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Tips for FL Studio
I have about a week of funemployment left before I start my new job, and one of the things I picked up this month was FL Studio to see if I can make a song. Does any have any tips/tricks or any recommended video tutorials? If it helps, I have some background in music theory and I play a couple of instruments and have a preamp setup with line in's and stuff.
I got nothing for you as it's been like 20yrs since I last played around with FL Studio. And not even that much.
But now that you've mentioned this, you have to share with all of us what you'll eventually make, please 😁
haha that's way more pressure now to finish before next week :O
I would recommend just keeping it simple and doing as much as you can outside the computer. Then when you have something somewhat concrete lay it out and play around with it in the Playlist area.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the Channel Rack. It's powerful... but also really bad UI design (imho). Thankfully, you don't have to use it most of the time if you don't want to.
https://www.image-line.com/fl-studio-learning/fl-studio-online-manual/html/basics_workflow.htm
Once you have something that sounds pretty good look into adding effects, sidechaining, and other weird things to see if you can squeeze a few percentage points more polish but it's easy to over do it--it's often better to do less.
Function keys: F5 and F9 I think for piano roll and mixer respectively.
It’s been a while but I always used the adage “reverb is lens flare for your ears” learn to use it and delay (if you are into electronic like I was)
Feel free to load up the pre made songs and look at how they do stuff, poke around, and even delete them and build it your own way!
I used to poke around FL studio and made a few tracks; I don't have time for it anymore, but I still have to recommend the YouTube channel Synthet -- short and sweet, fun, inspiring tutorials about how to do all kinds of stuff in FL Studio. I guarantee you'll like it.
Synthet isn't just boppy, he's genuinely good at condensing and dispensing information about music theory. He shot up in popularity real quick and it's very clear why. Definitely one to check out for a couple of 2-5 minute FL Studio music theory classes
I've been a musician for 29 years and 23 of those years have involved FL Studio in some way. Hilariously after all that time I am far from an expert using it. I tend to stick to physical playing and recording but use FL for extra and added layers and sounds.
My advice after my long involvement with it is just experiment with it and see where it takes you. I don't use it deeply or in any complicated way and I can make whole tracks/orchestrations using simply the step sequencer, piano roll, and playlist with the mixer.
Just have at it and have fun. You should be fine with just those four parts of it.
I've been playing around with it this morning and it's been pretty fun!
Make it synth heavy, that's my only advice. 3XOSC is easy. Harmor is also really fun if you have the full version, can transform images into sound.
I'm a long time Ableton Live user, slowly learning FL studio though... need to get motivated myself!