix knob in a balanced position for fading between two level-matched signals
- This will work for any nested audio effect chain, whether you are using normal Bitwig devices, plug-ins, or both
- The learn function will run for 25 seconds, or shorter if you click the trigger button again to turn it off
- FX Selector (Container) device: Now has input signal Fade In and Fade Out parameters, for adjusting transitions when switching between layers
- Fade In is only applied when input signal was occurring; otherwise, the fade is skipped
- Multi-note (Note FX) device: Now has a Learn Chord function in the Inspector Panel
- When triggered, the device is programmed with the next played "chord" (of up to eight notes), setting Note and Velocity parameters for each note, and then enabling those note units (and ending Learn) when those notes are released
- Each note is set relative to the first note played
- Chance and Velocity Spread parameters are disabled during learning, then are used again when regular functioning resumes
- Wavetable (Oscillator) Grid/Polymer module: Added two new options:
- Remove Fundamental suppresses the fundamental from each table
- Remove DC Offset offsets the signal output so that it centers around zero. This can transform wavetables made for modulation (such as the "LFO and Sequences" category) into interesting audio sources.
- In The Grid, these functions are available in the module's Inspector Panel
- In Polymer, the Wavetable oscillator now has a Pop-out Editor for accessing all parameters
- Controller script added for Intuitive Instruments's Exquis
- Controller scripts added for iCON's V1-M, P1-M, and P1-Nano
- Bitwig Studio v5.1 User Guide is now available in ¡Spanish! [PDF here]
- Bitwig Studio v5.1 User Guide is now available in Korean~^^ [PDF here]
- Bitwig Studio v5.2 User Guide is now available in English [PDF here]
- Translations will come in due time

Improved:
- Windows: MSI installer has received numerous improvements:
- Only one version of Bitwig Studio will be installed on your system at a time
- Beta versions are handled separately, so you can have a release version and a beta version at the same time
- Once a beta completes and the release version is installed, the beta version will be uninstalled
- While an MSIX format worked well during the beta, there were numerous issues with third-party software. We will offer only an MSI installer (with the above improvements) for now.
- Simplified default stretch mode preferences (Dashboard > Settings > Behavior):
- The Defaults section now includes:
- Default Stretch Mode (replacing the previous Long and Short samples and file options)
- Record / bounce stretch mode (was previously On record / bounce)
- Files still import based on the Audio Preview/Import Mode setting, to either:
- Play at Original Speed, or
- Stretch to Project Tempo
- Now when importing audio, holding the [ALT] key inverts the import mode
- Now when importing audio, holding the [CTRL] key invert will Insert Audio as Raw
- Various editing/selection improvements:
- Timeline views longer skip bar zero in negative beat-time representation (for clips with negative start times)
- Fixed clip selection after consolidation
- Fixed track navigation when some tracks are deactivated
- Added mappable function for Play from Left Edge of Current Editor
- New combination Zoom In Vertically and Zoom Out Vertically functions are now available:
- These work both in the Arranger Timeline Panel (for tracks/automation lanes) and the Detail Editor Panel (for notes in the piano-style view, or when using layered editing)
- Default shortcuts are [SHIFT]+[CTRL]+[+] ([SHIFT]+[CMD]+[+] on Mac) to zoom in, and [SHIFT]+[CTRL]+[-] ([SHIFT]+[CMD]+[-] on Mac) to zoom out
- Zoom In and Zoom Out functions have been renamed Zoom In Horizontally and Zoom Out Horizontally:
- To cover all horizontal cases, these functions also work to change track widths in the Mixer Panel
- Default shortcuts are the same as before: [CTRL]+[+] ([CMD]+[+] on Mac) to zoom in, and [CTRL]+[-] ([CMD]+[-] on Mac) to zoom out
- Menu functions are now grouped into the following submenus:
- Content Scaling submenu - contains Scale…, Scale 50%, Scale 200%, Scale 50%…, and Scale 200%… (when available)
- Quantize submenu - contains Quantize, Quantize…, Quantize Audio, and Quantize Audio… (when available)
- Transpose submenu - contains Transpose a Semitone Up, Transpose a Semitone Down, Transpose an Octave Up, and Transpose an Octave Down (when available)
- Slice / Fold submenu - contains Slice In Place…, Slice to Drum Machine…, Slice to Sampler…, and Fold to Takes… (when available)
- Tempo submenu - contains Detect Event Tempo…, Set Event Tempo…, Apply Tempo Curve to Arranger, and Set Project Tempo (when available)
- Device Defaults submenu - contains Load Default Preset and Save as Default Preset, when a device is selected
- These submenus are used both in normal window menus and in context menu (on right-click of objects)
- Direct Arranger tempo automation is no longer delayed by one audio buffer
- We no longer restore the last manual parameter value after Launcher clip automation terminates
- In the Inspector Panel, dragging an audio event's Tempo field now stretches the whole event
- Typing values into an audio event's Tempo field now applies the value to the whole event, removing existing tempo changes (beat markers)
- Arpeggiator (Note FX) device: Increased precision when modulated or automated
- Transfer (Shaper) Filter+/Sweep/Grid module: Now paints the current position with the Curve Editor open in Reflect mode (for example, whenever in unipolar mode for Filter+ or Sweep)
- Now supports audio interfaces with more than 256 inputs or outputs
- Project file tabs (in the top left of the screen) now have a context menu, including functions to:
- Show in System File Browser
- Close Project
- Note In (I/O) Grid module: Now does better swapping for some modules with logic out ports, as well as all modules with pitch out ports
- Right-clicking Note In to Replace with now offers the Triggers, Gates, and Probabilities sequencers, for quicker generative patching
- The transport's realtime display is now grayed out when the program's transport is synchronized to MIDI Clock or Ableton Link (set under Dashboard > Setting > Synchronization)
- Generic controller now supports polyphonic aftertouch
- Controller widget popup knobs & sliders now paint value origins correctly, like other knobs do
- New algorithm for solving latency-compensation, which should fix the few remaining issues in this space
- Now validate user-defined library locations (and preset discovery locations) before adding them to the browser
- VST3: Implemented the IPlugInterfaceSupport interface
- VST3 plug-ins: Now includes note name support
- Controller script for Novation Launchpad Pro Mk3: Color indicators were added for remote controls page
- Controller scripts for SSL UF1, iCON V1-M and iCON P1-M: Beat Display is now easier to read

Fixe:
- Ableton Link is now disabled on application start
- Touchscreen: Scrollbars now get less sticky
- Expression editing: When points are created with the mouse, they are automatically selected for easy editing
- Various MIDI Sync (Out) settings (under Dashboard > Settings > Synchronization) didn't always apply the clock changes
- Mixer Panel: It is now possible to change the output for a multi-selection of group tracks
- Fixed some incorrect trimming of audio event start times, when adjusting clip Start in the Arranger
- Pitch expressions greater than 30 semitones no longer break playback when using Stretch HD
- Moving a playing clip's Stop marker no longer causes it to play out of sync (if a quantize jump was done before)
- Select All now works correctly, on Arranger clips in a project with empty group tracks
- When adjusting parameters from a controller, sometimes the value would not always be correctly adjusted
- Fixed Audio Quantize function, where Amount in the dialog now has the proper effect
- Slice to Drum Machine dialog is now big enough to show all controls, all the time
- Notes are no longer created at wrong position in the Track view of the Detail Editor Panel
- Gray automation circles no longer remain in the Transport section after deleting tempo or time signature automation
- Nudging selected items move thru the timeline more elegantly, keeping them onscreen in a better way
- Pop-out Editor window's initial horizontal position now corresponds better to the parent modulator/embedded module (such as with Wavetable oscillator in Polymer; Steps modulator; Saturator module in Filter+/Sweep; etc.)
- Fixed bad timing of stepped controls that were modulated
- Sampler (Synth) device: Round-robin and velocity-crossfades now work together
- Dynamics (Dynamics) and Ring-Mod (Container) devices: fixed sleep timing rules
- Tool (Utility) device: No longer creates a short audio burst (under certain circumstances) when being grouped
- Instrument Selector, FX Selector, and Note FX Selector (Container) devices: No longer afflict the interface, etc., when chains are renamed with obscenely long names containingnospaces
- Poly → Mono (Level) Grid module: Now has consistent phase retriggers
- Ø Counter (Phase) Grid module: GUI counter element was not working
- Converting devices and modules no longer send recordable user input for parameters
- WAV decoding: Now force block align to be equal to channel * bytesPerSample, and log badly encoded WAV files
- Fixed an audio engine crash in some cases when a sandboxed plug-in crashed
- Plug-ins that reported an empty vendor now work when Plug-in Hosting Mode is by Vendor
- Plug-ins: Better handling when invalid parameter value changes are reported
- Fixed text appearance in Stretch Mode chooser for Japanese localization
- ALS import: Tempo information is no longer missing from Live 12 projects
- Certain ALS file can now be imported
- Certain FLP file now imports (previously gave a "Fine pitch value out of range" error)
- Windows: Fixed a crash when the MIDI output buffer was full
- Windows: Some VSTs were taking keyboard focus after pressing ALT
- macOS: Fixed a potential audio engine crash when scanning device metadata while device is being disconnected
- JavaScript Controller Extensions: Now provide line numbers when errors are encountered
- Controller script for AKAI APC64: Now works with the latest firmware
- Controller scripts for MCU, Faderport: Controller-focused tracks now follow selected tracks more correctly
- Controller scripts for SSL UF1/UF8: Channel meters now work as expected on sustained sounds
- Controller script for SSL UF1: Track number is now shown correctly on the two-digit display
- SSL Native Channel Strip plug-in: Fixed an issue when adding more than 8 FX tracks
- Particular preset(s) no longer causes the audio engine to hang
- Fixed a crash when arming mixer tracks that have sub-channels
- Fixed a possible engine crash when deleting a playing clip
- Fixed a crash when touching outside of a device's Interactive Help
- Fixed a crash when closing a project
- Fixed a crash when undoing grouping of a track, when certain controller scripts were running
- Reduced excessive logging in various cases