TROUBLESHOOTING

Sample Pitch or Tempo Problems

If you load samples and they play too fast, play too slow, change their pitch or won't change their pitch (3 below) there are a number of places to check in the sample for incorrect 'meta data'. This is information that is saved in the sample and includes things like BPM (speed) pitch (middle note) or regions and slices. This data is included in files to be used intelligently by samplers or the host program (FL Studio). If this data is incorrect, you may experience less than intelligent behavior.

Correcting Sample Pitch or Tempo problems

Pitch issues will be related to data saved in the sample or FL Studio pitch modifier controls.

  1. Correct sample meta data - Some samples contain 'meta data' that includes the pitch or tempo they were recorded at. If this is wrong then it can cause issues as described above. Open the sample in Edison. Press (F2) to open the Sample Properties dialog. Check the Tempo (BPM) field is empty (or set to the correct BPM) AND/OR the Middle note is set to C5 (the default). Low and High should be set to C0 and G10 respectively. You can also set FL Studio to ignore this data by deselecting Read sample tempo information.
  2. Ignore BPM - The General Settings option 'Read sample tempo information' (sample meta data) can be deselected and the BPM will be ignored. Middle note errors can't be ignored and must be corrected in the sample (see above).
  3. Override the sample settings - Click on the Audio Clip or Sampler Channel to open the Channel Settings SMP tab. Right-Click the Pitch and Multiplier knobs and select 'reset'. Right-Click the Time knob and select '(none)'.
  4. Omni MIDI preview channel - When you have Omni MIDI preview channel set each key from C5 triggers a different Instrument Channel and so you cant play polyphonically as usual. To disable set to '---'.
  5. Main pitch slider - Check the Main pitch slider is at the default position. Right-Click it and select 'Reset'.
  6. Piano roll - Check the Piano roll integrated Event Editor Note fine pitch and Channel pitch settings are not causing the unexpected pitch changes. Use the Target control to select these modifiers for inspection. Is Snap to scale on, preventing you choosing notes or changing notes you added/moved?
  7. Stepsequencer - Check the Stepsequencer Piano roll Pitch modifier is not the cause of unexpected pitch changes.
  8. Root note & Add to key - Check the Root note is set to C5 (if that is what the root note should be). Right-Click on the strip above the preview keyboard to set. If samples have their root note set to 0 in their meta data (see 1 above) this can cause the Root note to jump to C1 which is probably wrong and will make the sample play back very fast & high-pitched. Set it to whatever it should be, and no we don't know what that is. You are the producer here, you figure it out :)
  9. Playlist & time-stretching/pitch-shifting - Make sure you are not inadvertently using 'Stretch' mode on the Audio Clip Focus tab. This will stretch the samples and make them play off-pitch or tempo. See the section Working with the stretch/pitch functions for more details on synchronizing/beatmatching audio clips to the project tempo.
  10. Tempo automation with constant pitch - If you want to maintain constant pitch as the tempo is automated, use Time stretching: Mode > Realtime > Stretch.
  11. Unintended automation - Look for unintended Event Automation in the project. This can happen if you move any control while FL Studio is recording. Event automation is saved as a Pattern Clip and is traceable from the Browser > Current project > Patterns folder. Event automation will show with a knob icon and can be clicked to open the Event Editor so you can delete the data. Also check the Initialized Controls Folder. Unintended initialized controls will jump to a value you are not expecting at the start of the project.