The Playlist

• From track start (Ctrl+Alt+C) - Consolidated Audio Clip starts at the first Clip in the track.
• From song start (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C) - Consolidated Audio Clip starts from the beginning of the Playlist. Use this method when you are creating song-length 'stems' to share with other projects. There will be no confusion where the Clip should be placed (at the start of Bar 1).

NOTE: You can use this feature to merge vocal or instrumental recordings into a single Audio Clip, or to reduce CPU load (disable Mixer Insert FX not in use afterward).

NOTE: Drag an audio file (from the Browser, for example) and drop it on the Track label area to auto-create an Audio Clip and auto-name the Clip track to match the file.

Timeline, Time Markers & Time Signatures

Time is displayed horizontally in the Playlist (in bars displayed along the top of the window). The grid resolution is determined by:

• The window's 'Snap' value (). Alternatively, select 'Main' to apply the global snap value (for all windows where snap applies) defined in the Global Snap panel.
• The Horizontal zoom. That is, the snap resolution increases as the Playlist is zoomed in, until it reaches the maximum set by the Snap value. Note how Playlist vertical grid-lines increase as the Playlist is zoomed.
• The Project 'Time Signature' (F11) setting. When 'Time settings > Set as time signature' is selected the grid will reflect the set Time Signature. When 'Time settings > Set as time division' the grid will be 4/4. This was the default prior to the introduction of Time Signatures. NOTE: Time Markers (Shift+Alt+T) can also set the Time Signature from a selected point or over a range (use a selection).

  

  NOTE: Patterns can have independent Time Signatures to those set in the Playlist. Changing the Time Signature for any Pattern will affect all instances in the Playlist. Use the Pattern Clip Menu option 'Make unique' to avoid this, if it is a problem.

• The 'Project Timebase (PPQ) setting' (F11). Higher PPQ settings offer greater zoom levels and so higher resolution, although the default setting of 96 PPQ is adequate for most situations.

Playback - Controlled from the Main Transport controls or the Play button as indicated above.

• Relocate the playback position - Click on the upper timeline (Bar numbers) where you want the playback position indicator to start. You can use the (Home) key to reset to the song beginning. NOTE: There is an option on the Right-Click main transport Stop button Remember seek time for the start position to be remembered.
• Play notes straddling the playback position marker - When stopping and starting you can play notes that cross the playback position by opening the Audio Options and selecting 'Play truncated notes'.

Timeline markers - For information on Marker functions see the Time Marker Menu Section below. Examples include:

• Setting Time Signatures.
• Labeling parts of your song (such as 'chorus' or 'verse', for example)
• For performance ('Jump to' locators)
• Selection of regions (between markers).
• Start recording/Stop recording automation.

Patterns, Audio Clips and Automation Clips

This section covers general editing and Playlist operations. For specific details on using Audio Clips, Automation Clips and Patterns Clips, please see the following pages:

• Pattern Clips
• Audio Clips
• Automation Clips

NOTE: Audio, Automation and Pattern Clips can share the same Playlist tracks, as shown above and will overlap, with transparency, to aid with the grouping of related Clips.

Playlist Clip Focus

The Clip focus selector, below, is used to focus Clip types. This is particularly useful when Clips are stacked, the focused Clip is brought to the top for selection and editing. To select all Clips in a layered stack, use (Ctrl+Left-click), then they can be moved together. NOTE: Use (M) to cycle modes when Typing keyboard to piano (Ctrl+T) is off.

NOTE: The + icon to the left of the Clip Focus selectors allows you to add Instrument Tracks and Audio Tracks to the Playlist from a pop-up menu. (Right-Click) to quick-add an Audio Track.

Audio

• Audio Icon - (Left-Click) - Focus Audio Clips. Select and (Right-Click) - Show Audio Clip Menu. Below the icon are the following options (left to right):
  • Show Fades (Shift+F) - Show the Audio Clip Fade and Gain controls. (Right-Click) open context menu:
    • Create new clips with manual fades - Set all newly created Audio Clips with a manual Crossfade setting.
    • Snap fade handles - Fade handles move and snap to the Playliust grid (snap setting).
    • Show fade previews - When Audio Clip Envelopes are used, the waveform will reflect level changes caused by the envelope.
    • Show gain scale - Determines if the audio will scale visually as Clip gain is adjusted.
    • Show gain value - Shows the gain value badge at all times, if the value was changed from the default dB.
  • Zero-Cross - Slicing & resize edits will be made at the nearest zero-crossing to the slice point. Useful to avoid clicks at the slice location. NOTE: This setting will naturally interfere with your ability to specify exact slice locations.
  • Stretch (Shift+M) - When the left or right edge of the Clip is selected and dragged the Clip will be stretched according to the Audio Clip Time stretching settings. To maintain pitch while the sample length is stretched, select an option other than 'Resample' in the Stretch Method field. See the section Working with the stretch/pitch functions for more details on synchronizing/beatmatching Audio Clips to the project tempo.

Automation

• Automation Icon - (Left-Click) - Focus Automation Clips. Select and (Right-Click) - Show Audio Clip Menu. Below the icon are the following options (left to right):
  • Right-Click tab - Show Automation Clip Menu.
  • Step - Sets the automation Clip curve editor in 'step editing' mode. Left-click and drag in the Clip to create a "free hand" curve where a new control point is defined for every step in the timeline (steps depend on the current snap settings). Hold SHIFT while dragging to draw "pulse" lines (straight vertical/horizontal lines only). Note that each new segment created this way uses the last tension set while adding a segment.
  • Slide - Preserves the relative distance between a dragged control point and all control points following it.

Patterns (notes & events)

• Audio Icon - (Left-Click) - Focus Patten Clips. Select and (Right-Click) - Show Audio Clip Menu. Below the icon are the following options (left to right):
  • Note - Uses the parent pattern's (notes & event) colors. Note color is set from within the Piano roll. Event data defaults to pink, so anyone uncomfortable about being seen using pink in the Playlist needs to 'suck it in' and stop being a 'big cry baby' about it. Alternatively, change the note color for the channel.
  • Chan - Uses the parent channel's color settings (Right-Click the channel button and use the color selector on the Channel re-name pop-up panel).
  • Pat - Uses the parent pattern's color settings.

Picker Panel

The Picker Panel (Alt+P) is a Pattern, Audio and Automation Clip manager / browser. It shows all Clips in the project, accessed with the filter switches at the top of the panel. Click and drag from this list to the Playlist or click to select, then click on the Playlist to place. Use it to rename and color Clips, auto-select and delete all unused Clips, freeze Patterns, reorder patterns etc. NOTE: Each Clip type has a comprehensive Right-Click menu available on the Clips in the list.

Controls

• Filter Switch Options (Right-Click) - Select All or Unused (not used in any Arrangement) Clips. Sort Clips by 'All', Name, Color or Mixer Track Number (Audio Clips).
• Panel Options - See the Playlist Menu > Picker Panel section for features and controls of the panel.
• Right-Click Clip menu - See the Pattern Menu for details.

Working with the Picker

• Place Clips in Playlist - (Left-Click) to select, or (Alt+Left-Click)/(Shift+Left-Click) to select multiple Clips, then drag to the Playlist. Or (Left-Click) to select Clips, then (Left-Click) to place in the Playlist.
• Select multiple clips - (Ctrl+Left-Click) individual Clips or (Shift+Left-Click) the first and last Clip in a range. It is possible to Rename, Recolor and Gradient Recolor multiple Clips this way.
• Vertical Zoom/Scroll - Use the scroll-bar to the right of the panel OR (Mouse-Wheel) over the Clips. The Zoom control is at the top of the Scroll-bar.
• Preview Clip - (Alt+Right-Click+Hold) Clips. Release hold to stop playback.
• Rearrange Clips - (Right-Click) the Filter Icons at the top and choose a sorting option. Drag and drop Clips or select Clip/s then (Shift + mouse-wheel) to move. NOTE: Rearranging the order of Pattern Clips changes their pattern number.
• Rename Clip/s - (Shift + Click) on item/s in the Picker Panel to open the Rename pop-up.

Bouncing to Audio / Freezing

There are several Playlist Menu options for bouncing Pattern Clips and Audio Clips to audio. The method you choose will depend on what you plan to do with the audio, and most importantly, whether Playlist Automation is important to the final sound.

NOTE: This section specifically references the Playlist Menu > Consolidate ... options. Alternatively, you can use the File > Export > Wave file... option with 'Split mixer tracks' selected to export all Mixer Tracks in the project to stems at once. This will also include Automation.

Including Automation

Remember, the sound from a Pattern or Audio Clip may depend on contextual Playlist Automation. These options can be useful when manually 'Freezing' Instrument Channels and or Mixer effects to reduce CPU load OR to merge Audio Clips, as shown below:

• Tools > Export all playlist tracks - Playlist consolidation sequentially 'Solos' every Playlist track and renders them to an audio file (sometimes call a 'stem'). This has implications for some effects (See NOTES below).
• Tools > Export all playlist track groups - Same as the above, but creates only one audio file for Grouped Playlist Tracks (the parent and sub-track audio is combined).

  NOTES:

  1. Master effects - Pay attention to the Render dialog > Miscellaneous > Enable master effects option prior to using this feature, if you intend to use the Playlist tracks in another DAW you probably also want Master effects ON.
  2. Sidechain effects - If you have audio-based 'sidechain' effects the sidechain source data must be in the same Playlist track/s as the instrument/s it affects. Alternatively, you will need to manually arm sidechain source and destination mixer tracks and export them with (Alt+R while) with the mixer is focused instead.
• Playlist Menu > Tools > Consolidate playlist selection - The 'selection' refers to Pattern & Audio Clips, not a time-line selection. You can choose to consolidate from the very start of the Playlist (useful when creating 'stems' for later remixing) or from the selection start (to save disk space and replace existing content). After using this option, the source Clips will be muted.
• Playlist Track Header > Right-Click > Consolidate this track - All Clips on the track are rendered to Audio. After using this option, all Clips on the Playlist Track will be muted.

NOTE: Pay attention to your Render Settings as this will decide if Master and Insert Track effects are applied.

TIP: You can consolidate both Audio Clips and Pattern Clips, at the same time into a single Audio Clip.

Excluding Automation

These options are accessible directly from the Picker Panel. The main use is where there is no contextual Playlist Automation, or you are planning to use the content in another plugin or for further manipulation. To convert Clips to Audio (Right-Click) Patterns in the Picker Panel and select:

• Quick render as audio clip - Bounces the Pattern/s to Audio Clip/s, in the Picker Panel, using the current Render Settings.
• Render as audio clip - Bounces the Pattern/s to an Audio Clip/s, in the Picker Panel, after you set the Render Settings. This and the previous option can be useful when creating samples to drop onto the Playlist as an Audio Clip or to Sampler Channels for further manipulation.
• Render and replace - Renders the selected Pattern/s to an Audio Clip (.WAV only) allowing you to set Render Settings AND replaces instances of the Pattern Clip in the Playlist with the Audio Clip. NOTE: Consider using Playlist menu > Tools > Consolidate clips to include context Automation.

NOTES: 1. Pay attention to your Render Settings. 2. As the automation of Patterns can change with Playlist position, automation is not active during Picker Panel Pattern rendering. The song start, or Playlist selection, is used to set fixed automation values for the duration of the Pattern/s. If you want to bounce a Pattern Clip to audio, with in-situ Playlist Automation, use the Consolidate options above.

Render Settings

It's important to take a moment to think about how you plan to use bounced Audio. Let's consider the Render Settings > Miscellaneous > Insert and Master FX combinations and how these can influence your workflow:

• Master OFF / Insert ON - Bouncing Instrument Channels and Insert Mixer FX to audio. Route the Audio Clip to the Master Channel. Replace the Pattern Clip instances with the matching Audio Clip/s. Optionally disable, or remove, the Insert Mixer FX and or Instrument Channels if they are not used by other Patterns.
• Master ON / Insert ON - Bouncing Instrument Channels, Master and Insert FX to audio. Replace the Pattern Clip instances with the matching Audio Clip/s and route the Audio Clip to the Master Mixer Insert Channel. Disable, or remove, the Instrument Channels (if they are not used by other Patterns), Master and Insert Mixer FX.
• Master OFF / Insert OFF - Bouncing Instrument Channels to audio. Special-use case. A caveat with this combination, when multiple Mixer Channels are used by the Pattern, their FX can't be easily re-applied to a single Audio Clip. So, how you use this option will depend on your 'special needs'. Let us know in Looptalk.
• Master ON / Insert OFF - Bouncing Instrument Channels and Master FX to audio. Another 'special-use' case, let us know in Looptalk.

NOTE: To include Master FX on individual Playlist Track renders (Stems) use the Playlist menu option - Tools > Export all playlist tracks. NOTE: See here for some important notes when working with some effect types and this feature.

Project Picker

The Project Picker can be opened by (Ctrl+F8), Right-Clicking the Clip Source selector (indicated above) or Mouse X1 button on the Playlist, Piano roll or FL Studio background wallpaper. Plugin Picker video tutorial here.

• Preview items - Place the Mouse Cursor over items without clicking. When an item is previewed related Patterns or Channels display a yellow tick. For example, the image above shows that two Patterns use the Sytrus Channel previewed.
• Select items - Click on items and the Project Picker will close automatically.
• Change Category (Mouse-wheel) - Roll the Mouse-wheel when the picker is open to change category (All, Pattern or Channel view).
• Close (Esc) - Press the Escape key, Right-Click on the Project Picker background or select an item.

Working with Clips

Take the time to learn the Playlist keyboard shortcuts associated with your most common Clip operations. In particular, the shortcuts that swap between editing tools are great time savers.

Selection Methods (while in Draw or Paint mode)

Most commonly you will be in Draw () or Paint () mode, if so holding (Shift) will swap between Paint & Draw modes, although the cursor does not change in appearance. Further, holding the ( Ctrl) key will temporarily enable Select mode:

• Select a rectangular area in the audio or pattern tracks - Hold (Ctrl) & drag to define the selection area with the left Mouse button.
• Add to existing selection - Hold (Ctrl+Shift) while making a rectangular selection to add to the existing selection.
• Select a group of pattern tracks - Hold (Ctrl) & drag up/down inside the pattern name area on the left side of the screen.
• Select a time region - Hold (Ctrl) & drag left/right inside the timeline area.
• Select a marked time region - Double-click a time marker in the timeline to select the time region from this marker to the next one (or to the end of the song if is the last one).
• Select the region between markers - Click (Ctrl+Left-click) on the left edge of the left-most marker bounding the region to be selected.

Universal Clip Editing Methods

• Snap settings () - Snap controls how Clips move on the Playlist grid and many of the other editing functions below. Set this to 'line' if you want the Clips to snap to bar boundaries or to 'none' if you want to freely position & slice Clips.
• Inserting Clips - To insert a Clip, select the Clip you want to place from the Clip Source menu (indicated above) OR Right-Click the Clip focus selectors (indicated above) to choose Clips of the type selected. Next, in Draw () or Paint () mode, Left-click on an empty area of a Clips track where you want to place the Clip. Paint mode allows you to paint multiple instances of the Clip at once (hold the Mouse button & drag).

• Insert time into the Playlist (shift Clips to the right) - Hold (Ctrl), click and drag on the time-line at the top of the Playlist starting from the point you want to insert space into the timeline AND for the duration of the insertion you want. With (Ctrl) still held press the (Insert) key on your keyboard. Insert time into the Playlist (slice and move Clips to the right) - Make a time selection as above, then hold (Ctrl+Alt) and press the (Insert) key on your keyboard. The slice point will be at the start of the selection.
• Delete a time selection - Hold (Ctrl), click and drag on the time-line at the top of the Playlist to select the region to be deleted. Press (Ctrl+Del) to delete all patterns in the current selection and move Clips to the right of the selection into the gap.
• Select Clips - To make a selection of more than one Clip. Use the Select tool and click and drag a rectangle around the Clips to be selected. To add Clips to this selection hold the (Shift) key and make further selections.

  OR if you are in Draw or Paint mode, hold (Ctrl) key and you will drop into Select mode while the (Ctrl) key is held. Holding the (Ctrl+Shift) keys will allow you to add and remove Clips to / from an existing selection.

  OR use the Magic lasso feature. Move your Mouse pointer in a loop that encloses the Clips you want to select (no clicking required, it's 'magic' remember). Make sure you have no Clips selected before you perform the lasso action (Right-Click the empty Playlist to deselect all Clips and make another selection).

• Zoom to area - (Ctrl+Right-Click) and drag over a selection of the Playlist. Un-Zoom area - (Ctrl+Right-Click) anywhere on the Playlist (don't drag).
• Zoom to a Clip - (Ctrl+Shift+Right-Click) on a Clip will maximize the zoom of the Playlist to the selected Clip. To Un-Zoom Clip - (Ctrl+Right-Click) anywhere on the Playlist (don't drag in this mode since that is how to zoom to selection).
• Delete/Erase a Clip - Right-Click the target Clip or use the left Mouse button if you are in erase () mode.
• Copy/Paste Clips - Make a selection, release the Mouse and any keys held, then hold the (Shift) key, then click on the selection and drag. A copy of the selection will follow the Mouse cursor. Release the selection when the Clips are in the alternative location. NOTE: In 'Slice tool' mode this will initiate a slice, not copy. OR Make a selection, press (Ctrl+C) to copy, then scroll the Playlist so that the starting bar for the paste location is at the left edge of the Playlist and press (Ctrl+V).
• Duplicate selection - Make a selection and press (Ctrl+B). The selection, or all Clips if no selection is made, will be duplicated to the right of the original selection. To define a specific repeat interval, make a time-line selection equal to the complete interval to be duplicated and press (Ctrl+B). NOTE: The time-line selection and note selection can be made independently. The repeat interval is set by the time-line selection, the Clips duplicated by the Clip selection. In this way, Clips outside the time-line selection can be duplicated according to the time-line interval.
• Slicing Clips - Use the Slice tool (), go to a Clip, click and hold the left Mouse button, then drag vertically through the Clip/s to be sliced. OR...
  • No drag slicing - In Slice tool mode, hold (Right-Shift), then click and hold on the Clip, position the knife horizontally and release the Mouse where you want to slice. NOTE: In other tool modes this will initiate a copy-drag, not slice.
  • Slicing in Paint or Draw mode - You can drop into slice mode by holding (Alt + Right-Shift), then click and hold on the Clip, position the knife horizontally and release the Mouse where you want to slice. If you want snapping release the (Alt) key after you have clicked on the Clip, then horizontally position the knife (now with snapping) and release the Mouse button where you want to slice. You can engage and disengage the (Alt) key while dragging horizontally if you change your mind about snap mode.

  NOTES: For Audio Clips the Zero-cross setting on the Clip Focus selector and Snap () setting will influence precisely where the Clip will slice. Hold the (Alt) key to temporarily disable snap for precision slicing. If you don't feel the maximum zoom provides enough resolution, increase the PPQ setting in the Project > General options.

• Resizing & Slip-editing Clips - Resized or sliced Clips are just a window over the original data (data still exists outside the visible Clip boundaries). You can either move the start/end positions of the Clip without moving the data in the Clip OR reposition the data while maintaining the start/end positions.

  In Draw () or Paint () mode hold (Shift) and drag on the start or end of the Clip. Automation Clips need to be resized by dragging on the Clip Title Bar (that also holds the Clip Menu). This is because the lower clip area is used to edit Control Points. To 'slip edit' the data within the window, select the slip tool () (S) then Left-click and drag inside the Clip and move the Mouse left/right.

  NOTES: 1. The Playlist Menu option 'Allow resizing from the left' should be enabled to allow resizing from the start. 2. The Snap settings will determine how the data slips. Hold the (Alt) key to temporarily disable snap. Perfect for aligning vocals to the beat.

• Ripple-editing - Moves the start/end of the Clip while preserving the data at the start/end by 'slipping' the data at the opposite end to extend/shorten the length of the Clip. Select the slip tool () (Shift+S) then Left-click and drag on the start/end of the Clip. NOTE: The Snap settings will determine how the data slips. Hold the (Alt) key will temporarily disable snap for fine-tuning. Perfect for aligning vocals to the beat.
• Swap Clips - Open the Clip Menu (the small icon in the top left corner of each Clip) and from the Select source channel menu, pick an alternative Clip. Hold (Shift) to preserve the Start and End points of the Clip. That is to preserve the relative position in each Clip that is changed.
• Edit Clip channel settings - To open the Channel Settings associated with a Clip, open the Clip Menu (the small icon in the top left corner of each Clip) and select Channel Settings or double-click the title-bar of the Clip.
• Group Clips - (Shift+G) - Grouping functions so that selecting, moving or deleting any Clip from a group will cause all others notes in the group to be selected, moved or deleted, etc. Any number of groupings may be created. To group Clips - make a selection using the Select tool, then use the Group function. Activated / deactivate grouping: Use the Note / Pattern Grouping switch on the Toolbar shortcut icons. Deselecting the Grouping switch will disable Clip grouping behavior until the switch is reactivated.
• Move clips vertically - Make a selection and hold (Shift) and press the Up/Down arrow keys. If no selection is made then all the Clips will be moved.
• Audition a Clip - Select the Playback tool and click on the Clip of interest in the Playlist OR (Alt+Right-Click ) on the Clip in the Playlist OR Select Preview from the Clip Menu (the small down arrow at the start of each Clip) and press the Stop button in the Transport panel to stop the preview).
• Clone Clips - Open the Clip Menu (icon at the top left corner of each Clip) and select 'Make Unique'. By default, all instances of a given Clip share the same Channel or data. To make edits to the source data without affecting the other instances use the make unique feature. The Clip channel will be cloned and the clone will be assigned to the Clip that was edited, making it 'unique'. In the case of Audio Clips where you want to clone the audio file on disk, use 'Make unique as sample'. Use this when you want to physically edit/manipulate the sample data and change it in some way.
• Rescale Clip placement - Make a selection then (Right-Shift) and click on the right-side of the right-most Clip, then drag. Holding the (Alt) key will snap to 25% increments.
• Beat slicing - You can split your Clips into even pieces for each bar or beat in the timeline. Open the Clip Menu and from the Chop into menu select Bar or Beat. Beat Random) splits the Audio Clip in beats and reorders the resulting pieces in a random order.

Audio Clip Specific Features

Audio Clips have a few unique properties, as discussed on the Audio Clip page.

Automation Clip Specific Features

Automation Clips have a range of unique properties, as discussed on the Automation Clip page.

Pattern Clip Specific Features

Pattern Clips have a few unique properties, as discussed on the Pattern Clip page.

Clip Menus

Under the menu icons at the top left corner of each Clip you will find a menu with the following options, depending on the Clip type selected:

• Pattern / Audio / Automation Clip
  • Preview - Previews/plays the Clip.
  • Select source pattern/channel - Replaces the existing Clip with the selected source. Hold (Shift) to apply the relative start/end points of the current Clip to the new one.
  • Channel settings (Audio / Automation Clips) - Opens the channel settings for the Clip.
  • Edit pattern (Patterns) - Opens the Piano roll.
  • Rename and recolor - Rename and recolor the Clip.
  • Change color - Change the color of the Clip.
  • Make unique - Clones the original Clip so that edits on the new Clip do not affect other instances. NOTE: With Audio Clips the original audio file is re-used in the new Audio Clip channel. Alternatively use 'Make unique as sample' (see below).
  • Select all similar Clips - Selects all instances of the same Clip in the Playlist.
  • Delete - Deletes the Clip. Beware that the Clip may be used in other places in the Playlist.
  • Use current time signature (Patterns) - Sets the Pattern to the Time Signature a the Clips current location.
• Region
  • Select region - Selects a region if existing.
  • Chop (Clips) - Opens a sub-menu with chopping options. Slices the Clip into rhythmic pieces aligned with the grid. NOTE: Chopping will be applied to all selected Clips.
• Sample (Audio Clips)
  • Make unique as sample - Clones the original Audio Clip AND clones the sample file on disk. Use this when you want to physically edit the sample data and change it in some way. NOTE: Hold (Shift) to skip the sample save location pop-up.
  • Edit sample (E) - Opens the integrated Edison Wave Editor, or the custom wave editor you have selected in the Tools window.
  • Pitch correct sample (P) - Opens the integrated Pitch Correction plugin, NewTone with the current sample. After editing, drag the sample from the editor and drop on the Channel Preview window.
  • Time-warp sample - Opens the integrated Time Warping plugin, NewTime with the current sample. After editing, drag the sample from the editor and drop on the Channel Preview window.
  • Detect tempo - Opens the tempo detection dialog and offers to set FL Studio to the same tempo.
  • Fit to tempo - Fits the sample to the project tempo. You can also use this to lock samples to the project tempo so they stretch to fit a new tempo when it is changed.
• Automate (Audio Clips) - Opens a sub-menu with the following options:
  • Volume / Pan - Create Automation Clips for the sample Volume or Pan.
  • Crossfade with - Creates a crossfade Volume Automation Clip envelope for overlapping Audio Clips. The single Automation Clip created is inversely linked to the other Clip of the pair, so the crossfade is performed between both Clips with a single envelope.

Playlist Menu

The Playlist menu button has options and commands for managing the Playlist.

• Edit - Many of these functions can be achieved with the edit tools along the top of the Playlist.
  • Cut (Ctrl+X) - Cuts all selected pattern bars and Audio Clips to the clipboard.
  • Copy (Ctrl+C) - Copies all selected pattern bars and Audio Clips to the clipboard.
  • Paste (Ctrl+V) - Pastes pattern bars and Audio Clips from the clipboard.
  • Duplicate (Ctrl+B) - Duplicate the selection to the right of the current location. If no selection is made all patterns are duplicated.
  • Delete (Del) - Deletes all selected pattern bars and Audio Clips. If no selection is made deletes all pattern bars and Audio Clips.
  • Shift left / right (Shift+Left-arrow) / (Shift+Right-arrow) - Shifts the current selection left / right by 1 snap-unit.
  • Shift up / down (Shift+Up-arrow) / (Shift+Down-arrow) - Shifts current selection up / down by 1 track. If no selection is made all patterns are moved.
  • Allow resizing from the left (Ctrl+Alt+Home) - Allows the start of Clips to be resized from the left (start).
  • Dropping on track header locks to content - When locked to content the track will insert/paint the Clip that it is locked to.

  • Drop audio on track headers - Associated with Track Mode assignment. Choose between the following options:
    • As audio clips - The Playlist Track will be renamed to match the Audio file and an Audio Clip will be added to the Track. No other associations are made, this replicates default behavior prior to FL Studio 20.
    • As audio tracks - The Playlist Track and auto-assigned Mixer Track are named to match the Audio file. The Audio Clip is also added to the Playlist Track. Subsequent audio files dropped on the Playlist Track will be auto-routed to the associated Mixer Track. TIP: Hold (Shift) to prevent the Channel Editor from opening.
    • As instrument tracks - The Playlist Track, auto-assigned Mixer Track and Pattern will be named to match the Audio file. The Pattern will be added to the Playlist Track. The audio will be added to the Channel Rack as a Sampler Channel. This is useful when sequencing percussion, for example.
    • Always ask - An annoying pop-up will offer the options above, each time audio files are dropped on the Track Headers. This will be confusing as you won't remember what the options do. You will learn to hate the pop-up and start using the options above to suit your workflow preferences.
  • Mute / Unmute - Mute (silence) or un-mute the selected Clips/s or Clip groups.
  • Insert space (Ctrl+Ins) - Creates an empty space that matches the current selection (Ctrl+Click-and-drag) on the bar numbers at the top of the Playlist) by shifting all the following Pattern Clips forward.
  • Slice and insert space (Ctrl+Alt+Ins) - Slices at the start of the current selection and moves the sliced Clips to the end of the current selection.
  • Delete space (Ctrl+Del) - Erases all patterns in the current selection and shifts Clips to the right of the deleted section, left to close the gap.
  • Merge pattern clips (Ctrl+G) - Merges the selected Pattern Clips into a single Clip.
  • Merge similar pattern clips (Shift+Ctrl+G) - As above, but merges similar repetitions everywhere in the Playlist. NOTE: The process creates a new 'merged' Pattern, the original Patterns still exist. Video Here
  • Merge automation clips (Ctrl+Alt+G) - Merges selected Automation Clips. Where the Clips are on different Playlist Tracks, the first (left-most) Automation Clip in the group will be used as the starting point for the new Automation Clip. The pop-up dialog will ask for link preferences:
    • Keep links of the first selected clip - The target/s of the first Automation Clip (left-most) will be automated.
    • Merge all links - All targets from all Automation Clips will be automated.
    • Delete all links - All targets will be forgotten. The Automation Clip will need to be re-linked.
  • Automatic crossfades - See Project Settings > Playlist.
  • Create new clips with manual fades - Set all newly created Audio Clips with a manual Crossfade setting.
  • Snap fade handles - Fade handles move and snap to the Playliust grid (snap setting).

• Tools.
  • Quick quantize start times (Ctrl+Q) - Aligns all selected patterns to the snap setting set in the () Snap Selector.
  • Consolidate playlist selection - Converts the selected Pattern and Audio Clip/s to a single Audio Clip and mutes the source Clips. The consolidated Audio Clip is routed to the Master Mixer Channel. By default, all Channel Instruments / Audio Clips are captured through their respective Mixer Channels including FX, but without Master FX (so the Master FX are not applied twice). If necessary, you can change these settings on the Render Dialog pop-up that appears to confirm the action. There are two length options:
    • From selection start (Ctrl+Alt+C) - Creates an Audio Clip starting at the first selected Clip or Timeline selection to the last selected Clip end.
    • From song start (Shift+Ctrl+Alt+C) - Creates an Audio Clip starting from the beginning of the Playlist. Use this method when you are creating song-length 'stems' to share with other projects, as there will be no confusion where the Clip/s should be placed (at the start of Bar 1).

    NOTE: You can use this feature to merge several vocal or instrumental recordings into a single Audio Clip, or to reduce CPU load.

  • Export all playlist tracks - Sequentially renders each Playlist track to an audio file. NOTE: See the section on 'Bouncing to Audio / Freezing' for full details on this feature. There are some caveats associated with Mixer Effects rendering as expected. Sub-options include:
    • From song start - Create an audio track for each Playlist track from the start of the Playlist.
    • From track start - Create an audio track for each Playlist track from the start of the data in the Playlist Track. This will result in uneven length 'stems' (files).
    • Time selection - Create an audio track for each Playlist for the selected time range.
  • Export all playlist track groups - Same as the above, but creates only one WAV file for Grouped Playlist Tracks (the parent and sub-track audio is combined). NOTE: See the section on 'Bouncing to Audio / Freezing' for full details on this feature. There are some caveats associated with Mixer Effects rendering as expected. Sub-options include:
    • From song start - Create an audio track for each Playlist track from the start of the Playlist.
    • From track start - Create an audio track for each Playlist track from the start of the data in the Playlist Track. This will result in uneven length 'stems' (files).
    • Time selection - Create an audio track for each Playlist for the selected time range.
  • Clone selected playlist track(s) (Alt+B) - Duplicate existing Playlist track, with the option to clone Patterns, Audio Clips, Automation, Effects (in linked Mixer tracks) and Grouped Playlist Tracks. You can also Clone individual tracks from the Track Header (Right-Click) Menu.
• View - Change the way the Clips and Playlist appear.
  • Grid Color(Ctrl+Alt+G) - Opens a dialog box that lets you choose a color for the Playlist grid.
  • Grid contrast - Choose High, Medium or Low contrast for the Grid.
  • Invert grid - Changes the Playlist bar-grid lines from light to dark.
  • Track separators - Track separators are the horizontal lines separating Clip Tracks when this switch is selected.
  • Time segments - Change the Playlist background shading to represent time-periods according to the option selected. The default is 'Bars'.
  • Keep labels on screen - When the Playlist is scrolling, Clip labels are slid along the Clips to keep them in view as long as possible before the Clip disappears to the left.
  • Content in title bars - Displays Clip contents when in 'Tile' mode, activated by vertical zoom setting.
  • Behind clips - Choose the background shading of Clips.
    • Nothing - Clips are transparent.
    • Plain - Clips lightly colored on their background.
    • Cel - Clips show a hint of color on their background.
    • Glass - Reflections from top and bottom.
    • Aqua - Reflections from top.
    • Solid - Solid color on background.
  • Shadow - Ads a shadow beneath Clips.
  • Resize all tracks - Choose from 33% to 200% to resize all Playlist tracks to the selected size.
  • Hide collapsed grouped tracks - Collapsed grouped tracks will be hidden. A small arrow will appear on the right side of the track header to open/close the group.
  • Show fade previews - When Audio Clip Envelopes are used, the waveform will reflect level changes caused by the envelope. Deselect 'fade previews' when this view mode interferes with your ability to see important information in the waveform. TIP: When deselected hold (Alt) for temporary previews.
  • Show gain value - Shows the gain value badge at all times, if the value was changed from the default dB.
  • Show gain scale - Determines if the audio will scale visually as Clip gain is adjusted.
  • Show gain previews - When Audio Clip Envelopes are used, the waveform will reflect level changes caused by the Gain control. Deselect ;gain previews' this when this view mode interferes with your ability to see important information in the waveform. TIP: When deselected hold (Alt) for temporary previews.
  • Incremental scrolling - The Scroll-bar position will move slowly, rather than jumping to the precise location, when you click on the Scroll Bar rail. To move the Scroll-handle quickly, click on it and drag.
  • Precise time indicator - A vertical line is drawn through the editor window to show playback and edit position.
  • Performance clip progress - In Performance mode, Clip play-progress is animated on active Clips as a horizontal bar.
  • Performance track progress - In Performance mode, track play-progress is indicated on the Playlist track header as a shaded clock animation.
  • Mini playlist preview - Shows a context aware preview of Clips, in the Playlist, on the Scroll bar. Sub-options include:
    • Enable - Show the mini-preview.
    • Double height - Doubles the vertical space to show the preview.
    • Show time markers - Time markers show as orange triangles along the preview bar.
  • Show controls on audio tracks - Display Recording controls on Audio Tracks.
  • Show levels on audio tracks - The track activity indicators show as peak-meters.
  • Show levels on instrument tracks - The track activity indicators show as peak-meters.
  • Remove background picture - You can drag-and-drop .png format images on the Playlist to create a background image. Use this to remove them.

• Snap - Snap determines how events will move relative to the Playlist grid and how quantization aligns events (NOTE: holding the Alt key temporarily sets snap to 'none'). The options are:
  • Main - Snap is set to the Global snap value.
  • Line - Clips snap to the nearest grid-line, notice that the grid changes resolution as the Playlist is Zoomed horizontally.
  • Cell - Clips snap to the start of the grid-cell they fall in.
  • (none) - No snapping. Movement is limited only by the Project Timebase (PPQ) setting (F11). NOTE: Snapping can be temporarily disabled by holding the Alt key when dragging Clips.
  • Steps 1/6 to 1 (step) - Absolute grid values equal to the nominated fraction of a step.
  • Beats 1/6 to 1 (beat) - Absolute beats values equal to the nominated fraction of a beat.
  • Bar - 1 bar.
  • Events - Relative to existing events. This is useful to show the boundaries of sliced events when they are butted against each other, as events surrounding the selected event change color.
• Select - Making selections:
  • Deselect (Ctrl+D) - Undo any selection.
  • Select all (Ctrl+A) - Selects all Clips.
  • Select by selected source (Shift+C) - Selects all Pattern Clips associated with the currently selected source Clip.
  • Select muted - Select all Clips that have been muted (by the mute selection tool). NOTE: You can use the shortcuts (Alt+M) and (Alt+Shift+M) to Mute and Unmute selections.
  • Select possible conflicts -
  • Invert selection - (Shift+I) Inverts the selection (what was selected is now deselected and what was deselected is now selected).
  • Select time around selection (Ctrl+Enter) - Selects the time-line range occupied by the Clips currently selected in the Playlist. If no selection is made the Zoomed range will be selected.
  • Select previous time (Ctrl+Left arrow) - Shifts a selection (made by Ctrl+Left-click and swiping the time-bar) by its own width to the right.
  • Select next time (Ctrl+Right arrow) - Shifts a selection (made by Ctrl+Left-click and swiping the time-bar) by its own width to the left.
• Group - Make a selection then use the following:
  • Group - (Shift+G) - Group selected Clips. Grouping functions so that selecting, moving or deleting any Clip in a group will cause all others notes in the group to be selected, moved or deleted, etc. Any number of groupings may be created. To group Clips: make a selection using the () Select tool, then use the Group function. Activated / deactivate grouping: Use the Note / Pattern Grouping switch on the Toolbar shortcut icons. Deselecting the Note / Pattern Grouping switch will disable note grouping behavior until the switch is reactivated.
  • Ungroup - (Alt+G) - Ungroup selected notes. Select one Clip in the group then use this function to ungroup all Clips in the group.
• Zoom - Contains a submenu with a set of quick zooming levels:
  • Zoom in/ Zoom out (Page up / Page down) - Zoom centers on the Cursor position.
  • Quick-zoom 1, 2 & 3 (Shift+1, 2, 3) - Three handy zoom levels.
  • Zoom out far (Shift+4) - Minimum horizontal zoom.
  • Zoom on selection (Shift+5) - Zoom to time-line selection. The command will be disabled if no time region is selected in the timeline.
  • Zoom on performance clips (Shift+6) - Zoom to the Performance zone in the Playlist.

• Time markers - Markers can be used to label parts of your song (such as 'chorus' for example), define regions or to change live Playlist playback behavior. Playlist menu options are:
  • Add marker... (Alt+T) - Add a time marker above the time-line. Type a name for the marker and press Enter. The marker can be dragged into the correct location after naming. If the project already has markers, then Right-Click a marker and select Add new marker from the pop-up menu. NOTE: Time markers are used to annotate the Playlist and can also serve as live performance points (see marker type below).
  • Add auto (Ctrl+T) - Adds a time marker named 'Auto' ready to be edited.
  • Add two - Make a time-line selection and use this option. Markers will be added at the start and end of the selection.
  • Add one every - Select from Bar, 2 bars, 4 bars or 8 bars. You must make a time-line selection first.
  • Add jump to next bar - Adds a marker of type Jump to the next bar (Skips to the next marker after that).
  • Add time signature change... (Shift+Alt+T) - If a selection is made, the Time signature will apply for the selection. A second markers is added, reverting the Time signature to the setting before the selection.
  • Place loop (Shift+T) - Adds a loop return Time Marker.
  • Delete - Delete the marker/s in the time-line selection. If no selection is made then all markers are deleted.
  • Change marker to loop - Changes the marker/s in the time-line selection to the Loop type. If no selection is made then all markers are changed to loop. Right-Click markers to choose other marker types.
  • Start recording/Stop recording at selection - Adds start/stop recording markers to the selection. These automate the main Recording control on/off.

  Marker/lane right-click menu:

  • Add marker... (Alt+T) - Add a time marker above the time-line. Type a name for the marker and press Enter. The marker can be dragged into the correct location after naming. If the project already has markers, then Right-Click a marker and select Add new marker from the pop-up menu. NOTE: Time markers are used to annotate the Playlist and can also serve as live performance points (see marker type below).
  • Add time signature... (Shift+Alt+T) - If a selection is made, the Time signature will apply for the selection. A second markers is added, reverting the Time signature to the setting before the selection.
  • Place loop (Shift+T) - Adds a loop return Time Marker.
  • Delete - Delete the marker/s in the time-line selection. If no selection is made then all markers are deleted.
  • Rename... - Edit the name at the pop-up name dialog and press enter.
  • Move content left / right - This option moves this content to the left or right of the next markers content region. A markers 'content' is defined as those Clips between the current marker and the next. NOTE: Selecting the menu option View > Time segments > Markers will display marker region/s by shading the Playlist.

  Action - Set the Markers purpose:

  • None - The marker has no effect. Default type used where markers are just labels.
  • Start - Playback and time = 0 starts from the set point.
  • Loop - Playback will return to this marker when the end of all data in the Playlist is reached. NOTE: Placing this marker type beyond the end of the last data will also cause FL Studio to render to that point.
  • Marker loop - When the playback reaches the next marker playback will jump back to the Loop marker creating a loop.
  • Marker skip - Playback will jump to the next marker skipping any Playlist data between them.
  • Marker pause - Playback will Pause unless the preceding marker is the Loop type.
  • Time signature - Set a Time signature to start from this point.
  • Start recording / Stop recording - Automates the main recoding button on and off respectively.

NOTE: Check the Playlist Menu option View > Time segments > Markers to see the Playlist grid shaded by marker region.

Working with Time Markers

• Reposition a marker - Left-click and drag the marker from its left-most edge and release when desired. Markers can be dragged past existing markers without disturbing them.
• Using the time line - Right-Click on the time line to add a marker at the desired location and select 'Add marker'.

Live song jumps - You can using a MIDI keyboard, typing keyboard shortcuts (see below) or FF/RW transport keys on a multimedia keyboard to jump between time markers to create innovative live performances. Video tutorial here. To use a MIDI keyboard:

• Set the MIDI options 'Song marker jump MIDI channel' to the same MIDI channel as your controller. NOTE: To play plugin instruments just use different MIDI channel to the 'Song marker jump MIDI channel'.
• Turn OFF the Audio Option 'Reset Plugins on Transport'. This should give a faster and less glitchy response when jumping and moving the song position marker.
• Turn ON the Audio Option 'Play truncated notes'. This ensures any notes started before a jump point, and crossing it, still play.
• Select 'Live mode' from the Playlist menu. This changes the jump-to behavior so that jumps happen on bar divisions and also shows the jump-to points (as a gray position marker).

NOTE: Link the Channel mute switches to buttons on your MIDI controller to mute and unmute instruments during a performance for added variation.

Once markers have been added and their type defined they will respond as follows:

NOTE: Keyboard shortcuts apply to the Number Pad only.

• Enable - Show/hide the Picker Panel.
• Show on right side - Moves the Picker Panel to the right side of the Playlist.
• Width - Select a predefined Picker Panel width.
• Select linked channels - Channels associated with the selected Clip will be selected in the Channel Rack.
• Select from playlist/channel rack - Clicking Clips in the Playlist will select them in the Picker Panel.
• Show empty patterns - Shows empty patterns in the Picker Panel.
• Drag to rearrange - Allows you to click and drag on Clips to rearrange them.
• Auto group patterns/channels - When using 'Clone' and 'Make Unique' commands, keeps the copies in the same Groups as the source Clips.
• Select unused - Select unused Pattern, Audio or Automation Clips. Unused Clips are those not placed in the Playlist.
• Sort - Sort Pattern, Audio or Automation Clips by Name, Color, Mixer track etc, depending on what is appropriate for the Clip type.

Multi-touch Gestures

See FL Studio User Interface > Multi-touch support

Playlist keyboard shortcuts

See the Playlist Keyboard Shortcuts page.