10 Cool FL Studio Tricks You Aren’t Using
FL Studio keeps amazing me. It’s an intuitive, easy to use DAW. But even after years of using it, I keep discovering neat and cool features that make things even easier! In this article I’ve collected some of the most useful features pertaining to the general interface (so not those related to specific plugins). You may know some of them already, but I hope that there’s something in the list for everyone. I could easily have written ‘100 Cool FL Studio Tricks You Aren’t Using’, but that is not really practical (apart from the fact that the sun is shining today and that I want to go for a walk). If you have some tips/tricks to share then do not hesitate to drop me a comment. I will definitely keep posting about these often overseen features that make life easier once you master them.
Ghost Channels
If you check the Ghost channels option in the Piano roll options menu, you will see the (greyed out) patterns from other channels that are in the same track. I find this especially useful when programming chord progressions using a specific scale as well as programming leads over a chord progression.
For example, if I load/program a scale in one channel (reFX Nexus)…
…open the Piano Roll for my second channel (reFX Nexus #2)…
…and then select Helpers | Ghost channels in the Piano roll options menu, the Piano Roll view will be like this:
In other words, I can now ‘draw’ my pattern on top of the greyed out note events. In this way I know I stick to the notes that are ‘allowed’.
Adjusting note events
You can quickly adjust the horizontal position of your note event by moving the mouse pointer close to a note event and then using SHIFT + scroll wheel (or mouse wheel).
Likewise, by using ALT + scroll wheel you can adjust the currently selected note property (like velocity, panning, etc.).
Note that you can apply the same to a selection of note events.
Rescaling scores
You can rescale a score by selecting the pattern in the Piano Roll and resizing while holding down the SHIFT key.
This is an excellent trick for making a recorded score fit .
Using color groups
You can assign a color group/MIDI channel to note events. Once you have done this you can easily select all notes with a certain color group/MIDI channel.
First, select the note events you want to assign a color group:
Then, pick a color group:
Press ALT-C and the selected note events are assigned the color group you picked.
Now, to quickly select the note events with a given color group, select the color group (as shown above) and press SHIFT-C.
Undo
Just in case you wondered guys, CTRL-ALT-Z can be used for sequentially undoing multiple changes (CTRL-Z is only for undoing/redoing the last change).
Browser Snapshots
Open your favourite folder(s) in the Browser:
In the Current snapshot menu, select Frozen:
If you want you can rename the snapshot by right-clicking the snapshot name (Snap 1 in the screenshot) and entering a new name:
Now, regardless of the state of your Browser, if you press 1..5, the Browser shows the state assigned to that snapshot.
Selecting/deselecting note events
I am sure you know how to select note events. Using the Select tool you can simply draw a box around the notes you want to select or you can simply click a single note event to select it.
By holding down the SHIFT key while selecting you can add note events to your already selected note events.
To deselect (subtract) note events from a selection, simply click on a selected note event (the one that you want to remove from the selection) and start drawing your box – still holding down the SHIFT key.
Transposing a score
There are several methods that you can use to quickly transpose a score. The most obvious one is simply selecting the score (or the note events you want to transpose) and move them vertically.
To move an entire score up or down one semitone, use SHIFT + UpArrow/DownArrow. Using CTRL+UpArrow/DownArrow will transpose the score up or down by 1 octave.
Using Markers
To create a marker select a number of bars…
…press ALT-T (adds a marker to the beginning of the selected area) and enter the marker name:
To jump between markers, simply press ‘.’ (dot) on the numpad.
To jump between markers and select the bars between the selected marker and the next, use CTRL+’.’ (again on the numpad).
Trick #10
This one is still open. If you have a good tip/trick to share, drop me a comment.
Category: FL Studio Tutorial
This is an epic list of tricks. There were at least 3 i had never heard of before! I have learned more from this blog then the 10 other forums I read!! Thanks!
Thx! I am glad you enjoy the blog!
whoaaaaaaaaaaa good lookin simple but awesome
Here's #10:
[sub]norml: FL Studio - Link Selected Channels Starting From This Track
Yes, I did just write that in response to this topic.
-K
Thanks for the great tip kivetros!
Marc
No problem, mate. Glad to help.
-K
you can also do the scales thingie easily from the pianoroll, in the chords menu there are all kinds of scales (major minor pentatonic etc)
Hi.. I am From Indonesia. This blog is my Favourite place to learn about FL. Thank's !
Glad you like it DJ Dubali Beatz!
Cheers, Marc
Thanks, great info!
the scale detection in the piano roll would be great for number ten, thats one of my favorite features that is not listed. great list man ive been using fruity for like seven years and you cant tell me shit about it but i have to admit there was two on there i didnt know about that are nice tricks to know
In the FPC, you can assign the individual sounds of the pads to a specific pad, button or key on a MIDI controller. Like for example you have a snare on a pad in the FPC, and you want one of the sampler pads on your Axiom 25 to trigger that snare, here's how:
Click the pad you want assigned. Under MIDI Note, it has a little part that should say like c3 or something. Click that and select "Lrn" or "Learn" or "MIDI learn" depending on the version of FL Studio you're using. Then click the pad/button/key on your controller that you want to trigger that pads sound. TADA
This is probably the best FL blog I've ever stumbled upon. Thank you soo much for the time and dedication put into this blog
well I feel like an idiot. I've been using FL for over a year now and I never knew about the markers on the playlist. I always thought that would be a great idea, so you could label your sections of the song. I didn't know it was already a feature! Thanks
Thanks for your positive feedback guys!!
Cheers,
Marc
HELLO I READ THE INFO U GAVE BUT I A NEW USER OF FL STUDIO AND I REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO USE IT TO MAKE MY BEATS REALLY BAD I MAKE SOME BUT IT DOES SOUND LIKE HOW I HEARD THE ONE THAT R PROFFESIONALLY MADE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP ME PLEASE THANK YOU.ROBERT MY EMAIL IS ROBBICERTAIN@HOTMAIL.COM
Hi,
In FL 9 you used to be able to drag and scale a whole selection of notes - stretching it from one bar into to, or whatever. I can't see how to do this in FL 10 as it used to be shift click + drag. Does anyone know how to do this in FL 10?
All the best
Jacob
worked it out, a small circle appears to the right of your selection, you just drag that
If you want to learn a whole lot real fast I suggest going to /projects/cool stuff and checking out every track, get under the bonnet and play with them. May not be your flavour but there is a welth of tricks and info there!!
Mate, awesome tip re:frozen browser state. That was driving me mad.
Thanks a lot!
Good looking out!
Great post, a lot of good detail on this blog! FL Studio always seems to find new ways to amaze me. Such a lightweight program that can do so many amazing things. I am a big fan of the shift and drag feature to quickly copy your previous notes in the piano roll to make the next chord or sequence.
A small tips here.
Go to TOOLS & select RIFF MACHINE. Some notes will dropped on piano roll. You can change the sound to piano/guitar or ect.. according to your wish. Or you can even click the THROW DICE button for the next notes.
I used this when I got idea what to play.
Hope this help for newbies.
Additional Trick for Ghost Channels:
Click with Mouse Button 5 (yes you read right: FIVE) on an greyed out note to switch its respective Instrument!
Mouse 4+5 are generally useful, play with them to switch patterns, instruments and select plugins. And buy a new mouse with 5 buttons ;D
Here's a good trick. Tools > Last Tweaked. Saves you loads of time sifting through the MIDI CC to find the right one.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Do music in any way that it comes to you. Don't let someone's view try to destroy your own.
Those that hate now will still be where they are hating you later.
Have fun and make music.
LoveBugMusic -
Fuck the dumb-ass who removed my comment.
What you doing writing blogs about shit you don't know anything about.
Whack ass nigga.
Great Post... I have free drumkits on my blog http://bestbeatmakerz.blogspot.com/
@BeatMaker
Man.
His kits sound like ass!
They're worse than the fl studio preset sounds!