AUTOMATION & RECORDING

Linking & Using External Hardware Controllers

Most features on the FL Studio interface (knobs/sliders etc) can be linked to an external controller. Once linked, controller movements can be recorded in real-time (make sure the recording filter is set to accept 'Automation' data). The movements will then be reproduced exactly the next time the project is played. For information on setting up a hardware controller see the section on F10 > MIDI Settings options.

How to set permanent links

Internal controllers

Linking software controls to a hardware device

FL Studio interface & native plugin quick link procedure:

1. Right-click the knob/slider you wish to control.
2. From the pop-up menu select 'Link to Controller' to open the Remote Control Settings dialog.
3. The remote control settings will open allowing you to modify the nature of the link. These are optional settings (see below).
4. Move the physical knob/slider on the external controller and the link is automatically made. Alternatively:
   • Multi-link - To link multiple controls in one session, use the Multi-link option on the recording panel. Select the switch, tweak all the target controls, then tweak the same number of knobs on your hardware controller and turn off the switch (most people can remember about 7 links, how good is your memory?).

VST plugin quick link procedure:

1. Tweak the VST interface target control with your mouse (a tweak is a small movement).
2. Open the plugin wrapper menu and select 'Last tweaked parameter > Link to controller'.
3. The remote control settings will open allowing you to modify the nature of the link. These are optional settings (see below).
4. Move the physical knob/slider on the external controller and the link is automatically made. Alternatively:
   • Multi-link - To link multiple controls in one session, use the Multi-link option on the recording panel. Select the switch, tweak all the VST target controls, then tweak the same number of knobs on your hardware controller and turn off the switch (most people can remember about 7 links, how good is your memory?).

Remote control settings

There are a number of options on the Remote control settings dialog (below) that can modify the linked relationship. Note that the Wrapper Menu also has several important functions (Link all parameters and Browse parameters) to make links between plugin parameters and internal/external controllers. The Remote control settings dialog options are as follows:

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

These controlls allow customisation of the MIDI link.

• Channel - Choose a MIDI channel to link the control to.
• Controller - Choose a controller number to link the control to.
• Auto Detect - Very useful option that will detect and set the MIDI controller automatically - all you need to do is just tweak the desired control on your MIDI controller.
• Omni - Decides if the link is channel specific. OFF - If a MIDI controller knob is linked to a channel volume, the MIDI knob will control only that specific channel volume. ON - The MIDI controller knob will no longer be tightly bound to a specific channel volume, but will control the volume of any channel selected. For example, if you linked to the volume of a 'kick' channel and then selected the 'clap' channel, the MIDI controller knob will also control the clap channel volume.

Omni and VSTi/DXi Control

Use the Omni mode to set your MIDI controller to control the same target in any selected channel. This section describes this process in more detail for 3rd Party plugins and a method for saving controller assignments for future quick recall.

Omni CC Links - If you want to use the Modwheel (CC1, for example) on your controller, so the mod wheel controls the CC1 parameter of any instrument in an active channel and also to save controller assignments for future use -

1. Create an instance of your desired VSTi/DXi instrument.

2. Use the Browser to select Current project > Generators > 'Your newly added VSTi will appear here in the list'.

3. From the control options list, scroll down and right-click "MIDI CC#1" to open the pop-up menu. MIDI CC's are usually toward the bottom.

4. Select the 'Link controller' option, enable Omni on the Remote control settings and move your Modwheel (or use the selector pad to manually select the number 001). You can do this for all 128 CCs or you can selectively choose which CCs to use. These links will stay active until manually disabled (even if every instance of a VSTi or DXi is deleted), see below.

Saving MIDI/CC control assignments - This method creates a project template with the MIDI assignments saved in the project.

1. Follow the steps above to create your desired MIDI controller assignments to plugin controls.

2. Delete the plugin/s.

3. Save the project as your default.

4. If you start future projects with this template your favourite MIDI controller assignments will be automatically available when you load compatible plugins.

Internal controller

See the section on Internal controllers for more detail. Note: This section of the dialog will only be visible if there are internal controller sources in the project.

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.