Composing

[econolyne]

I am still evaluating my copy of FL Studio.


I am trying to compose a song 3:00+, but was wondering how to mix it together correctly. I only can create groups of channels making boring loops, and I am new to the software.

Basically i was wondering if anyone new a tutorial on how to mix together parts of a song, and cue them at times (ie 2:13) so they can come in.


Help is apreciated.

[hydrohponic]

Not sure if this is what you mean, but here goes...

FL is, above all, two things: loop composer and sequencer. It sounds like you've got the composer figured out, i.e. building patterns (a.k.a. loops), now onto the fun part: sequencing (a.k.a. arranging).

I'm not sure what version you're using, I use version FL Studio Producer 4. In the top right corner, you'll find a button that says PL...this stands for playlist.

The idea is to take your patterns now and arrange them how you'd like them to trigger within the song. VERY basic example: Say you've got a drum track for your first pattern, bass as a second pattern, and synth as a third pattern. If you arranged sixteen consecutive drum patterns, you'd have sixteen bars of drums (assuming your drum loop is 4 beats long). Click on the grid corresponding to Pattern 2 to add your bass loop, say, after the first four bars, for a total of 12 bars of Bass, then do the same with your synth after 8 bars, for a total of 8 bars of synth.

Now under the play button up top, click "song" instead of "pattern," and voila! Your whole tune will play.

I hope this helps. For more details, there's a great tutorial at spinwarp.com. The focus mainly on Drum and Bass, which is what I focus on as well, but the techniques apply to any style of music, really. ;)

[mikistrange]

www.computermusic.co.uk has some really good FruityLoops and FL Studio tutorials. It might be worth a try.

[BubbaFreaktree2]

the manual is downloadable and printable. basically what you need to do is create a bunch of patterns, and then chain them together in different combinations.

recording audio like real vocals and stuff is kind of clunky compared to a regular DAW. but it can be done. I haven't done it yet, but I'll get around to learning it.

i think the program is really cool and has a lot of brilliant work-flow ideas. what they need to do next is get a better situation on live audio recording/mixing and more robust asio support for multiple outputs and inputs. it's clunky the way they assign inputs and outputs right now.

but what happens with most programs is the "grow up" and add features over time. I love the core "idea" of FL.