Presets System

As of version 1.0.0, BitwigBuddy features a unified preset system. All presets - both built-in and custom - use the same format and are stored as text files.

Overview

All presets in BitwigBuddy are stored as simple text files. The built-in presets are located in the BitwigBuddy/Presets folder, while your custom presets go in the BitwigBuddy/Custom Presets folder. Both use the identical format, making it easy to create, modify, and share patterns.

Creating Presets

You can create your own presets in two ways:

Method 1: Save from Generate Mode

1. In Generate Mode (either Preset or Program), create a pattern you like
2. Click the "Save Custom Pattern" button
3. Enter a name for your preset
4. The preset will be saved as a .txt file in the Custom Presets folder

Method 2: Create Text Files Manually

Create a text file in the BitwigBuddy/Custom Presets folder with the following format:

Preset Name: MyCustomPreset
Steps: 80,0,80,0,80,0,80,0
DefaultNote: "C#1"
Note Channel: 1
Step Size: 1/16
Subdivisions: Straight
Note Length: 1/16

Preset File Settings Explained

• Preset Name: The display name shown in BitwigBuddy's preset selector
• Steps: Comma-separated velocity values (0-127), where 0 means no note
• DefaultNote: Sets the default MIDI note and octave (e.g., "C#1")
• Note Channel: MIDI channel for generated notes
• Step Size: Rhythmic value of each step
• Subdivisions: Rhythm subdivisions (Straight, Triplets, Quintuplets, Septuplets)
• Note Length: Length of each generated note

Example Custom Preset

Here's an example of a simple kick pattern on every quarter note:

Preset Name: Four on the Floor
Steps: 127,0,0,0,100,0,0,0,127,0,0,0,100,0,0,0
DefaultNote: "C1"
Note Channel: 1
Step Size: 1/16
Subdivisions: Straight
Note Length: 1/16

Preset Syntax Guidelines

When creating or editing presets, follow these syntax rules to ensure compatibility with BitwigBuddy:

Correct Syntax Example

Name: "Kick Driving 8th Notes"
DefaultNote: "C1"
Pattern: [100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0]
StepSize: "1/16"
Subdivisions: "Straight"
NoteLength: "1/16"

Incorrect Syntax Examples

1. Missing quotes around string values:

Name: Kick Driving 8th Notes
DefaultNote: C1
Pattern: [100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0]
StepSize: 1/16
Subdivisions: Straight
NoteLength: 1/16

2. Pattern not enclosed in brackets:

Name: "Kick Driving 8th Notes"
DefaultNote: "C1"
Pattern: 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0, 100, 0
StepSize: "1/16"
Subdivisions: "Straight"
NoteLength: "1/16"

Key Points

• String values (e.g., Name, DefaultNote, StepSize, Subdivisions, NoteLength) must be enclosed in double quotes (").
• Pattern values must be enclosed in square brackets ([]) and separated by commas.
• Avoid leaving out quotes or brackets, as this will result in errors when loading the preset.

Managing Presets

Folder Location

Built-in presets are stored in the BitwigBuddy/Presets folder, and custom presets are stored in the BitwigBuddy/Custom Presets folder within your Bitwig Studio Extensions directory:

• Windows: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Bitwig Studio\Extensions\BitwigBuddy\Presets and %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Bitwig Studio\Extensions\BitwigBuddy\Custom Presets
• macOS: ~/Documents/Bitwig Studio/Extensions/BitwigBuddy/Presets and ~/Documents/Bitwig Studio/Extensions/BitwigBuddy/Custom Presets
• Linux: ~/Bitwig Studio/Extensions/BitwigBuddy/Presets and ~/Bitwig Studio/Extensions/BitwigBuddy/Custom Presets

Refreshing the Preset List

If you add, remove, or modify preset files while BitwigBuddy is running:

1. Click the "Refresh Presets" button in BitwigBuddy
2. The extension will reload with your updated preset list

Using Presets

Once created, presets appear in the preset selector dropdown:

1. Select "Preset" in the Pattern Type selector
2. Click the dropdown menu to see all available presets
3. Your custom presets will be listed alongside the built-in patterns
4. Select a preset to load its pattern data

Converting Program Mode Patterns to Presets

You can save patterns created in Program Mode as presets:

1. Configure your pattern in Program Mode
2. The generated step values appear in the Steps field
3. Click "Save Custom Preset"
4. Enter a name for your preset
5. The pattern is saved as a preset that you can recall later

Tips for Working with Presets

• Create variations of the same pattern with different velocity shapes or densities
• Organize your presets with descriptive names (e.g., "Kick - Four on the Floor", "Hihat - Offbeat")
• Back up your presets folder periodically
• Share your presets with the BitwigBuddy community
• Experiment with different DefaultNote settings for quick switching between drum elements

List of Built-in Presets

Here are the built-in presets included with BitwigBuddy. Note that some presets may have identical steps but differ in settings such as DefaultNote, StepSize, Subdivisions, or NoteLength:

Kicks

• Kick Triplet Feel 12 Steps - C1
• Kick Syncopated (1, & of 2, 3) - C1
• Kick Off-Beats (2 and 4) - C1
• Kick Half Notes - C1
• Kick Four on the Floor - C1
• Kick Driving 8th Notes - C1
• Kick Dotted 8th Pattern - C1
• Kick 1 and 3 - C1

Snares

• Snare Only on Beat 2 - C#1
• Snare Single Hit Half-Time - C#1
• Snare Backbeat 2 and 4 - C#1
• Snare 16th Machine Gun - C#1
• Snare 16th Ghost Notes - C#1

Closed HiHats

• HiHat Closed Eighth Notes - D1
• HiHat Closed Eighth Accented - D1
• HiHat Closed Dotted Eighth - D1
• HiHat Closed 32nd Roll - D1
• HiHat Closed 16th Notes - D1
• HiHat Closed 8th Notes - D1
• HiHat Closed Accent on Downbeat - D1
• HiHat Closed Quarter Notes - D1
• HiHat Closed Off-Beat 8ths - D1
• HiHat Closed Triplet Alt Velocity 18 Step - D1
• HiHat Closed Triplet Quarter 18 Step - D1
• HiHat Closed Triplet Basic 18 Step - D1
• HiHat Closed Triplet Accented 18 Step - D1
• HiHat Closed Eighth Crescendo - D1

Open HiHats

• HiHat Open Two and Four - D#1
• HiHat Open Quarter Notes - D#1
• HiHat Open Off-Beat 8ths - D#1