FL Studio is an incredible way to create patterns, melodies, and songs on Windows and macOS. Its user interface is intuitive and straightforward. FL Studio consists of five main windows. It is convenient to move most of them. You can resize or hide them at will.
The FL Studio 20 multimedia app enables you to use the hotkeys to get access to each window quickly. These are the Browser (Alt + F8), Playlist (F5), Channel Rack (F6), Piano roll (F7), and Mixer (F9). Below, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to use FL Studio.
Table of Content – How to use FL Studio 20?
- How to use FL Studio?
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Toolbar
- File Menu
- Options Menu
- Volume and Pitch
- Transport Controls
- Play, Pause, Stop, Record, and Tempo
- Metronome, Countdown, Keyboard
- Pattern Selector
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Windows
- Browser
- Playlist
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Channel Rack
- Details of Channel Rack
- Piano Roll
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Mixer
- Insert
- Sample
- Save or Export a song
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How to use FL Studio to build a pattern?
- Arrange in Playlist
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How to use FL Studio to create a song?
- Virtual Instrument
1. How to use FL Studio 20?
Mix produce and master music with FL Studio. It is a popular option among music producers from around the world. It could be a bit complicated to look at when you see its interface for the first time. In this article, we will guide you on how to use FL studio with ease. Once you read through, you’ll stop distressing and be able to start creating music.
2. Toolbar
First, download and install FL Studio to your PC. Launch the app from the desktop. It might look a bit confusing. However, it will start making sense after getting to know the essential tools available at your disposal. At the top, you can find the various menu items and a quick way to find out how to use FL Studio.
File Menu
With the File menu, you can open, create, save, import, and export audio files in FL Studio 20. Here, you can also get access to recently opened titles quickly. You can work with many different kinds of audio files. These include WAV, MP3, OGG, FLAC, and MIDI.
Options Menu
The Options menu gives you access to different system settings in FL Studio 20. For instance, you can edit MIDI, audio, general, and file settings. That helps you configure the way you want your project to sound using the MIDI controller. It is possible to work with external plugins quickly.
Volume and Pitch
Next to the main menu, you can find the master volume and master pitch options in FL studio 20. These let you control the level of sound in your audio file quickly. It is ideal for keeping these at their default values.
Transport Controls
At the right of volume, you can find transport controls to switch between the song and pattern.
Play, Pause, Stop, Record, and Tempo
Next to transport controls, you can find the play, pause, stop, and record features in FL Studio 20. You can also change the tempo of each song. By default, it is in (beats per minute) bpm. For most melodies, keeping it between 100 and 130 works. However, you can reduce it below 100 for slow songs and increase it beyond 130 for pop and rock rocks.
To change the tempo, click and drag inside the tempo value in FL Studio 20. Alternatively, you can enter the pre-defined values by selecting the Type in value option from the drop-down menu.
Metronome, Countdown, Keyboard
Next to tempo, you can find the metronome, countdown, and keyboard to piano options in FL Studio 20. With the metronome, you can add a click or sound at a regular interval. Use the countdown feature to start recording after a set number of seconds. The keyboard to piano option is handy to press keys to add piano sounds to your audio recordings.
Pattern Selector
At the right of the previous options, you can find the pattern selector in FL Studio 20. It lets you work on your project in layers. A song is a combination of one or multiple patterns. In each pattern, you can use different kinds of musical instruments. For instance, you can add drum in one pattern and xylophone in another linearly.
3. Windows
Next to the pattern selector, there are many types of options that give you access to different windows inside FL Studio 20.
Browser
You can find the browser that shows links to the current project at the left of the screen, recent files, plugins, presets, scores, demo projects, packs, templates, and sample instruments, among other options. FL Studio 20 stores everything in this section.
Channel Rack
Using the Channel Rack, you can access each sample and instrument quickly in FL Studio 20. It is where you can create patterns. By default, kick, clap, hat, and snare are a part of this section. However, you can add an instrument to it at any moment. For instance, go to the browser and select Packs.
It will show a list of instruments to drag and add to the Channel Rack in FL Studio 20. That becomes a part of your project. Similarly, you can add as many instruments in this section as you want.
To add a virtual instrument in FL Studio 20, you can also press the + sign at the bottom of the channel rack. That way, you can include a VST such as a synth or any other plugin with ease.
When you click at the top-left corner arrow of the channel rack, it will open a drop-down menu in FL Studio 20. You can then detach it at the bottom. As a result, it will appear permanently on the screen whether you select the playlist or not.
Details of Channel Rack
The Channel Rack offers two dials next to each instrument in FL Studio 20. You can use the left one for panning and the right one for volume. If you left-click on any instrument or dial that will select it. If you right-click on either of them, it will display a dialog box in FL Studio 20.
Here, you can reset everything, make changes to the events, create an automation clip, link to the controller, and so on. Similarly, you can copy the value and perform other tasks quickly.
Next to the volume dial, you can find the number of mixer tracks to which FL Studio 20 will send the sample. You can adjust the track by pressing and moving the scroll bar on your mouse up or down. On the other hand, you can also enter the required track inside the box manually.
Once you add patterns, FL Studio 20 fills the section to the right of the browser automatically with each new addition. It is possible to drag each pattern to the playlist.
Playlist
A playlist is a feature that lets users work with patterns at will in FL Studio 20. You can cut, chop, arrange, and create them the way you want. It is the section that helps you bring melodies and songs to life. To group patterns in the playlist, you can right-click on a pattern and press G while any two items are selected.
Mixer
A mixer routes all the audio that comes out of the master channel in FL Studio 20. You can open the mixer window by pressing the relevant button in the toolbar at the top of the interface. Alternatively, you can also press the F9 hotkey for that purpose. Once you click the top-left corner of the mixer, you can use the detach option from the dialog box. As a result, you can work with the project the way you want.
The mixer receives the sounds from the patterns in FL Studio 20. It is then possible to add a variety of effects to the music. For instance, you can use EQ, reverbs, delays, and compression for enhancements. As an example, we can make changes to the drum. You can view the dial for panning left or right in the mixer.
Once you press the play button, the drum panning changes accordingly in FL Studio 20. It is possible to adjust the volume using the fader. You can also edit the polarity and moving the channels left or right. Using the stereo separation dial, you can make the sound wider or thinner. At the left of the mixer, you will find the effects chain.
Insert
You can add as many effects in the mixer as you want in FL Studio 20. To do that, you can use different slots. For instance, you can add an equalizer or delays in each separately. It is then possible to edit the sound at will.
FL Studio 20 sends the signal to take a specific route. It goes from the sample or instrument to insert, mixer effects, panning, volume, and then to the master to get the final result. If you wish to rename an insert, you can right-click on each. Similarly, you can adjust its color at will.
The advantage of adding each effect in different inserts is that users can manipulate each of these with ease in FL Studio 20. You can then mix and master them in the mixer in an orderly manner.
Piano Roll
A piano roll is a section where you can linearly add chords and melodies in FL Studio 20. Here, you can get access to a wide variety of tools. These include draw, paint, delete, mute, and slice. When you create patterns, you can open the piano roll to get information about MIDI, which is the notes on the virtual keyboard. It controls the samples or virtual instruments.
You can read the pitch, high hats, and make changes to the time of whatever you are using in FL Studio 20. You can zoom in and out of the piano roll by going to the top and scrolling it. It is also possible to add new samples whenever you want. It is handy as you won’t be able to add all the samples in your playlist using the Channel Rack only.
At the bottom of the piano roll, you can find velocity, panning, pitch, and more in FL Studio 20. You can adjust the settings of each to make your sound more exciting.
4. Sample
To find out what each sample is, you can click on it to open its dialog box known as the wrapper in FL studio 20. It displays all the information about the sample, such as its name, volume, settings, mode, etc. Here, you can make changes to the sample the way you want. For instance, you can adjust the pitch and pan.
5. Save or export a song
To save a song, press the File option in the main menu of FL Studio 20. You can then select the Save or Save As buttons, find the location on the hard drive, and store the file to your PC. On the other hand, if you wish to export a song, then press the File option on the main menu. Hover over the export option from the drop-down list and select WAV, MP3, or MIDI.
FL Studio 20 will then display a pop-up window to adjust the song’s settings that you want to export. Press the Start button, and it will export the song at the desired location on your PC.
6. How to use FL Studio 20 to build a pattern?
To build a pattern in FL Studio 20, press the pattern button at the top of the screen.
- Give it a unique name for easy access.
- You can customize the pattern by changing its color.
- Alternatively, open the Channel Rack.
- Right-click in the vertical box next to the pattern name to give it a unique color.
- Next to that, you will find counting beats or step bars.
- You can left-click to select the bar and right-click to remove it at any time.
- To make a pattern, press on alternate bars, for example.
- Once done, press the play button near the top of FL Studio 20 to listen to the pattern.
- Once you open the mixer, you can see that FL Studio 20 sends the audio to insert one and then to the master.
- To make changes to the Channel Rack, you can open the graph near the top-right corner of its dialog box.
- You can change the note, volume, pitch, pan, and velocity to make it softer or louder.
Arrange in Playlist
- Once you complete making the pattern, you have to arrange it on the playlist of FL Studio 20.
- Close the Channel Rack and open the Piano Roll.
- Use the piano tools to adjust the settings of each pattern in the playlist.
- Left-click in the main window of the playlist to draw the sample you created earlier.
- You can use the brush tool to add the sample next to each other on a track of FL Studio 20.
- On the other hand, you can add a sample on different tracks.
- Right-click on the sample to remove it from the playlist.
- You can undo the action using CTRL + Z on the keyboard at any time.
- It is convenient to match the track color with the pattern color to avoid confusion.
7. How to use FL Studio 20 to create a song?
- Once you follow the steps in the previous section to create a pattern, you can add new patterns to create a song in FL Studio 20.
- For instance, you can add a hat pattern and clap pattern to your project.
- Create a new pattern and give it a name.
- Adjust its color to make it stand out.
- Add beats in the hat to create the pattern the way you want.
- Likewise, create another pattern and give it a name clap, for example.
- Change its color to be different from that of the hat.
- Add beats in the clap to create the pattern of your choice.
- Close the Channel Rack and go to the playlist.
- Insert pattern 2 in the second track and pattern 3 in the third track in a linear fashion.
- You can decide on the length of each pattern by adding each on their respective track sequentially.
- Once you stay on a pattern and press the play button, you can listen to that particular pattern only.
- If you switch to the song using its button in the top menu, you can listen to the entire song.
- It is essential to stay organized while working on a project by grouping patterns together.
- That will help, especially in big and complicated projects while assisting you with creativity and innovation at the same time.
Virtual Instrument
With the Channel Rack, you can create a virtual instrument pattern with ease in FL Studio 20 by Image Line . You can press the arrow at the bottom to open a dialog box and select a synth such as GMs. You can create a new pattern and add beats to it in the channel rack. In the piano roll, you have the freedom to pick the notes that you desire. Here, you can adjust the length of each to suit your needs. Similarly, you can make changes using the various tools we mentioned earlier.
It is essential to remember that FL Studio 20 stores the information from the piano roll in a pattern. You can adjust its settings directly from the playlist. It is then possible to make it a part of the song. To manage the instruments more effectively, give each of these a name and unique color. Next, you should open it in a mixer track to adjust the volume, pitch, and more.
