FL Studio Basics: Music Production

[Ebonesser]

Fruity Loops Studio Basics
I've been doing music on FL Studio for a pretty long time so I thought that I could share of my wisdom
I know that a lot of people here are interested in these kind of things so I decided to make guides
of how to make music starting with this basic guide of names and functions of Fruity Loops Studio, with pictures of course



This is how FL Studio looks like. I've named all the important functions you should know in the beginning.
The gray and red things to the right side of the samples are the steps you can fill with the desired sample.

If you have an VST instrument that you want to make a melody with you should use a piano roll:





In the piano roll, to the left you can see piano keys with different tones on.
To make a note on the piano roll you left click on the line, to the right of the key you preferred to use the tone of.
You either use the paint or drawing function to put notes out into the piano roll.
The paint function works so that you can put out one note, then hold in your left mouse button to move it.
The draw function works so that you can put out a note, then hold in the left mouse button and drag it to the right to create more notes in a row.
To delete a note you just right click it. I prefer using the draw method.



Now I've chosen the "kick" in the piano roll so I can't use it for longer or shorter notes as it doesn't have a loop point.
That way I can just use the red and gray things beside the sample to put out the notes.
But I'll show how to the use piano roll.
You just use a VSTi like sytrus or something to make a melody, it comes with FL Studio.

Well, when making notes longer or shorter, you just drag the end of each note.
You can control each notes volume on the bottom of the piano roll, by dragging it up and down.



Here's the songs playlist with different patterns.
You'll be able to see the whole song from here.
It's quite like in the piano roll but the patterns are different tones that you put in.

If you don't want to pay for FL Studio, you can download the demo from their website: Fruity Loops Studio Download
The only difference is that you can't save your project.
You can still export your MP3.
Then there's great VSTi's that comes with FL Studio like Sytrus that you can use so there's no need for those big expensive VSTi's like ReFx's and Cakewalk's

I'm planning to make more of these guides if people are interested

[pedeg]

great job (:

[Ebonesser]

Thank you

[BlakeRSH]

I'm also using that program from time to time and have to say that it's realy good.

Good guide

[Ebonesser]

Thanks
Yes, I haven't tried any other music making programs but I bet FL beats them all

[Dragonshadow]

I like.
I have fl-studio 9, but I don't really like it, a few people I know use fl studio 5, do you know how diff they are?

[Reflection]

Great guide mate! I'm not exactly musical but I'm sure it'll help a lot of people who are.

[Dragon[Sky]]

Great guide but FL is for noobs. Cubase is the best for production and mastering.

[Henessy]

Thanks for the guide, mate!
I have FL Studio 9, but wasn't too sure how to use it. +Rep !

[Ebonesser]

Thanks everyone!

@Dragonshadow
No, the oldest version of Fl Studio I've used is FL Studio 7, then I've updated it after every release so now I also got 9

@Reflection
Well, I've heard about Cubase but never used it. Is it more made for live performances?

[Dragonshadow]

Great guide but FL is for noobs. Cubase is the best for production and mastering.

If FL is for noobs then its exactly what you should start with huh

[Dragon[Sky]]

If FL is for noobs then its exactly what you should start with

Thanks but I'm pretty experienced in Cubase. Not like I'm showing off or anything, just saying. Production atleast.

[Dragonshadow]

Thanks but I'm pretty experienced in Cubase. Not like I'm showing off or anything, just saying. Production atleast.

Then you're already past "starting" now aren't you

[Nikentic]

Thank you for the guide

[Ebonesser]

No Problem