Introduction

Bitwig’s entrance into hardware with the Connect 4/12 is quite a bold move. Entering the hardware market is far from easy for a software company — it involves manufacturing, logistics, and support. However, Bitwig have clearly done their homework, making the Connect 4/12 a solid first step.

At a first glance, the Connect looks like a typical sleek and compact audio interface — but it is also much more than that. Designed with Bitwig Studio in mind, it serves not only as a high-quality audio and CV interface, but also as a dedicated MIDI-controller. While it works with any DAW, pairing it with Bitwig Studio does enhance its functionality. 

Here at Stromkult, we of course were especially keen on testing its DC-coupled I/O section for interfacing with modular systems. So when Bitwig offered us a unit on loan, we were eager to dive in!

Unboxing and first impressions

The Connect 4/12 feels solid right out of the box, with a sleek matte black design that is compact, yet sturdy. The package includes the unit, a USB-C cable (with an adapter for USB-A), two mini TRS to MIDI adapters, and two modular patch cables. Its bus-powered design (via USB) is a nice touch for portability, though an option for external power would have added some extra headroom for heavier sessions. That said, a quick test showed that the Connect 4/12 does indeed operate in Standalone as a mixer if you use the USB-C for a power source only without a computer. 

Features and functionality

The Connect 4/12 combines three core functions in one device: an audio interface, a monitor controller, and a MIDI controller. These elements are seamlessly integrated into a thoughtfully designed interface, with the standout feature being the Jog Wheel, which plays a pivotal role in each of these functions.

As an audio interface

The Connect 4/12 is a 24-bit/96kHz audio interface with excellent sound quality, thanks to AKM converters that are known for their clean, musical response and low noise profile. With DC-coupled outputs, it is perfect for interfacing with modular, allowing CV and gate signals to flow seamlessly from the DAW to any modular setup.

I/O and connections

Front (Top) Panel:

• 2x 3.5mm DC coupled audio inputs (IN 3, 4)
• 4x 3.5mm DC coupled audio outputs (OUT 9–12)

Back Panel:

• 1x XLR/TRS combo input (IN 1, can be +48V, mic/line/instrument)
• 1x TRS "line/instrument" input (IN 2)
• 6x 1/4" TS outputs (OUT 1–6
• 1x TRS "line out" headphone output (phones 7/8)
• MIDI DIN input and output
• USB-C port (USB 2.0 protocol)

The audio connections are on the back panel, with the CV ins and outs also being able to serve as audio I/Os when needed.

Bitwig DAW-Control

Besides offering standard USB-to-Midi functionality, the Connect 4/12 also doubles as a native Bitwig controller with deep integration. Setting it up as a Bitwig controller requires nothing more than enabling the device from the Bitwig controller settings panel.

Classic transport buttons (Record, Stop, Play) are available to control Bitwig's playback, with "Shift" (Bitwig logo) doubling as a control for automation, metronome, and loop toggling.

Bitwig: Scroll Mode

The "Scroll mode" uses the Jog Wheel for timeline scrubbing or zooming within Bitwig. When pressing the dedicated button once, the Jog Wheel lights up blue and allows the user to move the play head around the arrangement timeline.

Pressing a second time, the wheel lights up purple and now controls the zoom factor while remaining focused on the playhead. This is great for zooming in to align events precisely — and it would be nice if this could be applicable in the Clip edit timeline as well.

Since the Jog wheel is touch sensitive, many feature requests regarding control gestures in Scroll mode are bound to arise from the Bitwig community. 

"Bitwig Mode"

The "Bitwig Mode" is activated by pressing the dedicated backlit "Bitwig" button, which also doubles as a shift button. When in Bitwig Mode, the Jog Wheel now controls and represents the value of any parameter within Bitwig that the user hovers their mouse over. On-screen colors are represented through high-resolution multicolour LEDs.

Specific parameters can be locked to the Jog Wheel by pressing the Bitwig button a second time, which frees up the mouse for other tasks — a smart, powerful and easy to use implementation. Again, there is also a lot of future potential for gesture control options here.

Monitor Controller

These additional backlit buttons toggle monitor functions like a Mono-switch for a quick mono compatibility check, secondary output-switching when comparing two sets of monitors, and an overall level dim, that can bring down the output to a user defined level.

Control Panel Software

There is also an optional control panel software that is installed separately from Bitwig but can be easily called up with a button from within Bitwig. Aside from a useful meter bridge, the control panel software mirrors all of the Connect's buttons in software form and can be engaged from the software. There are also a couple of extra settings, like being able to choose where to route ALT outs, an offset of the level dimmer, control over the sample rate (hinting at its standalone operation capability) and direct monitoring levels. 

Eurorack-connectivity: The practical test

We have tested several use cases to explore the interfacing of the Connect with an Eurorack system:
• Controlling a modular voice via the Connect's CV and Gate outputs, using Bitwig's "HW Instrument" device and Bitwig's "Poly Grid"
• Sending modulation signals from Bitwig to a modular system via the Connect's CV output
• Sending modulation from the modular into Bitwig via the Connect's CV input
• Clocking and resetting a hardware sequencer using Bitwig's "HW Clock Out" device through the Connect's two CV outputs

In each of these scenarios, the Bitwig-Connect-Modular setup performed just as expected! The signals coming out of Bitwig were stable, precise and immediately usable in the modular. The 1V/oct CV from the Connect also tracked perfectly right out of the box with no calibration routine required, which is certainly not the case with every DC-coupled interface on the market.

The Connect's clock output sourced from the Bitwig “HW Clock device” was also rock-solid, and there is a useful nudge feature — similar to what's found on the Multiclock or ACME4 —  to slightly shift timing forwards or backwards. Bitwig's “HW Instrument device” plugin also performed as expected, there is a built-in latency compensation to keep everything tight.

All in all, the Bitwig/Connect setup delivers very impressive interfacing between Bitwig and a hardware modular setup. And with its Poly Grid functionality, Bitwig has the capacity to become a versatile companion to any modular setup — incorporating new signals and prototyping patch ideas is easy to set-up and patch in a manner of seconds.

Conclusion

Overall, the Bitwig Connect 4/12 is a well-thought-out tool that already feels quite mature for a first-generation product. Priced around €499 (EU retail), it combines multiple essential functions into one compact unit and excels in its symbiotic use with Bitwig Studio for the seamless integration of audio, MIDI, and modular workflows.

Pros (at a glance)
• an audio interface, MIDI controller, CV bridge, monitor controller, and a native Bitwig DAW-controller all in one device
• seamless integration with Bitwig
• robust DC-coupled CV I/O for use with modular setups
• overall compact and robust design
• bus-powered for portability
• class-compliant with any DAW
• Kensington-lockable

Cons (at a glance)
• full control integration is limited to Bitwig (no cross-DAW support as of this review)
• no option for external PSU use
• no ADAT or SPDIF support

You can find more information about the Connect 4/12 over at the Bitwig website.