FL Studio
FL Studio (formerly known as FruityLoops[1]) is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer. The program is available in four different editions for Microsoft Windows, including FL Studio Express, Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, and the Signature Bundle.[2] Image-Line differentiates FL Studio from competing software[3] by offering lifetime free updates to the program, meaning customers receive for free all future updates of the version they purchase.[4] Image-Line released FL Studio Mobile on June 21, 2011 so the program can be used on iPods, iPhones, and iPads.[5]
FL Studio can be used as an instrument in other audio workstation programs such as Cubase, Sonic Solutions, and Sonar and is also compatible with dozens of Image-Line and third-party plug-ins, such as the DJ mixing program Deckadance and the synthesizer Sytrus.[6] FL Studio is used by electronic musicians and DJs such as Afrojack[7] and 9th Wonder.[8]
History
The first version of Fruity Loops (1.0.0) was developed by Didier Dambrin for the Belgian company Image-Line and was partially released in December 1997. Its official launch was in early 1998, when it was still a four-channel[9] MIDI drum machine.[10] Dambrin became Chief Software Architect for the program,[3][11] and it quickly underwent a series of large upgrades that made it into a popular and complex digital audio workstation. FL Studio has undergone ten major updates since its inception, and FL Studio 10 was released in March 2011. Noted programmer Arguru contributed to various editions of FL Studio.[12]
Software overview
Editions
- FL Studio Express – This version allows for step sequencer-only editing and is chiefly suited for 64-step loop creation.[2] Each pattern can consist of an unlimited number of instruments—either samples, native, or VST instruments. Instruments in the pattern can be routed to the Mixer tool for effects processing, and effects as of version 10.0 include Delay, Delay Bank, Equo, Flangus, Love Philter, Vocoder, Parametric EQ & EQ2, Multiband Compressor, Spectroman, Stereo Enhancer, Wave Candy, Wave Shaper, and Soundgoodizer. There is no piano roll, playlist ability, automation, audio recording, or VST/ReWire client.[6]
- Fruity Edition – The Fruity Edition allows users to access the playlist, piano roll, and event automation features, which allow for complex and lengthy arranging and sequencing. There is also VST/ReWire support so that FL Studio can be used as an instrument in other hosts such as Cubase, Sonic Solutions, Logic, and other software. As of version 10.0 this edition includes the Simsynth Live synthesizer instrument, the DrumSynth live percussion synthesizer, the DX10FM synthesizer, and the Wasp/Wasp XT synthesizers. There is no audio recording feature.[6]
- Producer Edition – The Producer Edition includes all of the features of the Fruity Edition, as well as full recording for internal and external audio and post-production tools. It allows for hand-drawing point and curve based splines. Plugins include Edison, Slicex (loop slicer and re-arranger), Vocodex, and Synthmaker. It also allows for waveform viewing of audio clips and the ability to add cue points.[6]
- Signature Bundle – This edition includes the Producer Edition as well as a series of plugins such as Sytrus, Maximus, the Fruity Video player, DirectWave Sampler, and the Hardcore Guitar Effects Suite.[6]
- Free Demo – The free demo version includes all of the program's features and most plugins and allows users to render project audio to WAV, MIDI, MP3, and OGG.[2]
- Mobile – On June 21, 2011, Image-Line released FL Studio Mobile, which supports the ability to create multi-track projects on iOS devices such as iPods, iPhones, and iPads.[5]
System requirements
FL Studio 10.0 works on Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 (32-bit or 64-bit versions) or on Intel Macs with Boot Camp.[4] It requires a 2GHz AMD or Intel Pentium 3 CPU with full SSE1 support. It requires 1 GB of free disk space and at least 1 GB of RAM is recommended.[4]
FL Studio processes audio using an internal 32-bit floating point engine. It supports sampling rates up to 192 kHz using either WDM or ASIO enabled drivers.[3]
Program features
Version 11 is currently under development.
Version 10, introduced on March 29, 2011, included a new project browser, fixed some bugs, and smoothed envelope points. It also introduced a patcher.
Version 9 introduced support for multi-core effects processing and improved support for multi-core instrument processing.[3][10]
The mixer interface allows for any number of channel configurations. This allows mixing in 2.1, 5.1, or 7.1 surround sound, as long as the output hardware interface has an equivalent number of outputs. The mixer also supports audio-in, enabling FL Studio to record multitrack audio.[10]
FL Studio supports time streching/pitch shifting, beat slicing, chopping, and editing of audio,[11] and as of version 8 it can record up to 64 simultaneous audio tracks.[11] Other key features include a digital piano roll.[11] Audio can be imported or exported as WAV, MP3, OGG, MIDI, ZIP, or the native project format with an .FLP filename extension.[3][11]
Plug-ins
FL Studio comes with a variety of plugins and generators (software synthesizers) written in the program’s own native plugin architecture. FL Studio also has support for third-party VST and DirectX plugins.[13] The API has a built in wrapper for full VST, VST2, VST3, DX, and ReWire compatibility. Many of the plugins also function independently as standalone programs.
- Dashboard – An included plugin which allows the creation of full automation-enabled interfaces for hardware MIDI devices. This allows FL Studio to control hardware from within the program. As of version 9.0 it also supports multiple controllers for different generators and effects.
- Edison – Edison is a wave-form editor and recording tool in VST format, though Image-Line also produces a stand-alone version that does not require FL Studio to run. It is included in the Producer Edition and allows spectral analysis, convolution reverb, loop-recording, and loop-construction, as well as support for cue points.[6][11]
- Fruity Video Player – Included in the Bundle Edition, it allows the composition and synchronization of audio and video.[6]
- Deckadance (often referred to as DD) – a standalone DJ console and mixing program which can also be used in conjunction with FL Studio as a VST plugin. Initially released in May 2007, it was made available starting with the release of FL Studio 7 as an optional part of the download package.
- Maximus – Maximus is a multi-band audio limiter and compressor for mastering projects or tracks. It also serves as a noise gate, expander, ducker, and de-esser, and is included in the Bundle edition.[6][14]
- Riff Machine – Self-generates melodies in the piano roll using a randomly selected instrument, with parameter controls for shaping melodies. Introduced in version 9.[10][13]
- Fruity Stereo Shaper – Stereo processor with a mixer for left and right channels and their inverted equivalents and controls for channel delay and phase offset. Introduced in version 9.[10]
Virtual effects
FL Studio is bundled with a variety of sound processing effects, including common audio effects such as chorus, compression, delay, flanger, phaser, reverb, equalization, vocoding, maximization, and limiting.[11]
- Gross Beat – A time, pitch, and volume manipulation effect.[10]
- Hardcore Guitar Effects Suite – A multi-effects suite of plugins designed to resemble guitarists' stompboxes, which works for any instrument.[6]
- Juice Pack – A collection of proprietary plugins ported to VST format for use in other music hosts. The contents of this pack has changed since its release; at the time of this writing it includes the Delay, Delay Bank, EQUO, Flangus, LovePhilter, Multiband Compressor, Notebook, Parametric EQ, Parametric EQ 2, Spectroman, Stereo Enhancer, Vocoder, Wave Candy, and Wave Shaper plugins.[15]
- Fruity Vocoder – A real-time vocoder effect.[10]
- Vocodex – An advanced vocoder included in the Producer Edition of version 10.[6][10]
- NewTone – A pitch correction and time manipulation editor that allows for slicing, correcting, and editing vocals, instrumentals, and other recordings. Introduced as a demo with version 10.[16]
- Pitcher – Serves as a real-time pitch correction, manipulation, and harmonization tool for creating or correcting 4 voice harmonies under MIDI control from a keyboard or the piano roll. Introduced as a demo with version 10.[16]
- Patcher – Free plugin for chain effects that can then be quickly uploaded in new projects.[16]
- ZGameEditor Visualizer – Free visualization effect plugin based on the open source ZGameEditor, with movie rendering capability.[16]
Samplers
- DirectWave Sampler – A software sampler that provides sample recording, waveform editing, and DSP effects (works for both VST and live instruments).[6]
- SliceX – A beat-slicing sampler for processing and re-arranging recorded drumloops, included in the Producer Edition.[6]
Synthesizers
FL Studio is bundled with 32 generator plugins (October 2011). Some are demos. The list includes;
- 3XOsc – A generator with three programmable oscillators that subtractively produce bright sound with low memory use.[17]
- Autogun – A synthesizer with no controls and over 4 billion patches accessible by numbers only.[18] The free version of Ogun.[10][19]
- Boo Bass – A monophonic base guitar emulator.[17]
- Buzz Generator Adaptor – A wrapper for a large number of generators from Buzzmachine.com[20]
- Drumaxx – A physical modeling synthesizer designed to emulate and create the sound of percussion instruments.
- DrumSynth Live – Allows for percussion synthesis. Included in all Editions.[6][10][19]
- DX10FM – Recreates a classic FM. Included in Fruity Edition and higher.[6][19]
- FL Slayer – FL Slayer is an electric guitar simulator originally developed by reFX which is equipped with a high quality amp and effects tools to allow for the realistic recreation of hundreds of guitar sounds and effects boxes. It is a VSTi plugin and is included in every version of FL Studio.[21]
- Groove Machine a virtual drum machine
- Harmless – Performs subtractive synthesis using an additive synthesis engine.[19] Demo
- Harmor – Additive / subtractive synth with ability to encode pictures into music and resynthesis.[22] Demo
- Morphine – An additive synthesizer that allows voices to be mixed and morphed under user control.[19] Demo
- Ogun – An advanced programmable additive synthesizer chiefly for creating metallic timbres from 32000 harmonic choices. Demo
- PoiZone – A subtractive synthesizer with non-essential control removed for easy navigation.[19]
- Sakura – Sakura is a physical modeling synthesizer which is designed to emulate string instruments.[15][19]
- Sawer – A vintage modeling synthesizer which attempts to emulate Soviet Union era subtractive synthesizers.[19]
- SimSynth Live – Modeled after the classic analog synthesizers of the 1980s with three oscillators, with a programmable LFO section. Created by David Billen, Frederic Vanmol, and Didier Dambrin.[10][19]
- SynthMaker – FL Studio 8 Producer Edition introduced a version of SynthMaker, a popular graphical programming environment for synthesizers. It allows for the creation and sharing of new instruments without the need to understand programming code.[6][11]
- Sytrus – A software synthesizer. The first version was released with FL Studio version 4.5.1. The second version of Sytrus (introduced with FL Studio 6) comes with an array of presets covering many types of sounds. Sytrus uses a combination of subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis, FM synthesis, and ring modulation, allowing the production of sounds ranging from drum sets to organs. Sytrus provides a large number of adjustments and controls, including shape shifting, harmonics editing, EQ, a modulator, filters, reverb, delay, unison, and detune.[19][23]
- Toxic Biohazard – A virtual FM synthesizer similar to Sytrus, using FM and subtractive synthesis.[15][19]
- WASP/WASP XT – A 3 oscillator synthesizer created by Richard Hoffman.[10][19]
Version history
| Version |
Release |
Notes |
| 1.0.0 |
18 December 1997 |
MIDI program only, never fully released |
| 1.3.56 |
1 September 1998 |
Pitch for notes added |
| 1.4.0 |
16 December 1998 |
Loops in sample browser, up to 64 notes per pattern, drumkits added, rendering to mono, animation added |
| 1.5.23 |
3 May 1998 |
VST plugin support added, beta version |
| 2.0.1 |
21 November 1999 |
Support for DirectX plugins added, redesign, live recording added |
| 2.1.1. |
19 January 2000 |
Now using LAME .mp3 encoder, BeatSlicer engine added, Fruity center plugin added[24] |
| 2.5.1 |
19 April 2000 |
Set of FruityPlugins added, including Fruity Reeverb and the 7-band FruityEqualizer[24] |
| 2.7.0 |
22 July 2000 |
Fruity Fast LP plugin added |
| 2.7.1 |
25 September 2000 |
Fruity Phaser plugin by Smart Electron:x added[24] |
| 3.0.0 |
25 January 2001 |
Piano roll and metronome added, typing keyboard to MIDI option added, new layout.[24] DrumSynth upgraded, new plugins include 3x Osc, BeepMap image synth, Fruity PanOMatic, Fruity NoteBook, MIDI out, and others[24] |
| 3.3.0 |
15 October 2001 |
Added ASIO output, Fruity db meter, multiple MIDI device controller, up to 8 plugins per track, velocity and kb tracking to all channels. New plugins included Fruity Slicer, Fruity Granulizer, and Fruity Big Clock[25] |
| 3.5.4. |
19 June 2002 |
Allowed copy/pasting/saving automation, program available as VSTi plugin[25] |
| 4.0.0 |
5 March 2003 |
Program name changed from FruityLoops to FL Studio with this release. New playlist, FX window made into mixer, mixer given 64 insert tracks, piano roll improvements, Fruity Slicer upgrade, program now available as DXi plugin[25] |
| 4.1.0 |
7 April 2003 |
Free vocoder plugin added[25] |
| 4.5.1 |
29 December 2003 |
New plugins included Sytrus and the Fruity Flangus effect[25] |
| 5.0.0 |
22 November 2004 |
Fruity Slicer upgrade, basic loop recording added, Elastique time-stretching and pitch-shifting in audio tracks, added tempo detector for imported audio tracks. New plugins included Fruity WaveShaper effect and Fruity Pad Controller (FPC).[25] |
| 6.0.1 |
8 December 2005 |
FL compiled with Delphi 2005, multiple MIDI input devices accepted, Sytrus improvements, new GM for DrumSynth Live. New plugins included Wasp XT synth and DirectWave sampler.[25] |
| 7.0.0 |
30 January 2007 |
Programming language switched to Delphi 2006, BeepMap allows drag and drop function, Sytrus upgrades, support for AIFF files in sampler channels, support for Apple Loops AIFF extensions, DirectWave support for AIFF. New plugins included Fruity Parametric EQ 2, Edison audio editor and Fruity Love Philter effect.[25] |
| 8.x |
8 November 2008 |
Support for MIDI SysEx input, Love Philter allows piano keys to be assigned to patterns, updated to LAME 3.97, program support and some plugin support for .OGG format, added OGG Vorbis rendering target, default audio device changed to ASIO4ALL, FL-Chan character added in wallpapers, Edison plugin upgrade. New plugins included Slicex drumloop slicing generator, SynthMaker.[25] |
| 9.0.0 |
9 September 2009 |
Wave Candy upgraded, support added for Korg nanoKey, nanoPad, and nanoKontrol controllers, new Riff Machine piano-roll tool, Fruity Dance upgrades, upgrade to LAME 3.98.2, Edison upgraded to export to OGG files. New plugins included Ogun (+Autogun) synthesizer, Gross Beat beat re-arranger effect, Vocodex, Sakura string synth, and Fruity Stereo Shaper.[25] |
| 9.1.0 |
5 May 2010 |
New Fruity Convolver effect added, MP3 export capabilities added to Edison plugin. New plugins included Harmless synthesizer.[25] |
| 10.0.0 |
29 March 2011 |
Allowed Fruity Edition access to Playlist Pattern Clips, and added the ability to save the piano roll as sheet music. New plugins included ZGame Editor Visualizer, Patcher, Newtone and Pitcher.[16] Includes 64 Bit Memory management and 64 Bit plugin hosting.[25] |
Support
Support for the software is provided through extensive HTML help documents. Users may also register for the official Image-Line forums, which are commonly recognized as a focal-point for the FL Studio community. After buying the initial software, all future updates are free for life.[3][4]
Notable users
See also
References
- ^ [1] Accessed October 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c "What is FL Studio?". Image-Line. http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/what.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e f "FL Studio Video". OVGuide. http://www.ovguide.com/fl-studio-9202a8c04000641f80000000001e8c37#. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d "FL Studio Overview". Image-Line. http://www.image-line.com/documents/flstudio.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b "FL Studio Mobile". Image-Line. http://www.image-line.com/documents/flstudiomobile.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Editions". Image-Line. http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/editions.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b "Interview: Afrojack". The Fresh Beat. December 23. http://www.thefreshbeat.com/index.php/fresh-features/interviews/665-interview-afrojack. Retrieved 2011-05-28. "I use and always used for almost 10 years now Fruity Loops, started with Fruity Loops 3, and now its FL Studio 8, its been a while. I use almost only standard Fruity compressors for effects, my main synths come out of the Arturia Juno and NI Massive / Pro 53, but also Fruity's old 3xosc, for the mastering."
- ^ a b "In the Studio: 9th Wonder". XLR8R. 2008-05-29. http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2008/05/9th-wonder-studio. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Silva, Joe. "Review: Image-Line FL Studio 8". Music Tech Magazine. http://www.musictechmag.co.uk/mtm/reviews/fl-studio-8. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Tech Reviews: Image-Line FL Studio 9". Music Radar. October 27, 2009. http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/computers-software/digital-audio-workstations-daws/fl-studio-9-223954/review. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "FL Studio 8 XXL". Quick Selling Software. March 2, 2011. http://www.quick-selling-software.com/tag/didier-dambrin/. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ "Edition History". Image-Line. http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/history.php. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b Kirn, Peter (March 2011). "Image-Line FL Studio 9: Creative Jump-Starter Like No Other". Keyboard Magazine. http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/image-line-fl-studio/March-2010/110711. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ "Maximus". Image-Line. http://www.image-line.com/documents/maximus.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c "FL Studio Features". Image-Line. http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/features.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e "FL Studio 10: New Features". Image-Line. http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/whatsnew.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/generatorsandfx.html?id=3xOSC
- ^ http://www.image-line.com/documents/autogun.html
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Plugins". Deckadance. http://deckadance.image-line.com/help/html/DDFD/web/documents/plugins.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ [2]
- ^ "Fruity Slayer". Image-Line. http://flstudio.image-line.com/help/html/plugins/FL%20Slayer.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ http://www.image-line.com/documents/harmor.html
- ^ "Sytrus". Image-Line. http://www.image-line.com/documents/sytrus.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e "FruityLoops Versions". Sonic Spot. http://www.sonicspot.com/fruityloops/history.html. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Version History". Image-Line. http://flstudio.image-line.com/documents/history.php. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
- ^ Boi-1da [Interview] HipHopCanada. Accessed on November 25, 2009.
- ^ Beastie Mania (2009). Interview with Taco Zip, Max Tannone and DJAK47." Beastie Mania'.' Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ O'Connell, Sharon (4 October 2006). "Dubstep". Time Out London. http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/2083.html. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
External links
Reviews