INSTRUMENTS / EFFECTS

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Patcher
FL Studio Reference Manual
Patcher loads as an instrument or effect and allows you to chain both instruments and effects into complete
Title Page units for reuse in other projects. Set up your favorite instrument & effects chain for example. You can also use it
to add unlimited effects or instruments in a single Channel or Effects slot. A Control Surface is automatically
What is FL Studio? addedinto Patcher, so you can create custom interfaces for your patches to make them easier to use, and link
parameters into adjustable controls in a multitude of different configurations. Related plugins: Control Surface,
What's New in FL Studio 21?
Fruity Layer, Fruity Formula Controller and Minihost Modular.

Product Information

Purchasing & Registration

Introduction to FL Studio

What's New?

The user interface

Video tutorials

Making music (Tutorial)

Hardware controllers

Software controllers

Touch Controllers

IL Remote App

Keyboard & Mouse shortcuts

NOTES:
Useful web-links
1. The workspace is resizable - Drag on the window to resize OR drag an object to the edge of the
Setting Up FL Studio workspace to auto-resize. Use the scroll-bars to navigate the space.

Setup Wizard 2. Arranging - The Menu option 'Auto-arrange modules' creates module columns to represent
multithreaded processing logic.
Audio Setup
3. Processing - Modules added at the same number of nodes (after the 'From FL Studio' node) are
ASIO Driver Setup processed at the same time (multithreaded), modules at different node-depths columns are processed
sequentially.
Primary Sound Driver Setup
4. Patcherize existing plugins - Use the Channel Button ( Right-Click) Menu > 'Patcherize' or Hold
MIDI Setup
( Shift) and drop Patcher over them.

File Settings Setup

5. Open multiple plugin windows - Use ( Alt+Left-Click) to open the plugin UIs.

Next Steps
Video Tutorials
Options & Settings

System Settings
FL STUDIO | 1Knob Series Patcher FX Presets
MIDI Settings Share

Audio Settings

Audio ASIO4ALL Settings

General Settings

File Settings

Theme

Debugging Information

Project Settings

Project Information

Project General Settings

Main Menu, Panels & Tool Bars Watch on

Main Menu Bar

File Menu
FL STUDIO | Xeno:sh Patcher FX Presets
Edit Menu Share

Add Menu

Patterns Menu

View Menu

Options Menu

Tools Menu

Help Menu

Toolbar

Editing the Toolbar

Main Menu

Title & Hint Panel Watch on

Transport Panel

CPU & Memory Panel Patcher Controls

Global Snap Panel
Navigation
Output Panel

Online Panel General Navigation

Pattern Panel Vertical Scrolling - ( Mouse-wheel) scrolls up and down (when not fully zoomed out).

Shortcut Icons Zoom Vertically - ( Ctrl+Mouse-wheel).

Time Panel Zoom Horizontally - ( Alt+Mouse-wheel).

Multilink Controllers Icon Zoom in Both Directions - ( Shift+Mouse-wheel).

Main Volume & Pitch Panel Pan view - ( Middle-Click) on the patcher map and drag.

Window Controls Mini Map Navigation

File Browser The Minimap is a navigational aid, most useful when working with large projects at high zoom levels.

Plugin Database

Project Browser

Advanced folder stuff

Channel Rack & Step Sequencer

Channel Button Menu

Channel Settings

Main Control

Sampler Setting

Instrument Setting Minimap Icon - Left click to enable/disable the Mini-map. The Minimap will show an orange rectangle
representing the view-area. The more you zoom in ( Mouse-wheel) on the Map. The Minimap view
Miscellaneous Setting area will resize to represent the visible area. Click and drag the rectangle to move the visible area. (
Right-Click) for additional controls:
Automation Clip Setting
Size - Tiny, Medium or Large. You can also click the edge of the map and manually resize it.
Layer Setting
Position - Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left and Bottom Right. You can also click on the Map of
Plugin Window Setting
the Minimap (avoiding the selected area) and manually drag the Minimap to any location.

Piano Roll
Map components key:

Piano Roll Arpeggiator

Zoom Regions - The Orange rectangles show selected or pre-defined zoom regions (the visible
area in the Map window). ( Left-Click) the regions to switch your view.
Piano Roll Articulator

Instrument/Effect nodes - Gray rectangles.

Piano Roll Chopper

FL Studio Input/Output nodes - Cyan rectangles.

Piano Roll Claw Machine

Minimap display shortcuts:

Piano Roll Flam Tool

Toggle map visibility - ( m).

Piano Roll Flip Tool

Cycle sizes - ( Shift+m).

Piano Roll LFO Tool

Map position - ( 1, 2, 3 or 4) predefined corner locations. 1 (top-left), 2 (top-right), 3

Piano Roll Key Limiter Tool
(bottom-right) and 4 (bottom-left). To manually position ( Left-Click+Drag) anywhere
Piano Roll Menu outside the Zoom Region/s.

Import MIDI Data Dialog Resize - Drag any corner of the map to manually resize.

Piano Roll Quantizer Minimap view keyboard shortcuts and gestures:

Piano Roll Randomizer Create a zoom region - ( Ctrl+Right-Click+Drag) the area to view.

Riff Machine Pan view - ( Click+Drag) on a Zoom Region (orange square) OR ( Middle-Click) on the
patcher map and drag.
Piano Roll Scale Level Tool
Zoom both axes - ( Ctrl+Alt+Middle Mouse-Click+Drag) horizontal and vertically.
Piano Roll Strum Tool
Zoom horizontally - ( Alt+Middle Mouse-Click+Drag) horizontally.
Playlist
Zoom on mouse-position - ( Mouse-wheel+Up/Down).
Patterns
Zoom out temporarily - ( Double-Click) on empty Map.
Audio Clips
Zoom region 2 replace - ( Ctrl+Right-Click+Drag) while zoomed out.
Automation Clips
Zoom region 2 return - ( Double-Click).
Performance Mode
Zoom regions swap - ( Ctrl+Right-Click) on the Map background.
Instrument / Generator Plugins
Zoom vertically - ( Ctrl+Middle Mouse-Click+Drag) vertically.
Plugin Wrapper

Wrapper: Menu Data Links Filters

( Left-Click) to switch filter groups On/Off. ( Middle Mouse-Click) to Solo/Unsolo a filter group.
Wrapper: Additional Settings

Audio (yellow) - Shows Audio links (inputs & or outputs depending on the plugin).
Wrapper: Plugin Processing

Parameters (red) - Shows internal automation parameter links (plugin program/interface controls).
Wrapper: Troubleshooting

Events (green) - Shows note/event links (MIDI control data).

3x Osc
NOTE: Placing the mouse cursor over Link Nodes will show their name in the Hint Bar.
Audio Clips

Autogun Working with links

Automation Clips Make connections - Objects in Patcher have inputs on the left-side and/or outputs on their right-side.
The connectors show as dots with colors that relate to the Parameter data type (see above). Click on any
BassDrum output or input connector and drag to a compatible connector (shown in green).

BeepMap Dragging to the Middle of an object - Will open a pop-up list of compatible link targets.

BooBass Add / Remove connectors - ( Right-Click) the FL Studio icons, plugins or parameters and
activate/deactivate connectors.
Channel Sampler

Automate plugin controls - You will first need to activate the controls Automation input to the plugin.
Control Surface
These are not activated by default as there may be 100's of controls, and so 100's of input nodes.
Dashboard Proceed to link as follows:

DirectWave Sampler FL Studio native plugins - ( Right-Click) the control and select 'Activate'. Then ( Right-
Click) it again and select Create Automation clip.
FLEX
VST & AU plugins - ( Right-Click) the plugin and choose Inputs > Parameters and select
FL Keys the control. Then ( Right-Click) the controls red node that appears on the plugin input side
and select Create automation clip.
FL Slayer
NOTE: Automation inputs show as a red node and do not have connection cables to the FL Studio
FL Studio Mobile input/output icons.

FPC Break a single connection - Left-click the input connector of a pair. Drag off the input into free space
and release the mouse button.
Fruit Kick
Change connections - Left-click the input connector point and drag to the new target input connector.
Fruity Dance
Audio level - Click on the center arrow on a connection cable and drag vertically. The volume values are
Drumaxx
displayed in the Hint Bar.

Drumpad
Mute audio - ( Right-Click) the link.

Fruity DrumSynth Live

Right-Click nodes (and modules) - To see a popup with options, including to activate nodes, add links

Fruity DX10 etc.

Fruity Envelope Controller Events or MIDI to FX plugins

Fruity Granulizer If you need to get MIDI data to an Instrument plugin that's loaded on Patcher in an FX slot, then:

Fruity Keyboard Controller 1. Load a MIDI Out channel and set it to 'Port 5', for example.

Fruity Layer 2. Right click the 'From FL Studio' icon

Fruity Slicer 3. Select Patcher > Outputs > Events and activate 'Port 5'.

Fruity Vibrator 4. Make the Event connection from FL Studio to the Plugin as normal.

Fruity Video Player

Saving/Loading Patcher Presets
Fruity Voltage Controller
To save a patcher preset - use the Wrapper Menu 'Save preset as' option. You can also drag this menu
Groove Machine Synth item to a new Channel or Effects slot to duplicate the current chain. Patcher is a great way to save your
favorite Instrument & Effects chains ready for use in new projects.
Harmless

Harmless Tutorials

Harmless Credits

Harmor

IL Remote

MIDI Out

MiniSynth
Encapsulate existing plugins - You can 'patcherize' existing plugins on a Channel Rack or Mixer Track
Morphine slot by holding ( Shift) and dropping Patcher onto the existing plugin. If you don't hold SHIFT the
plugin will be replaced rather than encapsulated.
Morphine: General Settings & Controls

Morphine: Generator Page

Morphine: Resynthesis
Morphine: Morph-Mix Page
Morphine: Modulation Page
Tabs
There are two tab types. The Map which is the main workspace and layout window for the Patcher project and
the Control Surfaces that hold internal controllers for the project. These can be renamed, right-click the
control-surface icon on the Map tab, to better reflect their use. You can add as many Control Surfaces as you
need to the project.

Morphine: Credits
Map
The MAP tab allows you to build the plugin & or effects chain.
Ogun
Add plugins & controls - ( Right-Click) the workspace and add from the pop-up menu - Plugins,
Ogun Master
Effects or a Control Surface.

Ogun Synthesis
Opening plugins - As of FL Studio 12 plugins now open in 'detached' mode outside the Patcher UI when

Ogun Effects double-clicked (see below). NOTE: Plugin interface parameters are not right-click linkable or visible to FL
Studio unless a GUI (interface) target has been right-clicked and 'activate' selected. Once this has been
Ogun Tutorial done a Parameter node for the control will also appear on the plugins Map tab icon. There are two ways
to open plugins:
Patcher
Open a plugin and close all others - ( Double-click) a plugin. This applies only to plugins
VFX Color Mapper open for that Patcher instance.

VFX Envelope Open a plugin leave others also open ( Alt+Click) a plugin. This applies only to plugins
open for that Patcher instance.
VFX Key Mapper

Show data types - ( Right-Click) the workspace and select from the pop-up menu the data types to
VFX Keyboard Splitter
be shown (including latency) OR use the Audio, Parameters & Events buttons along the top of the
VFX Level Scaler plugin.

VFX Sequencer Rename objects - ( Right-Click) the target object and select 'Rename' from the pop-up menu.

Plucked! Delete objects - ( Right-Click) the target object and select 'Delete' from the pop-up menu.

Poizone To add plugins - Use ( F8) to open the Plugin Picker OR drag from the Browser > Plugin
database to Patcher's Map tab window OR use ( Right+Click) > Add plugin.
Poizone: Master Controls

Right-Click Map Menu

Poizone: MIDI

Show plugin picker ( F8) - Opens the Plugin picker.

Poizone: LFO

Add plugin - Shows the Plugin Favorites list. Add plugins to this list using the 'F' (favorite) column in the
Poizone: Envelope Generator
Plugin Manager.
Poizone: ADSR (Amplifier)
View - Control the viewing of:
Poizone: Oscillators
Audio / Events / Parameters - Various data connections between plugins.
Poizone: Filter
Activity - Animations on connections that show data flow.
Poizone: Arpeggiator
Labels - Switch plugin labels, on or off, as shown below their icons.
Poizone: Effects
Latency - Shows a panel above the plugin with processing latency shown in ms. Latency
Poizone: Trance Gate compensation within Patcher is automatic.

ReWire Performance - Use this to identify resource intensive plugins. Each module will show a CPU
value in percent (above it) and a summary panel will additionally show:
Sakura
Total - The CPU total for the current instance of Patcher (sum of everything below).
Sawer
Patcher - CPU used processing the Inputs to and Outputs from Patcher (interfacing
Sawer: General Settings with FL Studio).

Sawer: Master Controls Modules - Total CPU usage of all modules.

Sawer: Oscillators Other - Internal CPU overhead.

Sawer: Filter NOTE: The CPU measures shown are based on the same metric used for FL Studio's main CPU
meter. The percentage of the audio buffer length (time) required to create the audio for that
Sawer: Modulation buffer. The CPU percentages shown here, therefore, do not match the Operating System CPU
meter, which shows the percentage of processing slots in use. See here for a detailed
Sawer: Effects (Delay, Chorus)
explanation.
Sawer: Arpeggiator
Auto-arrange modules - Do you trust us to arrange your modules for you? Click it if you dare.
Sawer: MIDI Modulator Multithreaded processing - This option also creates module columns to represent multithreaded
processing logic. Modules in the same column are processed at the same time (multithreaded), modules
Sawer: Credits & Information in separate columns are processed sequentially.

SimSynth Live Hide all plugin windows - Hides all open Plugin interfaces from the current Map.

Slicex Remember tab sizes - Individual tab sizes will be remembered as you switch between them.

Slicex: Master Panel Link velocity - Links MIDI velocity to plugins on the Map that use it.

Slicex: Articulation Panel Multithread plugins on this map - Switches on Multithreading for plugins on the current Map. Learn
more about multithreading here.
Slicex: Wave Editor
About - Shows Patcher version information, useful for Techsupport.
Slicex: Keyboard & Piano roll

SoundFont Player Control Surface

Speech Synthesizer The Control Surface tab/s allow you to add real-time controls that can be linked to plugins in the Map chain.
Parameter objects can be linked to plugins by Right-clicking the plugin on the MAP tab and activating a Parameter
FL SynthMaker by Right-clicking on the plugin. ( Right-Click) a control to automate it from this tab. You can add as many
separate Control Surface tabs as needed to a project. In the image below there are two Control Surfaces, one
Sytrus has been renamed 'Wub this'.

Toxic Biohazard NOTE: You can create your own custom controls with the Control Creator tool. ( Right-Click) the Map and
select Control creator to open it.
Toxic Bio: Master

Toxic Bio: Oscillators

Toxic Bio: Filter

Toxic Bio: LFO

Toxic Bio: FM Matrix

Toxic Bio: MIDI CC

Toxic Bio: Sequencer

Toxic Bio: Effects

Transistor Bass

Wasp

Wasp XT

Wave Traveller Working on the Control Surface tab:

Mixer & Mixing Add a Control Surface - The default Patcher loads with a single Control Surface, to add additional
Control Surfaces drag from the Browser > Plugin database > Patcher > Control Surface and drop
Mixer Functions on Patcher. NOTE: If your plugin database is different, just search for 'Control Surface'.

Mixer Menu Load/save Control Surfaces - Click the Presets button as shown above and either save or load a
Control Surface configuration.
Plugin Effects
Add parameter controls - Click the + (Add) button as shown above and select from the pop-up menu
Mixer Track Properties
of controls.

Audio Input/Output Routing

Edit parameter controls - Click the Edit icon as shown above (controls will show red-rectangles around
them) then you can click and drag to move or right-click and select the size, style, colors and rename the
Audio Recording
control.
Levels, Mixing and Clipping
Automate Native Parameters - From the MAP tab ( Right-Click) the Plugin Icon and select
The dB Scale 'Activate' from the pop-up menu. The control can be Right-clicked again and automated with the usual
options such as 'Create automation clip' or 'Link to controller'.
Effect Plugins
Link plugin parameters to Control Surface parameter controls
Plugin Wrapper
1. Add a Control Surface control with the + button or you can use an existing control.
Wrapper: Menu
2. Open the Map tab and drag FROM the controls related Parameter node on the right side of
Wrapper: Additional Settings the Control Surface icon ONTO the middle of the target Plugin icon and release.

Wrapper: Plugin Processing 3. From the pop-up list select the desired GUI or plugin control target.

Control Surface Automate VST Parameters -

Distructor 1. ( Right-Click) the plugin on the MAP tab and select:

Edison Wave Editor & Recorder 2. Inputs > Parameter and select the automation target Parameter from the pop-up list.

Edison: Sample Properties 3. ( Right-Click) the red Parameter Node that appears on the Plugin and 'Create automation
clip', 'Link to controller' or 'Edit events' as usual.
Edison: Amp Tool

Rename Parameters - ( Right-Click) the parameter and select 'Rename' from the pop-up menu.
Edison: Blur Tool

Live tweaking - Open the Parameter tab and use the mouse on the Parameter of interest as you would
Edison: Convolution / Reverb Tool
any plugin control. Select Multitouch to control multiple controls on a multi-touch monitor.
Edison: Claw Machine Tool
Patcher Voice Effects Plugins
Edison: Drum Tool

Edison: Equalize Tool To add VFX Note Mapper to the Patcher project, dragging from the Browser > Effects >
Voice category and drop on the Patcher Map. For fast linking drop on the Events link into
Edison: Noise Removal Tool the plugin you would like to control. VFX can't be used in FL Studio Channel or Effects slots so
they are not generally made visible in the plugin lists. The VFX plugins include:
Edison: Script Tool

Edison: Time Stretch / Pitch Shift Tool

Edison: Tune Loop Tool

Effector VFX Color Mapper - Control up to 16 independent generators/instruments (or groups of generators)
using the 16 note colors of the Piano roll.
EQUO
VFX Envelope - Control up to 16 independent envelopes x Velocity, Pitch and Pan. Plus Mod X and Mod
Frequency Shifter Y, using the 16 note colors of the Piano roll.

Frequency Splitter VFX Key Mapper - Note input can be transposed, made into a chord, key-changed or creatively
remapped.
Fruity 7 Band EQ
VFX Keyboard Splitter - Split the Piano roll or keyboard zones into 16 separate outputs.
Fruity Balance
VFX Level Scaler - Scale Note Properties as received from the Piano roll.
Fruity Bass Boost
VFX Sequencer - Transform chords into melodic phrases according to the pattern you program.
Fruity Big Clock

Fruity Blood Overdrive Adding Features

Fruity Center Patcher can be used to create setups with features equivalent to VST/AU plugins. By using the Fruity Formula
Controller together with Patcher and Control Surface, you can create non-linear control behavior and add logic
Fruity Chorus into how the surface controls operate and affect parameters. In this section there are a few examples of what
types of features you can achieve.
Fruity Compressor

Fruity Convolver (Reverb) Switches

Fruity dB Meter Control Surface has two types of controls designed to switch between two states (on/off), the Button and the
CheckBox:
Fruity Delay

Fruity Delay 2

Fruity Delay 3

Fruity Delay Bank

Fruity Fast Distortion

Fruity Fast LP

Fruity Filter You can make a parameter dependent on the state of one or multiple switches by adding logic gates. An
example of this is having two switches, and requiring both of them to be toggled on (AND gate) in order for
Fruity Flanger
something to happen to a parameter in the Patcher 'Map' tab. You can also make switches to change the
functionality of a control to be something else, for example connecting the same knob into two parameters, but
Fruity Flangus
deciding which one it controls with a switch. Logic gates take 1 or more inputs, and based on the type of gate
Fruity Formula Controller and the states of the inputs, outputs a specific result. Fruity Formula Controller can be used as a logic gate, and
you can find the syntax for various different gates on the Fruity Formula Controller page.
Fruity Free Filter

Gross Beat

Hardcore Guitar Effects

Fruity HTML Notebook

Fruity Love Philter

Fruity Limiter

Fruity LSD

LuxeVerb

Maximus Multiband Maximizer

Maximus: Controls & Options

Maximus: Tutorials & Tips

Maximus: Credits

Multiband Delay
A simple AND gate example:
Fruity Mute 2
1. Add plugins - You'll need a single instance of Fruity Formula Controller, and additionally a plugin you
Fruity Multiband Compressor
wish to control.

Newtime
2. Activate parameter(s) - Open the plugin, choose the parameters to be affected and activate them. (
Right-Click) on Fruity Formula Controller, select Inputs > Parameters and make sure both 1. a
Newtone
parameter and 2. b parameter are activated. Finally, select Outputs > Controllers > 1. Out.
Fruity NoteBook
3. Add switches - Go to the 'Surface' tab and add two CheckBoxes by clicking on the button with a plus
Fruity NoteBook 2 icon and selecting 'CheckBox'.

Fruity PanOMatic 4. Connect controls - Return to the 'Map' tab and draw connections from the surface controls to the
Fruity Formula Controller inputs, as illustrated in the example image above.
Patcher
5. Connect output - In a similar manner, draw a connection from the Fruity Formula Controller output
VFX Color Mapper into the input(s) of the plugin.

VFX Envelope 6. Write a formula - Open Fruity Formula Controller, type 'a and b' into the formula input area and press
compile.
VFX Key Mapper

7. Test the setup - Go to the 'Surface' tab and make sure the plugin and parameter(s) are visible. Now
VFX Keyboard Splitter
you should observe that only when both CheckBoxes are on, the parameter(s) switch to 100%, and
VFX Level Scaler otherwise stay at 0%. You can also open the Fruity Formula Controller and see how the output changes
in the 'Monitor' tab.
Fruity Parametric EQ

Fruity Parametric EQ 2
Selectors
While certain surface controls like checkboxes and buttons can only have two states, you can create switches
Fruity Peak Controller
that have more than that by using other types of controls, like knobs, sliders or digit displays. This way you can

Fruity Phase Inverter create selectors that have the ability to switch between multiple states, for example a selector knob with 3 states
that selects which audio path will be outputted. You can change the number of states by:
Fruity Phaser
1. Changing the minimum and maximum values - For a 3 state switch, set the maximum value to 2
Pitcher by accessing the ( Right-Click) menu of the control. The minimum value is at 0 by default, so the
total amount of values is 3 (0, 1 and 2).
Pitch Shifter
2. Changing the move speed - The less values the control has, the more sensitive it is to the mouse
Razer Chroma movements, and will move very quickly from one extreme to the other. With a low number of states,
set the move speed to 1.
Fruity Reeverb

Fruity Reeverb 2

Fruity Scratcher

Fruity Send

Fruity Soft Clipper

Fruity Spectroman

Fruity Squeeze

Fruity Stereo Enhancer

Fruity Stereo Shaper NOTE: The minimum and maximum values of a control only determine the number of steps or states it can
appear to have. It won't affect the actual range of the control, which will always be from 0% to a 100%. You can
Fruity Vocoder also set the minimum and maximum values into negatives, which can be useful when working with the 'Digits'
control, which can display the values as negative.
Wave Candy

Fruity WaveShaper

Fruity X-Y Controller

Fruity X-Y-Z Controller

Soundgoodizer

SynthMaker

Transient Processor

Tuner

Vintage Chorus

Vintage Phaser

Vocodex

Vocodex: Setup Inputs

Vocodex: Parameters

Vocodex: Carrier Synthesizer An audio path selector example:

Vocodex: Tutorials 1. Add plugins - You'll need 3 instances of both Fruity Formula Controller and Fruity Mute 2. You'll also
need the audio sources for each path, these could be generator plugins connected into different types of
ZGameEditor Visualizer effect chains.

Installing & Using VST / AU Plugins 2. Activate parameter(s) - ( Right-Click) on Fruity Mute 2, select Inputs > Parameters > 1. Mute.
( Right-Click) on Fruity Formula Controller, select Inputs > Parameters > 1. a parameter. Next,
Recording: Audio, Notes & Automation select Outputs > Controllers > 1. Out. Repeat this process for each instance.

Audio Recording 3. Add control - Go to the 'Surface' tab and create a knob with 3 states by clicking on the button with a
plus icon and selecting 'Knob'.
Audio Interfaces (USB Microphones)

4. Connect controls - Return to the 'Map' tab and draw connections from the knob output to the Fruity
Note Recording
Formula Controller inputs, as illustrated in the example image above.
Note Step Entry
5. Connect output - In a similar manner, draw a connection from the Fruity Formula Controller outputs to
Automation Recording the inputs of Fruity Mute 2, one for each.

Linking USB/MIDI Controllers 6. Connect audio - Connect all the instances of Fruity Mute 2 into the 'To FL Studio' input.

MIDI Scripting 7. Write formulas - In the first Fruity Formula Controller (Audio Path Switch 1), type Inter(a,0,0) into
the formula input area and press compile. For the second one (Audio Path Switch 2), type
Preconfigured Controllers (USB/MIDI) Inter(a,0.5,0.5) and press compile. For the third one (Audio Path Switch 3), type Inter(a,1,1) and
press compile.
Linking Internal Controller Plugins
8. Test the setup - Go to the 'Surface' tab and open the first Fruity Mute 2 (Audio Path 1). You should
Mapping Formula
observe that when the surface knob is at 0%, the Mute parameter switches to 100% (audio able to

Automation Clips pass through) and in all other positions, it switches to 0% (audio muted). The remaining instances of
Fruity Mute 2 have their own control positions where the Mute parameter turns to a 100%, at 50% and
Automation Event Editor 100% respectively. Now you are able to create 3 different plugin configurations and change which one
is outputted by using the knob on the surface.
LFO Tool

Scale Levels Tool Triggering MIDI

You can add a 'Keyboard' control into Control Surface and link that into your instruments in the 'Map' tab, but
Import MIDI Data Tool
you can also trigger MIDI with other types of controls, like buttons by using the MIDI Out plugin.
Edison Wave Editor & Recorder

Edison: Sample Properties

Edison: Amp Tool

Edison: Blur Tool

Edison: Convolution / Reverb Tool

Edison: Claw Machine Tool

Edison: Drum Tool

Edison: Equalize Tool

Edison: Noise Removal Tool

Edison: Script Tool

Edison: Time Stretch / Pitch Shift Tool

Edison: Tune Loop Tool

ReWire Support
A MIDI note trigger button example:
Client Mode
1. Add plugins - Add MIDI Out and a generator plugin with a MIDI input.
Host Mode
2. Activate parameter(s) - Open MIDI Out and ( Right-Click) on the knob on the top left and select
FL Studio as a Plugin (VST / AU) 'Activate'.

FL Studio as a Plugin (VST or AU)
Load & Save File Formats
Open & Import File Formats
Open/Import File Formats
FL Studio Project File (.flp)
FL Studio Project Zipped (.zip)
BeatCreator/BeatSlicer Grid File
3. Configure MIDI settings - In the MIDI Out plugin, ( Right-Click) on the same knob on the top left
and select 'Configure'. Once a pop up window opens (as illustrated in the right side of the image
above), open the dropdown menu labelled 'CC' and change it to 'Note'. In the note range settings, type
in a MIDI note value on the input area on the right. Each musical note has its own corresponding MIDI
value, and you can find a chart for that here.
4. Add control - Go to the 'Surface' tab and create a button by clicking on the button with a plus icon
and selecting 'Button'. Make sure that in the ( Right-Click) 'Properties' menu the option 'Stay
Down' is not selected.
5. Connect controls - Return to the 'Map' tab and draw a connection from the button output to the MIDI
Out input, as illustrated in the example image above.

MIDI File 6. Connect MIDI - Draw a connection from the 'From FL Studio' MIDI output into the input of the MIDI
Out plugin. This will allow other types of MIDI messages (Piano Roll, external keyboards) to also reach
Save & Export File Formats
the generator plugin. Connect the output of the MIDI Out plugin into the MIDI input of the generator

Audio & MIDI plugin.

FL Studio Project File (.flp) 7. Connect audio - Draw a connection from the generator audio output into the 'To FL Studio' input.

FL Studio Project Zipped (.zip) 8. Test the setup - Go to the 'Surface' tab and press the button. You should now hear a sound,
depending on which generator plugin you're using and which note you configured in the MIDI Out
Sample File Formats control settings.

DrumSynth Preset
Creating Interfaces
MS Waveform File
You can make customized user interfaces for your patches by using Control Surface. Below is a list of some tips
and good practices.
ReCycle Loops

SimSynth Preset

Speech Preset

Other File Formats

Other File Formats

FL Studio State File

FL Studio Score File

Humanize Preset File

MIDI File

Trouble Shooting & FAQ's

Optimizing CPU Performance

Plugins Behaving Badly

Updating & Upgrading Procedure

Missing Plugins or Files

Start from the bottom elements (bevels) and design the overall layout of the surface first. If you wish to
Lifetime Free Updates move a bevel to the bottom later on, you can change the Z-Order (the order in which the bevels are
stacked on top of eachother) by right clicking on the bevel and selecting Z-Order:
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Troubleshooting FAQ Create sections for different control categories by using multiple bevels on top of eachother. Give the
sections their own labels to keep things organized.
Audio Myths & DAW Wars
Give your controls unique names, if you're designing the entire surface before making connections on the
Monitor Speakers 'Map' tab. It will allow for easier identification when connecting to parameters. If you want multiple
controls to have the same name, it's better to change this after connecting. Newly added labels will show
Glossary
on top of control labels, so you can also alter the surface name without affecting the actual control name

ACM Waveform by adding a label with a background color on top:

Cutoff and Resonance Filter

Envelope

Gate

LFO
Acknowledgements

Design the controls using Control Creator, and have a single copy of each control type you need on the
surface for easy duplicating. You can save a preset in the Control Creator, or drag it directly onto a
surface:

If you want to get precise spacing in your design, enable grid snapping by right clicking in 'Edit' mode,
and selecting the preferred pixel size:

You can save Control Surface presets separately from patches. You can make templates for future
projects, or create save points to return back to in case you're not happy with the changes you made.

Plugin Credits: Frederic Vanmol