FL Studio 21 looks promising

[ATS]

I've been using FL Studio since somewhere around or before version 3 and it's been my main DAW for my synth based stuff ever since. I have 5 other DAWs and have spent time with them but always go back to FLS.

It does have some quirks that I don't like at all but no DAW is perfect.

Version 21 does look very promising and along with themes we get a new Reverb, Multi-Band Delay, and Vintage Phaser....all for free.

My update cost to go from version 3 to version 21 over the years ? Zero, not one penny.

That is pretty awesome!

[SLiC]

'Free Updates for Life' is certainly one of FL's strong points!

A lot of people will no doubt try it again (as I used to every time there was a big edition bump) but I don't see anything that would pull in people who didn't like the workflow before, it's refined but essentially the same. For people who like how FL works, it's a terrific update.

[xbitz]

^^^ audio-related tasks were second-class citizens in its playlist editor(all of them were plugin based), there was a vote about the wished features
What is your most desired feature for FL Studio 21/21.next?
https://strawpoll.com/2jhzdb6gx/results
this will be the big thing in FL 21 + themes (which was the second most voted one in some facebook voting) so tempting those "people who didn't like the workflow before" was not a priority this time I think

ps.
both New FX Plugins/Browser updates have surprised me dunno why IL pushes effort with them

[SLiC]

^^^ audio-related tasks were second-class citizens in its playlist editor(all of them were plugin based), there was a vote about the wished features
What is your most desired feature for FL Studio 21/21.next?
https://strawpoll.com/2jhzdb6gx/results
this will be the big thing in FL 21 + themes (which was the second most voted one in some facebook voting) so tempting those "people who didn't like the workflow before" was not a priority this time I think

Yes, 40% of votes! They seem to have added some of it (fades) but as far as I can tell you would still be opening Eddison a lot...the 'playlist' concept (rather than standard tracks) seems to be the thing that confuses new users (or it was in my case!) as perhaps is the general concept of recording audio in (so many questions!) Obviously once you know what you are doing you can set it up as you like it, but for a new user it may seem unnecessarily complicated....what do you mean where do I want to record my audio...on a track!

[xbitz]

seems there is a limitation about how many people can work on the core of FL at the same time or the theming introduction affects too many subsystems and blocks other developments otherwise I can't see the reason for the browser/fx devices updates(seems the team can work on them independently from the core), the Edison/Newtone/Newtime based workflow definitely outdated/awkward one I would add higher priority to removing them

ahamm, they going to be removed in 21.x versions
https://forum.image-line.com/viewtopic. ... 0#p1775704
https://forum.image-line.com/viewtopic. ... 0#p1775714

so seems FL 21 is feature ready and they would like to release it this year

[SLiC]

If they improve the audio (integrate Edison/Newtone/Newtime ) and add proper comping I think a lot of people will move over...

[Bartone]

If they improve the audio (integrate Edison/Newtone/Newtime ) and add proper comping I think a lot of people will move over...

I haven’t seen any mention about Edison/Newtone/Newtime integration so far.
But I agree, that would really really great improvement!!

[eerie_audio]

Yes, 40% of votes! They seem to have added some of it (fades) but as far as I can tell you would still be opening Eddison a lot...the 'playlist' concept (rather than standard tracks) seems to be the thing that confuses new users (or it was in my case!) as perhaps is the general concept of recording audio in (so many questions!) Obviously once you know what you are doing you can set it up as you like it, but for a new user it may seem unnecessarily complicated....what do you mean where do I want to record my audio...on a track!

Yes, this is a deal breaker for a tracking engineer that wants to punch in/out while recording vocals, or simply comping as they go. This would also be a deal breaker for a mixing engineer that wants to edit on the timeline, especially in a linear workflow.

They also lack the ability of the traditional Live/Bitwig type of clip launching, and all the modulation that Bitwig brings to the table. They are kind of in their own category, with their own unique type of workflow, which can take a bit of time to get your head around. It probably wouldn't suit most people coming from those traditional ways of producing, but does provide an eccentric type of experience best suited for certain genres of music.

[Trancit]

They also lack the ability of the traditional Live/Bitwig type of clip launching...

FL Studio has had clip launching before Bitwig was a wet dream of it´s developers...

It´s called Performance Mode and is actually quite neatly integrated into FL Studio´s Playlist...
It´s of course not as advanced as the original but I think this is true for all of it´s copies...

By the way the deeper integration of Newtime/Newtone was already teased for one of the V21.x updates as well as ARA2 integration, a new Mixer and a complete new Midi system after the Midi 2.0 specs... (will be perhaps the first integration of Midi 2.0 in a DAW)...

[SLiC]

FL Studio has had clip launching before Bitwig was a wet dream of it´s developers...

Personally, I found the FL Clip Launcer to be very convoluted to use and only half implemented compared to the features of Live/Bitwig...it's sort of indicative of a lot of stuff in FL really, they throw loads of stuff in, but they never seem properly Intergrated or finished, the workflow just doesn't seem to be a priority outside of midi editing.

[Trancit]

Personally, I found the FL Clip Launcer to be very convoluted to use and only half implemented compared to the features of Live/Bitwig...it's sort of indicative of a lot of stuff in FL really, they throw loads of stuff in, but they never seem properly Intergrated or finished, the workflow just doesn't seem to be a priority outside of midi editing.

All true... but it has a clip launcher ...

[eerie_audio]

All true... but it has a clip launcher ...

traditional Live/Bitwig type of clip launching

[xbitz]

and has 'Live mode' too which is very fun during the songwriting (too)

and the jump markers are useful too...project navigation/zooming aren't the strongest points of FL jump markers make life much comfier

[Trancit]

All true... but it has a clip launcher ...

traditional Live/Bitwig type of clip launching

What shall this tell me???

[TommyC81]

project navigation/zooming aren't the strongest points of FL

Ctrl + right-click zooms out to show entire project, doing it again while zoomed out toggles back to previous zoom/area.

Ctrl + right-click-drag zooms the selected area.

Middle-click-drag pans

The same works for both project and piano roll.

I find these commands very useful and wish they were implemented in all DAWs.

Just noting it here in case of not being aware.