Summary
Highlights
After adding FL Keys, the Piano Roll is opened to input notes. The video explains how to place, delete, move, and lengthen/shorten notes by clicking and dragging. The arrangement of notes on the keyboard visual and timeline is demonstrated.
This tutorial will guide new users through FL Studio, from making a simple melody and beat to completing and exporting their first song. The video begins by showing how to download FL Studio from the official website, with options for Windows and Mac.
The tutorial introduces the FL Studio interface, acknowledging its initial complexity. To make learning easier, a jingle for the 'Kevin Cookie Company' will be created. The first step is adding a melody using the Channel Rack, which houses all instruments. The FL Keys instrument is selected and added.
The process of composing a melody is shown, including adjusting note lengths and exploring the full range of the keyboard within the Piano Roll. The instructor listens to the melody and demonstrates how to select and delete undesired notes.
To build the melody efficiently, the tutorial demonstrates how to select a section of notes, copy them, and paste them into a new section of the Piano Roll. The playhead is used to determine the paste location. The video then shows how to adjust the song's tempo (BPM) to fit the desired feel.
The melody is designated as 'Pattern 1' and renamed to 'melody' for clarity. The Arrangement View, which functions as the song's timeline, is introduced. The melody pattern is dragged and dropped into the arrangement at the beginning of the song.
A new pattern, 'Pattern 2', is created and renamed 'chords'. A new instrument, GMS (a synthesizer), is added to the Channel Rack. The instructor selects a 'pad' sound, specifically 'Pad 16', from the GMS presets.
Chords are constructed in the Piano Roll by layering three notes. Techniques for accurately placing and stretching notes are shown. The completed chord pattern is copied and pasted to create a progression over multiple measures. The chord pattern is then added to the Arrangement View.
The video demonstrates how to switch between 'Pattern Mode' (to hear individual patterns) and 'Song Mode' (to hear all patterns together). The instructor decides to change the chord instrument, selecting 'Funky Rhodes' from another bank to better complement the melody.
A new pattern for drums is created and added to the Arrangement View. The tutorial emphasizes that notes put into the Channel Rack will automatically appear in the arrangement.
Instead of the Piano Roll, drum patterns are created directly in the Channel Rack by clicking boxes to activate sounds (kick drum, snare). The process of expanding the view and adding hi-hats using the 'Fill every 4 steps' quick tool is demonstrated. The drum pattern is then repeatedly added to the arrangement.
The tutorial introduces the 'paint icon' for quickly extending patterns in the arrangement. Tips for deleting patterns by right-clicking and dragging are also given. The instructor then demonstrates how to swap out a snare drum sound by browsing the 'Packs' section and sending a new sample to the snare channel.
A new pattern for the bass is created and added to the arrangement. The BooBass instrument (under miscellaneous) is selected for the bass sound in the Channel Rack.
A new method for inputting notes is introduced: recording directly using a computer keyboard or MIDI keyboard. The record button, metronome, and countdown features are explained. After recording, basic editing like deleting unwanted notes and lengthening existing ones is shown.
The process for setting up a microphone for vocal recording is detailed. This includes navigating to 'Options > Audio Settings' to select the correct input and output (headphones for monitoring) in the ASIO panel. An audio track is then added to the arrangement.
To record vocals, the audio track needs to be 'armed' and the microphone source selected. The levels are checked, and the recording process is initiated by hitting the record button and then play. After recording, the track is disarmed.
The Mixer is introduced for balancing instrument volumes. It's explained that each channel rack instrument needs to be routed to an 'insert' on the mixer. The tutorial demonstrates how to assign available inserts to instruments that haven't been automatically assigned.
To make mixing easier, mixer inserts are renamed to match their corresponding instruments. The instructor then listens to the song and adjusts the volume levels of the vocals, keys, and snare using the faders on the mixer to create a balanced sound.
Effects are added to individual tracks in the mixer. The process of selecting an active insert (e.g., vocals) and choosing an effect (Fruity Reverb 2) from the available slots is shown. The effect's parameters can be tweaked using presets (e.g., 'Small Studio').
The tutorial demonstrates how to mute individual tracks by clicking a green button, or solo a track by right-clicking on its mixer insert. This allows for focused listening to specific instruments or vocals, and the same principles apply to the Channel Rack and Arrangement window.
The final step is exporting the song. The video shows how to go to 'File > Export' and choose a file type, recommending WAV for highest quality. The rendering panel is explained, including options for bit depth (32-bit recommended for quality) and resampling. The export process is initiated.