Mixing with only FL Studio stock items or do I need more?

[JollyBoih]

I am quite beginning of my music world. I know mixing is when you mix the individual channels example bass drums, lead synth, bass etc...? And mastering is for the whole song yes?

What I want to ask, can you create GOOD quality mix/mastering with ONLY using FL Studio own items (eq, compressor what it has inside the FL Studio Signature edit)? Or do you need some extra items to get good quality mixing/mastering result? I mean good enough to listen in home, or maybe even put in Spotify

I want to ask this, because I think it is important to know if I can get the good quality mix results or do I need something else with FL Studio items? So I can learn + study the items I need. Items I mean Fruity parametric EQ2, Fruity Filter, Fruity Compressor, Maximus...

Sorry for long post and not very good English

[JollyBoih]

If you like, you can see FL Studio Signature items in here but you need to go to Compare Editions and you will see the items lsit:
https://support.image-line.com/jshop/shop.php

[LoveEnigma18]

You can create a great sounding mix using FL Studio stock plugins. Just get the Producer Edition (or Signature if you can) and start making music. Spend more time in understanding how basic things like gain staging, EQ, compression, reverb and delay work and go from there. I would highly suggest making a few songs/mixes with only FL Studio plugins. Don't buy anything else for a year or so.

Harmor, Poizone, Sytrus and Toxiz Biohazard are probably the best FL Studio synths in my opinion.

I personally don't prefer/use FL Studio's stock plugins (I did use them for a couple of years when I started out) and mainly use it only as a DAW now. But FL Studio is the only DAW I have used and I produce, mix and master everything inside FL Studio.

Good luck!

[Distorted Horizon]

In short, it's more about the person who mixes/masters.. And when the person is 100% professional, only then the tools will matter more.

FLS built in tools are perfect for practicing and learning. Don't spend a single coin for third party stuff at least for the first year of your journey.

[JollyBoih]

Hello, thank you for answers. can I ask why you do not use FL Studio stock plugins anymore @LoveEnigma18?
And @DistortedHorizon do you say FL Studio tools are good for practice but not enough for more professional sound?

[LoveEnigma18]

Hello, thank you for answers. can I ask why you do not use FL Studio stock plugins anymore @LoveEnigma18?
And @DistortedHorizon do you say FL Studio tools are good for practice but not enough for more professional sound?

They are capable, but not inspiring and intuitive to me after becoming somewhat experienced. Also, they are more suitable for electronic/EDM/dance/etc. genres and I am not into it. I don't them find them suitable for my current needs and I am not too much into designing my own sounds from scratch. You could consider it as my problem.

Your imagination and skills are the only limit.

But as I said, please stick to the stock plugins for a year or so. You will thank yourself later. In the meantime, one favour you could do for yourself is start saving up for getting some new plugins after a year or so. For example, save $50 per month or depending on how much best you can.

[LoveEnigma18]

While it is an advanced one, I would recommend watching this video:

[the-machine]

You can mix & master with Stock plugins, you can mix very well, because your ears and expierience are more important then plugins.

But one thing is tricky with FL Studio if you want to make the track very loud (maximising), i mean loud as most of commercial (EDM, Dubstep, Hardstyle tracks) to match their settings. But equip yourself any of these and you are good to go IKM Stealth Limiter, IKM Classic Cliper, StandartClip, Ozone 9, Sonnox Inflator, Invisible Limiter.

There is Maximus that comes with signature bundle, but its really very hard to get the track loud without distortion to be comparable with commercial tracks. You have to sacrifice too much of low end for that.

Notable mention is U-He Presswerk, but basicly you have to make your own template for maximisation.

[Distorted Horizon]

@DistortedHorizon do you say FL Studio tools are good for practice but not enough for more professional sound?

Let's put it this way.. No one will hear, have you mixed with stock plugins or 1000€ plugin bundle.

Pro gets pro sound with stock plugins, amateur get amateur sound even with expensive pro plugins.

[Trancit]

Let's put it this way.. No one will hear, have you mixed with stock plugins or 1000€ plugin bundle.

Pro gets pro sound with stock plugins, amateur get amateur sound even with expensive pro plugins.

This!!!
But the-machine is right too...
The weakest point of FL Studio stock plugins is maximising...
Nevertheless there are very good free alternatives out there like Loudmax or i.e. GClip as a very nice freeware clipper...
No need to spend any money for a very very long time!

[Distorted Horizon]

If you really want to buy something, buy a book.
Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio.
That will make more to your mixes than any commercial plugin.

[Yorrrrrr]

You'll need more only if you've already depleted the capabilities of FL Studio stock devices.

[chk071]

Yeah, that would be my approach as well. See how far you can get with only using the stock fx's. TBH, I always found that the stuff which radically changes the sound, or ir part of sound design is more important than mixing fx. The exception maybe being saturation and distortion fx, which can sound really shitty.

[Googly Smythe]

I made a joke here but the more naive may not have realised, so - deleted!

[JollyBoih]

I have seen some tutorials use Maximus for mastering the final track. I also see post people say they do not like Maximus. Is the Maximus not very good to use? Why? Sorry for asking so much