FL Studio 11, tips, tricks, shortcuts etc.

[Bass_Jacka]

OK, so I've used Cubase for a few years now but previously used FL Studio; after much consideration I've decided to ditch Cubase, and go back to FL Studio. There are various reasons why; My workflow is much better with FL, I prefer the GUI, and I recently listened back through the tracks I've made and found that the ones made in FL studio were a lot more creative etc. I know 'the better the devil you know' and all that, but I've decided it's time for a shake up and hopefully give my productions a much needed boost.

Anyway, seeing as there are quite a lot of FL users on here I just wanted to know if any of you guys have any tips or tricks for FL that I should be aware of? I seem to have forgotten all of the shortcuts etc.

Any shortcut keys I need to know, tools within FL worth using over non-native plugins.

Just any tips, tricks or advice for FL Studio really; would be greatly appreciated.

I'm using FL Studio 11 by the way.

Cheers!

[wub]

There is a list of the most commonly used shortcut keys in the manual.

[Brothulhu]

http://www.productionbytes.co.uk/post/5 ... io-11-tips and http://www.productionbytes.co.uk/post/5 ... io-11-tips

[Bass_Jacka]

I'm not just after the shortcut keys, but cheers anyway Wubz.

Brothulhu, you're a diamond - I shall watch these vids later.

[wub]

Any shortcut keys I need to know

There is a list of the most commonly used shortcut keys in the manual.

I'm not just after the shortcut keys

My mistake.

[Bass_Jacka]

Lol. No mistake Wub, shortcuts were partly what I'm after. To be honest I knew you use FL, and make some decent tracks - thought you might have had some tips to share that you've discovered.

[wub]

thought you might have had some tips to share that you've discovered.

Get a good template setup with channels/instruments/mixer routing so you can get ideas flowing quickly

Build up a GOOD sound library.

Sample everything

Spend time listening to music that you wouldn't usually listen to.

Read these threads;
http://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/viewt ... 8&t=172592
http://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/viewt ... 8&t=239766

[Capture pt]

Hit F12 a lot.


helps keep shit tidy.

[Epoxtacy]

i just recently found about about the stereo separation function on the mixchannel, great thing to make pads wider or making sure kicks/sub are mono

[nowaysj]

Left hand on Shift Ctrl Alt at all times - I know it sucks, like how are you supposed to hold the bong? Trust me I've had it in with them. But just about everything in fl has 6 different functions depending on key combos with those keys. gotta go.

[Augment]

Hold control for precision adjustment on mixer volumes etc...
Make ctrl+s a habit after changes

[Capture pt]

No!

Make Ctrl + Shift + S a habit after changes. (Save as New.)

Nothing worse than saving over something think you've got it better when in reality you've ballsed it up.

[Augment]

No!

Make Ctrl + Shift + S a habit after changes. (Save as New.)

Nothing worse than saving over something think you've got it better when in reality you've ballsed it up.

I do this for major/crucial changes, but not after small changes since I feel like it makes a mess with all the flp's
When I say small changes it's like drawing in a note or whatever

[wub]

No!

Make Ctrl + Shift + S a habit after changes. (Save as New.)

Nothing worse than saving over something think you've got it better when in reality you've ballsed it up.

I do this for major/crucial changes, but not after small changes since I feel like it makes a mess with all the flp's
When I say small changes it's like drawing in a note or whatever

Seperate folder for each project once it's gets to a point where I think "hmmm, this is more than just a sketch now". Then you can save new instances of the file each time a significant change is made in that folder so it keeps them organised.

ALSO

Fruity Notepad on the master, and everytime a significant change is made, make a note of what version of the file it was and what the change was. Awesome for looking back and seeing what took place where in case you need to retrace your steps.

[didi]

Spend time listening to music that you wouldn't usually listen to.

this gets said all the time but allow it really

tbf if all ur listening to is one genre then yh ur missing out but most ppl listen to a mix of different stuff so it's a bit moot

otherwise yh who cares? inb4 blah youtube tutorials blah rebore pastiche blah

if the problem is shit, unoriginal tracks then work on ur arrangements, sound design, song structure, melodies etc. don't think listening to salsa and alt. rock will cure u



anyway

tbh i really don't like fl

the step sequencer
stock plugins
UI

the only tip i can think of is build everything in the piano roll

[Augment]

anyway

tbh i really don't like fl

stock plugins

What's wrong with the stock plugins?

[didi]

a lot of them sound shit. a few have a quite dramatic (negative) effect on ur audio even when no settings are engaged

it's just my opinion but i don't particularly like using them as bread and butter effects and processors

looking back its not clear that i meant the effects not the generators

fl's stock synths are one of the things i DO like about it

[Augment]

a lot of them sound shit. a few have a quite dramatic (negative) effect on ur audio even when no settings are engaged

it's just my opinion but i don't particularly like using them as bread and butter effects and processors

looking back its not clear that i meant the effects not the generators

fl's stock synths are one of the things i DO like about it

I feel like most of them sound really good to be stock effects
Sounds like you're referring to maximus, which doesn't load to an initialized patch, but to a soundgoodizer-ish preset.
Each to their own though

[didi]

a lot of them sound shit. a few have a quite dramatic (negative) effect on ur audio even when no settings are engaged

it's just my opinion but i don't particularly like using them as bread and butter effects and processors

looking back its not clear that i meant the effects not the generators

fl's stock synths are one of the things i DO like about it

I feel like most of them sound really good to be stock effects
Sounds like you're referring to maximus, which doesn't load to an initialized patch, but to a soundgoodizer-ish preset.
Each to their own though

lol yh dw i understand maximus

i had the parametric eq 2 in mind as a matter of FACT when i was rambling
put it on some audio and just A/B with it bypassed

maximus lol

[Augment]

I use it all the time, doesn't really affect the audio much imo unless u start tweaking it ofcourse lol :p