MFTwister

A Bitwig Extension for the DJ TechTools MIDI Fighter Twister

Description

This extension is intended to be very simple. It explicitly avoids navigation and Remote Control integration, opting instead for manual user control mapping. While this requires a bit more upfront setup, I find this workflow preferable because it allows me to enjoy tweaking parameters across many tracks and devices without looking at the screen.

Features

• Endless encoder integration: Once assigned, each knob’s LED ring shows the control’s value.
• Avoids unwanted MIDI CC messages when changing banks.
• “Shifted” CCs: Pressing an encoder down makes it more precise.

Upcoming Features

• Configurable resolution.
• Color LED integration.

MIDI Fighter Twister Setup

• If you haven’t already, install the MIDI Fighter Utility. Go to MIDI Fighter Setup to download the utility and view the manual.
• In the MIDI Fighter Utility, set all of your encoders to incremental encoders:
  • Click the “Multiple” button to edit multiple encoders at once.
  • Select all 16 encoders.
  • Change the “Encoder MIDI Type” to “Enc 3FH/41H”. Repeat this step for each bank.
  • Click “Send to Midi Fighter”.

Extension Installation

• Install the extension by copying MFTwister.bwextension into your Documents/Bitwig Studio/Extensions folder.
• Set up the extension in Bitwig by going to Settings → Controllers. You may need to manually add the controller and set its MIDI input and output.

Development

• Install asdf and the Java plugin.
• Run asdf install in this directory.
• Set bitwigExtensionsDir to your Bitwig Extensions directory (absolute path) in your $GRADLE_USER_HOME/gradle.properties file.
• Run the install task via IntelliJ’s Gradle view (under Tasks → build) or run ./gradlew install in your terminal.

Inspiration and Credits

• Jürgen Moßgraber, and particularly his YouTube playlist on Bitwig extension development
• Keith McMillen’s articles on Bitwig scripting
• Bitwig’s open source extensions repository
• TwisterSister