FL Studio 10 - Workflow

[DubMikey]

Hello everyone!

Lately I've been trying to improve my workflow, as I think that is really really important and rather overlooked.
So, I was wondering if anyone out there have some FL workflow tips that they don't mind sharing, so, hopefully, me and plenty more on the forum can get a better workflow.

Peace out!

[serox]

Do whatever works for you! there is no right way imo.

I prob do things a really long way but it works for what I need to do so it doesn't really hold me back personally.

[wub]

Get a template with some basic mixer routing/group channels/bussing setup, a few pre generated instrument slots for stuff you always used (sampler, Slicex, 3xOsc with a white noise generator etc), plus maybe a spectral analyser on the master.

[ChadDub]

I start an the Empty template every time. What really helped my workflow is I organized my samples. When I first started producing, I had downloaded SO many samples I probably had at least 2000 Kick samples alone and probably around 50K drum samples all together including kicks, snares, claps, hats, claves, etc. So I took a few days to go through all of them, and I deleted all the ones that I knew I wouldn't ever use for various reasons. After that I just put all the good drum samples into their respective folders based on what type of drum the sample is, and now I have around 80 kicks I can just go to that are named stuff like "OldSchool Kick 1" or "Punchy Kick 1", etc.

It makes it much easier for me to get drum beats going this way because everything sounds how I want it because all the sounds I need are right there.

I also went through the many vocal samples I had and did the same to them as I did with my drums. I also did the same with all my saved patches and mixer states and just everything really. Organization is KEY.

I used to also have a template that opens up with all these different routings and instruments already opened and shit, but after a few tries with that I just decided to scrap it because the way I work is just really on the fly shit. I do things differently every time, it just depends on what I want to make. I usually just start by opening up an instrument, fucking with some random parameters, then playing some dumb lead or some shit, and then I build from there.

[mikeyp]

template template template.

designate tracks in the sequencer to certain instruments you always use.
designate channels in the mixer to these same instruments in the same order.
color code these tracks and channels (it helps, trust me)
throw whatever plugins you always use into the mixer so they're ready to go

anything else you ALWAYS find yourself doing in every project, put it in the template. the less clicking and farting around you have to do the easier it'll be to just make some music

[DubMikey]

Great advices guys, thanks. I will definitely be making a template and organize my library, even though that is the most boring part of producing imo.

[wub]

Great advices guys, thanks. I will definitely be making a template and organize my library, even though that is the most boring part of producing imo.

Maybe...but you only have to do it once.

[nowaysj]

plus maybe a spectral analyser on the master.

Put that on "selected channel" that way you can analyze the master, or any other channel you desire.

[DubMikey]

Great advices guys, thanks. I will definitely be making a template and organize my library, even though that is the most boring part of producing imo.

Maybe...but you only have to do it once.

That is true.

[nowaysj]

The workflow in flstudio is SO fast, faster than any other daw I've worked with... just put the pedal to the metal.

[wub]

plus maybe a spectral analyser on the master.

Put that on "selected channel" that way you can analyze the master, or any other channel you desire.

I usually whack it on Master and then mute whatever I don't want going through...FL Notebook (or whatever it's called) usually features on the Master channel too, just so I can use it as a scribble pad for whatever I'm doing/version changes etc. And Edison, gotta have an Edison for capture bouncing.

[nowaysj]

When on a mixer channel, just ctrl-E, you've got an Edison there, I just wish they'd put it last in the chain, it defaults to first in the chain...

[wub]

When on a mixer channel, just ctrl-E, you've got an Edison there, I just wish they'd put it last in the chain, it defaults to first in the chain...

May have to try that, didn't know that shortcut...though I have yet to upgrade from FL8 - is it a later version only feature?

[legend4ry]

When on a mixer channel, just ctrl-E, you've got an Edison there, I just wish they'd put it last in the chain, it defaults to first in the chain...

May have to try that, didn't know that shortcut...though I have yet to upgrade from FL8 - is it a later version only feature?

You're missing out on the lovely new mixer and sequencer; fack knows what its like without it and how I ever had a workflow before it haha!

[nowaysj]

I still use the old mixer. I like to see as many of my tracks at a time. That small mixer is one of fl's main pluses to me. I see these other daws with their big fat mixers, and I'm like what a waste of screen real estate. Fucking fatsos.

Uhm, wub, I'd upgrade man. 10 is pretty frickin awesome. I mean, I pretty much use the app at level 9, but there are a few clutch improvements in 10. Honestly. Small little workflow enhancements, like making an automation clip unique, but still controlling the same parameters, but now instantly allowing you to create variation... just little shits that have been a long time coming. Honestly, I wish fl wasn't so good... I really do. The audio handling is still driving me into the arms of another, but everything else about fl's workflow blows doors on any other daw. People say my daw is so intuitive and easy to use, and then they go through 8 clicks to do something that is just one in fl, and you're like, yeah bro, shit is awesome.

[legend4ry]

Thats like me too - I wished the audio handling was better but the rest is perfect haha.

[Skang]

Out of curiosity, what exactly do you guys find lacking in that department?

[nowaysj]

Two things - Audio off the disk, no ram usage, and higher resolution of audio editing. You just can't zoom in and work like you can in Cubase.

[legend4ry]

Have you ever used Cubase?

You can double click on any kick drum in your sequencer and edit its ADSR - separately! So you can have a more boomy kick in the intro, more punchy in the drop; that goes for every single piece of audio you've layed down.

When you drag a straight audio file to FL - you have to do "work arounds" for things like that and the fine tuning isn't as good as it -should- be, this is 2012, 'could be' doesn't exist anymore! DAWs should be just as good as one another in every aspect but we purchase them for their layouts and our workflow with them.

Thats just the one main reason about the audio in FL.

The timestretching is very very very average. Edison isn't a compromise, its a pain in the arse! All those options should be avail without loading it into a 1 instance sampler.

[nowaysj]

Uh, hey, watch it about edison. I actually really like edison. I find it the quickest standalone audio editor. There are problems, like no autoslice to 1/8ths, only 1/16 and 1/4's, like they've never heard of hip hop... but... edison is fly. But we should have full on multitrack edison in the playlist...

Yeah, I've tried out cubase. Some things awesome (like sample accurate audio editing in the arrange page), most things total and utter shit.

When I'm like 80-90% of the way done with a project in fl, I just run out of ram... EVERY TIME. It is like the app knows I'm close to finishing, and decides to just start shitting on the track... right at that crucial moment. Rendering to audio does not help this, as it is the audio that is sucking up the ram... It would be more efficient to stay in midi in there, but that is just not how I've been working more progressively for the last year/year and a half.

Am seriously considering building an hackintosh and picking up Logic Pro... but I hear that shit is buggy. FL is very NOT buggy. There are a couple of things, but the app is like, really sorted out.