Bitwig Connect Review: An Inspiring and Unique First Step into the Music Hardware Segment

Let’s face it. Audio interfaces aren’t the most exciting segment of the music production hardware industry. Bitwig has, however,  managed to put a really interesting and unique spin on it with their first foray into the hardware market. Furthermore, as users of Bitwig Studio have come to expect, they’ve provided a platform in Connect that can be leveraged in interesting, and often unintentional ways with a bit of creativity. Connect promises to be more than just another box for getting sound in and out of your computer; rather, it attempts to be an extension of the DAW, bridging the gap between hardware and software with its CV-capable outputs, all while providing intuitive, hands-on control via the unique "Bitwig Mode". Let's see if the hardware delivers.

Who Is It Really For?

Out with the obvious first. If you are a heavy Bitwig Studio user and own any amount of semi-modular or Eurorack gear, this interface was built specifically for you. The seamless workflow between The Grid and your hardware is something you won't find anywhere else. Even without Eurorack gear, the Bitwig mode and premium build is more than enough reason to warrant getting one. It is incredibly well made, and the ergonomics of the unit are fantastic, an attribute perhaps overlooked by most until you actually have one to play with in your studio setup.

Could a non-Bitwig user make use of it? Totally. It's a solid, relatively high-output-count interface with good monitor control functions. With some Eurorack gear, it’s a great value proposition. We tested it with VCV Rack using the Audio 16 module, and it was a seamless experience, extending the capabilities of physical modular gear with virtual counterparts. For those users, another interface with DC coupled outputs may be worth investigating, although we couldn’t think of anything as ergonomically suited to the task as the Connect. You are missing out on the "Bitwig Mode" integration though, but Connect does support MCU protocol for the transport controls, so some functionality can be carried over to other DAWs as well. Folks more interested in recording multiple, more traditional instruments may want to look elsewhere though. Whilst Connect covers all the essentials, it is a little light on the amount of inputs available. Not surprising though considering the one of the primary focuses here is on CV enabled hardware.

What’s in the Box?

Pulling the Bitwig Connect from its packaging, the first impression is solid. The design somewhat resembles the audio interface equivalent of a ‘Panzer’ tank, complete with stunning Bitwig livery. It features a sturdy metal chassis with a clean, functional design that reflects the Bitwig Studio aesthetic. It has quite a bit of heft to it as well, perhaps hindering its portability ever so slightly. It isn't the lightest interface you’ll reach for when hitting the road, although it is bus-powered, and its design does allow for it to be relocated around the studio easily. For modular users already lugging around a wall of Eurorack, we doubt the weight will be an issue however. Bitwig also includes a set of very nice braided patch cables, a convertible USB-C/A cable, and converters for the MIDI outputs to the regular size DINs.

The star of the show is the main encoder knob. It has a gorgeous, tactile feel with silky smooth movement and a size and weight to it that feels incredibly premium. The encoder performs a host of tasks from setting input levels to monitoring and more. A complement of sturdy buttons make up the rest of the controls, covering playback operation, various mode selections and monitor functions such as mono and dim.

Additionally, the front panel also hosts a number of the device's I/O ports, with the rest available on the back. These are all ⅛“ TS jacks, and are conveniently placed to make patching CV in and out as easy as possible. There are two inputs on offer along with 4 outputs. Another XLR combo input for mic/line signals, along with a ¼” Jack for line/instrument level signals can be found on the back panel. Three pairs of ¼” outs, a headphones output and two ⅛” MIDI ports make up the remainder of the I/O. Unfortunately, there is no digital options here. An ADAT option would have been welcome in order to expand the interface into larger setups. Connect seems to have been designed with aggregate audio device setups in mind instead. Mac and Linux users will be better off in this case, but sadly, this isn’t an ideal situation for Windows users and you’ll have to make use of third party software to aggregate your devices, which can often result in unwanted latency and other issues.

On the subject of DC-coupled outputs, for anyone unfamiliar, this means they can send control voltage (CV) signals directly from your computer to control Eurorack modules, semi-modular synths, and other analog hardware. Whilst most audio interfaces can transmit clock and gate signals, for pitch and other cv signals a DC coupled output is essential. This isn't a new concept, but here with Connect, they have been perfectly calibrated for this purpose, making it a capable central hub for a hybrid studio.

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Performance: Sound and Speed

An interface can have all the features in the world, but it's not much good if audio quality or latency isn't up to scratch. Thankfully, Bitwig Connect performs well here. The converters are suitably clean and detailed, on par with other well-regarded interfaces in this price bracket. It supports sample rates up to 192 kHz.

Being a class-compliant USB-C device, it's plug-and-play on modern systems. We tested it primarily on a Windows machine for which there is a dedicated driver, and the performance was stable. In our testing, round-trip latency was impressively low, coming in at a mere 8ms at a buffer size of 256, a huge benefit when working with both virtual instruments or processing audio in real-time, along with physical hardware as well.

Built for Flow: Ergonomics and Layout

One aspect of Bitwig’s Connect that really impressed us, is the role the ergonomics of the device play in the user experience. Aside from the high quality components, the unit’s size allows for very comfortable and convenient operation with one hand resting upon it whilst working. Why is this important? Mostly because of how this can affect your workflow when using the special ‘Bitwig Mode’ and Scroll/Zoom functionality in Bitwig Studio.

Firstly, what is "Bitwig Mode"? When activated, any parameter located under the mouse pointer is temporarily linked to the main encoder knob on connect. According to user defined settings, a simple double tap on the encoder locks the parameter freeing up the mouse once again. We personally opted to disable the double feature due to a few accidental activations, opting instead to click the Bitwig Mode button a second time to lock. There is excellent visual feedback, instantly matching parameter values to the Connect’s LEDs, and in some cases the colour values. All control is relative to the current value too, so no need to frantically scroll to 'pick up' a parameter value after switching. For Steinberg veterans, it’s very similar to the ‘AI Knob’ functionality on their now discontinued CMC-AI and CC121 controllers, but it is so well implemented here and just feels entirely natural. This may sound trivial, but being able to utilize your second hand whilst still controlling other parameters with the mouse, provides an experience similar to using real hardware. One could argue that this can be done with another controller, but this introduces additional steps, requiring mapping of controls, dealing with a lack of visual feedback and so on. Once you’re used to it, Bitwig Mode just feels entirely intuitive and natural with very little work to get up and running. It is probably the feature we enjoyed most with Connect.

Aside from the control, with the cleverly laid out top facing CV I/O, Bitwig Connect easily fills the role of a ‘portable laboratory for sound designers’. It can easily be moved to close proximity of gear to either extend modulation, sequence things or just explore signals via a scope functioning in software. We discovered a number of unique use cases too, for example routing an audio output from a module in a complex grid patch individually to an FX bus to processed separately... or quickly creating feedback loops. Again, everything here just feels natural and works out the box, right down to the effortless tuning Eurorack modules from within Bitwig. As mentioned, there are other DC coupled interfaces out there, but none as convenient as the design presented in Connect in our opinion.

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The Verdict

Bitwig took a risk entering an already very crowded audio interface market. Instead of competing on specs and pricing alone though, they have delivered something truly unique and focused on providing unique tools and solutions for their core users: bridging the gap between their powerful software and the world of hardware.

While not on the cheap end of the scale, there is plenty of value proposition here for both beginners and pros alike. The ability to easily utilize modules in software like VCV Rack, or indeed Bitwig’s own grid, could easily translate into savings on more niche modules, either as a Eurorack veteran or someone just getting their feet wet.

As a Bitwig user, this a really solid choice as a do it all monitor controller, DAW controller, and audio interface that should suit most modern day hybrid studios. Our only gripe here is we would have liked to have a physical option, and ADAT I/O option for example, to incorporate the slightly niche functionality of Connect into larger, more traditional recording setups.

Overall, Bitwig Connect is a resounding success. It’s a well-built, great-sounding interface with excellent drivers. Its deep, intuitive integration with Bitwig Studio is the standout feature, and it is a no-brainer for anyone wanting a studio that lives at the intersection of software flexibility and analog hardware.

PROS

It's a premium device and the build quality is top notch.

Great sound and low latency performance.

Fills a unique gap in the segment for users of hybrid setups.

Satisfying ergonomics

Control features and CV I/O works seamlessly with Bitwig.

CONS

No digital I/O options.

A tad niche for users not using Bitwig or dabbling in Eurorack.

Tech Specs

USB-C/USB-2 port for data and bus powering

1 MIDI input and 1 MIDI output

1 dedicated 6.3 mm stereo headphone output

6 x 6.3 mm TRS fully balanced line outputs

1 fully balanced 6.3 mm TRS line input or high-impedance instrument input

1 combo XLR / 6.3 mm TRS port: high-gain microphone preamp with 48-volt phantom power / fully balanced line or high-impedance instrument input

6 x 3.5 mm TS DC-coupled mini jack ports for audio/CV: 2 inputs, 4 outputs

Recording and playback up to 192 kHz

AKM converters for all inputs and outputs

Compatible with macOS / Windows / Linux

Dedicated ASIO driver for Windows

Bus-powered class-compliant USB 2 device

Full metal chassis

Dimensions: 20.7 (W) x 16.3 (L) x 5.9 (H) cm

Weight: 1.45 kg

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