FL Studio 21 looks promising

[FapFilter]

FL Studio has some great features, but my overall impression on it that it's a mess, because of dozens over dozens of floating, or pop up windows everywhere

Then again, who am i to judge it as i'm loving Reaper (even though it, like any DAW really) has things that could be improved too, at least in theory, since most DAWs have been capable of doing the most cutting edge stuff imaginable for at least 20+ years now.
Most people nowadays simply expect that everything should be done for them more or less automatically by one simple mouse click, instead of them doing the art / work.

[jens]

Does it have audio loop-/multitake-recording and comping yet?

[SLiC]

Does it have audio loop-/multitake-recording and comping yet?

I think there are work arounds but not in the simple way other DAWS work...I just wouldn't personally use FL for recording live audio (it feels bolted on and the editing is all pop up windows).
It is very good for recording audio for 'sample' or loop creation...again, it just has more of an MPC feel to me, which is fine for drum/pattern-based stuff, not so good for long linear recording.

[Bartone]

Yes FL Studio has some very special instruments and effects. But some of those look and feel very “old” = not so easy to use.

And the workflow overall is very different in FL compared to any other DAW I think. I am finding myself not really enjoy this type workflow even I try to like since FL Studio offers so much those powerful instruments FLEX, Sytrus, Harmor and their 303 bass machine.

[SLiC]

Yes FL Studio has some very special instruments and effects. But some of those look and feel very “old” = not so easy to use.

And the workflow overall is very different in FL compared to any other DAW I think. I am finding myself not really enjoy this type workflow even I try to like since FL Studio offers so much those powerful instruments FLEX, Sytrus, Harmor and their 303 bass machine.

If you just think of it as a very advanced Groove Box rather than a DAW then more things make sense, but it is very dated in the pop-up window approach, Eddison needs to be integrated by now as do many of the other small but useful tools...add less, integrate more.

[Kalamata Kid]

FL lost me with the new server dependent activation method. I've moved to Reaper.

Currently on Studio One 5.
Considering moving to Reaper. Just ordered the printed manual.

The possibility of Reaper hosting FLS 21 intrigues me.
How good it the fit? Can copy and past or DADrop from one to the other?
What advantages are there to this combo.

Other possibilities with Reaper is Unify, Mulab and Bidule.

[jonston1]

Anyone up and running this? What's your take?

[Fornicras]

FL lost me with the new server dependent activation method. I've moved to Reaper.

Currently on Studio One 5.
Considering moving to Reaper. Just ordered the printed manual.

The possibility of Reaper hosting FLS 21 intrigues me.
How good it the fit? Can copy and past or DADrop from one to the other?
What advantages are there to this combo.

Other possibilities with Reaper is Unify, Mulab and Bidule.

Why it is important to stay offline? I see a lot of people talk about this.
Is there no internet access in your Studio? Is this the reason for most people? Or is it more of a privacy (?) thing?

I don't mind/care if I software I use uses the internet for activation. I only hate hardware dongles like iLok.

[BenfordLaw]

FL Studio has some great features, but my overall impression on it that it's a mess, because of dozens over dozens of floating, or pop up windows everywhere

Where are the "dozens over dozens" (whatever that means) of floating, or pop up windows in FL Studio? Can you show us some screenshots? I don't have dozens of floating windows on my FL Studio, why is that?

[SLiC]

FL Studio has some great features, but my overall impression on it that it's a mess, because of dozens over dozens of floating, or pop up windows everywhere

Where are the "dozens over dozens" (whatever that means) of floating, or pop up windows in FL Studio? Can you show us some screenshots? I don't have dozens of floating windows on my FL Studio, why is that?

I think people mean FL is built with a collection of windows with no fixed screen layout. You can size and lock a few of these but often for size you need them 'on top' so tab between them- everything is a 'window' unlike most DAWS where it is all on one screen. I know you can make it seem like that and tab if you get everything sized right, but I suspect new people don't get that far!.

If you divide the screen to top and bottom (as most DAWS are) and have 'pattern arranger' as your main top screen, you are then switch (tab) between rack, mixer, piano roll at the bottom (that's how I do it) but I also find myself using Edison (pop up) for audio editing which I don't like much.

[SantaClaus]

FL lost me with the new server dependent activation method. I've moved to Reaper.

Currently on Studio One 5.
Considering moving to Reaper. Just ordered the printed manual.

The possibility of Reaper hosting FLS 21 intrigues me.
How good it the fit? Can copy and past or DADrop from one to the other?
What advantages are there to this combo.

Other possibilities with Reaper is Unify, Mulab and Bidule.

Why it is important to stay offline? I see a lot of people talk about this.
Is there no internet access in your Studio? Is this the reason for most people? Or is it more of a privacy (?) thing?

Used to be mandatory with (very) old computers. Most composers don't even think about that anymore, it makes no difference at all.

[Teksonik]

I gave the theme editor a go but it's far too limited IMO. You can't change the colour or brightness of the mixer channels separately from everything else, for example. Same for borders and dropdown menus, among other things. You can't change the colour of the fonts in the browser. It's not much different to changing the colour, brightness/contrast and saturation levels on your TV. Hopefully they'll improve the feature.

Like I said the Theme engine is a work in progress and is in the beginning stage of development. You can give feedback in the Beta thread to help guide development. I left IL some feedback and they were responsive.

I think people mean FL is built with a collection of windows with no fixed screen layout.

Then those people don't understand workspace management. My FL is set to a fixed screen layout that only changes when I make the Piano Roll or Playlist full screen with a single button push.

[SLiC]

I think people mean FL is built with a collection of windows with no fixed screen layout.

Then those people don't understand workspace management. My FL is set to a fixed screen layout that only changes when I make the Piano Roll or Playlist full screen with a single button push.

I am not saying it's right or wrong, but we live in a world where most (all?) other DAWS that is pre-set to one window resizes together...it's one less thing to or think about, same with audio recording and editing...most DAWS it feels far more instigated and intuitive editing in the track and down have 'patterns'. Time after time you will hear people say they 'tried' FL but it didn't click, or they couldn't work out what was going on...it doesn't look like those core points will change much in 21- no Paradym shift anyway, just tweaks.

[FapFilter]

of course i might have just used it incorrectly when i was trying it briefly for a couple of minutes, back in around 2008 or so and i think last year again.
it's just my initial impression that put me off.
and i never had that impression regarding window clutter with any other DAW i tried
also when i happened to view some FL Studio vids on YT, i think most of the time the screen was plastered with windows too, but i might be wrong as it's been a while and i also might now imagine things

[Teksonik]

I think people mean FL is built with a collection of windows with no fixed screen layout.

Then those people don't understand workspace management. My FL is set to a fixed screen layout that only changes when I make the Piano Roll or Playlist full screen with a single button push.

I am not saying it's right or wrong, but we live in a world where most (all?) other DAWS that is pre-set to one window resizes together...

But one could look at that as a limitation in other DAWs and not a feature. All the other DAWs I use have resizable windows. You can make the Playlist or Piano Roll bigger or smaller etc.

it's one less thing to or think about, same with audio recording and editing...most DAWS it feels far more instigated and intuitive editing in the track and down have 'patterns'.

Or it's one less option the end user is given. Depends on how you look a it. Creating an efficient workspace in FL is easy, doesn't take much time, and only has to be done once unless your workflow changes over time.

I will agree with you about the audio recording. That's why I used Reaper then Cakewalk for recording my guitar as they seem more suited to the task for me. But for my synth based stuff I just haven't found anything that works as well for me as FL Studio and I've tried just about all of them.

Time after time you will hear people say they 'tried' FL but it didn't click, or they couldn't work out what was going on...it doesn't look like those core points will change much in 21- no Paradym shift anyway, just tweaks.

Sure you hear that about any DAW. I've tried Studio One but didn't click with it at all.

It's perfectly fine if someone doesn't click with any DAW. We all make different music and all have different needs when it comes to tools and features.

No DAW is perfect including FL Studio, we just have to try them until we find the one or ones that we like best.