The FL Studio Q&A Thread

[mthrfnk]

All my mixer faders usually remain relatively flat.

I used to leave them flat too and only focus on the input, but with my new workflow I've just gotten used to fking with the mixer faders instead.
Makes my mixer look pro, too

You want your faders to be as close to unity gain as possible. Get the gain right for each stage of your audio processing and your mixer faders shouldn't be all over the place.

This is an example of decent looking gain structure, according to audio tutsplus:

I know that you get a few shit tutorials on that site, but most of what they say is on point.

What is the reasoning behind not movin the mixer faders much? As I see it, it shouldnt do any difference than adjusting the input to the mixer

Ok what the fuck have I clicked? I used to be able to click samples on the left and FL would cut the sample - so I could have a vocal sample and drag back the left edge to say cut off all but the first phrase of the vocal. However now instead it just time stretches the samples? Help

Uncheck 'stretch' in the upper left corner of the playlist, in the audio clip section

Ah fucking great, never even knew that existed, thanks

On the subject of mixer faders - I normally alter them not sample volume. Kind of got into the habit when I started, I didn't realise it would be any sort of problem.

[nowaysj]

You can do that, but actually, it is kind of a problem. I'd endeavor to break the habit. Your mixes will get better, promised.

[mthrfnk]

You can do that, but actually, it is kind of a problem. I'd endeavor to break the habit. Your mixes will get better, promised.

I'll start a new track and give it a try. How would I go about avoiding the problem whereby an effects plugin dramatically boosts the volume though - for example if I used a really aggressive saturator, would it be okay to then use the mixer slider by a large amount?

[mthrfnk]

Also is there a quick way to reset all the mixer sliders to 0, so I could try remixing a track by altering source volumes?

[nowaysj]

Well most plugins have an output gain control. If for some reason they don't, use fruity balance to bring the signal back to a reasonable level.

As far as resetting all the mixer faders... I bet you can do that, I just don't know what that is. You can right click each one and click reset. Should only have to do it 40 times or so

[mthrfnk]

Well most plugins have an output gain control. If for some reason they don't, use fruity balance to bring the signal back to a reasonable level.

As far as resetting all the mixer faders... I bet you can do that, I just don't know what that is. You can right click each one and click reset. Should only have to do it 40 times or so

Okay cool. I better get clicking

[mthrfnk]

So I just remixed my 48hour competition track, still had to use the mixers understadably. When it came to "mastering" it did sound slightly clearer - could be a placebo effect? Gonna spend a good while A/Bing my original vs this remixed one.

[nowaysj]

If and when u do use the mixer faders youll have better resolution, meaning you can make finer adjustments to relative volumes. Pretty key.

[mthrfnk]

If and when u do use the mixer faders youll have better resolution, meaning you can make finer adjustments to relative volumes. Pretty key.

Thanks for your help. I'll definitely work this way from now, as for my track I think the mix is definitely better - however it's quite hard to judge (I'm on headphones and the track uses quite a few simultaneously synths - so there's "a lot to listen to" at once, if that makes sense), hopefully people like it in the 48hr comp . I'll continue A/Bing it tomorrow when I can use my speakers.

[didi]

What is the reasoning behind not movin the mixer faders much? As I see it, it shouldnt do any difference than adjusting the input to the mixer

It isn't too inherently bad, but it suggests that the gain structuring is poor, that you might be lowering things in one place only to turn them up at the mixer.

Plus you might be internally clipping some plugins if you're not careful. The processors and effects come pre fader and pre meter on the mixer.

You're mixes are also more repeatable. If when you insert a new channel you set the gain right at the input stage, by the time you get to the mixing stage you will have less to do, and you have better control due to finer fader resolution near unity gain (try turning your snare down half a db at unity, and try doing that once you've already lowered it 12db).

EDIT: Didn't see nowaysj's responses. He's got it spot on imo.

[Augment]

Yeah, I kind of understand, but I always mix as I'm putting on effects and stuff + I rarely turn it down more than 6db or so, so that's why I cant see the prob with it

[mthrfnk]

Yeah, I kind of understand, but I always mix as I'm putting on effects and stuff + I rarely turn it down more than 6db or so, so that's why I cant see the prob with it

This is exactly what I did before, but in all honestly by altering source volumes and then mixing the faders minimally once the track is almost done actually did sound slightly cleaner for my latest track as I posted above. I'm not an amazing producer and the track probably still sounds a bit shit, but I do think it sounds better.

[webstarr]

If I have a pattern on a playlist track and choose the "lock to content" option on said track, how come it still lets me add other patterns to the same track despite it being locked? Should this happen

[Niketin]

I have this really annoying problem: When I export my track from FL to wav or mp3, the finished export's pitch and tempo sometimes changes a little. What could be causing this?
Thanks!

[Alissio]

I have this really annoying problem: When I export my track from FL to wav or mp3, the finished export's pitch and tempo sometimes changes a little. What could be causing this?
Thanks!

This has happened to the best of us. It has happened to me many times, the project sounds perfect and crisp, mastering is beautiful, then you export it and WTF!? sounds like shit. There is a couple things you can do. You might need to upgrade your speakers to get a better output. Check the export settings. Look at the FL studio manual online to get the best quality while exporting. There is also the possibility that you are producing with the ASIO drivers setting. Then when you export, your computer reads the audio as the primary sound driver, changing the audio quality. You might want to throw a limiter on your mastering to even out all the frequencies. There is also the possibility that the effects you use on synths and the main mastering channel are not configured to your computer or the project itself. If worse comes to worse you are going to have to produce the track you are working on differently in the project so that it comes out sounding crisp when exporting. What I am saying is it is going to sound like shit when producing, but when you export it, it sounds good. (you have to export a couple times to get it right). Hope this helps, I myself am still learning about getting the best quality. These are just a few things that helped me.

[ljk32]

This isn't too much of a problem, but does anyone have a solution to this:
Basically, when I make an automation clip, using the output volume fader, so it builds up, or fades down, or does something, but then I think that in general, the synth,effect, vocal, etc, is too loud, is there anyway, to simply lower the fader, and make all the points in the automation clip lower by this amount? It would save a lot of time. I hope this makes sense, I explained it like a retard.

[Eridu]

This isn't too much of a problem, but does anyone have a solution to this:
Basically, when I make an automation clip, using the output volume fader, so it builds up, or fades down, or does something, but then I think that in general, the synth,effect, vocal, etc, is too loud, is there anyway, to simply lower the fader, and make all the points in the automation clip lower by this amount? It would save a lot of time. I hope this makes sense, I explained it like a retard.

you have the min and max knob in the auto clip settings. I think that`s what you are looking for.

[ljk32]

Thanks a lot, but how do you actually adjust it so that the output mixer gain controls every point on the automation clip?

[Eridu]

Thanks a lot, but how do you actually adjust it so that the output mixer gain controls every point on the automation clip?

I seriously gave your post a good 2 or 3 minutes of hard thinking and I think I know what you want...you can do this by placing something that will control the volume on the insert chain and then automate that. Then when you raise or lower the volume on the fader you will get the effect you are looking for. Fruity panomatic has a volume control knob that you can automate.

Was I right?

[didi]

Thanks a lot, but how do you actually adjust it so that the output mixer gain controls every point on the automation clip?

As above.

Although if you just want to change the volume, a simple gain plugin should be better for your CPU than a parametric eq.

This is a good free one: http://www.gvst.co.uk/ggain.htm