FL Studio 21 Reference Manual
FL Studio 21 Reference Manual
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Sampler Channel Settings (SMP)
FL Studio Reference Manual
The Channel Sampler is an integrated, single-sample, sampler instrument useful for percussion and related
Title Page one-shot sounds. To load a sample drag and drop the sample from the Browser or Windows Explorer onto
Channel Rack. If you drop the sample on the Playlist you will create an Audio Clip, a related, but different
What is FL Studio? instrument type.
Product Information
Introduction to FL Studio
What's New?
Video tutorials
Hardware controllers
Software controllers
Touch Controllers
IL Remote App
Useful web-links
NOTES:
Setting Up FL Studio
ADSR & Filtering - Channel Samplers have a number of useful controls under the Channel Settings Tab
Setup Wizard
controls that include the integrated ADSR vol, pan, filter, pitch & LFO envelopes. For example, samples
Audio Setup will continue to play after note release unless you activate the Volume envelope.
ASIO Driver Setup Disabled options - You may notice that some of the options in your Sampler Channels are disabled
(grayed out), however you can still toggle the switches on/off. This improves workflow when trying out
Primary Sound Driver Setup different samples in the same Sampler Channel, so that if a selected option becomes possible it will
become activated automatically.
MIDI Setup
MIDI Settings
Locate sample in browser - Opens the Browser to the location where the sample is saved.
Audio Settings
File Settings
Content
Theme
These options control how the sample and meta-data within it are handled:
Debugging Information
Keep on Disk - For FL Studio 32 Bit this can be used to free virtual memory allocation allowing more
Project Settings and/or larger Audio Clips / Sampler Channels to be used in the project. Sample data is moved from FL
Studio's virtual memory allocation to a separate memory allocation. For FL Studio 32 & 64 Bit - It can
Project Information
significantly speed load times for multi-GB projects. When 'Keep on disk' is selected the maximum
Project General Settings memory available to each Audio Clip / Sampler Channel will be 2 GB. Your Windows OS version (32 or 64
Bit) and installed RAM will determine how smoothly your sample playback works (if you load more
Main Menu, Panels & Tool Bars samples than you have RAM then disk-swapping may cause buffer underruns as the data is read off disk).
IMPORTANT:
Main Menu Bar
Samples must be in 16 or 32-Bit .wav format. Keep on disk won't work with compressed formats
File Menu
such as .ogg or .mp3, otherwise the option will be grayed out.
Edit Menu
Automatically 'Keep on disk' with the 'Auto keep long audio on disk' on the F10 General
Add Menu Options, then re-load your project.
Patterns Menu 'Keep on disk' precludes the use of precomputed effects, that require the whole sample is loaded
in memory.
View Menu
For smooth operation without underruns or glitches, your physical RAM should (at least) match
Options Menu the project's total sample-space demand. It may also take a while for very large projects to load
so be patient. TIP: Zoom out on the Playlist, ( Ctrl + Right-Click) on a blank area, so all
Tools Menu
Audio Clips are visible in their entirety prior to pressing Play for the first time. This forces Audio
Help Menu Clip data to be cached into RAM.
Toolbar Resample - If your sample is not recorded at the same sample-rate as your audio device is currently set
to (e.g. Sample rate = 44100 Hz), this option can improve audio quality. NOTES: 1. Loop points - are
Editing the Toolbar often carefully sample-aligned so resampling can cause loops to 'click'. 2. CPU - Resampling requires
additional CPU and memory as resampled waves are generally larger. See Audio Settings > Mixer >
Main Menu
Resample quality for more details.
Shortcut Icons
Playback
Time Panel Looping replays the sample or parts of it while a note is held for the Sampler Channel:
Multilink Controllers Icon Start Offset - Offsets the sample start point relative to the start of the sample data (automatable).
There is also a 'Sample Start' on the Precomputed tab that trims the sample data to create the new start
Main Volume & Pitch Panel
point. NOTE: The Declicking options work with Start Offset to remove unwanted clicks when non-zero,
File Browser Use loop points - Select this option to make the sample loop, when the sample contains loop points
(see Sample view below). The play position starts at the sample beginning and when it reaches the loop-
Plugin Database end point, jumps back to the loop-start point and repeats this process while the note is held. NOTE: The
Precomputed Processes allows you to create a Crossfade Loop.
Project Browser
Ping pong loop - The play-position bounces back and forth between the loop start and loop end points
Advanced folder stuff (forwards then backwards through the loop region).
Instrument Setting
Miscellaneous Setting
Layer Setting
Piano Roll selected. Bleeding means the audio will extend beyond the slice point to complete a, very short, click reducing
fade.
Piano Roll Arpeggiator
Out only (no bleeding) - No in-declicking, declicking-out is a 10ms (cosine S-shaped) fade-out.
Piano Roll Articulator
Transient (no bleeding) - Useful for drum samples as the attack transient is fully preserved (only the
Piano Roll Chopper first few samples are ramped). The declick-out uses a no-bleeding, short (10ms), filtering fade-out.
Piano Roll Claw Machine Transient (bleeding) - Same attack processing as above, with a declick-out based on a 20 ms (cosine
S-shaped) fade-out.
Piano Roll Flam Tool
Generic (bleeding) - A 20ms cosine S-shaped fade-in and fade-out.
Piano Roll Flip Tool
Smooth (bleeding) - A 100ms cosine S-shaped fade-in and fade-out.
Piano Roll LFO Tool
Crossfade (bleeding) - A 200 ms attack/release that is designed to crossfade contiguous (touching)
Piano Roll Key Limiter Tool
Audio clips. This is not a true crossfade, where clips overlap, the fade start and end is designed to work
well with another clip with the same settings butted up against it. NOTE: Both Audio Clips need to have
Piano Roll Menu
been sliced to use this setting, as data before and after the slice points is used to create the Crossfade.
Import MIDI Data Dialog
Time stretching / Pitch shifting
Piano Roll Quantizer
The Time stretching / Pitch shifting algorithms can synchronize pitch and/or tempo with your project, since pitch
Piano Roll Randomizer and playback speed can be adjusted independently. These are the same algorithms used by the Edison Time
Stretch / Pitch Shift tool. There are off-line (computed then applied) and realtime (computed on-the-fly)
Riff Machine
stretching options. Off-line provides the highest quality but can't be used with Tempo changes. See a video
Piano Roll Scale Level Tool here .
Playlist
Automation Clips
Performance Mode
Plugin Wrapper
Wrapper: Menu
Wrapper: Troubleshooting
3x Osc
Watch on
Audio Clips
Autogun
Options
Automation Clips
BassDrum
BeepMap
BooBass
Channel Sampler
PITCH (Pitch Shift) - Change sample pitch while preserving its length. If the 'resample' method is
Control Surface selected it will be automatically changed to 'Auto' after tweaking this knob.
Dashboard MUL (Time Multiplier) - Use this knob to modify the sample length. For example, you can quickly
stretch the sample to twice its original length without needing to modify the Time setting.
DirectWave Sampler
TIME (Sample Duration) - The time it takes to play the sample from start to end. Depending on the
FLEX Stretch Mode, the consequences of adjusting 'Time' will be different. NOTE: To maintain a constant
pitch as Project Tempo is automated, use Mode (menu) > Realtime > Stretch.
FL Keys
TIME ( Right-Click) options:
FL Slayer
(none) - Default (no stretching). The sample is transposed according to Channel pitch as
FL Studio Mobile normal. Audio Clips maintain a constant pitch and duration regardless of Project Tempo. NOTE:
If an Audio Clip is stretching OR a Sampler Channel is not responding to pitch then select
FPC '(none)'. See the F10 > Settings > General > Read sample tempo information section for more
details on global changes that can avoid this problem in future.
Fruit Kick
Autodetect - The sample's tempo (BPM) is autodetected and the Channel stretched accordingly.
Fruity Dance
Audio Clips will adjust the Time setting when physically stretched in the Playlist.
Drumaxx
Project tempo - The sample duration is set to the original length when the project is at the
current tempo. 'Project tempo' also locks the sample to Tempo so any future changes to
Drumpad
Tempo will automatically stretch the sample to maintain rhythm/timing with the project,
Fruity DrumSynth Live according to the Stretch Mode.
Fruity DX10 Beat/Bar # - Use these options when you know the exact number of Beats/Bars the sample is
stretched to.
Fruity Envelope Controller
Mode (Stretch Method) - These options allow you to change sample pitch (resample) or to maintain
Fruity Granulizer pitch and change tempo (see the remaining time-stretching options). Time-stretching uses ZPlane
Elastique Pro version 3 (e3 algorithms, e2 is included for compatibility with pre FL Studio 12 projects).
Fruity Keyboard Controller
The same algorithms are used in Edison Time Stretch/Pitch Shift Tool. Channel Settings options include:
Fruity Layer Realtime - Realtime options are applied, on-the-fly and are suitable when Project Tempo or Sample
Length is automated.
Fruity Slicer
Resample - Standard pitch shifting that varies sample length with sample pitch. When the
Fruity Vibrator
'TIME' knob is set to anything other than '(none)', for example locked to Project Tempo,
shown above, this option behaves like a tape or record, where pitch changes with play-speed.
Fruity Video Player
Audio Clips - Will change pitch as Project Tempo is changed or Clip length physically stretched.
Fruity Voltage Controller Piano roll - If you play a chord, each note will play back at a different speed according to the
pitch of the note.
Groove Machine Synth
Stretch - Vocals and other rhythmic samples stay in-key and in-time as the project tempo is
Harmless automated AND OR maintain the original sample duration when playing a MIDI keyboard /
changing pitch in the Piano roll. For example, 'Stretch' will allow you to play a chord and keep
Harmless Tutorials
all voices in-sync. 'Stretch' works for both Audio Clips and Sampler Channels. NOTE: When
Harmless Credits 'Stretch' is selected for the first time, the TIME knob (sample duration) is locked to the current
Tempo. To default TIME to a new tempo: Right-Click the TIME knob and select 'Project
Harmor tempo'.
MIDI Out [Link] (Formant Shift) - Formants are peaks in the frequency spectrum caused by
resonances, natural frequencies of vibration, of an instrument. See here for a full
MiniSynth
explanation. NOTE: Automating the Formant is a great way to add some motion and
interest to sampled sounds.
Morphine
NOTE: The 'Tools menu > Macros > Misc > Switch realtime stretching for all audio
Morphine: General Settings & Controls
clips' sets 'Stretch' mode for all Audio Clips in the project. Useful when you decide to automate
tempo after having added many Audio Clips. Sampler Channels are not affected.
Morphine: Generator Page
Elastique - These are off-line stretch methods. They are detailed calculations that take some time to
Morphine: Resynthesis
complete and are applied to the whole sample. They have the highest quality but don't work with Tempo
Morphine: Modulation Page e3 Generic - A 'Default' mode is designed to work with the widest range of input signals. As
usual, experiment with other methods if you hear unwanted artifacts.
Morphine: Credits
e3 Mono - Specialized for monophonic input signals such as vocals or solo instruments. Uses
Ogun automatic formant preservation techniques.
Ogun Master Special - These options are designed to work with percussion, specifically to preserve attack transients.
The important 'click', 'thwack' and 'tshhhh' sounds that start most percussion samples.
Ogun Synthesis
Slice stretch - Use for drum loops, that include slice markers aligned with the drum hits, that
Ogun Effects have a tempo lower or equal to the project. Slice markers are used for transient preservation
and each slice is stretched according to e3 Default. NOTES: Use Slicex for more advanced loop
Ogun Tutorial
slicing and processing options. If your samples already contain Slices or Regions and 'Load
Regions' / 'Slice Markers' is selected. These will be used to stretch the sample and preserve
Patcher
transients. The markers are assumed to be on the beat. Otherwise FL Studio will perform an on-
VFX Color Mapper the-fly analysis. This may be more or less accurate depending on the slice data contained in the
sample (sometimes samples contain unhelpful slice or region data).
VFX Envelope
Slice map - Use for drum loops, that include slice markers aligned with the drum hits, that have
VFX Key Mapper a tempo higher or equal to the project tempo. Slices are moved (unstretched) to map to the
positions each slice would play at the selected pitch/tempo NOTES: Use Slicex for more
VFX Keyboard Splitter
advanced loop processing options. If your samples already contain Slices or Regions and 'Load
VFX Level Scaler Regions' / 'Slice Markers' is selected. This data will be used to stretch the sample and preserve
transients. The markers are assumed to be on the beat. Otherwise FL Studio will perform an on-
VFX Sequencer the-fly analysis. This may be more or less accurate depending on the slice data contained in the
sample (sometimes samples contain unhelpful slice or region data).
Plucked!
Auto - Selects the best stretch algorithm in light of the other options and settings you have
Poizone
selected. You trust us don't you?
Poizone: Master Controls Legacy Elastique (Pre-FL Studio 12 projects will map to the presets indicated):
Poizone: MIDI e2 Generic (Pro default & Pro transient) - Older version of e3 Generic.
Poizone: LFO e2 Transient (Transient & Tonal) - Transient and formant preserving stretch method.
Poizone: ADSR (Amplifier) e2 Speech (Speech) - Optimized for spoken words. For singing, use the 'e3 or e2 Mono'
mode).
Poizone: Oscillators
NOTE: Names in brackets show pre FL Studio 12 nomenclature. Old projects will re-map to the presets
Poizone: Filter indicated.
Poizone: Arpeggiator
Working with the stretch/pitch functions
Poizone: Effects
To perform dynamic tempo changes during the song (tempo automation), use Time stretching > Mode >
Poizone: Trance Gate Stretch to keep samples in sync (otherwise with Resample, pitch and duration will change with tempo). See a
video here . Alternatively for a more creative option try Fruity Granulizer.
ReWire
Following are common actions you may need to use when working with stretched samples:
Sakura
Disable time stretching for a sample, turn the Time knob maximum left (right-click to select 'none').
This is the default mode when samples are dropped on the Playlist.
Sawer
Manually lock a sample to the project tempo: If your samples are not being automatically stretched
Sawer: General Settings
when you make a change to the project tempo. There are two methods, either Right-Click the 'Time'
Sawer: Master Controls knob and select 'Project' OR for more control you can sync to the project as follows:
Sawer: Oscillators 1. Select the Audio Clip's menu (top left hand corner of the Audio Clip) and choose 'Fit to
tempo'.
Sawer: Filter
2. On the pop-up dialog choose the tempo marked '(project)'
Sawer: Modulation
3. The clip is now synced (or locked) to the project tempo. Further tempo changes will
Sawer: Effects (Delay, Chorus) automatically stretch the clip so that it stays in time and with the original pitch. At any stage
you can change the stretch method to one that sounds best and/or alter the pitch using the
Sawer: Arpeggiator
sample options tab.
Sawer: MIDI Modulator NOTES: This method will perform offline (non-realtime) high quality stretching for Audio Clips. It's not
intended to work with real-time Tempo Automation. In this case use the Realtime > Stretch mode. If
Sawer: Credits & Information
you load an Audio clip and it does not play at the correct speed, see 'Automatically beat-
SimSynth Live match/stretch' below.
Slicex Unlock a sample from the project tempo, follow the above and select the 'no tempo' option.
Slicex: Master Panel Automatically beat-match/stretch samples dropped on the Playlist, FL Studio needs to know the
sample's original tempo and receive a command to auto-stretch the sample. This information is contained
Slicex: Articulation Panel in the sample's 'meta-data', only saved in .wav files:
Slicex: Keyboard & Piano roll 2. Make sure the original sample tempo (Tempo (BPM)) is set correctly, you may need to use
the 'Autodetect tempo' feature.
SoundFont Player
3. Turn Tempo-sync ON.
Speech Synthesizer
4. Save the sample with these settings (only .wav files can contain this meta-data, it will be
FL SynthMaker
discarded if you convert to mp3 for example).
Sytrus
5. Make sure the F10 General Settings, 'Read sample tempo information' option is ON.
Toxic Biohazard
6. Drag the audio file from the Browser and drop on the Playlist. It will then auto-stretch to
match the current BPM of FL Studio.
Toxic Bio: Master
Toxic Bio: Sequencer Remove DC offset - Removes any DC offset or bias from the sample. DC offset is a bias in the
average of the waveform above or below the zero line. This can cause clicks, distortion or FX plugins
Toxic Bio: Effects to behave badly.
Wasp XT Fade stereo - Creates a stereo fade from the left to the right channel of the sample.
Mixer & Mixing Swap stereo - Switches the left and right channels of the loaded sample.
Mixer Functions Sample Start (SMP START) - This control redefines the start point by trimming the sample to the
start selection, updating the view to reflect this. This can be useful for functions that process the
Mixer Menu
entire sample window. If you need to automate the start point use the 'Start Offset' in the Playback
section.
Plugin Effects
Length - Redefines the sample end (length) and updates the view to reflect this.
Mixer Track Properties
Fade in (IN) - Applies a quick fade-in to the sample (turn maximum left to disable).
Audio Input/Output Routing
Fade out (OUT) - Applies a quick fade-out to the sample (turn maximum left to disable).
Audio Recording
Crossfade - Allows you to crossfade the sample to create smooth loop sections (turn maximum left
Levels, Mixing and Clipping
to disable).
The dB Scale
Trim threshold (TRIM) - FL Studio trims any silence at the end of a sample. The TRIM option
Effect Plugins allows you to raise the volume threshold at which FL Studio detects 'silence'. Using this control you
can allow FL Studio to filter very quiet noise in your sample or, by setting the threshold to zero, filter
Plugin Wrapper 'mathematical' silence.
Wrapper: Menu
Effects:
Wrapper: Additional Settings
Edison: Drum Tool A/B - Reverb type. A - Closer source, tighter space. B - Distant source, larger space. Set
by ear.
Edison: Equalize Tool
Stereo Delay - Applies a short delay between the left and right sides of the sample, creating a
Edison: Noise Removal Tool pseudo-stereo effect ('Haas' effect). Turning the knob right moves the Left channel forward, while
turning it to the left moves the Right channel forward.
Edison: Script Tool
Pitch bend (POGO) - Applies pitch bend to the sample. Particularly useful for drum samples and
Edison: Time Stretch / Pitch Shift Tool
special effects. The knob is bi-polar. Left - Pitch down on the attack (biggest change is focused on
Edison: Tune Loop Tool the start of the sample). For example - Add more initial punch to kick drums. Right - Pitch down
with the biggest change on the end of the sample. For example - Extend the bass of the decay in
Effector kick drums.
EQUO
Frequency Splitter
Fruity 7 Band EQ
Fruity Balance
Fruity Center The display also shows loop points (vertical red lines) and region markers (orange triangles along the top of
the display) if these 'meta data' are present within the sample. Loop points and regions can be edited, added or
Fruity Chorus removed using Edison.
Left-click - the sample view to preview the sound (if time stretching is enabled, the preview is tempo-
Fruity Compressor
synchronized).
Fruity Convolver (Reverb) Right-Click - to open a menu with additional commands:
Fruity dB Meter Reload - Use this command to reload samples when they were altered in external applications (wave
editors, etc.), after FL Studio was started. This command appears only in channels that hold Sampler
Fruity Delay
instrument.
Fruity Delay 2
Save as... - Allows you to save the sample with all precalculated effects applied to it (see Sampler
Fruity Delay Bank Copy audio to clipboard ( Ctrl+C) - Copies the audio from the Channel to a Clipboard.
Fruity Fast Distortion Paste audio from clipboard ( Ctrl+V) - Pastes the Clipboard audio to the Channel. NOTE: This
action creates a new WAV file. You will be presented with a save dialog on Paste, where you can
Fruity Fast LP rename the Clipboard Audio prior to proceeding. This is a fast way to replace all instances of an Audio
Clip in the Playlist, or to create new samples from Edison or other Editor copy actions.
Fruity Filter
Edit in audio editor ( E) - Opens the integrated Wave Editor with the current sample, or the custom
Fruity Flanger
wave editor you have selected in the Tools window.
Fruity Flangus
Edit in pitch corrector - Opens the integrated Pitch Correction plugin, NewTone with the current
sample. After editing, drag the sample from the editor and drop on the Channel Preview window.
Fruity Formula Controller
Edit in time warper - Opens the integrated Time Warping plugin, NewTime with the current sample.
Fruity Free Filter
After editing, drag the sample from the editor and drop on the Channel Preview window.
Gross Beat
Open in new sampler channel - Opens the sample in another instance of this Channel type. Similar to
Hardcore Guitar Effects cloning the Channel.
Fruity HTML Notebook Open in new Fruity Granulizer channel - Opens the sample in Fruity Granulizer.
Fruity Love Philter Open in new Fruity Slicer channel - Opens the sample in Fruity Slicer.
Fruity Limiter Open in new Slicex channel - Opens the sample in Slicex.
Fruity LSD Detect tempo - Opens the Tempo Detection Wizard which asks you to select one of several tempo
ranges the sample might be in. Select a range and the Time property of the channel will be automatically
LuxeVerb adjusted (see Sampler ). Note that the accuracy of the auto detection depends on the source material
and might not always match the real sample tempo. The best practice in this case is to know in advance
Maximus Multiband Maximizer
the real loop tempo and embed that information in the sample by using a wave editor.
Maximus: Credits NOTE: If this is selected the Multichannel waveform view option (below) is ignored.
Multiband Delay Multichannel waveform view - Displays all waveform previews for the sample in stereo mode (upper
left, lower right), includes the Playlist. NOTE: Spectrum view overrides this setting.
Fruity Mute 2
Tools - Will show any other Tools set in FL Studio.
Fruity Multiband Compressor
Drag and Drop - You can also Left-click on the sample view and drag it to other compatible locations in FL
Newtime Studio such as the Playlist (to open a new Audio Clip instance), Fruity Slicer, DirectWave, Edison, etc.
Newtone
Fruity NoteBook
Fruity NoteBook 2
Fruity PanOMatic
Patcher
VFX Envelope
Fruity Parametric EQ
Fruity Parametric EQ 2
Fruity Phaser
Pitcher
Pitch Shifter
Razer Chroma
Fruity Reeverb
Fruity Reeverb 2
Fruity Scratcher
Fruity Send
Fruity Spectroman
Fruity Squeeze
Fruity Vocoder
Wave Candy
Fruity WaveShaper
Soundgoodizer
SynthMaker
Transient Processor
Tuner
Vintage Chorus
Vintage Phaser
Vocodex
Vocodex: Parameters
Vocodex: Tutorials
ZGameEditor Visualizer
Audio Recording
Note Recording
Automation Recording
MIDI Scripting
Mapping Formula
Automation Clips
LFO Tool
ReWire Support
Client Mode
Host Mode
MIDI File
DrumSynth Preset
MS Waveform File
ReCycle Loops
SimSynth Preset
Speech Preset
MIDI File
Reset Settings
Troubleshooting FAQ
Monitor Speakers
Glossary
ACM Waveform
Envelope
Gate
LFO
Acknowledgements