FL Studio - Complete Beginner Basics Tutorial

Michael introduces FL Studio 20 complete beginners guide, emphasizing that the software will be simplified to help viewers understand the basics and start making music without worrying about the complexity.

• File menu is where you open projects, save projects, and export MP3 and wave files • MIDI settings, audio settings, and general settings allow you to configure your sound card and MIDI controller • Master volume and master pitch controls are at the top and should be left at their default positions

Play, pause, stop, record buttons and tempo adjustment are available in the transport controls section. Tempo can be changed by clicking and dragging, typing a value, or choosing a preset value.

Hovering over elements displays helpful guides at the top left. Recording and editing options are located in the transport area, with keyboard-to-piano conversion available.

The pattern selector allows you to build patterns and then arrange them into songs. This is accessed through buttons that control which windows are visible in FL Studio.

• Browser contains all samples, instruments, and files stored on your computer • Channel rack displays samples and instruments chosen for the project and is where patterns are created • Playlist is where patterns are arranged and composed into a complete song • Mixer routes all audio through inserts and the master channel • Piano roll sequences chords and melodies with detailed MIDI control

Audio flows from the browser through the channel rack where patterns are built, then patterns are arranged in the playlist, and finally all audio is sent through the mixer to the master output.

Set the channel rack to detach mode at the bottom so it remains visible when switching to other panels, preventing it from disappearing when the playlist is selected.

FL Studio loads with four default samples (kick through snare). Additional samples can be found in the browser under packs and drums folders, then dragged onto the channel rack to include them in your project.

• Left click on a sample to open the wrapper, which shows information about the sample • Panning dial controls left-right placement of the sample • Volume dial controls the sample's loudness • Mixer track dropdown determines which mixer insert the sample is routed to

Right clicking on any button or dial opens an options menu where you can reset values, copy values, or access other helpful functions.

Virtual instruments like synths or VST plugins can be added by clicking a button in the channel rack, allowing you to use software instruments in addition to samples.

Create a new pattern by pressing the plus icon in the pattern selector, name it (kick), and assign it a color to stay organized. Color the kick sample to match the pattern for visual consistency.

• The step sequencer shows the beats and steps in a bar • Left click to add a step, right click to delete a step • Left click and drag or right click and drag to add or delete multiple steps • Create a four-on-the-floor rhythm by selecting every beat

Press play in pattern mode to hear the pattern loop continuously. The audio is routed to insert one in the mixer and then to the master channel.

Open the graph editor to adjust parameters like kick pitch (higher or lower) and velocity (how hard the kick hits) for more dynamic control over the sound.

• Draw tool adds individual pattern blocks • Paint tool fills patterns across multiple bars • Delete tool removes patterns • Mute and slice tools provide additional editing options

Left click to add patterns and right click to remove them. You can use the brush tool to paint patterns across multiple bars for efficient arrangement.

It is good practice to keep one sound on one track for organization. Rename and color-code tracks to match their content patterns, creating a visual and organizational system.

Press Ctrl+Z to undo any changes made on the playlist, allowing you to experiment without fear of losing work.

Add snare and high hat samples to a new pattern by creating a fresh pattern, adding multiple drum elements to the same pattern, and then arranging them on the playlist starting from bar two.

• Add snare on specific beats for rhythm definition • Fill high hat steps to create continuous hi-hat patterns • Color-code each drum element for visual organization • Arrange the complete drum pattern starting after the initial kick pattern

Pattern mode plays only the selected pattern, while song mode plays the entire playlist from top to bottom, allowing you to hear all patterns together as a complete arrangement.

Right click on tracks and select 'group with above track' or press G to group related drums together. Use 'auto color the group' to automatically color-code grouped tracks for better organization.

Right click on any sample in the channel rack and select 'piano roll' to open a detailed MIDI editor that provides fine control over notes and timing.

• MIDI notes represent virtual keyboard input controlling samples or instruments • Repitch samples by changing note values up or down • Adjust velocity (how hard notes are struck) for dynamic expression • Control fine details like panning and pitch modulation

Zoom in on any panel by scrolling at the top. Adjust note timing off-grid for natural feel. Add additional notes and samples that aren't available through the channel rack step sequencer.

Use the piano roll to create effects like pitching down high hats at the end of phrases to add musical interest and dynamics to your patterns.

Click the add VST button in the channel rack and select a virtual instrument like GMS, a built-in FL Studio synth, to create melodic and harmonic content.

• Create a new pattern for your synth (e.g., bass pattern) • Open the piano roll to select specific notes • Lengthen notes by dragging to set note duration • Arrange and slice notes to create your desired melody

When loading new instruments, immediately rename them and assign colors to stay organized. Send each new instrument to a dedicated mixer track to avoid overwhelming complexity.

Once a synth pattern is created in the piano roll, place it directly onto the playlist to include it in your song arrangement.

Open the mixer by clicking the mixer button in the main toolbar or pressing F9. Set it to detached mode to keep it visible while working on other panels.

The mixer is where you add effects and sound design to your audio. Sounds from patterns are sent to individual mixer inserts where they can be processed before reaching the master output.

• Panning dial sends audio left or right in the stereo field • Volume fader controls the loudness of each track • Polarity and channel swap options for advanced routing • Stereo separation dial makes sounds wider or thinner

Right click on any insert to rename it and assign colors. This keeps your mixer organized and allows you to quickly identify which insert contains which instrument or drum element.

Each mixer insert has multiple effect slots where you can load processors like equalizers and reverbs to shape and manipulate your sounds.

• Audio flows from samples or instruments into the insert • Audio passes through all effect slots in sequence • Panning and volume processing occurs after effects • Each track is finally sent to the master channel

Using separate mixer tracks for each sound allows you to apply different effects to each element. For example, you might want reverb on a snare but not on the kick drum or bass.

Separating sounds onto different mixer channels enables proper mixing and mastering by giving you individual control over volume, panning, and effects for each element of your song.

As you create more patterns, they appear in the pattern picker sidebar, allowing you to quickly select, modify, and drag patterns into your playlist.

• Select patterns from the pattern picker sidebar • Modify patterns in the channel rack • Drag patterns directly from the picker into the playlist • Reuse patterns throughout your song

The pattern picker becomes increasingly useful as your project grows with more drum, bass, and melodic patterns. It keeps frequently used patterns easily accessible.

By managing multiple patterns through the picker and arranging them on the playlist, you can efficiently build complete songs with varied sections.

Go to the file menu, select 'save as', and choose a folder location on your computer to save your FL Studio project file for future editing.

• Go to file menu and select export • Choose between wave file or MP3 format for your final song • Select a destination folder for the exported file • Configure export settings in the export dialog box

An export dialog box appears with detailed settings. A separate video tutorial in the description explains all export settings in detail for optimal audio quality.

Press start in the export dialog to process and export your completed song as an audio file ready for sharing or further distribution.

• Browser stores all samples and instruments available to your project • Channel rack holds project samples with MIDI automation and pattern information • Playlist arranges patterns into a complete song structure • Mixer applies effects and processing to final audio output

The best way to master FL Studio is to spend time experimenting, staying open to new suggestions and ideas, learning shortcut keys gradually, and building confidence in the software's capabilities.

Additional videos in the description cover workflow tips and project templates to accelerate your learning. Explore these resources to find information that matches your interests and learning pace.

If you have questions or comments about FL Studio, leave them in the comments section for personalized help getting up and running with the software.