FL Envelope controller and Layer Channel Appreciation Thread

[The Chase]

I can't believe I've gone so long wihtout using them. They make FL Studio able to create ridiculously complex synths while using anything as an oscillator or filter or any effect.

Create a synth patch and send it to a mixer channel. THen Create the envelope generator and link it to a parameter on any effect on that mixer channel (like chorus depth or flanger feedback etc). Then create a layer channel and have the layer control the synth and the envelope controller. This can become very complex as you can have the layer channel control as many synths as you want and as many envelope controlers as you want. Imagine the possibilities of a synth with infinity different oscillators and infinity complex multi-point envelopes that you can have control any parameter in your VST arsenal. This is basically what FL Studio can do and I think it is amazing.

After you have a layer channel controlling X-number of granulators, X-number of V/A's (all with their different settings, mind you) and then as many complex envelopes as you want controlling say 20 different parameters of random effects you pretty much have unlimited capabilities of synthesis at your hands, and you can play it like a normal synth with your controller via the layer channel.

[runagate]

How'd you think I make my songs?

(more on this later)

[Canned Heat]

Chase , add to them Keyboard Controller, Formula Controller and Peak Controller , Superb stuff.

[bluedad]

I have FL Studio yet rarely use it; I don't know why, it has some really, really cool stuff in it.

[The Chase]

Chase , add to them Keyboard Controller, Formula Controller and Peak Controller , Superb stuff.

I use the peak controller all the time too for side chaining and such.

[VariKusBrainZ]

only those not in the know knock it

[Jason Brian Merrill]

sick username man

[Vonbrucken]

i must admit i never use the envelope controller i will give it a try

[aquar]

Chase, thanks for the brief tutorial.

I've been using layers but never really got around to using the envelope controller.

Like bluedad says fruity has some really cool stuff in it.
If only they'd get around to fixing up the playlist (Flstudios no 1 problem imo) I'd never look at another sequencer.

[Rellik]

What's wrong with the Playlist?

It's not very flexible and a pattern-based approach isn't optimal for some things, but I've never found it more than a minor nuisance to work around its minor inconveniences (I even found that it has some advantages, even for orchestral sequencing!).

The Chase, thanks for pointing that out - I'm not a big layer-er (I tend to keep synths simple and easy to fit into a mix, with some exceptions), but your ideas are intriguing - too bad it could only really work as a mono-synth (or a poly-synth with a number of mono effects/filters, which is sometimes cool).

[smart]

Once those first few Internal Controllers came out around v3.1 I've been hooked. Don't forget adding crazy LFO's via the Formula Controllers and simple ones with the Peak Controllers LFO.

I also love doing things like putting a Peak Controller on a drum track, and having it controll part of a synth like LP cutoff so that it opens up a little bit for a second everytime theres a kick or a snare.

great fun

[aquar]

What's wrong with the Playlist?

It's not very flexible and a pattern-based approach isn't optimal for some things, but I've never found it more than a minor nuisance to work around its minor inconveniences (I even found that it has some advantages, even for orchestral sequencing!).

Imo everything is wrong about the playlist but that's just my opinion. Out of all the sequencers I've tried it surely is the worst for arranging bar none.
I like the Ableton approach myself, had some very cool accidents just sliding things around in real time which just doesn't work with Fruity.
Like I said I wouldn't look at another sequencer if Fruity finally got around to addressing the playlist limitations.
By the sound of things though most Fruity users seem to regard it as very low priority which seems a shame really.

[Vonbrucken]

you have post on looptalk there was a thread on the new playlist ?

[Debutante]

What's wrong with the Playlist?

It's not very flexible and a pattern-based approach isn't optimal for some things, but I've never found it more than a minor nuisance to work around its minor inconveniences (I even found that it has some advantages, even for orchestral sequencing!).

Imo everything is wrong about the playlist but that's just my opinion. Out of all the sequencers I've tried it surely is the worst for arranging bar none.
I like the Ableton approach myself, had some very cool accidents just sliding things around in real time which just doesn't work with Fruity.
Like I said I wouldn't look at another sequencer if Fruity finally got around to addressing the playlist limitations.
By the sound of things though most Fruity users seem to regard it as very low priority which seems a shame really.

Once again it's a matter of taste. For me this kind of arrangment is quite perfect for what I'm doing. So it's not only a NO priority issue; I really like it the way it is. To be honest I haven't tried any others besides ACID for arrangement. That was OK too. I know there are wierd things that can happen with alien-type time signatures, but what more do you find shortcoming?

As for the Envelope Controller, I scoured MIDI world to find something similar and got one from Soma. All the time this great one had been right under my nose. I haven't tried other hosts seriously, but I can't imagine automation being easier than it is in FL. This thing is linked so easily to any automatable plugin parameter and it's so configurable. It adds a whole new dimension to sound design. Plus you get great practice with all those floating envelopes... priming you up for Sytrus

[Teksonik]

I agree with The Chase. Now add the power of EnergyXT as a vsti and.................