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| FL Studio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Original author | Didier Dambrin |
| Developer | Image-Line Software |
| Initial release | April 26, 1998; 27 years ago (1998-04-26) (as FruityLoops) |
| Stable release | |
| Written in | Delphi,Assembly language[3][4] |
| Operating system | macOS,Windows,Android |
| Available in | English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese |
| Type | Digital audio workstation |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | image-line |
FL Studio (previously known asFruityLoops) is adigital audio workstation (DAW) developed by the Belgian companyImage-Line. It features agraphical user interface with a pattern-basedmusic sequencer.[5] It is available in five different editions (including FL Mobile) forMicrosoft Windows andmacOS.[6] After their initial purchase, lifetime updates of the software are free to registered users.[7][8] Image-Line also developsFL Studio Mobile forAndroid,iOS,macOS, andUniversal Windows Platform devices.[9]
FL Studio can be used as either aVirtual Studio Technology (VST) orAudio Unit (AU) instrument in other audio workstation programs, and as aReWire client. Image-Line offers its own VST and AU instruments and audio applications.
FL Studio comes in several editions with different levels of functionality. The free trial version includes all of the program's features, all plugins, and allows users to render project audio toWAV,MIDI,MP3,FLAC andOGG.[6] Projects saved while in demo mode, however, can only be opened once FL Studio and its plugins have been registered. Also, instrument presets cannot be saved and the audio output of some instruments is cut out momentarily every few minutes until the program and its plugins have been registered.[10]
On December 18, 1997,Image-Line Software partially released the first version of FruityLoops (1.0.0), developed by Didier Dambrin.[11] In early 1998,Image-Line would officially launchFruityLoops, when it was still a four-channelMIDIdrum machine.[12] Dambrin became Chief Software Architect for the program.[8] Image-Line would later rename FruityLoops to FL Studio,[13][14] after the company's attempt to obtain a US trademark prompted concerns fromKellogg's.[14]Software piracy was a concern for the company in its early years, and it took nearly 5 years for the company to turn a profit from users purchasing legitimate licenses.[15] Later on May 22, 2018, amacOS-compatible version of FL Studio was released.[16]
FL Studio processes audio using an internal 32-bitfloating point engine. It supportssampling rates up to 192 kHz using eitherWDM- orASIO-enabled drivers.[8]
Audio can be imported or exported asWAV,MP3,OGG,FLAC,MIDI,ZIP, or the native project format with an .FLPfilename extension.[8] The trial allows users to save projects, but does not allow reopening them. Tracks may be exported to any of the available file formats.[17]
As with other DAW developers, Image-Line has collaborated with hardware manufacturers on two occasions, resulting in the release of products branded and compatible with FL Studio.[18]
The first was theAkai ProfessionalFIRE, a MIDI controller with touch and pressure-sensitive buttons modelled after the software's channel rack pattern editor. Released in 2018, it can be used as a pattern editor, keyboard, drumpad,multi-colour peak visualizer and performance controller. A distinctive feature of the Akai FIRE is that up to 4 units can be connected to a single instance of FL Studio, chained together or with a different mode set for each. It is sold in two variants, one coming without extra software (aimed at existing FL Studio users), and one bundled with an exclusive version of theFruity edition called theFruity Fire Edition.
The latter of these involvements is currently theNovationFL Key line of controllers. It consists of two redesigned MIDI Keyboards – dubbed theFL Key Mini and theFL Key 37, the latter being larger in keybed and size – originally from Novation's own Launchkey line, modified to have a grey case and an FL Studio-themed RGB lighting palette. They later released theFL Key 61, a larger version with the same features.
Despite some initial traction regarding the AkaiFIRE's unusual velocity implementation, both units have gone on to receive broadly positive reception from the professional press.[19][20]
FL Studio comes with a variety of plugins and generators (software synthesizers) written in the program's own native plugin architecture. FL Studio also has support for third-party VST and DirectX plugins.[21] The API has a built inwrapper for full VST, VST2, VST3,DX, and ReWire compatibility. There has also been support for theCLAP plugin format since FL Studio 2024.[22]
Although FL Studio's own plugins are set to be available only in their native format in the future, some of them also function independently as standalone programs and can be purchased in VST format for use with other DAWs.
FL Studio has been praised for its simplicity, power, and ease of use.[14] Jamie Lendino ofPCMag wrote that "While [FL Studio is] still clearly geared forelectronic 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."[13]
Criticisms include a difficult audio recording system.[23][24]
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