MIXING & EFFECTS

Audio Input/Output Routing

This section covers internal Mixer audio routing functions. Internal audio sources (instruments loaded in the Channel Window) are sent to the Mixer insert track set by Channel settings FX selector, as shown below:

NOTE: In the example above Mixer Track 2 is selected and so the Track Send switches (18), Soundcard Input / Output options (6 & 7) and Mixer Track Properties (Green) change to show unique settings for Mixer track 2. Usually the only Mixer track with a Soundcard Output (7) selected is the Master Mixer track.

Some points about internal and external audio routing:

• Loading and routing instruments to Mixer tracks - Open the Plugin picker (Ctrl+F8 or middle-mouse click on the FL Desktop) then drag the instrument from the Plugin picker & drop it on the desired Mixer track. The track will be renamed after the plugin and routing automatically made. You can also double-click instruments in the picker and they will be sent to the selected Mixer track.
• Routing from existing Channels to Mixer tracks - An efficient way to route one or more Channels to Mixer tracks is as follows:
  • 1. Right-click the Channel Selector LED's for each Instrument Channel to be routed to the Mixer (Right-clicking allows multiple selections).
  • 2. Right-click the target Mixer track and select 'Link selected channels > to this track' from the pop-up menu. OR use 'Link selected channels > starting from this track' to assign multiple Channels to multiple Mixer tracks.
• Internal routing - The Mixer 'Send switches' [] (18) allow audio to be re-routed internally between Mixer tracks. When a send switch is activated two parallel and independent audio paths are created between the Mixer tracks:
  • Post-fader sends - A single Mixer track can be routed to as many other Mixer tracks as required. The Send-level knob above each Send switch appears after the switch is activated on the destination Mixer track. To activate - Click on a grey Send switch [] and to adjust the send level OR right-clck the Send switch and select 'Route to this track only' if you want to deselect the source Mixer track's Master track send. By default, all Mixer Insert tracks (1 to 99) are routed to the Master Mixer track and the four Send tracks (with send volume set to 0, so no audio is passed).

    NOTE: If you need to create Pre-fader sends, use the Fruity Send plugin.

  • Sidechain sends - Send switches also create a parallel Sidechain connection between two Mixer tracks. Sidechain send audio is not audible on the destination Mixer track unless it is received by a plugin loaded in one of the effects slots, on the destination mixer track, that can receive sidechain inputs. To create a sidechain only send, with no audible audio passing between tracks, Right-click the send switch on the destination Mixer track and select 'Sidechain to this track only' from the pop-up menu or simply turn the send level to 0. Native FL Studio plugins that accept sidechain inputs will have sidechain inputor output selectors on the plugin interface. 3rd party plugins that can accept sidechain inputs can be set using the Auto map inputs setting on the Wrapper Additional Settings Menu - Processing tab. NOTE: The sidechain signal is post-fader from the source Mixer track.
• External routing - Audio sent to and received from your soundcards input and output jacks is set by the Input / Output selectors (6 & 7). NOTE: that each Mixer track has its own input and output options. For example, if you have an audio interface with 16 microphone inputs, then you have the option of setting 16 unique Mixer channels to receive each of these soundcard inputs. It is even possible to set two or more Mixer tracks to receive the same input or send to the same output. When '(none)' is shown, this means no external soundcard input or output is selected for the selected track. By default, the Master Mixer track 'Output' is the routed to the soundcards main outputs (usually the main/front Left/Right channels). However, by routing another Mixer track (other than the master) to other soundcards outputs (e.g. the rear channels of 5.1 surround-sound card), you can create a separate sub-mix for band headphone monitoring or studio monitoring.
• Parallel internal / external routing - It is worth noting that the Mixer track Input / Output (6 & 7) can function in parallel with the internal routing functions so that any track can receive external and internal audio sources simultaneously OR output to the Master Mixer track and any other available soundcard output. Mixer routing is described in more detail below:

How to Route Audio

• Mixer tracks - can take an input audio signal from one or more internal Instrument Channels by setting the Mixer Track Selector to a given track OR one external source (6). After processing the input they can pass the audio to another location, usually the Master track (1) but it can be another Mixer track (18) or directly to a soundcard output (7).

• To send audio from one insert track to another - Select the source track you wish to send FROM and then Left-click the send control switch [](18) on the destination track you want to send TO. A send-level knob will appear on the destination track that can be used to change the level of signal passed to the destination. By default the SOURCE track will maintain routing to the Master track - If you don't want to create a parallel path to the Master Mixer track, select the source track and disable the send switch on the master by Left-clicking it.

• External Inputs - Most ASIO drivers provide inputs (6) for microphone, line-in, etc. You can route these inputs to any or all Mixer tracks. Note that the ASIO inputs will not replace but mix together with any input audio the track receives from other sources (instruments, other tracks, etc).

• External Outputs - Most ASIO drivers provide outputs (7). You can route any Mixer track to any ASIO output.
• Surround sound 5.1 or 7.1 - You can set a group of Mixer tracks to output (7) to the individual channels of a 5.1 surround system for surround-sound mixing. A Surround sound template is available in the File menu > New from template > Utility > Surround panner. After opening this template, select soundcard outputs using the Output menu (7) to match the pre-named Mixer tracks.
• FL Studio as VST - Additional outputs also appear when using the FL Studio multi output VSTi connection.

Prepare for Recording

The disk icon (17) prepares a track for audio recording (to a *.wav file). The input selected at (6) and/or any internal audio routed to that track will be recorded.

Mixer reference diagram

Full descriptions are available on the main Mixer page.

1. Mixer menu
2. Mixer Track Scroll Bar
3. Mixer Insert Tracks
4. Send Tracks & Selected Track
5. Big Peak Meter
6. External mixer input
7. External mixer output
8. FX slots
9. Mixer Track Properties
10. Master Mixer Track
11. Small Peak Meter
12. Mute Switch
13. Pan Knob
14. Level Fader
15. Send Knobs
16. FX Enable/Disable Switch
17. Track Recording Switch
18. Track Send / Sidechain Enable Switch

NOTE: Most controls are automatable (Right-click and select 'Create automation clip').