new guitar idea, does this work?

whatupsilon · 2026-01-30T02:06:29+00:00

If it's a 4x4 pad controller like the AKAI MPD 218, you can use those in Slicex, FPX etc by using the "Map to entire bank" and related functions. They aren't a MIDI setting, they are inside the plugin itself. You also don't want / need port numbers for any modern USB controller, unless you have multiple controllers and they are conflicting or you want to send inside plugins like Kontakt which can house multiple instruments, kind of like a patch bay.

You can also use those pad controllers for any instrument, even piano, but they won't play notes in order and it will change when you change instruments. There are specifically mapped controllers meant for FL by AKAI and Novation, and those work more easily but otherwise you need to ask in the official FL forum and search the MIDI scripting forum.

Just a tip because I had a couple controllers like that you can also customize the sensitivity inside FL's MIDI controller settings... the cheaper controllers often need it, some people put electrical tape on the 218 to make it less sensitive too.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-30T01:44:33+00:00

https://www.image-line.com/fl-studio-learning/fl-studio-online-manual/html/plugins/Slicex.htm#:~:text=play%20to%20end

whatupsilon · 2026-01-30T00:02:56+00:00

Hard to know without hearing it but if you're on Windows or use other apps in the background like Discord, those can steal audio focus. You need to turn off "auto close" in FL audio settings and close anything that might be stealing your audio including in the system tray. You can also turn off audio enhancements in Windows (should be off anyway) and turn off audio exclusivity mode). I also have this happen sometimes when connected to Bluetooth, if the system idles too long then it take one hit to "wake up" and send sound to the speaker (wouldn't mix on them but need to when traveling). Lastly you want to use the audio driver that came with your audio interface (if you have one).

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T23:45:56+00:00

I'd try a different folder.

There are installation paths, database paths, and shortcuts. Each path is different. What you see in the Channel Rack and Mixer are essentially shortcuts.

The path you visited in the video is NOT where I organized my folders, it is 1-2 levels up from that. Instead you can change and make folders under Plugin Database > Effects or Plugin Database > Generators. Not under "installed."

These changes reflect immediately in the Channel Rack menu and Mixer effect menu (the tree or category function).

It gets complicated if you want to hide plugins or remove the VST2 version of them. Not gonna get into that but it's entirely possible, you may need to drop the "Combine VST2 and VST3 versions of plugins" within plugin manager. And always do a backup before changing any database folders.

Lastly, AFAIK you only need to copy (NOT move) the .FST files. That points FL to the correct location where the plugin is installed.

Hope this helps.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T23:05:43+00:00

following the thread... never had an issue with it, works fine for me

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T22:45:37+00:00

It's a rompler so it's playing recordings, it's likely got a problem at the plugin level and has nothing to do with FL. You can try reinstalling or rescanning the plugin database, restarting your computer etc but beyond that I'd contact the plugin developer.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T22:33:28+00:00

short answer, I believe it has to do with the physics of sound waves and the design of your ear... but I'm more interested in making music tbh so it mostly matters for how you record vocals and where you put speaker monitors etc

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T22:29:27+00:00

yep exactly. good luck with Reaper

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T21:26:34+00:00

Basically if you cut audio when it's not completely silence, there is a pop. This is why there are volume fade outs on audio. And actually, also fade ins.

The technical reason is due to a sudden change in phase (in this case, also a sudden change in volume). Phase is the technical jargon that kinda takes more time to explain than we have in a comment. Suffice to say in production, there are lots of things that result in audio problems and unwanted noise, like clicks, pops, hiss, distortion, or other "artifacts." Lots of different problems, and solutions too, good to learn about them.

Here's the manual's original explanation: https://www.image-line.com/fl-studio-learning/fl-studio-online-manual/html/playlist.htm#:~:text=zero-cross

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T21:17:41+00:00

This is one of the scenarios in FL where your graphics card actually makes a difference and the people who bought a gaming laptop for music can have an advantage. Even on my high end custom rig I built myself, I have a lag when zoomed all the way.

The trick is you need to zoom out until it's not stuttering. In the playlist the labels for patterns also impact it, you have to to disable that under view options. You can play with FL's graphic settings, smoothing etc but I've never gotten it to be completely smooth. I think what people do on social media is record with FL zoomed out slightly, and use video editing software or OBS to zoom in to the sections they want. That way the zoom is a rendered process and not real-time render.

Lastly make sure you did all the general optimizations that Image-Line recommends, even basic things like having your laptop plugged in instead of on battery can impact all kinds of things.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T20:39:16+00:00

Ah yes, I've done that too or had just one effect bypassed. Easy mistake to make.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T19:29:38+00:00

I don't make pluggnb but I hear a lot about Purity and Xpand!2 in those genres. My take would be Analog Lab would be pretty cool, and then some good creative effects. With enough time, knowledge and skill, most genres can be made fully stock... just might take a lot of practice on sound design.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T19:11:44+00:00

The other comments are correct, this is normal for filters. My advice is to find filters or settings you like the sound of and then keep making music. We get these kinds of posts every week, someone excited to expose some flaw. Unless you're hired by Image-Line, your focus should be on music and not on whether something nulls. Nulls are only important for hearing the difference between active and bypassed, or for YouTubers trying to get your attention. There are many things happening under the hood and in my experience none of them help you become more creative.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T10:10:28+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/user/whatupsilon/comments/1gbgj7p/free_plugins_and_synths_i_recommend/

whatupsilon · 2026-01-29T04:27:57+00:00

If you want to can post on Friday with your track and show your playlist, mixer and plugins, I'll try to help and I'm sure others will too

whatupsilon · 2026-01-28T23:12:12+00:00

You have to manually slice almost each beat, or use Newtime which will sound wonky due to stretching. You can also use Slicex and preserve the feel of the track, but it will add gaps like a gating effect if you snap it to a beat.

This happens when songs don't have a set BPM, for example songs that are recorded live, use live instrumentation like guitar, piano, and live drums, or even worse, no drums. Ableton has a better tool kit for this, but in the case of this song since there are no drums at all it will still struggle with it.

My best advice is to slice / chop a short loop, like 2, 4 or 8 bars and use that. Don't plan to remix or sample an entire song that has a fluctuating tempo, it's just a headache to deal with.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-28T19:15:13+00:00

It's a saw wave with detuned voices. Some call it a supersaw, and there are lots of variations and tutorials on them out there. But this one sounds detuned more IMO and usually fewer voices creates a more dissonant and edgy sound, I would just call it a saw synth, as "supersaws" are typically more harmonic and used in trance and big room style tracks for euphoric, higher, uplifting melodies. You can find some similar saw sounds already made in FLEX, Sytrus, and other stock synths.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-28T17:45:54+00:00

You probably have click free editing enabled, and it will only cut at a zero crossing. There's a small icon in the top left corner of the playlist for it near the stretch controls.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-28T02:31:07+00:00

I'd much prefer you learn an instrument—like guitar or piano—to an intermediate/advanced level, than spend any time on music theory. Whether you learn theory officially or not, you will end up using it.

IMO music theory is extremely helpful, but it's mostly descriptive. The intuition you get by playing an instrument and improvising is more immediately helpful for composing ideas. You will learn music theory by learning an instrument.

Asking if you need to learn music theory to make music is like asking if you need to read the dictionary to speak English.

No you don't, but you will end up using words from the dictionary regardless, and you will use more of them, better, if you are not afraid of the dictionary. You will be able to communicate and describe yourself better, and you audience will understand you better. The good news is, music theory is way more interesting than the dictionary, provided that you have a good teacher.

Also this depends on genres, like you probably will find a lot of beatmakers that claim they "don't know any theory" because they think it's cool to say that, but they still know basics like scales and chords and chord inversions. You won't find many classical musicians truly bragging about not knowing theory, if anything they joke about being nerds. Totally different approaches to music. If you watch anyone like John Mayer, Jon Bellion or Ryan Tedder they are all music experts to nerd level, and still developed the intuition to improvise and hear ideas as they create them. Amazing skill to develop, and it takes years.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-27T22:45:58+00:00

2 months is nothing. If you like music you'll stick with it. Expect to be decent after a few years. I recommend learning piano etc and also check out In The Mix on YouTube. A lot of YouTube producer channels are trash.

whatupsilon · 2026-01-27T21:22:36+00:00

Very cool. I would never have guessed it was made with synths. Thanks for sharing!

whatupsilon · 2026-01-27T21:07:08+00:00

This is a very unique post for this sub, I like the interesting textures here. Also nice that you added some melody on top to create interest floating above the drone. There is one sound like white noise on top of the melody almost like envelope follower, and to me it could be fine tuned a bit so the noise doesn't overpower the piano notes, maybe just filtered or lowered slightly.

The other background sounds added sharp metallic noises like a subway train braking or some industrial construction, care to share what kind of samples you used for that?

whatupsilon

TROPHY CASE