FL Studio: System Settings - MIDI

To open the MIDI Settings choose 'Options > MIDI settings' from the main menu or press the F10 function key on your keyboard. The MIDI Settings page contains settings for MIDI driver input, output and syncing. It also contains options related to MIDI keyboard recording and automation. For a list of supported MIDI devices, see Pre-configured MIDI Devices. NOTE: If you have never connected a MIDI device to FL Studio before, we recommend reading the MIDI Wizard section of the manual first.

MIDI Output

These options are used to select a MIDI Output interface, so FL Studio can send MIDI signals to outboard gear (Synthesizer, Drum Machine, Sampler, etc). Click on the MIDI output interface to be used, once an interface is selected it will become highlighted. For each interface selected you can make independent 'Send master sync' and 'Port number' settings. While only one MIDI Output interface can be used with FL Studio at a time, you can daisy-chain multiple MIDI devices to the Output interface, see the note below.

• Port number - This is a unique channel over which MIDI data is communicated between MIDI devices inside the computer (255 Ports are available). The option assigns a Port number to your MIDI interface (Port numbers don't apply to external MIDI hardware attached to your MIDI interface). Make sure the MIDI Out plugin/s you use to control external MIDI hardware are set to the same MIDI Port number as selected here. The Port number chosen is not important. Selecting '---' will free the MIDI interface for use by other MIDI software.

  NOTE: Make sure Enable MIDI output is selected in the Options menu, 'MIDI output' will be disabled otherwise.

• Send master sync - Master sync tells connected MIDI devices to follow FL Studio's start/stop/play commands, etc. FL Studio will send a 'Master sync' signal only if the button is selected (orange).

  NOTE: Make sure Enable MIDI master sync is selected in the Options menu, 'Send master sync' will be disabled otherwise.

• Synchronization type - Sets the synchronization type. This is the time/code format used for syncing MIDI devices to play/start/stop commands, etc. MIDI clock is normally used. See the manual associated with your external MIDI device/s for details.

NOTE: MIDI allows you to daisy-chain a number of external MIDI devices. Connect the PC to the MIDI Output interface, then connect the first external MIDI device to the MIDI OUT and or MIDI IN of the Output interface. Then connect subsequent MIDI devices to the OUT or THRU ports of the device preceding them in the chain. Make sure to set each MIDI device in the chain to send MIDI data OUT or THRU its own MIDI ports, as this may not be on by default (see the manual/s that came with the device/s).

MIDI Input

These options are used to connect to external MIDI input devices. FL Studio will connect to a wide range of external MIDI controllers and MIDI hardware.

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.

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 Windows 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.

    

   

1. To create permanent links between a controller, FL Studio and plugins use the 'Multilink controllers' switch with the 'Override generic links' option.
2. FL Studio can respond simultaneously to multiple controllers, however, to avoid controller CC conflicts (where more than one controller tries to adjust the same software control on the same MIDI channel) it is wise to assign each controller to transmit on a unique MIDI channel. See the documentation that came with the controller on setting MIDI send/transmit channels. By default, FL Studio listens to MIDI data in OMNI mode (all channels 1 - 16 simultaneously).
3. Multiple controllers & multiple plugin channels - It is possible to use up to 16 controllers simultaneously. To control 16 separate plugins:
   • First Set each controller to transmit on a different MIDI channel number (1 to 16, see the documentation that came with the controller on setting MIDI send/transmit channels).
   • Then Right-click as many channels in the Channel Window as you have active controllers. The controller transmitting on the lowest MIDI channel number will be assigned to the top-most selected Instrument Channel. Selected instrument channels below are assigned by ascending MIDI channel number (i.e. lowest MIDI channel = top selected instrument channel, highest MIDI channel = bottom selected instrument channel). When only one channel is selected then all controllers will play that instrument channel. When more instrument channels are selected than there are active MIDI controllers, then top most instrument channels will be assigned.
   • Changing controller to plugin relationships - The simplest method is to move the target Instrument Channel up/down in the Channel Window stack (select the target instrument channel, hold the Alt key and press the up/down arrows on your keyboard). Remember that instrument channels are assigned to controller MIDI numbers, from top to bottom in the stack.
4. Supported controllers: For the latest list of supported devices visit the MIDI Controller Reference forum.

    

5. Controller templates - There are a number of controller templates in the FL Studio installation directory (\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).

• Auto accept controller - This option affects the linking of knobs/sliders, etc. on your controller/s to FL Studio and plugin interface targets. 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.
• Support hold and sostenuto - If selected, FL Studio will use foot-pedal messages to sustain notes held on a MIDI keyboard. NOTE: For some VST plugins you may need to turn this off for the pedal-sustain to work correctly, it depends on how the programmer has decided to handle foot-pedal MIDI messages.
• Omni Preview MIDI channel - Allows you to set a channel on your MIDI keyboard, where each keyboard key (starting at C5) previews a separate channel in the Step Sequencer. This is particularly useful for percussion/loop-triggering where each channel holds a unique sample/loop in a Channel Sampler.
• 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 Channe 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 Y MIDI 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.

See also: Interfaces, Keyboards and Controllers

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