11/3/2017 ChannelRack&StepSequencer

CHANNELRACK

ChannelRack&StepSequencery
TheChannelRackholdsinstrumentsthatcreatesoundandinternalgeneratorsthatcontrolautomation.Everypatternhas
accesstoallinstrumentsintherack.Inotherwords,allpatternsplayfromthesamesetofinstruments.Patternsarenot
limitedtoasingleinstrumentastheyareinmostothersequencers.MusicdatacancomeintheformofStepsequencesand
Pianorollscores.

ThereisoneChannelbuttonperinstrument.TheaudiofromeachChannelissenttooneoftheMixerTracksforeffects
processingandlevelmixing.WhenInstrumentChannelsareaddedorremovedfromtheprojecttheheightoftheChannelRack
willchangedynamically.TheChannelbuttonsalsoaccessInstrumentChannelSettings(whereaMixertrackisset)orthe
associatedPianoroll.TheStepSequencer,( VideoHere )isapatternbasedgridsequenceridealforcreatingdrum
loopsandsimplemelodies.

ThenoteandautomationdatavisibleacrossallChannelsisknownasa'pattern'.PatternsincludePianoroll,StepSequencer
andAutomationdata.SwitchbetweenpatternsusingthePatternselector(15)shownbelow.Asthepatternnumberis
changed,notehowthepatterndatavisibleintheChannelRackalsochanges,reflectingtheselectedpattern.Patternsare
designedtobearrangedinthePlaylistasPatternClipstocreateasong.

Overview
EachrowofcontrolsintheChannelRackbelongstoasingleChannelinstrument.Fromlefttorightare:Mute,Pan,Volume,
MixerTrackdestination,Channelbutton(clickthistoopentheinstrumentinterface),ChannelSelector(outerborder)/Activity
indicator(innerregion)andStepSequencerbuttonsorPianorollpreview(toprowbelow),dependingonhowtheChannelhas
beenconfigured.

NOTE:WhenOptions>Generalsettings>Autoselectlinkedmodulesis:

ON:Use( Alt+LeftClick)toopenpluginswithoutclosingthecurrentlyopenplugin.

OFF:ChannelbuttonsopenpluginsforeditingandtheChannelselectorLEDsselectChannelsforliveMIDIcontrol.This
allowsyoutoplayoneinstrumentChannelliveandeditanother.

1.ChannelOptionsMenu
NOTE:TheChannelOptionsMenuswappedplaceswiththePatternMenuatFLStudio12.

AddoneContainsalistofallInstrumentsselectedasfavorites.Choosingainstrumentfromthismenuwilladdasingle
instanceofitatthebottomoftheChannelRack&StepSequencerwindow.
ClickMoreplugins...toopentheSelectpluginwindow,thatcontainsalistofallinstrumentspresentinFLStudio
(includingNativeandVST)whichcanbeusedasfollows:

ToopenaChannelcontainingapluginDoubleclicktheinstrumentname.

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Tomarkaninstrumentasa'favorite'Clickthecheckboxprecedingtheinstrumentname(allplugins
precededbyacheckmarkwillappearinthefavoriteslist).

ToaddnewlyinstalledpluginstothislistClickManagepluginsatthebottomofthewindowtoopenthe
PluginManager.Werecommendselecting'Verifyplugins'beforeyou'Startscan'.Afterthescaniscomplete,
yournewpluginswillbelistedinthe'Selectplugin'window.

NOTE:SeetheBrowser'UsingBrowsercontent'sectionforalternative(faster)waystoloadplugins.

Cloneselected( Alt+C)InsertsacloneofeachselectedChannelintheStepSequencerrightafterit.Theclone
retainstheinstrumenttypeoftheoriginal,aswellasallofitssettings,butdoesnotcontainitsnotesandevents.

Deleteselected( Alt+Del)RemovesallselectedChannelsintheStepSequencer.

Moveselectedup( Alt+Uparrow)MovesselectedChannel/soneslotup.

Moveselecteddown( Alt+Downarrow)MovesselectedChannel/soneslotdown.

SortbyReorderChannels:

ColorChannelsaresortedRed(top)throughGreen,Blue,IndigotoViolet(bottom).

NameAlphabeticallysortedbyChannelname.

TracknumberOrderwillbeMixertrack1toMax.GeneratorandLayerChannelswillbesortedtothetop.

Groupselected( Alt+G)AddsallselectedChannelstoagroup(apopupwindowdisplaystoenterthenameofthe
group).Ifagroupwiththenameyouspecifieddoesn'texist,itwillbeautomaticallycreated.Formoreinformationon
ChannelgroupingseetheChannelFilteringsectionintheStepSequencerpage.

ColorselectedProvidesseveraloptionsforcoloringChannelbuttons.Usefulforgroupinginstrumenttypes/sections.

GradientOpensadialogforselectingstartandendcolors.AllselectedChannelswillbecoloredinsequence
fromthestarttoendpointsinthecolorspaceselected.

RandomColorsChannelsrandomly.Thisfunctioncontainssomerulesoncoloringsoitwon'tlookasbadas
youmightexpect.

Zipselected( Alt+Z)TurnsallselectedChannelsintheStepSequencerintocompactviewmode.Rightclickthe
buttonofazippedChanneltounzipit.

Unzipall( Alt+U)UnzipsallChannelsintheStepSequencer.

Restretchall( Ctrl+Alt+R)Activeonlywhentempoautomationisused.Whenthetempoisautomatedtheauto
restretchfeatureisdisabledasitisnotarealtimeprocess.Thisfeatureallowsyoutoadjustthetempomanuallyand
forcearestretch.

AutoresizeSettheheightoftheChannelRackto:

OffHeightstayswhereitwasset.

MinimumheightHeightadjuststotheminimumnecessarytoshowallChannels.

MaximumheightHeightadjuststothetomaximumheightbasedontheverticalspace.

ChannelbuttonwidthChoosefrompresetButtonwidths(100%to400%).

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FocusselectedchannelonplaybackTheselectedChannel,orhighestselectedChannelscrollsverticallytoensure
it'svisibleontransportevents(Start/Stop).

MuteremovedstepsWhenselectedtheeventdata(volume,panetc)associatedwithstepsispreservedsosettings
arenotlostwhenexperimentingwithdifferentsteppatterns.Thatis,thePianorollnotesassociatedwiththestepsare
actuallymutedratherthandeleted.DeactivatedstepsshowinthePianorollasmutednotes.Whendeselectedtheevent
dataisdiscardedandunderlyingnotesinthePianorollaredeleted.

Showmixertrackselectors( Alt+M)ClickanddragverticallytoassigntheMixertracktheChannelisroutedto.

DetachedDetachtheChannelRackfromtheFLStudiodesktop.

2.ChannelFilterGroups
AsprojectsgrowinsizeandthenumberofChannelsincreases,findingtherightChannelcanbecomeatediousprocess.To
optimizeworkflow,combineseveralChannelsinagroupandsettheStepSequencertodisplayonlythatspecificgroupof
Channels(forexamplepercussiongrouporleadsynthgroup).UsetheChannelDisplayFiltercontrol( 2 )tochoosewhich
Channelsshouldbevisible.LeftclicktoopentheChannelfiltermenu.Selecting'All'willshowallChannelsatonce,regardless
ofwhethertheyarepartofagrouporareunassigned.Selecting'Unsorted'displaysonlytheunassignedChannels.Ifyouhave
madeanyChannelgroups,youcanselectthemfordisplayfromthismenu.

ChannelDisplayFilter( PageDown fornextgroup PageUpforpreviousgroup)Allowsyoutosetthegroupof

ChannelstoshowintheStepSequencer(seetheChannelFilterGroupssectionbelowformoreinformation)

OtherChannelfiltergroupactionsinclude:

AddanemptygroupRightclickChannelDisplayFilter( 2 )andselectAddFilterGroup.

Rename/DeletegroupSelectagroupandRightclickChannelDisplayFilter( 2 )todisplaycommandsfor
renaminganddeletinggroups(NOTE:DeletingagroupsetsincludedChannelsasunassignedanddoesnotdeletethe
Channels).

AddselectedChannelstoanewgroupUsetheGroupSelectedcommandfromtheChannelOptionsMenu.

AddasingleChanneltoanexistinggroupSelectthedesiredgroupandaddanewChanneltotheChannelRack.All
newChannelswillbeinsertedintothecurrentlyselectedgroup.

MoveaChanneltoadifferentgroupSelecttheChannel/sandusetheGroupSelectedcommandfromtheChannel
OptionsMenu,andenterthenameofanexistinggroup.

3.GlobalSwing
SwingSlidetotherighttoadda'swing'rhythmtoSteps.InthecaseoftheStepsequencer,swingaffectsthelengthofoddvs
evensteps.If4beatsperbarareset,'swing'holdsodd16thnotes(1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15)attheexpenseofeven16thnotes
(2,4,6,8,10,12and16)inthebar.Thecontroldeterminestheamountofswing.NOTE:EachChannelhasaSwingMultiplerknob
underthe'Time'section.Thisallowsyoutosetperchannelswingrelativetotheglobalsetting.

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4.Step/PianorollView
TheStepsequenceroverlaysthePianorollandsoswitchingtothismodeallowsyoutoeditstepsequencesinPianorollmode,so
longasyourespectthenotelength(zerolength)andpositioning(onbeat)layout.NOTE:TheChannelRackMenu>Mute
removedstepsoptionwillpreservenoteeventdata(volume,panetc)associatedwithstepssosettingsarenotlostwhen
experimentingwithdifferentsteppatterns.DeactivatedstepswillshowinthePianorollasmutednotes.Whendeselectedthe
eventdataisdiscardedandnomutednotespreservedinthePianoroll.

IfyouwouldliketoconvertaPianorolltoStepmodeagain,youneednotesofzerolength.Selectallnotes,setSnapto'none'
andDiscardnotelengths( Shift+D).

5&6.Pan&Volume
TheseknobscontrolthePanandVolumeoftheChannelpremixerandsocanbeusedasPreFaderLevel(PFL)controls.You
canchoosetoadjustPanandVolumehereANDORintheMixer.Whatyoudodependsontheworkflowthatsuitsyoubestand
howthepluginrespondstothesecontrols.NOTE:ThePanandVolumecontrolsaresentdirectlytotheplugin,ratherthanacting
ontheoutputaudio,sohowtheyareinterpretedwilldependontheplugin,asdiscussedbelow:

5.ChannelPanningUsetosettheChannelpanning.Thisispaninformationsenttotheplugin,sowhatthisdoeswill
dependentirelyonthepluginloadedintheChannel.Allnativepluginswillpan,someVSTpluginswon'trespondtothis
parameter.NormallyyouwouldusetheMixertrackPancontrols.

6.ChannelVolumeUsetoadjusttheChannelvolume.Levels:SamplesloadedintotheChannelSamplerwillbeset
to5dB(79%)oftheiroriginalleveltoallowheadroomforthepatternsequencertoavoidclipping,setvolumeto100%
torestoretheoriginallevel.Audioclipswillplayat100%theiroriginallevel.ChannelVolumefornativepluginsaffects
notevoicevolumedirectly.ForVSTpluginsit'slikelytoaffectoverallpluginoutputlevel.Ifthiscontrolisnotworkingas
expected,usetheMixertrackLevelFader.

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7.ChannelButton
TheChannelButtonDisplaystheChannelname(usuallythenameoftheinstrument).LeftandRightclickingprovidesthe
followingfunctions:

LeftclickOpens/ClosestheChannelSettingswindowANDplugininterface(ifapplicable).NOTES:Tokeeptheplugin
interfaceopenwhenanotherChannelisopened,FIRSTclosetheChannelSettingswindowbeforeopeningthenext
ChannelORfromtheGeneralSettingspaneldeselectAutoselectlinkedmodules.When'Autoselectlinkedmodules'
isOFFChannelbuttonsopenpluginsforeditingandtheChannelselectorLEDsselectChannelsforliveMIDIcontrol.This
allowsyoutoplayoneinstrumentChannelliveandeditanother.

Ctrl+LeftclickPreviewChannelsoundwithoutopeningtheinstrument.

Rightclick,ChannelOperationsMenuDisplaysthefollowingoptions:

PianorollOpensthePianorollfortheChannel.Noticehowstepdataisopened,alignedwiththegridandset
totheminimumnotelength.ThisishowthePianorollrecognizesstepevents.YoucanusetheEdit>Discard
notelengths( Shift+D)+Quantize( Shift+Q),ifnecessary,toreturnanynotedatatostepformat.

Rename,recolorandicon...Opensthecombinationcontrolforthesefunctions.Renameorrecolorthe
Channel.ClickontheChannelnameandtypetorename,orLeftclickonthecolorsquare(shownbelow)to
opentherecolordialogorRightclicktorandomlyassignacolorfromapalettepreapprovedbytheImage
LineAestheticsCommittee.Oncethenamedialogisopen,press( F2 )torandomlyselectcolorsOR( F3 )to
selectthelastusedcolor:

NOTE:ToGradientColorChannelsmakeaselectionbyleftclickinganddraggingdownontheChannel
Selectors( 8 )andselectfromtheChannelOptionsMenuChannels>Colorselected>Gradient

ChangecolorChooseacolordirectlyfromtheselector.

ChangeiconChooseanicondirectlyfromtheselector.NOTE:Middleclickonexistingiconstodirectlyopen
theiconmenu.

LoadSampleIftheChannelacceptssamplesthiswillallowyoutoloadfromafileBrowsermenu.

CutitselfCutsthesoundofpreviousnotesintheChannelwhennewonestarts.Note:UsetheChannel
Settings>MISC>Cut/Cutbysettingstosetupcutgroups.ThisallowsyoutocutanyChannelwithanyother/s.

InsertInsertanewChannelbeforetheselectedonefromtheFavoriteslist.

ReplaceReplacesthecurrentgeneratorwithanewonefromtheFavoriteslist.

CloneMakesacopyofthecurrentChannelincludingsettingsandgeneratortype.

DeleteDeletestheselectedChannel.

Cut/Copy/PasteAllowsyoutocut/copy/pastenotedatapresent.

Filleach2/4/8stepsFillsstepsequencestepsaccordingtothesetting.

Rotateleft( Shift+Ctrl+LeftArrow)Movenotedataonesnapunittotheleft.Stepnotesareunaffected.

Rotateright( Shift+Ctrl+RightArrow)Movenotedataonesnapunittotheright.Stepnotesare
unaffected.

MIDIchannelthroughAllowsallMIDIChannelsfromacontrollerorexternalsequencertopasstothe
plugin.SomepluginscanrespondtomorethanoneMIDIChannel.Forexample,inSlicexMIDIChannel1plays

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PartAandChannel2playsPartB.Kontaktallowsyoutoplaydifferentinstrumentsoneachofthe16MIDI
Channels.When'MIDIchannelthrough'isselected,changingtheMIDIChannelonthecontrollerwillplaythe
appropriatevoice/instrumentintheplugin.
NOTES:1.Whenrecordingnoteswillbesettothenotecolor/sofincomingMIDIChannels.Forexample,MIDI
Channel1isgreenand6is,ummmm...purple?Upto16separateMIDIChannelcolorscanberecorded
simultaneously.2.'MIDIchannelthrough'isnotavailablewhenthereisnoinputdeviceand'Typingkeyboard
tomidi'isdisabled.

ReceivenotesfromSelectaMIDIController,andoptionalMIDIChannel,toplaytheselectedChannelRack
instrument.Thecontroller'snoteoutputwillremainlockedtotheselectedChannelinstrumentregardlessofthe
selectedChannelButtonintheChannelRack.NOTES:1.AnInputPortmustbesetforthedevicetoappearin
themenu.2.TheChannelButtonwilldisplayaLockiconandtheActivityLED/ChannelSelectorwillshow
OrangeforlockedChannels.3.ThelinkedcontrollerwillshowintheHintBarwhenyoumouseoverchannels.
SeeLockControllerNotestoInstrumentChannelsformoreinformation.

ReorderChannels( Shift+mousewheel)whileoveraChannelbuttonOR( Alt+up/downarrowbuttons)to

movethepositionoftheselectedChannel.

8.ChannelSelector
ChannelSelectorWhenlit,theChannelisselected(usedincut,copy,etc.operationsseeEditmenu).TheselectedChannel
alsoreceivesMIDI/Controllerinput.

LeftclickSelect/deselecttargetChannel.IfmultipleChannelsareselectedthiswillsoloandmutethetargetChannel.
NOTE:WhenAutoselectlinkedChannelsisoff,theChannelSelectorLEDisusedtochoosetheChanneltoreceivelive
MIDIinput.ThisallowsyoutoplayoneinstrumentChannelandeditanotheropenedwiththeChannelbutton( 7 ).

RightclickSelectmultipleChannels.Rightclick(hold)anddragdowntheChannelSelectorstomakemultiple
selections.

Move/reorderinstrumentChannelsusetheChannelselectortogroupandmoveChannelsupanddownthestackby
holdingtheAltkeyandpressingtheup/downarrowsonyourkeyboard.Thisdoesnotaffectmixerrouting.

9.PianorollPreview
ThismininotepreviewreplacesthestepswhenaPianorollisactiveontheChannel.Thepreviewallowsyoutoseethenotesin
thePianorollwithoutopeningit.Youcan'teditnotesintheminipreview.Leftclickthepreviewtoshow/hidethePianoroll
window.RightclicktoopenthePianorollcenteredonthenotesclicked.NOTES:1.Thelighteranddarkerblocksinthe
previewindicatethenumberofbarscontainedinthePianorollsequence(eachblockisabar).2.ToaddaPianorollRightclick
theChannelbuttonandselect'Pianoroll'fromthepopupmenu.

10.MuteControl
TrackMute/SoloTurningthisLEDoffwillmutetheChannel.Clickingitagainwillunmuteit.Youcanalsoquicklysoloa
ChannelbyRightclickingtheLEDand,fromthepopupmenu,selectSolo.RepeatthisactiontounsolotheChannel(unmuteall).
NOTE:LiveMIDIinputtotheChannelwillcontinuetoplayregardlessoftheswitchmodeasmute/soloappliesonlytoStep
SequencerandPianorollplayback..

Mute/Unmute LeftClicktheMuteicon.

Solo/Unsolo Ctrl+ClickOR Right+ClickandSelect'Solo'ontheMuteicon.

Mute/Soloagroup Alt+ClickaMuteiconfortheMuted/Unmutedgroup.GroupsaredefinedbyChannelFilter
groups.

Lockstate Shift+ClickaMuteicon.

11.Stepsequencer

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UsingtheStepsequencer:

EachlineintheChannelRackbelongstoasingleChannelandtheassociatedsequencedatawillonlyplaytheChannel
instrumentonthesameline.Fromlefttorightyouwillsee,thePan,Volume,Channelbutton(openstheinstrument
interface)andStepSequencerbuttonsorPianorollpreview,dependingonhowtheChannelhasbeenconfigured.

Eachbutton(step)inthegridrepresentsa16thnote.

DefaultbeatsperbarandbarsThedefaultis4beatsx4bars=16steps.Changethedefaultnumberofbarsand
stepsfromtheProjectGeneralSettingswindow.

Activating&deactivatingstepsLeftclickingastepbuttonactivatesthatstepRightclickingturnsitoff.NOTES:
TheUseBothMouseKeysoptionintheGeneralSettingspagecanbedeselectedsoyoucanselectanddeselectsteps
withtheleftmousebutton.TheMuteremovedstepsoptionwilldecideifdeletedstepsaremuted,sotheireventdatais
preservedordiscarded.

PitchTosetthepitchofastepusethePianorollviewandeditthepitchthere.Clickon( 4 ).Eachnotehassome
additionalproperties(panning,volume,etc.)thatmaybesetusingthePianoroll( 4 ).

Copy,Cut&PasteThiswillworkbetweenChannelsorPatterns.SelectthesourceChannel,clickontheChannel
selector( 8 ),andpress( Ctrl+C)tocopyor( Ctrl+X)toCutthesteps.Next,selectthedestinationChanneland
press( Ctrl+V),paste.NOTE:YoucanaccessthesamefunctionsfromtheEditMenu

StoppingorcuttingnotesStepSequencerstepsdonothavea'noteoff'feature.Youcanstopanoteeitherby
activatingstepaftertheoffendingnotewithzerovelocityor,preferably,byusingthePianoroll.ThePianorollisideal
forworkingonmorecomplexmelodies.

TurnstepsintoaPianorollRightclicktheChannelButtonandselect'Sendtopianoroll.

AdvancedfeaturesRightclickingtheChannelButton( 7 )opensamenuofcommandsformanagingChannels(see
ChannelButtonMenu).ThismenualsoprovidesaccesstothePianoroll.

NOTE:ThemainEditmenualsocontainscommandsforworkingwithStepSequencer.

12.MixerTrackRouting
TheMixerTrackRoutingcontrolsareoptionallyshown( Alt+M).ClickanddragverticallytochangetheMixerTrackthe
Channelisroutedto.Bydefault,allnewinstrumentChannelsareroutedtotheMasterMixertrack(thedisplayshows"").This
controldoesn'tappearforChannelsthatholdgeneratorsthatdon'toutputaudio,iconswillbeshowninstead.TheMixerTrack
RoutingcontrolisalsoreplicatedontheChannelSettings.

13.AddPluginChannels
AddapluginThisisashortcuttoopentheChannelOptionsMenu>Addonemenu.Toleanmorewaystoaddbothinstrument
andeffectpluginstoprojectsclickhere.

14.PatternLength
PatternLength(NumberofBeats)canbesetbydraggingthebottomrightoftheChannelRacktosetthenumberofbeats.
YoucanalsosetthedefaultpatternlengthfromtheglobalvalueontheProjectSettings.Note:Thereareamaximumof64
stepsintheStepSequencer.IfyouneedmorethenusethePianoroll.

15.PatternSelector
ThePatternselectorislocatedintheFLStudioToolBarandalsothePatternMenufromtheMainMenu.Formoreonworking
withPatterns,andhowtheyareused,seetheArrangingWorkflowsection.

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Select(leftside)andname,copy&workwithpatterns(rightside)fromthisdropdownmenu.

Findfirstempty( Shift+F4 )Findthefirstunusedpatternthelist.

Findnextempty( F4 )Findthenextunusedpatternthelistandopensthenamedialog.The( F4 )isagood

workflowhabitwhenmakingnewpatterns.

Findnextempty(nonaming)( Ctrl+F4 )Sameastheabove,butdoesnotopenthenamingdialog.

Rename/recolor( F2 )OpensthePatternnamingwindow.Press( F2 )againtocyclePatterncolors.The

selectorcanbeopenedbyclickingthesquareontheendoftherenamewindow.NOTEToGradientColorChannels
makeaselectionbyleftclickinganddraggingdownontheChannelSelectors( 8 )andselectfromtheMainMenus
Channels>Colorselected>Gradient

Openinprojectbrowser( Shift+Ctrl+P)OpeninProjectBrowser.OpenstheBrowserProjectFoldertoshowthe
currentpattern.

Insertone( Shift+Ctrl+Ins)InsertsanewemptyPatternbeforetheselectedpattern.

Clone( Alt+C)Makesacopyoftheselectedpatternafterit.

Delete( Del)Deletestheselectedpattern.

Moveup( Shift+Ctrl+Uparrow)MovestheselectedpatternuponenumberinthePatternselectorlist.

Movedown( Shift+Ctrl+Down )MovestheselectedpatterndownonenumberinthePatternselectorlist.

SplitbychannelCreatesanewpatternforeachactiveChannelintheselectedpattern.Patternswillbenamed
accordingtothesplitChannel.Toundoasplitbychannel1.StackthePatternClipsinanemptyareaofthePlaylist
makingsuretheyarecorrectlyaligned.2.Selectallpatternsinthestack.3.Usethe'PlaylistMenu>Edit>Merge
selectedclips'4.DeletethemergedclipfromthePlaylist.

RedChannelbuttons
Ifyouopenaprojectandsome,orall,Channelbuttonsarered,thismeansthesamplesorinstrumentsnominatedforthose
Channelscan'tbefound.Thelikelycausesare

1.Thesamplesordirectorieshavebeenrenamed,movedtoanotherlocationordeleted.

2.Theformatofthesamplehasbeenchanged(FLStudioonlyloads.wav,.mp3and.oggfiles).

3.TheBrowserextrasearchfoldershavebeendeletedfromthesearchlist.

4.TheVSTpluginsextrasearchdirectoryhasbeendeletedfromthesearchlistortheplugindirectorymoved.

FLStudiosearchesitsowninstallationdirectoryforsamplesandtheextrasearchfoldersasdescribedabove.Ifyouhaveno
ideawherethesamplesare,onemethodistoputyourrootdrive(usuallyC:)asoneoftheextrasearchdirectories,thenreload

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theproject.FLStudiowillnowsearchyouentireharddrive.Onceyoulocatethesamplesit'sagoodideatoremovetheroot
fromtheextrasearchfoldersasiscanmakefuturesearchesveryslow.SeethesectiononmissingVSTsorfilesformore
information.

LinkingControllerstoPlayInstrumentChannels
UseakeyboardorothercontrollertoplayselectedInstrumentChannels.BydefaultFLStudiolistenstoallMIDIChannels,so
anyenabledcontrollerwillplaytheselectedChannel.However,ifyouwanttolockacontrollertoplayaspecificInstrument
Channel,therearetwooptions:

LockControllerNotestoInstrumentChannels

ThismethodlocksInstrumentChannelstothenoteoutputfromthespecifiedcontroller.YoucanlockmultipleInstrument
ChannelstoasinglecontrollertorecordlayersORevenlockseveralcontrollerstoasingleInstrumentChannel.

VideoPlaylistHere .

HowtosetaChanneltoreceivenotesfromaMIDIController:

1.TosetaspecificMIDIInputPort(optional)PresetanInputPortfromtheMIDISettings>Input>Portoptions.
Otherwisechoose'Noinputportset(clicktoautoassign)'atthenextstep.

2.RightclicktheChannelButtonSelect'Receivenotesfrom>[chooseacontroller]>Noinputportset
(clicktoautoassign)'.

3.TosetaspecificMIDIChannelAfterchoosingthecontroller(Step2),repeattheprocessandselectaMIDI
Channel.Normallychoose'AllMIDIchannels'.IfyouchooseaspecificMIDIChannel,theinstrumentwillonly
respondtocontrollernotesreceivedfromthatcontrollerandMIDIChannel.
TIP:IfyourcontrollercantransmitondifferentMIDIChannelsacrossthekeyboard/padrange,youcanplaydifferent
InstrumentsChannelswiththeleftandrighthands,oradrumkitconsistingofupto16SamplerChannels.

IMPORTANT:OnlythenoteinformationislockedtotheChannel.Toassignknobsandsliders(MIDICC)tospecificplugin
targets,usePerProjectLinks.

FeaturesoflockedChannels:

TheChannelButtonwilldisplayaLockicon.

TheActivityLED/ChannelSelectorwillshowOrange.

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ThelinkedcontrollerwillshowintheHintBarwhenyoumouseoverChannelButtons.

YoucanlockMultipleChannelstothesameMIDIcontrollertocreateLayers.

FloatingAssignmentofControllerNotestoInstrumentChannels

Thismethodislessrigidthanthe'Receivenotesfrom',aboveandishowFLStudioworkedpriortoFLStudioversion12.3.
SelectedinstrumentChannelsareassignedtocontrollersbasedontheirMIDIChannelnumber.Forthismethodtoworkyou
mustseteachcontrollertotransmitonauniqueMIDIChannel(i.e.1to16).ThelowestMIDIChannelwillcontrolthetopmost
selectedInstrumentChannelandthehighestMIDIChannelthebottommostselectedInstrumentChannel(seetheimagebelow).

1.SetMIDIChannelsSeteachcontrollertotransmitonadifferentMIDIchannelnumber(1to16,seethe
documentationthatcamewiththecontrolleronsettingMIDIsend/transmitchannels).ThisistoavoidcontrollerCC
conflicts(wheremorethanonecontrollertriestoadjustthesamesoftwarecontrolonthesameMIDIchannel).Seethe
documentationthatcamewiththecontrolleronsettingMIDIsend/transmitchannels.Bydefault,FLStudiolistensto
MIDIdatainOMNImode(allchannels116simultaneously).

2.SelectInstrumentChannelsRightclickChannelSelectorsforasmanyChannelsintheChannelRackasyouhave
activecontrollers.ThecontrollertransmittingonthelowestMIDIchannelnumberwillbeassignedtothetopmost
selectedInstrumentChannel.SelectedinstrumentchannelsbelowareassignedbyascendingMIDIchannelnumber(i.e.
lowestMIDIchannel=topselectedinstrumentchannel,highestMIDIchannel=bottomselectedinstrumentchannel).
Whenonlyonechannelisselectedthenallcontrollerswillplaythatinstrumentchannel.Whenmoreinstrument
channelsareselectedthanthereareactiveMIDIcontrollers,thentopmostinstrumentchannelswillbeassigned.

3.ChangingcontrollertopluginrelationshipsThesimplestmethodistomovethetargetInstrumentChannel
up/downintheChannelRackstack(selectthetargetinstrumentchannel,holdthe Altkeyandpresstheup/down
arrowsonyourkeyboardOR Shift+MousewheelwithyourcursorovertheChannelbutton).Rememberthat
instrumentchannelsareassignedtocontrollerMIDInumbers,fromtoptobottominthestack.

NOTE:WhenOptions>Generalsettings>Autoselectlinkedmodulesis:

ON:Use( Alt+LeftClick)toopenpluginswithoutclosingthecurrentlyopenplugin.

OFF:ChannelbuttonsopenpluginsforeditingandtheChannelselectorLEDsselectChannelsforlive
MIDIcontrol.ThisallowsyoutoplayoneinstrumentChannelliveandeditanother.

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