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How to Use FL Studio – Everything You Need to Know

by Cory /
23/07/2024

FL Studio is one of the most comprehensive and industry-leading Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) available today. Formerly known as Fruity Loops, this software includes all the essential components for composing, mixing, and mastering professional studio tracks.

The DAW offers a rich selection of instruments, effects, and plugins to bring your musical ideas to life. These can be applied to numerous channels within a timeline, allowing you to write, edit, compose, and mix each individual component. Think of a blank project file as your playground, where you can craft each element into a complete song.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to use FL Studio. If you’re a beginner musician or producer, this guide is for you. If you’ve already used FL Studio before, you also might find some handy tips and tricks here!

We’ll cover the technical terminology, features, and workflow of FL Studio, helping you understand the software before diving into music-making.

Learn more

Already know the basics? Check out our other FL Studio guides:

 

Why use FL Studio?

  • Perfect for beginners: If you’re just starting out and want to make your own beats and melodies, FL Studio is an excellent choice. Its user-friendly, customisable interface and comprehensive tools make it ideal for beginners and seasoned professionals alike
  • Genre-specialised: FL Studio’s workflow caters to a wide range of genres but focuses more specifically on electronic, hip-hop, pop, and experimental music, making it a must-have DAW for those looking to work entirely within the box on electronic music
  • Rich feature set: With a vast selection of instruments, effects, and plugins, FL Studio allows you to bring your musical ideas to life. You can write, edit, compose, and mix each element within a timeline, transforming a blank project file into a complete song
  • Lifetime of free updates: Purchase FL Studio once and receive every future release for free! Simply register your FL Studio from your online account to enjoy lifetime updates
  • Supportive community: Gain access to the Image-Line community, featuring user forums, content and project downloads, giveaways, exclusive competitions, and more. Plus, interact directly with program developers on feedback and additional support

Image Line FL Studio Fruity Edition

Installation, registration, and setup

Before you learn how to use FL Studio, you need to know how to set it up!


Installation

  1. After purchasing FL Studio, you’ll receive an email with your login details for the Image-Line site
  2. Download the software and follow the instructions on the installer for your system
  3. Once downloaded and installed, open the FL Studio application on your device and follow these steps

Registration

Open general settings

Go to ‘Options > General settings’ from the main menu or press F10 on your keyboard.

“About” panel registration

There are two options for registering your software in the “About” panel section:

  • Unlock with your account: Enter your Image-Line account email and password, then click ‘Unlock products’. This requires internet access and will unlock all your products
  • Unlock with file: Download the FLRegkey.Reg file from your Image-Line account. Click ‘UNLOCK PRODUCTS’ in the left menu, then click the main ‘unlock image’ to download the file. Save it to a portable storage device. If you need to email it, zip the file first. Click ‘Unlock with file’ on the About panel, browse to your file, select it, and click OK. Restart FL Studio
Minimum System Requirements

Windows:

  • Windows 8.1, 10, 11 or later
  • 4GB free disk space
  • 4GB of RAM
  • Compatible with Intel and AMD CPUs (ARM not supported)

Apple:

  • macOS 10.13.6 (High Sierra) or later
  • 4GB free disk space
  • 4GB of RAM
  • Compatible with Intel or Apple Silicon CPUs

While a decent computer can run FL Studio, it’s advisable to meet the minimum system requirement specifications and to have at least 8GB of RAM for smoother performance, especially when handling multiple audio tracks.


Setup

Your FL Studio experience will be smoother if you take some time to optimise the Audio, MIDI, and File settings. This guide will help set up the basics so you can start making music as soon as possible. It’s important to follow the steps as described to ensure FL Studio functions correctly.

What is an Audio Driver?

An audio driver is the software interface between your operating system and the audio device. It tells the operating system and FL Studio what inputs, outputs, and sample rates the audio device can support. For Windows, an ASIO driver is crucial for the best performance, while macOS uses Core Audio for optimal performance.

Audio Device Setup
  1. Start FL Studio and press F10 to open the System Settings or choose Audio Settings from the Options Menu
  2. Click the Audio Tab in the System Settings window
  3. In the Input/Output section, select the appropriate audio driver from the drop-down menu. We recommend: Win: FL Studio ASIO/Mac: Built-in Audio. Use your device’s custom ASIO/Core Audio driver if available
  4. Set the sample rate to 44100 Hz (or 48000 Hz if necessary). Set Interpolation to 24-point sinc or lower
  5. Ensure ‘Multithreaded generator processing’ and ‘Multithreaded mixer processing’ are selected. Enable ‘Smart disable’ for all CPU types to maximise performance
File Settings

Setting up File Settings is crucial for a smooth workflow in FL Studio.

  • Save Locations: By default, FL Studio saves projects to (..[User]\Documents\Image-Line\Data\FL Studio\Projects). You can add additional folders and save files there too, keeping your files separate from the installation folder
  • External File Locations: If you have samples and sounds to use with FL Studio, add their folders to the Browser’s list via the File Settings page
  • External VST/AU Locations: At the bottom of the File Settings interface, you can search for VST/AU plugins. Ignore this step if you don’t have any to add

Following these steps will ensure your FL Studio setup is ready for music production, helping you get started quickly and efficiently.

How to use FL Studio

When you start a new project, you can select a desired template or begin from scratch. For beginners, using templates is an excellent way to understand project structure and quickly generate ideas. You can choose from various genres like D&B, trap, and electro, which come with placeholder channels, pre-set mixer routes, and helpful channel colour coding.

Now that a session is loaded up, let’s dive into the parts of FL Studio, decoding what they are and how to use them.


Channel Rack

FL Studio channel rackThe Channel Rack is where you create patterns and bring your ideas to life. It’s a unique feature that sets FL Studio apart from other DAWs. By default, it loads with four stock sounds: Kick, Clap, Hat, and Snare.

To create a beat, simply click on the steps to fill them in. Left-click to add a step and right-click to remove it. You can also drag across steps to add or remove multiple.

Right-clicking a channel opens a context menu with useful options:

  • Rename: Change the channel name for clarity
  • Clone: Duplicate a channel to create layers
  • Delete: Remove a channel

You can replace a sample by dragging a new one over it or add a new channel by dragging a sample into a new slot or clicking the “+” icon at the bottom. The step sequencer in the Channel Rack lets you quickly sketch out ideas.

Though it functions just like a sequencer, for melodic ideas, you’ll want to navigate to the Piano Roll.


Piano Roll

The Piano Roll is essential for writing melodies, chords, and complex rhythms. Known for its smooth functionality, the Piano Roll allows you to draw notes just like in the step sequencer but with more flexibility.

Basic controls include:

  • Left-click: Add a note (snaps to the grid).
  • Right-click: Remove a note.
  • Click-and-drag: Move a note left-right or up-down to change timing and pitch.
  • Drag the end of a note: Adjust its duration.
  • Hold CTRL + left-click: Select multiple notes to adjust.

At the bottom, you can adjust the velocity for each note by left-clicking and dragging or selecting an option from the Control dropdown menu.

FL Studio Piano Roll


Mixer

The mixer is essential for shaping your track’s sound in FL Studio. It consists of Mixer Tracks and Mixer Channels:

  • Mixer Tracks: Where you route audio channels and apply effects
  • Mixer Channels: Sources of audio routed to Mixer Tracks, including audio clips and instrument channels

FL Studio supports up to 125 Mixer Tracks, allowing high flexibility. You can route multiple Mixer Channels to a single Mixer Track.

The mixer displays all channels, with the master channel on the far left. Volume, pan, EQ, and insert slots are available for each track. Additional controls include polarity switch, stereo width knob, and mono switch. Use volume faders to balance sound levels for a cohesive mix.

FL Studio Mixer


Playlist

After creating patterns in the Channel Rack, use the Playlist view to turn them into a full track. The Picker on the left lets you drag patterns, audio clips, or automation into the Playlist. You can place these elements on any track, allowing for flexible structuring.

Drag audio samples directly into the Playlist without needing a sampler. Automation clips also appear here. Resize track heights, toggle tracks on and off with a left click, and solo tracks with a right click. Rename and colour tracks for clarity.

FL Studio Playlist


The Toolbar

The Toolbar is the top section of FL Studio and is mostly fixed with limited customisation options. In the Toolbar, you’ll find:

Transport Controls
  • Centre Section: Contains play, stop, record, and tempo controls
  • Pat and Song Options: Switch between playing what’s in the Channel Rack (Pat) and what’s in the Playlist (Song). This allows you to move from sketching ideas to creating a full track
  • Recording Modes:
    • Notes: Records MIDI keyboard notes into the Piano Roll
    • Audio: Records audio clips from MIDI or any instrument plugged into your audio interface
Global Controls
  • Metronome: Enable or disable at the top right
  • Typing Keyboard to Piano Keyboard: Use your computer keyboard as a piano if you don’t have a MIDI controller
  • Multilink to Controllers: Link parameters to your MIDI keyboard and create automations easily
Main Snap
  • Universal Snap Control: Determines the snapping of grids across the piano roll and playlist
  • Snapping: Keeps everything quantized in time. For example, select “Beat” in the Main Snap to snap audio clips to the nearest beat
Visualizers
  • Song Position: Indicates where you are in your song (can be set in seconds or bars)
  • Spectrogram: Shows the frequency spectrum of what is playing
  • Peak Meter: Indicates the overall level (in dB) of your track
  • CPU Load: Displays CPU usage. High levels may cause sound glitches. Double-click to see resource-consuming plugins

FL Studio Toolbar


The Browser

FL Studio BrowserFL Studio’s Browser is essential for accessing all your project materials, such as samples, presets, and instruments.

It contains various folders and has been reorganised in FL Studio 21 with tabs at the top for easier navigation. To add frequently used menus to the tabs, right-click and select “Open in new tab”.

Current Project

Navigate to the Current Project folder by clicking the paper icon at the top. This folder shows all sounds, automation clips, and actions in your current project, making it easy to find materials without switching windows.

Plugin Database

Access the Plugin Database by clicking the ‘plug’ icon at the top right of the Browser window. This section lists all effect and generator plugins, including third-party VSTs.

However, you’ll typically load effects directly via the Mixer and instruments through the Channel Rack, so this menu isn’t used often.

Adding samples

To add your own samples to the Browser, go to Options > File Settings > Browse Extra search folders. Your samples folder will then appear in the Browser window.

Searching for samples

The search bar at the bottom of the Browser allows you to scan your entire sample library for specific terms, filtering any sample or folder with the keyword you enter.


Adding instruments

FL Studio adding instrumentsFL Studio offers a flexible workflow by not imposing a strict method of loading instrument plugins.

The Channel Rack houses instruments, allowing every pattern access to all instruments in the rack. This means you unlock multiple workflow opportunities with Step sequences and Piano roll scores.

Instruments in FL Studio can be software synthesizers or sample players and are loaded in the Channel Rack. Access the instrument interfaces by left-clicking on the Channel buttons.

Here are the main workflows for loading new instruments:

Instrument & Audio Track workflow

Click the + icon on the Clip Focus area in the Playlist Track header to load plugins or audio. This method auto-names and auto-routes the instrument to the Mixer track.

Channel & Mixer Linked workflow

Select instruments or audio as above, but drop them on a Mixer Track. The Mixer track will be auto-named and the plugin routed to that track.

The Playlist isn’t assigned to any specific instrument or audio channel.

Channel Rack workflow

Drop instruments or audio on the Channel Rack. The instrument will be routed to the Master Mixer track. You can also use the + Button at the bottom of the Channel Rack or the Add menu.

This method offers the most flexibility to arrange your Channel Rack, Playlist, and Mixer relationships post-creation.


Arranging and editing

Use the Playlist for arrangement

The Playlist is a powerful tool for arranging your audio. Use it to organise your clips, make edits, and create a clear structure for your project. Drag and drop your audio files, and use the cut, copy, and paste functions to move sections around easily.

Edit audio clips in the Channel Rack

The Channel Rack allows you to manipulate individual audio clips. Use the Step Sequencer for precise timing adjustments and the Piano Roll for more detailed edits. Adjust the pitch, length, and volume of your clips to fit your track perfectly.

Apply automation clips

Automation clips are essential for dynamic changes in your audio. Use them to control volume, panning, and effects over time. Draw your automation curves directly in the Playlist to create smooth transitions and bring your track to life.

Use Edison for detailed edits

Edison is FL Studio’s built-in audio editor. Use it for more detailed edits like trimming, normalising, and applying fades. Edison is perfect for cleaning up recordings, removing unwanted noise, and making precise adjustments to your audio clips.

FL Studio arranging and editing


Mixing

Mixing is about balancing your instruments and effects so they sound good together. This involves adjusting levels, panning, equalisation, and possibly compression for each track.

Compression

Apply compression to tracks, especially on bass and drums, to control peak levels and enhance sustain. This makes your mix louder and more consistent. Be cautious not to over-compress, as this can make the sound muddy and lose too much punch.

Equalization (EQ)

Use EQ to remove unwanted frequencies from each track. For example, cut low frequencies on non-bass instruments and drums that don’t need them, like snares and hi-hats. This prevents low-end rumble and keeps your mix clear. Mid frequencies (300-3000 Hz) can overcrowd the mix, so reduce them where not needed in instruments such as vocals or electric guitar.

Similarly, cut high frequencies (4000 Hz and above) if the mix sounds too bright or brittle. Listening in solo for harsh resonances is recommended, but applying general EQ should be done with all instruments playing together.

Panning

Panning helps create space in your mix by distributing instruments across the stereo field. Avoid clustering all sounds in the centre. Typically, kick drums and bass are centred, but experiment with other placements to find what works best.

Reverb

Reverb adds a sense of space to your mix. Use it sparingly to enhance lead vocals (with longer reverb) and drum sounds (with shorter reverb). It sets the mood by indicating the size and material of the space your music occupies.

Adding effects

To actually insert effects into your session, use the insert slots on the right to add effects. The basic EQ at the bottom is handy for quick adjustments. For more effects, left-click on a slot to select from FL Studio’s built-in options or third-party plugins.

FL Studio mixing


Exporting audio

Accessing the export function

Navigate to the top toolbar and click the save icon with the wave underneath it, or simply press CTRL + R.

Setting up for export

Once you’re satisfied with your mixdown and ready to send your project off for mastering, select the optimum file format:

  • Mode: Set to Full Song to export the entire arrangement
  • Tail: Set to Leave Remainder to ensure all audio is exported
Choosing the file format
  • WAV Format: Select WAV as the file type. This is the most common format for music distribution. Set the WAV bit depth to 24Bit int for the highest quality needed for uploading to online streaming and distribution services, avoiding any re-encoding artefacts
  • MP3 Format: If you need to quickly and easily send music to bandmates or collaborators, MP3 is a good option due to its smaller file size. Select MP3 and ensure the mode is set to Stereo with the MP3 bitrate slider set to 256kbps for the highest quality export
Quality settings

Leave the Quality settings at their default to ensure the internal processing of FL Studio’s synthesizers and FX remains optimal during export.

Miscellaneous settings
  • The four boxes on the right are crucial as they contribute to the sound of your export. Ensure Enable master effects and Enable insert effects are selected to keep your mixer effects active during export. Tick the Trim PDC silence button to remove any unwanted silence at the beginning of your track.
  • The four buttons on the left contain metadata information and are not critical for the export process.
Uploading to SoundCloud

If you wish to upload your track directly to SoundCloud, simply enter your account information and upload your track directly from FL Studio.

Final steps

Tick the Show files when complete button to view your export file in your computer directory when done. Hit Start to begin your export.

After the export is complete, take one final critical listen away from the project file. When you’re happy and sure there are no export issues with the track, you’re ready to send it off.

FL Studio Export

Other useful features of FL Studio

Shortcuts

If you are working on recording, editing, or composing a new song, you will need the FL Studio keyboard shortcuts. Here’s our top 20 most useful key commands:

  • Play/Pause: Spacebar
  • Record: F9
  • Metronome: F10
  • Quantize: Option (Mac) / Alt (Windows)+Q
  • Cut: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+X
  • Copy: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+C
  • Paste: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+V
  • Undo: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+Z
  • Redo: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+Y
  • Save: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+S
  • Open: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+O
  • Close: Command (Mac)+W / Ctrl (Windows)+F4
  • Mixer: F9
  • Piano Roll: F7
  • Playlist: F5
  • Pattern Selector: Command (Mac) / Ctrl (Windows)+T
  • Mixer Track Selector: Command+Option+T (Mac) / Ctrl+Alt+T (Windows)
  • Snap to Grid: S
  • Slice: Command+Option+Z (Mac) / Ctrl+Alt+Z (Windows)
  • Mixer Track Solo/Mute: Command+Option+S (Mac) / Ctrl+Alt+S (Windows)

Stem separation

Stem separation gives you the ability to extract individual instruments from pre-recorded loops and songs, making it ideal for remixing!

To use the FL Studio stem separation feature, upload the song in your session, hit the menu icon in the top-left-hand corner of an audio clip and select Extract Stems From A Sample to see the options. Then, choose the stems to extract and click Extract to start processing.


FL Patcher

FL Studio Patcher lets you chain multiple instruments and effects in a single channel, ideal for creating complex sounds or applying effects chains to one audio signal.

To use it, add Patcher to a channel in the Channel Rack. Right-click in the Patcher window, select “Add plugin”, and drag plugins onto the surface. Connect them by dragging from one plugin’s output to another’s input. Here, you can save frequently used chains as Patcher presets for quick access in every session without starting from scratch.

Our top tips

Now that you know how to use FL Studio, here are our tips for getting the most out of your DAW.

1. Convert audio to MIDI

Audio files in FL Studio can be converted into MIDI notes. This is especially useful if you have a section of pre-recorded audio, such as a bassline or melody, from another instrument and want to integrate it into virtual instruments using MIDI without having to rewrite the part from scratch.

Start by ensuring an empty pattern and a plugin are ready to receive the notes. Select the desired pattern, click the wave icon in the top left corner of the audio clip, and choose Edit Sample to open Edison. In Edison, click the Tool icon, go to Analysis, and select Convert to score and dump to piano roll. The MIDI notes will now appear in your selected pattern, ready for further editing and arrangement.


2. Dump the Score Log

Ever played something amazing on your MIDI controller and wished you’d hit Record? FL Studio captures all incoming MIDI notes from the last five minutes. To retrieve them, go to an empty pattern, and select Dump Score Log To Selected Channel from the Tools menu. Your riff will reappear, ready to be edited and incorporated into your track.


3. Scale automation clips

Adjusting numerous points on an automation clip can be tedious. Simplify this by scaling the minimum and maximum values of automation clips. Click the icon in the top left corner, select Articulation Tools, and choose Scale Levels. In the Channel Settings window, use the MIN and MAX knobs to adjust the range of the automation clip, making large-scale adjustments quick and easy.


4. Make collaboration easier

Collaborate with other producers seamlessly with the Zipped Loop Package feature, exporting all project settings and all samples into a .ZIP folder. Go to File > Export > Zipped Loop Package to conveniently transfer an entire project to someone else.


5. Find samples faster

Audition and find samples swiftly using the Smart Find feature. Right-click on your sample packs, click Smart Find In This Folder, and search for your sample using keywords. To quickly audition different sounds, search a keyword like “snare” and use F2 or F3 to jump to the previous or next result. This helps you find the perfect sample without wasting time.

FAQs

Why is FL Studio so famous?

FL Studio is a famous DAW due to its intuitive, user-friendly interface, and high customisability. Many notable hip-hop and EDM producers use FL Studio, including Basshunter, Hit-Boy, Martin Garrix, Avicii, and Deadmau5, further increasing its popularity and fame.


How much is the one-time purchase of FL Studio?

The one-time purchase price of FL Studio ranges between £87 to £489 depending on the edition. The Fruity Edition costs £87, the Producer Edition is £209, the Signature Bundle is £295, and the All Plugins Edition is £489. Each edition offers different features to cater to various user needs.


Is FL Studio easy for beginners?

FL Studio is easy for beginners thanks to how customisable and user-friendly its interface is. Beginners learning how to use FL Studio can quickly get on their way to making music by just familiarising themselves with the basics and working up from there. It has been a popular DAW for over two decades, offering virtual instruments, plugins, and powerful composition features, making it suitable for creating beats, loops, and electronic music.

Final thoughts

FL Studio is a complex DAW with many features, so this blog only scratches the surface. However, it should help any beginner start making music instantly. FL Studio is incredibly creative; if you can imagine it, you can probably achieve it. There’s plenty of online support for advanced uses to bring your ideas to life.

Music production doesn’t need to be complicated; once you know how to use FL Studio, it’s easy. Happy music-making!

Want to learn more? Take a look at our Ableton Live and FL Studio comparison. Or if you’re keen to check out a wider range, see our round-up of the seven best DAWs available today.

 

Content Writer - High Tech

I'm an experienced content editor and copywriter with a passion for music and technology. When I'm not writing engaging blogs or comprehensive product descriptions, I spend my time working with bands and musicians as a producer and mixing/mastering engineer.

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