AUTOMATION & RECORDING

Linking & Using Internal Controller Sources

Internal controller plugins, either effects such as the Fruity Peak Controller or generators such as the Automation Clip, can be used to move knobs and other controls automatically. The Fruity Peak Controller, for example, can follow the volume envelope of an input sound and move a knob or slider in response. Alternatively the Automation Clip moves linked controls according to a user drawn path.

Automation sources include:

• Automation Clip – Draw your own automation curves in the Playlist.

• Dashboard - Create your own interface.

• Event Editor – Draw your own automation associated with patterns.

• Fruity Envelope Controller - Play back user-specified envelopes from the Piano-roll/Step sequencer.

• Fruity Formula Controller - Define your own controller functions using mathematical formula.

• Fruity Keyboard Controller - Use controller keyboard performances as a control source.

• Fruity Peak Controller – Generates controller data based on audio input and LFO settings.

• Fruity X-Y Controller – Control two parameters simultaneously with your mouse.

External controllers

Linking an software interface control to internal controller

Most knobs, sliders and controls that you can change with a mouse in FL Studio can also be automated by one of the above automation sources. Note: It is possible to link a single controller to multiple targets (see below).

Native FL Studio interface & plugin controls: Right-click the knob/slider you wish to control. To create an internal link select Link to controller option to open the 'Remote control settings' dialog. Note: If you move any knob or slider on an external controller at this point it will be automatically linked to the target control. However to create an internal link: From the Internal controller drop down menu select the desired controller. Before this menu will appear on the dialog one of the automation sources, listed above, must be available in the project. VST plugin interface controls: Tweak the VST interface target control with your mouse (a tweak is a small movement). Open the plugin wrapper menu and select 'Last tweaked parameter > Link to controller'. Note: If you move any knob or slider on an external controller at this point it will be automatically linked to the target control. However to create an internal link: From the Internal controller drop down menu select the desired controller. Before this menu will appear on the dialog one of the automation sources, listed above, must be available in the project.

Controls & Options

The following options can be used to modify the linking behaviour.

Link Assignment

• Link menu - Showing 'New Link' above. Use this menu to link several external MIDI controllers to the same internal target. By default the dialog assumes a new link is to be made.

• Remove Conflicts - When selected, any new link will replace any previous link relationships made to the target controller.

MIDI Controller:

Internal Controller:

Here you can link the property to an internal controller that controller plugins provide. Note that this section is NOT VISIBLE when there aren't any controller plugins added in the current FL Studio project.

• Record Automation - This switch should be usually turned off. When turned on, all events generated by the controller plugin will be recorded during a live recording session, as if you moved the control manually. However, you may turn this switch on if you want to use the controller plugin as a tool (like you use the LFO tool) to record specific set of events that you can then further refine and edit in the Event Editor window. It also makes possible to record events from controller plugins that might use much CPU when used in real-time. Don't forget to unlink the control after you recorded the events you need, not doing so may result in unwanted behaviour (due to conflict between the recorded events and those generated in same time by the plugin).

Mapping formula - Menu

This menu provides some pre-defined mapping relationships between the controller and the target control.

• Linear (absolute): For use with standard range-limited controllers.
  • Default - The controller changes the target with a 1:1 relationship.
  • Inverted - Increases in the controller value decreases the target controller and vice versa.
  • Log scale - Sensitive in the low range less sensitive in the upper range of the controller.
  • Inverted log scale - Less sensitive in the low range more sensitive in the upper range of the controller.
  • Switch - Once the input value passes the 50% point the output changes from 0% to 100%.
  • Steppy - Stepped output in the face of smooth input.
  • Steppy (cents to semitones) - When linked to a master pitch control the output is incremented in semitones.
  • First half - Output varies from 0% to 50%.
  • Last half - Output varies from 50% to 100%.
• Incremental (relative): These settings are to be used with 'Endless controllers' (knobs/wheels that have no end-stops). If an endless knob moves the target too slowly try Input*2 or 1/10. Similarly endless knobs with around 200 steps (usually endless knobs are ticky), each step can be set to output increment unit, try 1/50,1/20,1/10 settings.
  • Default increment - The controller changes the target with a 1:1 relationship.
  • Inverted increment - Increases in the controller value decreases the target controller and vice versa.
  • 4x, 2x smaller increment - Output is divided by 4 and 2 respectively.
  • 4x, 2x bigger increment - Output is multiplied by 4 and 2 respectively.
  • 1/50,1/20,1/10 increment - Output is restricted to 2%, 5% and 10% of the input range.

User Defined Formula

Enter a custom formula to alter the default 1:1 mapping. For example: 'Input*2' multiplies the controller value by 2. After you enter an expression, press Enter. If you see message "Compiled OK" the formula was successfully compiled and you can press the OK button to apply it to the linked control. If a red text appears below, the formula is wrong (usually syntax error or unsupported variable/function was used). Correct the error and press Enter again.

For a full list of supported variables, functions and operators click here.

Smoothing:

This feature allows you to smooth the motion produced by the remote control hardware and/or internal plugin. This reduces the need to manually refine recorded automation after live sessions and ensures proper ramping of the control motion to avoid abrupt changes.

• Time - The amount of smoothing applied to the remote control input. The longer the time, the smoother the motion.

Action Buttons

• Reset - Click this button to reset the remote control settings, including mapping formula & smoothing.

• Accept - Saves the dialog settings.

Linking effects

If you want to automate a FL Studio effect, you can proceed with its controls exactly as with any FL Studio control - right-click it to launch a pop-up menu, from where you can display the MIDI Remote Control dialog box. The same goes for VST effects that do not have their own editor's interface. Then FL Studio provides interface for the plugin, and all knobs can be automated as usual.

Unfortunately, there is no way to link DirectX effects to MIDI controller. That limitation comes from DirectX specifications, not from FL Studio itself. Some DirectX plugins might have MIDI remote controller functionality, but NOT through the DirectX interface (so they can not be linked right inside FL Studio). To link such effect, follow the help instructions that come with your DirectX plugin.