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All Reviews by digitalstasis


By digitalstasis
On 4th January 2008
Version: 7.0.0

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Image Line FL Studio

FL Studio has evolved a lot since it's early versions, when I heard about it when looking for a versatile drum machine, 5 or six years ago. Which is a long time in the "FL updates time scale". Now it is an excellent software sequencer (note: this review apply to the sequencer itself, audio editing, sound generation and effects have better alternatives.)



User Interface 10/10

The user interface is playlist/pattern oriented and has a lot of depth to it. It is relatively easy to create evolving and complex rhythms with overlapping time signatures. Piano roll features are numerous and well thought. User interface may need some time to be accustomed to, but that's not a problem if the end result is rewarding, and it sure is with FL Studio.


Sound 10/10

Synths, audio recording and effect played through "FL Studio" sound as they are programmed/recorded to sound like, no more no less.


Features 10/10

The pattern origin of the sequencer doesn't hinder the classic linear sequencing but adds many possibilities for well thought-out modern electronic sequences.


Documentation 10/10

The help file, forums and video tutorials should put anyone on track.


Presets 10/10

Not only Fl features an incredible number of presets and scores, but you can use it as a hub to centralize your other presets, using it's ".fst" save files.


Customer Support 10/10

I bought some kind of drum machine, and from free updates to free updates it became a full sequencer without removing anything I liked from the start. All reasonable questions will find reasonable answers in the forums, and mails are answered.
FL is about as bug free as one can hope, it loads in less than 2 seconds, all internal processes seem pretty solid.


Value For Money 10/10

I never doubted to have made a great deal by buying the 149$ producer edition (and then Sytrus). For that price you have a great sequencer, samples, synths, drumboxes, presets, scores, and a reasonably open and impressively deep and solid environment for your VST synths and effects.


Stability 10/10

In five or six years of use, I've maybe had a handful of esoteric free plugins that sometime crashed FL (didn't happen since a long time). But I've tried lots and lots of them, and FL is in the end a model of software stability.
 
Last edited : 9th January 2008     

By digitalstasis
On 14th April 2004
Version: 1.1

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Smart Electronix DFX Geometer

User Interface: interface wider than average, what i find a good thing. Nothing special to say about the geometric greenish look.

Sound: here is the strong point. I like this plug and use it a lot, for the sonic touch it can add. As a kind of very electro, but warm enough, distorsion (and mixed with care) it's perfect.

Features: not much. Put it on the track, demix it, and it's gonna give the dist. (always). Maybe it's intented for a wider range of features but the handling is somehow hazardous (imo) so...

Documentation: There's the quick presentation on the download page, a txt file included, and there's a big part of the GUI dedicated to "explain" different operators (when placing mouse on them).

Presets: not much, and one is making a big sinelike wave, without any input (ouch... especially at night).

Customer support: Smartelectronix have a forum here and a mail box is available on the dFX own web page.

Value For Money: It's freeware.

Stability: no problems, no bugs, but can produce very impolite sounds. So beware, at night :)
 
    
Latest 2 reviews from a total of 2