Connecting External Controller/s

These options are used to select MIDI Input devices. If you have a USB/MIDI keyboard or controller it can be used to control FL Studio. The Input section displays a list of controller devices that have been detected by the Windows operating system.

• Input - Lists detected devices that can be used for MIDI control of FL Studio, for example MIDI/USB piano-keyboards and external MIDI/USB knob-controllers. To select a device click on the name in the list and select the enable switch below. FL Studio is preconfigured to work with a number of controllers as indicated in the Controller type list.

• Enable - Enables the selected controller. Each device in the list can be independently enabled/disabled.

• Controller type - FL Studio supports all generic MIDI controllers. If your controller does not have a custom driver, select USB Audio Device (generic controller) in this menu. Don't be concerned about using a 'Generic' driver if your device is working correctly. However, as 'custom drivers' supply the device name and any 'special' functions the controller may have, it's worth checking if your controller is in the list of custom MIDI controllers. These allow support for 'unique' controls such as transport functions, jog wheels, ribbon-strips, relative knobs, motorized faders and custom switch controls. If your device has a custom driver but does not show in this list by name OR nothing is showing, try re-installing the driver that came with the device (check the manufacturers web-site for the latest USB driver, these are usually on the technical support or downloads section).

• Port - MIDI input port. For use with multiple controllers and Performance Mode. NOTE: Piano roll recording is disabled in Performance Mode.

To connect a controller

1. Make sure Enable MIDI remote control is selected in the Options menu, 'MIDI input' will be disabled otherwise.

2. Click on the device in the Input list so that it is highlighted. Your controller may not necessarily appear by its real name 'USB Audio Device (generic controller)' is common. This appears when the 'generic USB driver' is used to interface with the controller (see 'Controller type' above for more details).

3. Select Enable. Each device in the list can be selected/deselected separately.

4. If you are successful the MIDI activity light on the Main Panel will blink each time controller data is received. NOTE: If the 'Debug log' is open any MIDI data received by FL Studio is displayed and logged, useful for learning the MIDI CC numbers of controls or troubleshooting connections.

   

NOTES:

1. To create permanent links between a controller, FL Studio and plugins use the 'Multilink controllers' switch with the 'Override generic links' option.

2. You can lock note data from Controllers to Channel Rack instruments, see - Controllers and Instrument Channels.

3. Supported controllers: For the latest list of supported devices visit the MIDI Controller Reference forum.

4. Controller templates - There are a number of controller templates in the FL Studio installation folder (\Program Files\Image-Line\FL Studio\System\Hardware specific). These templates are loaded into the editor that came with your controller and will map it to FL Studio. You may then be required to select the controller type in the Input settings (if FL doesn't do so automatically).

Miscellaneous MIDI options

• Auto accept controller - Used when linking controller knobs/sliders to FL Studio and plugins. When selected, the MIDI Remote Control pop-up will close as soon as you tweak (move) the control on your external MIDI device and the link will be made. If this option is deselected, you will need to click the OK button on MIDI Remote Control pop-up to accept the controller link and then close the box.

• Foot pedal controls note off (how MIDI CC#64 is used) - If selected, foot-pedals sustain the length of notes recorded in the Piano roll. That is, the note-off event is triggered by the release of the pedal. HOWEVER, when 'Foot pedal controls note off' is selected, MIDI Pedal CC#64 messages never reach the plugin, as it's captured by FL Studio. If you are using a VST pluginthat needs sustain-pedal events, for its own purposes, deselect 'Foot pedal controls note off' for the sustain effect to work as expected, with that plugin.

• Omni Preview MIDI channel - When set, a MIDI Channel from your controller will (starting at C5) play each Channel in the Channel Rack. Use this for percussion/loop-triggering where each Channel Sampler holds a unique sample or loop

• Performance mode MIDI channel - For use with generic controllers to trigger Clips in Playlist window (in Performance mode). This also enables the Typing Keyboard to trigger clips when set to Channel 1.

• Song marker jump MIDI channel - Set the MIDI channel to be used to accept MIDI note data to control Playlist Time Marker jumping. See Playlist Time Markers section for more details. 
   

• Generator muting MIDI channel - Lets you set a channel on your MIDI keyboard, where each keyboard key mutes/unmutes a channel in the Step Sequencer.

• Toggle on Release - Determines how momentary buttons/switches on the MIDI controller interact with target controls in FL Studio. When enabled, the target control will change state when the button is pressed and revert back to the original state when the button is released. If off, a second click is required to revert the target back to its original state.

• Link note on velocity to - [none] - If this option is selected, FL Studio will ignore note-on velocities sent by controller input devices (MIDI keyboards, etc.) and assign a fixed velocity to all notes (a MIDI velocity of 100 or 78% is used, 127 = 100%). Velocity enables mapping note velocity from MIDI devices to per-note velocity sensitive plugins in FL Studio. Mod X / Mod YMIDI key note on velocity is mapped to Mod X or Mod Y and passed to any instruments or effects using these MOD parameters.

  • Curve - Opens the Velocity Mapping Curve editor. This curve sets the relationship between the MIDI controller (note on) velocity and the value passed to FL Studio. Control points can be added with right-mouse clicks and function curves by Left-clicking on the tension handle, as with any envelope editor in FL Studio. For the curve to take effect 'Note on' must be linked to one of the options shown above. TIP: If you play your controller while the Velocity Mapping Curve editor is open, the note velocity will be visible as a vertical line. This will help you to tune the curve shape to your playing style.

• Link release note velocity to - [none] - If this option is selected, FL Studio will ignore release velocities sent by controller input devices (MIDI keyboards, etc.) and assign a fixed release velocity (100) to all notes. Release - Some MIDI keyboards can send the velocity of a note release, if so this enables mapping of note release velocity from MIDI devices to per-note release velocity aware plugins in FL Studio. For the curve to take effect 'Note on' must be linked to 'Release'.

  • Curve - Opens a velocity mapping editor. This allows you to set the relationship between MIDI controller 'note release' velocity and the value passed to FL Studio. Control points can be added with right-mouse clicks and 'between point' curves by Left-clicking on the tension handle as with any envelope editor in FL Studio.

• Rescan MIDI devices - If you install a controller after FL Studio has started, or a controller that appears in the Input list becomes unresponsive, this option will rescan and connect to the device.