This wikiHow teaches you how to import sound samples, like new instruments or effects, into FL Studio. If you don't have sound samples available, you can download them from FL Studio's developers' website. It's a black app.
Image Line’s FL Studio is a highly-developed digital audio workshop station. Although it’s primarily geared towards electronic music production, it’s great for any type of audio project.
Make and edit tracks
FL Studio is a powerful one-stop-shop for sound recording and music production.
FL Studio software comes in four editions, the prices of which correspond to the available function. With the better editions, you get to edit audio clips, access the full version of the DirectWave sampler, and more. With its progressing feature sets, FL Studio is worth the money, and you'll get lifetime free updates from the developer.
The vector-based interface is easy to read, scalable across displays, and supports multitouch. The Browser, Channel Rack, and the Pattern list contain all the functions from the program.
The main arranging window is the Playlist, where you can bring up the step sequencer and piano roll for closer editing.
Recording requires several clicks, and as you work, you can switch between pattern and song modes to fine tune your tracks.
FL Studio comes with included instruments, but they tend to be too simplistic. However, with some of the built-in effects, it’s possible to make them sound better.
Where can you run this program?
FL Studio runs on macOS 10.11 and Windows 8, or later versions. There are mobile options for iOS and Android, too.
Is there a better alternative?
Yes, if you’re a professional, LMMS is the best choice out there. Ableton Live offers similar features to FL Studio. Ardour and AudioTool are great free alternatives.
Our take
Although the program comes with some clear limitations, it can do wonders and create complex, well-produced pieces of music from a single interface.
Should you download it?
Yes, if you have some experience with such programs already. The UI features a learning curve that’s not ideal for beginners.
11.0.2
Below we’ll explain how to load ARCADE in common DAWs. Before doing this, please make sure you’ve downloaded and installed ARCADE as described here.
Ableton Live
1. Open up your Ableton Live project
2. Live will automatically run a scan for new plug-ins. If it doesn’t, see below on how to manually re-scan
3. Go to Categories > Plug-ins
4. Load the Arcade plug-in by double-clicking it or by dragging it onto a new MIDI track in your Live session.
For PC, you can find Arcade in the ‘VST’ section. If you’re on a Mac, you can find the .au version of Arcade in the Audio Units > Output section.
This is all you’ll need in order to get set up with Arcade in Live!
Troubleshooting
If you’re unable to find Arcade in Live after following the steps above, it may be the case that you need to change some settings.
Open up the Options > Preferences > File Folder window, and make sure “Use Audio Units” (Mac only) and “Use VST Plugin-In System Folders” (Mac and PC) are turned on.
Once you’ve done this, please run a re-scan by following these steps:
1. Click Options
2. Open ‘Preferences’
3. In the Preferences window, click on “File Folder” then click “Rescan”.
Once the scan is complete, please follow the steps for loading the plug-in and you should be all set!
FL Studio
1. Open up your FL Studio project
2. Go to Plugin database on the left-hand sidebar
3. Go to ‘Installed’
4. Go to ‘Generators’
5. Go to VST3 or AudioUnit (Mac only)
6. Drag Arcade [64bit] onto an empty channel
Bitwig
1. Open up your Bitwig project
2. In the browser on the right-hand side, locate “ARCADE” in your Devices list.
3. Double-click ARCADE to open it.
Double-clicking ARCADE will automatically create a track for the device if not currently selected.
Studio One 4
1. Open up your new Studio One 4 project
2. In the browser on the right-hand side, locate “ARCADE” under Output in your Instruments list
3. Double-click ARCADE and drag the plugin to the left corner
Logic
1. Open up your Logic project
2. Create a new Software Instrument track (Opt+CMD+S)
3. Locate the instrument slot on the new channel strip
4. Click the instrument slot then navigate down to AU Instruments > Output > Arcade
5. Click on Arcade to open the instrument
Cubase
1. Open up your Cubase project
2. Go to Project > Add Track > Instrument (Right-Hand Click)
3. In the Instruments list, navigate down to ‘Synth’, locate ‘Arcade’ and click ‘Add Track’.
GarageBand
1. Open up your GarageBand project
2. Go to ‘Track’ from the GarageBand menu and select ‘New Track’ or click (+) on the left-hand side.
3. Pick the ‘Software Instrument’ option on the left-hand side and click ‘Create’
4. Turn on the Smart Controls button to open the Smart Controls window at the bottom of GarageBand if it is not already open
5. In the ‘Plug-ins’ section of the Smart Controls window click on the dropdown menu. GarageBand automatically has the * Classic Electric Piano selected by default
6. Navigate to AU Instruments > Output > Arcade and click on ‘Stereo’ to load ARCADE
Pro Tools
1. Open up your Pro Tools project
2. Go to Track, press ‘New…’ and create a new Stereo Instrument Track (Shift+CMD+N)
3. Insert a Multichannel Plug-In and navigate down to Output > Arcade
4. Click on Arcade to open the instrument
Maschine
1. Open up your Maschine project.
2. In the left-hand side Sound section, click (+) under 'Sound'.
3. Scroll down past the factory Instruments to the ‘Output’ section and select Arcade (AU or VST).
4. Double-click on the icon labeled ‘Arcade’ or click the arrow right next to 'Sound'.
Fl Studio Crashing Mac
Reason
1. Open up your Reason project
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2. In the left-hand side Browser section, select Instruments
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3. Scroll down past the factory Instruments to the ‘Output’ section. Note: You can also type ‘arcade’ in the search bar to be directed to the Arcade VST
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4. Double-click on the ‘VST Plugin’ icon labeled with ‘Arcade’ or drag it into an available rack space to the right-hand side of the Browser