FL Studio 20.9 | Released

[Image-Line]

We are excited to release FL Studio 20.9.

In 20 minutes ...



In a minute ...



INSTALLERS

• Windows - FL Studio 20.9.0.2748
• macOS - FL Studio 20.9.0.2252

WHAT'S NEW

• Apple Silicon Support - FL Studio can now open Intel VST and AU plugins while running in native Apple Silicon native mode via a process-bridge. NOTE: Some DirectWave sample format import functions have not been fully refactored.
• Audio Recording:
  
  • Playlist - On track controls: Input, Recording location, Monitoring and Arming. There is a new Playlist menu option to show/hide the controls 'View > Show controls on audio tracks'.
  • Recording Location - Choose from 6 locations in the input signal path, including the Direct Input from your audio interface. Selecting an external input will set the recording location to 'External input only' that avoids recording internal audio. Useful when making multiple takes on the same Playlist Audio Track / Mixer Insert.
  • New Monitor options (Off, When armed and On) - From the Playlist, (Right-Click) Playlist Track header, Audio Tracks > Track Mode > Select audio input option to select an Audio Input. The default value for 'Monitor external input' is 'When armed'.
  • Loop Recording - Improved stability with small loops.
  • Mixer Tracks - Now possible to arm a Mixer track that doesn't have an external audio input selected.
  • Deleted recordings - Improved handling of 'trashed recordings'.
• Automation:
  
  • Automation Clip Editor - New Automation Editor. Includes a target list and the ability to manage, edit and locate link targets. There is also Multiple selection of points in all Envelope Editors (including plugins).
  • Event Editor > Automation Clip - A new conversion algorithm more accurately represents the original Event Data, with fewer Control Points and curve approximation.
  • Automation Clips & Envelopes - (Shift+Right-Click) to add Control Points at the current value of the Envelope. Works in the Playlist, Automation Clip Editor[/b] and Plugin Envelopes (e.g. Sytrus, Harmor etc). NOTE: If Snap is on, use (Alt+Shift+Right-Click)
• Channel Rack & Channels:
  
  • Layer Channels - Added a 'Sequential' playback mode (round-robin style).
  • Channel Rack Selectors - For a selected Channel, changed from (Single-click) to (Double-click) to select all Channels.
  • Channel Settings - (Right+Click) 'Type in value' Channel Pitch bend Range control now allows semi-tone values.
• Mixer:
  
  • Hint values for Mixer Send Knobs now show dB values.
  • Menu > Selected track(s) > Assign to new audio track(s)'- To assign selected Mixer Tracks to the Playlist and create Audio Tracks for each.
• New Effects:
  
  
  • Pitch Shifter (All Plugins Edition+) - Real-time pitch-shifting effect with two pitch-shifting algorithms and X/Y (Pitch/Formant) control.
  • Vintage Chorus (Signature Bundle+) - Inspired by and modelled after the Roland Juno 6's Bucket Brigade Delay (BBD) Chorus.
• Playlist & Piano roll:
  
  • On-track recording controls - For Audio Tracks, as per the same functions available from the Mixer Track Panel.
  • Selection & Multi-selection - Playlist tracks are now selectable. (Ctrl+Up/Down Arrows) selects a track. (Ctrl+Alt+Up/Down Arrow) extends the selection.
  • Clone Tracks (Right-Click) - Use the Track Header Menu to duplicate existing Playlist track/s, with the option to Clone Patterns, Audio Clips, Automation, Effects (in linked Mixer tracks) and Grouped Playlist Tracks.
  • Multi-load - Dropping an Instrument preset on multi-selected Playlist tracks will add an instance of the plugin to all selected Tacks. If Tracks are in Instrument Track mode - Dropping an Effect preset on one of a multi-selection of Instrument Tracks will add the Effect to all selected tracks in the group.
  • Make unique Clips - Now shows a warning when you make a Playlist selection and use 'Make unique' where a large number of Clips are selected. Are you sure? [Y][N].
  • Merge Clips - Now works for all selected clip types.
  • Grid contrast - Playlist & Piano roll, 'View > Grid contrast > High', 'Medium' or 'Low'.
• Updated Instruments:
  
  • Sampler Channel & Audio Clips - New 'Stretch Pro' mode with Formant control. Keep on disk[/b] - Now works on macOS for long samples.
  • SoundFont Player - New 64 bit and macOS compatible SoundFont Player plugin (replaces Fruity SoundFont Player).
  • FLEX - Dump score to Piano roll feature, for patches with included scores (Pitch panel).
  • FPC - 'Use current layout' that prevents the current note layout changing when you select a new preset. On by default.
  • Slicer - 'Fill gaps' and 'Alternate fill gaps' now work in 64 Bit Windows and on macOS.
  • FL Studio Mobile - Updated. See here for changelog.
• Updated Effects:
  
  • Frequency Shifter - New visualizations (Input/Output Spectrum and Oscilloscope). Click visualization to change.
  • ZGameEditor Visualizer - The built-in audio engine can now be used from scripting.
• Updated Tools:
  
  • NewTime - New Shift Markers. Groove and Shift controls now color coordinated with corresponding Markers.
  • Patcher - User interface - The Map Tab is now a static workspace with Scroll Bars. (Middle-Click) now selects the map for panning, replacing Plugin Picker. Use (F8) or the Toolbar. New user-sizeable grid for control snapping. Added Minimap to aid navigation when zoomed in. See shortcuts and gestures. Workflow - Hold (Alt) when dropping a plugin preset to create an unconnected module. Hold (Alt) key when dropping a plugin preset to add it without any connections. Plugins added from the menu are now placed at the mouse click location.
• Workflow:
  
  • Improved Undo - Added 'General Settings > Undo history > Alternate undo mode' where (Ctrl+Z) will step backward through the change-list. Most changes made in FL Studio can now be undone and redone. Notable undo improvements: Instrument Channel and Effect preset loading. Replacing Audio files in Channels. Grouped mixer tracks, Input select monitoring and Latency. Envelope changes. Adding, editing and removing Target Links and significantly improved undo for Audio Recordings (removed in the order they were created).
  • Support for context aware values - Automation Clips where targets are also context aware. (Right+Click) 'Type in value' windows for 7 Band EQ, Beepmap, Blood Overdrive, BooBass, Delay 2, Fast Dist, FL Keys, Flangus, FLEX, Fruit Kick, Fruity Send and Tuner, Granulizer, Harmless, Ogun, Panomatic, Stereo Enhancer, Squeeze FX, Wave Shaper, X-Y Controller and XYZ Controller now are context aware. Add Hz, dB, % etc when typing in values to specify the format.
  • Typing to Piano keyboard - Added a more octaves, root-note selection and new key signatures. Those designated '+ Chords' include chords on the number-keys.
  • Wrapper - Allow saving .vstpreset files for VST3 plugins.
  • Sample Length - FL Studio now supports > 2GB samples when recording, saving, loading and editing using 64 bit lengths instead of 32 bit. This represents a recording time of more than 6 years at 44.1 kHz (32 Bit float). Which will run out first; the electricity, disk space or your patience?
  • General Settings - Choose Sharp or Flat naming for black notes, where displayed. When changing Languages warnings are now shown in multiple languages, if necessary.
  • Licensing & Unlock - Download license updates without email and password (after an initial unlock). Persistent token. New Logout option to return FL Studio to Trial Mode.
  • Global Links Dialog - 'Generic links' renamed to 'Global links' throughout the program. Because that is what they are!
• News Panel - Clicking the News now shows a (right-side) feature-rich pop-out panel rather than just a drop-down list.
• Controller & MIDI Scripting - FL Studio now sends a device identification message when a new MIDI devices are detected. New MIDI Scripting features and functions:
  
  • Event 'OnDirtyChannel'
  • Event 'OnFirstConnect'
  • Event 'OnProjectLoad'
  • Way to show and hide 'miDisplayRect'/'crDisplayRect' without a time-out
  • Added '6' (VER_ArchAndBuild) as a valid parameter value to getVersion function.
  • Function to dump the score log and to clean the log.
  • Function 'mixer.isTrackMuteLock' returns True if the Mute for track at 'index' is locked.
  • Function to get the id of the focused window.
  • Function to Perform Quick Quantize Start Times function.
  • Function to query "docked" status of a mixer track.
  • Function to query the number of presets in a plugin.
  • Function to retrieve note names published by plugins.
  • Function to scroll the mixer window by specifying the first visible channel.
  • Function to show which tracks in the mixer are active.
  • Get Channel/Track volume in dB.
  • Hardware refresh flag when the channel rack filter changes.
  • Option for 'ui.ScrollWindow' to scroll horizontally where possible.
  • Optional pot pickup functionality for direct script access.
  • Parameter to 'miDisplayRect' to indicate what tracks the rectangle applies to.
  • 'Scroll to view' flag for 'miDisplayRectangle'
  • 'Scroll to view' flag for 'ui.crDisplayRect'
  • Track selection functions in the playlist module.
  • Way to display a red box around channels selected for editing.
  • Improved detection of linked inputs and outputs through the hardware ID string
  • Added pickup feature to 'plugin.SetParamValue'

[bmanic]

Awesome! Well done!

[xbitz]

and Happy holidays to the whole team!

[LoveEnigma18]

Brilliant update. Thank you, Image-Line! Hope you guys have a great holiday season. Happy New Year!

Looking forward to 2022!

[Dunbar]

FL 20.9 represents a disaster for me.

I've been moving away from software that requires online authentication. I assumed I was safe with FL, it's been keyfile based for decades. Now Image-line has changed to a challenge response system I'm forced to face a decision: do I jump to a new sequencer, yet again, or abandon my commitment to software that maximizes user autonomy?

I'm currently demoing Reaper as a possible alternative.

[core]

Just installed, awesome!

[T-CM11]

FL Studio now uses Hardware-based DRM (like Challenge Response). Assholes!

I'll just keep using the older version, or find some 'other' way to back up the software

[6track]

I'm happy about the new version, but ... I wasn't bothered by activating FL Studio before, because I knew it would work on any of my computers without an internet connection.

I also reinstall Windows from a clean image as often, but now, apparently, I will constantly ask for new codes. And if it is regarded as multiple installations? Am I going to be blocked?

[antic604]

Looking at the release notes it's a pretty stunning release. But I can't still get into it - too much clicking into multi-level menus to do basic things, too much options that mean nothing until you know what they do...

I wish I could sell my license and make someone happy at half the price or something

[Image-Line]

FL Studio now uses Hardware-based DRM (like Challenge Response). Assholes!

I'll just keep using the older version, or find some 'other' way to back up the software

The problem we are facing is that people are sharing Regkeys. By the 10,000's of installations.

What do yo propose?

We allow you to unlock on as many machines as you like. We give Lifetime Free Updates.

Hardly *holes.

The online unlock system works simply by logging into your account through FL Studio just as it always has. No challenge-response.

In this case if you want a Regkey that can be used offline. Its locked to the PC it was made for. Hardly an issue. You can make as many as you like any time you like.

What is the objection here exactly?

[Image-Line]

I'm happy about the new version, but ... I wasn't bothered by activating FL Studio before, because I knew it would work on any of my computers without an internet connection.

I also reinstall Windows from a clean image as often, but now, apparently, I will constantly ask for new codes. And if it is regarded as multiple installations? Am I going to be blocked?

No. We are not trying to limit your freedom to install FL Studio on the 5 or 8 computers you use/own.

However please put yourself in our shoes. A Regkey that has no limit to the number of machines it can be installed on and is able to do that undetected offline. Does that sound like a good idea for a commercial product?

If it wasn't being abused, we would not have touched it.

[dermichl]

IL are rather Infamous for offloading their commercial risks onto the paying customers!!!

[sjm]

The problem we are facing is that people are sharing Regkeys. By the 10,000's of installations.

What do yo propose?

Update the EULA with measures in place to safeguard our ability to use the software in the event that IL go out of business. Ideally some sort of software escrow or similar process in place to provide access to a DRM-free version/the source code in the event of a worst case scenario.

That's the biggest risk for us users associated with this move: we're handing over the keys to our software to a third party, with no guarantee that our investment is safe. Previously, we could just back up the installer and regkey and were good to go. Nobody seems to have addressed this elephant in the room at IL yet (it has been asked before).

Why does this need to be in the EULA? Because it's binding for both parties, and any party that should possibly acquire IL in the future.

Yes, I know you have no intention of going out of business any time soon, but it's an inevitability that IL will go out of business one day, because no company lasts forever. Not being able to install FL because the servers will go poof one day is a valid concern, and one that only affects those users who have actually bought the software.

[MirkoVanHauten]

Wonderful update! Works like a charm and activation was as easy done as usual. No need to panic. Will try the offline method as well for our studio pc. I really dig the new layer sequential mode. And welcome back Sound Font Player!

[Image-Line]

IL are rather Infamous for offloading their commercial risks onto the paying customers!!!

Example?

We are famous for being the most generous DAW on the block. And proud of it.