Bitwig Studio doesn't have a headphone mix or dedicated monitor output for a phone the way some hardware rigs do. But you can get your master bus audio streaming to an iOS or Android device in under a minute, with no cables, no interface routing tricks, and no extra latency from record-arm loops. This guide shows you exactly how.

What You Need

  • Bitwig Studio (any recent version, including Bitwig Studio 6) on macOS or Windows
  • Auxfeed plugin -- free VST3 for macOS and Windows, download at auxfeed.com
  • Auxfeed app on your phone -- free on the App Store and Google Play
  • Phone and computer on the same Wi-Fi

Note: Bitwig Studio supports VST3 and CLAP plugins on all platforms. It does not support AU (Audio Units). Use the VST3 version of Auxfeed.

Steps

1. Download and Install the Plugin

Go to auxfeed.com and download the macOS or Windows installer. Run it -- the VST3 installs to the standard system folder (/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 on Mac, C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 on Windows). Quit Bitwig Studio completely and relaunch it.

If Auxfeed doesn't appear in the browser after relaunching, force a rescan: open the Browser panel, expand Plug-ins, right-click VST3 Plug-ins, and choose Reindex Location. Auxfeed will appear under your plug-ins list once the scan finishes.

2. Add Auxfeed to the Master Track

This is the Bitwig-specific step. Bitwig's output channel is called the Master track, and you add effects to it through the Device Panel just like any other track.

  1. Switch to the Mix view (press F5 or click the Mix button in the toolbar).
  2. Click the Master channel strip on the far right of the mixer. The Master track becomes selected.
  3. At the bottom of the screen, the Device Panel shows the Master track's device chain. If it's not visible, press Ctrl+Alt+D (Windows) or Cmd+Option+D (Mac) to show it.
  4. In the Browser panel on the left, search for "Auxfeed". Drag the Auxfeed VST3 into the Master track's device chain.
  5. Alternatively, click the + button at the end of the device chain in the Device Panel to open the pop-up browser, then search for Auxfeed from there.

Auxfeed should now appear in the Master track's device chain. Double-click its header to open the plugin window.

3. Configure the Plugin

When the Auxfeed plugin window opens:

  • Codec: Choose PCM Lossless for the highest quality if your Wi-Fi is solid. Switch to Opus if you notice any dropouts -- it's efficient and still sounds excellent at 48kHz. (AAC is available only on the iOS app.)
  • PIN: Leave it blank. Blank PIN means the stream is open -- anyone on the same Wi-Fi can connect, which is fine for most studio situations.
  • The plugin displays a port number (default 7001). The iOS and Android apps find the stream automatically over Wi-Fi -- you don't need to enter this manually.

4. Open the Auxfeed App

Open Auxfeed on your phone. Make sure the phone is on the same Wi-Fi as your computer. The app uses Bonjour to discover your DAW automatically -- within a few seconds you'll see your computer listed as a source. Tap it to connect.

No IP addresses to type. No QR codes. It just shows up.

5. Press Play in Bitwig Studio

Hit play. Audio from the Master track routes through the Auxfeed plugin and streams to your phone in real time. The app shows live LUFS metering as the audio plays, so you can watch levels while you listen.

Total time from installer download to streaming: under 60 seconds.

Bitwig Studio Tip: Insert Auxfeed After Your Master Bus Chain

Bitwig's device chain runs left to right. If you have a limiter, a metering plugin, or any master bus processing on the Master track, make sure Auxfeed sits at the far right end of the chain -- after everything else. That way you hear the fully processed signal on your phone, exactly what would go to your export. To reorder devices, just drag them left or right within the Device Panel.

If you use Bitwig's native Master Recording feature alongside Auxfeed, both capture the same post-processing signal -- they don't interfere with each other.

For a complete guide to using your phone as a reference monitor while mixing, see Phone as Studio Monitor — The Engineer's Guide.

Start Hearing What Your Listeners Hear

Walking around the room, listening on your phone speaker or earbuds while a mix plays back is one of the fastest ways to catch problems your studio monitors hide -- the harshness that only shows up on small speakers, or the low end that disappears the moment you leave the sweet spot. Auxfeed makes that part of the workflow free and instant.

Download Auxfeed at auxfeed.com. The plugin and both apps are free.