The Fruity Basics
FL Studio can be downloaded HERE.
You can download the demo for free which basically gives you complete access to the program, but you cannot save your projects to come back and edit them later. You can on the other hand export songs you have worked on, if you feel they are final.
I'm going to attempt to give a lesson in using FL Studio a.k.a Fruity Loops. I'm not the best teacher in the world, but I'll try to explain this well enough to help new user produce a song. With that being said let's get done to business. NOTE: I use FL Studio 6 XXL, but I am pretty familiar with FL Studio 4 and 5, so if there is a significant difference then I will specify.
Lesson One: Getting to Know your Program
Open FL Studio (Am I going to fast for you?) Anyway once this is done you should have a screen that looks something like this.
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/fldefaultlayout.png[/img]
[/spoiler]
The menu explains it self pretty much. If I need to go into detail about anything specifically tell me.
Where here's the basic layout of FL:
1) Menu - Everything here basically explains itself.
2) Master Volume and Pitch
3) Transport - Contains(in order from left to right, top to bottom):
Time - Can be change to display Bars, Min/Sec, etc
Oscilloscope - Shows variations in electrical qualities
Peak Meter - Basically shows you how loud the song is
CPU/Poly - To be honest I don't know what this does, so I ignore it =P
Open/Save/Save As/Export - You know what all this does
**View Playlist - Shows playlist
**View Step Sequencer - Shows Step Sequencer
**View Piano Roll - Shows piano roll
**View Browser - Shows browser
**View Mixer - Shows mixer
Pat/Song Selection - Pattern plays only the current pattern your doing, Song plays every thing in the Play
Play - Plays current pattern or song(depending on which is selected)
Stop - Stops current pattern or song
Record - Begins live recording
Tempo - Changes the tempo of the entire project. Change by clicking and moving mouse up or down.
Pattern - Shows what pattern you are currently on. Change by clicking and moving mouse up or down. This can also be changed in the playlist.
(The buttons after these explain themselves, just move your cursor over them and read what they say.)
Snapping - You can change the measures that your notes "snap" to here.
NOTE: Things marked ** I will go into detail in the next lesson.
Lesson Two A: Beginning A Song
I will keep this very basic and general. This is written outside of using templates, just to let you know. If you choose to use template you can find them by going to File>Templates. Also this is just the way I do things, you might have your own way of doing it.
1st - Make a new project.
2nd - Open your browser and sequencer(if they are not already open)
3rd - Once you've done this it's time to experiment with instruments. In your browser your instruments are located in several different folders. Some of the easier ones to find and use would be located in the "Packs" folder so click there(keep in mind their are instruments pretty much all throughout these folders). After opening browser you'll see a series of Sub-Folders named conveniently with what they contain. Depending on version you use there might be different numbers of folders. FL 5 introduced the Sytrus Instruments(which I find very useful) and more folders have been added in FL 6.
Here is where you want to start thinking of what type of things you hear in songs. With RPG music you usually hear a variety of instruments anything orchestral - synth - ambience so these are the things you want to think about when selecting instruments.
When looking for the right sound you can easily sample instruments and sounds by left clicking on them. Some sounds will not play by just left clicking on them. These sounds must be sent to a channel on the sequencer. You can do this by Right Clicking on the intrument and either send it to the selected channel or send it to a new channel.
The red box is a channel. Break down of the channel(In order from left to right):
-Green Light(Mute/Solo) - Is for muting a channel. You can right click and select solo and it will mute all other channels except for the select one.
-Panning Knob - Select which speaker the current channel's notes will play
-Volume Knob - Change volume of the current channel
-Instrument - The current instrument set for the channel
-Green Light(Channel Selector) - The green light indicates that the channel is selected.
-Easy Patternizer - This is best used for Percussion Instruments such as Drums, but you can click the buttons to highlight them and they will play the stand note(unless you change it by using the graphic editor and keyboard editor to the right of the swing bar). Personally I don't use this.
When testing an instrument in the sequencer if you have a Keyboard connected or the "Typing Keyboard to Piano Keyboard" button http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/pkey.png[/img] selected you can hear what the instrument sounds like at different notes by trying different keys.
4th - After you've selected the instruments you want it's time to get into making them play. As said before you can use the Easy Patternizer, but this is what I do personally. Right click on the instrument you want to work with in the sequencer. Then, select piano roll. Once the piano roll is open your imagination comes into play with creating a parttern.
Once here you will need to think of a sound, you can still test out different sounds by using your keys, but this time you will see the note that is being played on the piano roll. You can even make your patterns like this if you choose to. After you've thought up a sound it's time to place your notes on the piano roll, but before placing anything on the piano roll it is advised that you turn your snapping to "Line" if it isn't already set on Line. This will make the snapping fit the loop time frames. Once you're ready select the drawing(pencil) or paint(brush) tool in the top left of the Piano Roll window.
Place a note by left clicking in the grid. If you go to the end of the note you can stretch/shrink it for dragging/cutting out the sound of the instruments.
Keep in mind that you can change the Tempo in order to get different looping time frames. As far as notes go you can try combos with other notes and changing the velocity(how hard it "hits") to produce different effects.
Continue doing this with the rest of your instruments. It is suggested that you switch patterns when switch the instrument you're working with.
5th - Once you finally got all the patterns you want, it's time to put them in a playlist. Open your play list. Once its open you can click on different patterns and it will show you each pattern in the sequencer. When browsing through your patterns on your play list it is best to name them something that helps you remember the instrument(s) that particular pattern holds. You can rename a pattern by Right Clicking on that pattern(FL 6 user just select the pattern and push F2, but clicking will show you different options)
Basically, the the playlist is just the order you want the pattern to play in. It's how you adjust your song.
Once you got your song in proper order switch the Pat/Song selector to song to listen to the entire thing played through the playlist. Once you're satisfied with your song goto File>Export and export your song.
[/spoiler]
NOTE:
In part two I'll cover some customizing skills(FX, generators, soundfonts, etc), but right now I don't really feel like typing this anymore.
Add on to this if you feel the need to.
If you want some samples of what I've done with FL:
http://19tre.com/music/ea/Temple_of_the_Scrolls.mp3
http://19tre.com/music/ea/Loyalty_To_The_State.mp3
http://19tre.com/music/ea/Blood_on_my_Blade.mp3
FL Studio can be downloaded HERE.
You can download the demo for free which basically gives you complete access to the program, but you cannot save your projects to come back and edit them later. You can on the other hand export songs you have worked on, if you feel they are final.
I'm going to attempt to give a lesson in using FL Studio a.k.a Fruity Loops. I'm not the best teacher in the world, but I'll try to explain this well enough to help new user produce a song. With that being said let's get done to business. NOTE: I use FL Studio 6 XXL, but I am pretty familiar with FL Studio 4 and 5, so if there is a significant difference then I will specify.
Lesson One: Getting to Know your Program
Open FL Studio (Am I going to fast for you?) Anyway once this is done you should have a screen that looks something like this.
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/fldefaultlayout.png[/img]
[/spoiler]
The menu explains it self pretty much. If I need to go into detail about anything specifically tell me.
Where here's the basic layout of FL:
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/cpanal.png[/img]
2) Master Volume and Pitch
3) Transport - Contains(in order from left to right, top to bottom):
Time - Can be change to display Bars, Min/Sec, etc
Oscilloscope - Shows variations in electrical qualities
Peak Meter - Basically shows you how loud the song is
CPU/Poly - To be honest I don't know what this does, so I ignore it =P
Open/Save/Save As/Export - You know what all this does
**View Playlist - Shows playlist
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/playlist.png[/img]
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/ss.png[/img]
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/proll.png[/img]
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/brows.png[/img]
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/mixer.png[/img]
Play - Plays current pattern or song(depending on which is selected)
Stop - Stops current pattern or song
Record - Begins live recording
Tempo - Changes the tempo of the entire project. Change by clicking and moving mouse up or down.
Pattern - Shows what pattern you are currently on. Change by clicking and moving mouse up or down. This can also be changed in the playlist.
(The buttons after these explain themselves, just move your cursor over them and read what they say.)
Snapping - You can change the measures that your notes "snap" to here.
NOTE: Things marked ** I will go into detail in the next lesson.
Lesson Two A: Beginning A Song
I will keep this very basic and general. This is written outside of using templates, just to let you know. If you choose to use template you can find them by going to File>Templates. Also this is just the way I do things, you might have your own way of doing it.
1st - Make a new project.
2nd - Open your browser and sequencer(if they are not already open)
3rd - Once you've done this it's time to experiment with instruments. In your browser your instruments are located in several different folders. Some of the easier ones to find and use would be located in the "Packs" folder so click there(keep in mind their are instruments pretty much all throughout these folders). After opening browser you'll see a series of Sub-Folders named conveniently with what they contain. Depending on version you use there might be different numbers of folders. FL 5 introduced the Sytrus Instruments(which I find very useful) and more folders have been added in FL 6.
Here is where you want to start thinking of what type of things you hear in songs. With RPG music you usually hear a variety of instruments anything orchestral - synth - ambience so these are the things you want to think about when selecting instruments.
When looking for the right sound you can easily sample instruments and sounds by left clicking on them. Some sounds will not play by just left clicking on them. These sounds must be sent to a channel on the sequencer. You can do this by Right Clicking on the intrument and either send it to the selected channel or send it to a new channel.
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/channel.png[/img]
-Green Light(Mute/Solo) - Is for muting a channel. You can right click and select solo and it will mute all other channels except for the select one.
-Panning Knob - Select which speaker the current channel's notes will play
-Volume Knob - Change volume of the current channel
-Instrument - The current instrument set for the channel
-Green Light(Channel Selector) - The green light indicates that the channel is selected.
-Easy Patternizer - This is best used for Percussion Instruments such as Drums, but you can click the buttons to highlight them and they will play the stand note(unless you change it by using the graphic editor and keyboard editor to the right of the swing bar). Personally I don't use this.
When testing an instrument in the sequencer if you have a Keyboard connected or the "Typing Keyboard to Piano Keyboard" button http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/pkey.png[/img] selected you can hear what the instrument sounds like at different notes by trying different keys.
4th - After you've selected the instruments you want it's time to get into making them play. As said before you can use the Easy Patternizer, but this is what I do personally. Right click on the instrument you want to work with in the sequencer. Then, select piano roll. Once the piano roll is open your imagination comes into play with creating a parttern.
Once here you will need to think of a sound, you can still test out different sounds by using your keys, but this time you will see the note that is being played on the piano roll. You can even make your patterns like this if you choose to. After you've thought up a sound it's time to place your notes on the piano roll, but before placing anything on the piano roll it is advised that you turn your snapping to "Line" if it isn't already set on Line. This will make the snapping fit the loop time frames. Once you're ready select the drawing(pencil) or paint(brush) tool in the top left of the Piano Roll window.
Place a note by left clicking in the grid. If you go to the end of the note you can stretch/shrink it for dragging/cutting out the sound of the instruments.
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/note.png[/img]
Continue doing this with the rest of your instruments. It is suggested that you switch patterns when switch the instrument you're working with.
5th - Once you finally got all the patterns you want, it's time to put them in a playlist. Open your play list. Once its open you can click on different patterns and it will show you each pattern in the sequencer. When browsing through your patterns on your play list it is best to name them something that helps you remember the instrument(s) that particular pattern holds. You can rename a pattern by Right Clicking on that pattern(FL 6 user just select the pattern and push F2, but clicking will show you different options)
Basically, the the playlist is just the order you want the pattern to play in. It's how you adjust your song.
http://www.gpp-9mm.com/fltut/makingpl.png[/img]
[/spoiler]
NOTE:
In part two I'll cover some customizing skills(FX, generators, soundfonts, etc), but right now I don't really feel like typing this anymore.
Add on to this if you feel the need to.
If you want some samples of what I've done with FL:
http://19tre.com/music/ea/Temple_of_the_Scrolls.mp3
http://19tre.com/music/ea/Loyalty_To_The_State.mp3
http://19tre.com/music/ea/Blood_on_my_Blade.mp3
