Considering Image-Line has been around for 28 years, chances are good it won't go out of business tomorrow, either.
That's an amazing benefit not only do other manufacturers expect you to pony up upgrade fees at least every couple of years, but several have moved to subscription and/or membership-type plans that siphon money out of your account every single month for continued support.
Regardless of which version you purchase, you get free lifetime updates from Image-Line-and that includes full number revisions as well as point updates. The All Plugins Bundle ($899) brings in a number of typically extra-cost Image-Line synths, like Poizone, Ogun, Morphine, and the physical modeling-based Sakura for unique string-instrument sounds.
Signature ($299), the version I tested, adds the NewTone pitch correction and time editor, the full version of the DirectWave sampler, the slick Harmless additive and subtractive synth, a video player, and a few additional guitar and drum plug-ins. Producer ($199) adds the ability to record with microphones and edit or pitch audio clips, as well as the Sytrus synth. It does include a good selection of synths and effect plug-ins, though, as well as automation support, the step sequencer, the piano roll, and the event editor. Fruity ($99) is entirely for in-the-box music production and lacks the ability to record or manipulate audio clips. Just know that it caters to step sequencer and pattern-based playlist fans more than those expecting a more linear multitrack recording experience.įL Studio is available in four versions. If your memory of FL Studio is closer to its roots-when the Belgian company's audio editing app looked more like a 1980s Amiga tracker than a proper DAW-prepare to be amazed at how far the program has come. Although it's still clearly geared for electronic music production "in the box," as opposed to recording live musicians playing acoustic instruments, you can record or create just about any kind of audio project with it. Image-Line's FL Studio, known affectionately by long-term fans as FruityLoops (the app's original name, when it debuted in 1998), has matured into a powerful digital audio workstation (DAW).
The drum sequencer is also straight forward. This is helpful because I never play my melodies perfect.
The piano roll is very straight forward, and has its own list of options such as quantize. If you go through it with the arrow keys on the keyboard like I do sometimes you push up and down to pick a file, and to open a folder or play a sound push the right arrow while the left closes a folder. All you have to do then is click the folder and search for the right sounds. If you have a sample folder all you have to do is drag the folder into the list and it will automatically link the folder to the list. The menu on the left side is easy to navigate through, and easy to customize. Once you are done listening to it (if you even did) you can open up a new project and start.
When you first open FL, it opens with a demo song to show you the range of abilities this software covers. It has everything from a sequencer, piano roll, recording capabilities and many other aspects I could spend a hour and a half describing each one. I don't remember what version I picked up first, but it is what I learned to make beats on.įirst of all let me say, Fruity Loops is a great all around program for the low price. My view is a little bias on Fruity Loops because I have been making music with it for years.