Make a Song on Fruity Loops
Template:StubFruity Loops, also called "FL Studio," is a Digital Audio Workshop that enables its users to compose musical tracks using audio samples, Virtual Studio Technologies, or live recordings. This tutorial will introduce the basic concepts that actual musicians use to create songs in Fruity Loops.
Contents
Steps
- Begin by starting the program. When FL Studio loads up, you will notice two main boxes appear on your screen. The smaller, rectangular box is called your step sequencer (covered in step 2). The larger, main box is called the playlist (covered in step 3). Additionally, you will see a vertically aligned menu along the left hand side of your screen. In this menu, locate the tabbed item "packs." Here, you will find a collection of countless audio samples that you can use to create your first song!
- Select one of the samples that you would like to use by left clicking it and dragging it into a sample slot in your step sequencer. Then, right click the sample and select the option called "piano roll." This will open your piano roll screen, where you can draw notes by clicking on the grid next to the keyboard. Draw out a melody for your song. To play the melody, press the space bar. To stop, press the space bar again.
- Load all of the samples you want in your song. It is likely that you would like to use more than just one sample in your song. If this is the case, repeat step 2 with each sample that you would like to use.
- Arrange your samples into a song. Now it is time to put all of your samples together so that they make a song. Starting with your first sample pattern selected, open the playlist screen and paint the sample onto the grid next to "Track 1." For your second sample pattern, paint on the grid next to "Track 2," and so on for all of your samples.
- Play your song! If you haven't already done this, switch from pattern mode to song mode by clicking "song" next to the play button on the top of your screen. Then, press the space bar and enjoy your first song!
- Create an mp3 file. If you want to place your song onto Youtube, an iPod, or CD, you will need to convert it to .mp3 format. To do this, save your song in FL Studio. Then, click on "file" -> "export" -> ".mp3" and select a save destination on your hard drive.
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5mIjOg1zvA
Tips
- This tutorial only covers how to create a basic song structure in the FL Studio environment. There is much more to learn, have fun!
- If you don't have experience playing a musical instrument, you may want to begin by researching music theory.
