Last Updated: November 21, 2025
FL Studio
Digital audio workstation for music production
Music Production
Creative
Essential Shortcuts
Spacebar
Play/Stop from current position
Ctrl + Spacebar
Play from song start
F12
Open Channel Rack
F7
Open Piano Roll
F9
Open Mixer
F5
Open Playlist (arrangement view)
F8
Open Browser
Ctrl + N
New project
Ctrl + S
Save project
Ctrl + Z
Undo
Ctrl + Alt + Z
Redo
Ctrl + R
Export/Render to audio
Piano Roll Shortcuts
Ctrl + B
Draw/Brush tool
Ctrl + P
Paint tool (hold to draw notes)
Ctrl + D
Delete tool
Ctrl + E
Slice tool
Ctrl + C
Copy selected notes
Ctrl + V
Paste notes
Ctrl + X
Cut selected notes
Ctrl + A
Select all notes
Alt + Arrow Keys
Move selected notes by semitone/step
Shift + Arrow Keys
Resize selected notes
Alt + U
Quick quantize (snap to grid)
Ctrl + Q
Quick quantize start time
Alt + Q
Quantize settings
Ctrl + L
Select all notes in time range
Shift + Scroll Wheel
Zoom in/out horizontally
Piano Roll - Advanced Editing
Alt + A
Arpeggiate selected notes
Alt + C
Chop/randomize notes
Alt + R
Randomize velocity/pan/mod
Alt + S
Strum selected chord
Shift + Up/Down
Transpose selected notes by octave
Ctrl + Up/Down
Scroll through scale highlighting
Alt + M
Riff machine (pattern generator)
Shift + 1-9
Change grid snap size
Step Sequencer / Channel Rack
Left Click Step
Add/remove step in pattern
Right Click Step
Open step properties (velocity, pan, etc.)
Shift + Left Click
Add multiple steps (paint)
Alt + Left Click
Delete steps
Ctrl + Left Click Channel
Solo channel
Alt + Left Click Channel
Mute channel
Shift + Click + Drag
Adjust multiple step velocities
F4
Toggle between pattern/song mode
Ctrl + Click Pattern Selector
Clone pattern
Mixer Shortcuts
Ctrl + L
Route selected channel to mixer track
Alt + Click Fader
Reset fader to default (0dB)
Shift + Click Fader
Fine-tune fader adjustment
Alt + S
Solo selected mixer track
Alt + M
Mute selected mixer track
Ctrl + Right Click Track
Copy mixer track settings
Ctrl + Shift + Right Click
Paste mixer track settings
F2
Rename selected mixer track
Ctrl + Shift + L
Link selected channel to this mixer track
Playlist (Arrangement) Shortcuts
B
Brush/Paint tool
P
Pencil tool (draw automation)
S
Slice tool
E
Select tool
C
Slip edit tool
Ctrl + B
Split clips at playhead
Shift + Left/Right
Move playhead by 1 bar
Alt + Left/Right
Move playhead by 1 beat
Ctrl + Click Clip
Clone/duplicate clip
Shift + Mouse Wheel
Zoom in/out playlist
Pattern & Loop Management
+/- (Numpad)
Switch between patterns
Ctrl + Insert
Clone current pattern
F4
Toggle pattern/song mode playback
Alt + F4
Pattern properties
Ctrl + Shift + C
Consolidate pattern clips
Plugin & Effect Shortcuts
F10
Open plugin picker
Alt + F
Add effect to current mixer track
F2
Rename plugin/channel
Alt + R
Render as audio clip
Ctrl + Alt + Left Click Knob
Reset knob to default
Right Click Knob
Open automation menu
Ctrl + Right Click Knob
Copy automation/LFO settings
Routing & Sidechaining
Channel to Mixer
Ctrl+L in Channel Rack to route to selected mixer track
Sidechain Setup
Right-click mixer track > Sidechain to this track
Send Routing
In Mixer, use send knobs to route to other tracks
Fruity Balance
Default sidechain tool; link to kick for ducking
Fruity Limiter
Advanced sidechain with attack/release controls
Master Track
Track 0 in mixer; all non-routed channels go here
Automation
Right Click Knob > Create Automation
Add automation clip for parameter
Ctrl + Right Click Knob
Copy automation settings
Shift + Right Click Knob
Paste automation settings
Tools > Last Tweaked
View last adjusted parameter for automation
Automation Clip Toolbar
LFO, tension, point shapes for creative automation
Alt + C
Create automation clip from current knob
Export & Rendering
Ctrl + R
Export/render song to audio file
WAV Format
Highest quality; use for mastering (16/24-bit)
MP3 320kbps
High quality, smaller file size for distribution
Split Mixer Tracks
Export each mixer track separately (stems)
HQ Resampling
Enable in render settings for best quality
Mode: Full Song
Render entire project from start to end
Leave Remainder
Include reverb/delay tails after song end
Popular Built-in Plugins
3xOSC
Simple 3-oscillator synth; great for bass/leads
Sytrus
FM synthesizer; powerful, complex sound design
Harmor
Additive/resynthesis synth; pristine quality
Fruity Parametric EQ 2
7-band EQ with analyzer; mixing essential
Fruity Limiter
Limiter/compressor; mastering and sidechaining
Fruity Reverb 2
High-quality reverb with presets
Fruity Delay 3
Stereo delay with ping-pong mode
Gross Beat
Time manipulation; glitch, stutter, reverse effects
Vocodex
Vocoder for robotic vocal effects
Fruity Love Philter
Filter plugin for creative filtering
Workflow Tips
Color Coding
Right-click channel/track > Color for organization
Templates
File > Save As Template; load with common routing
Browser Favorites
Right-click sample/plugin > Add to favorites
Smart Disable
Right-click plugin > Smart disable to save CPU
Ctrl + Alt + Home
Reset all channels/mixer
Typing Keyboard
Options > Typing keyboard to piano; play with QWERTY
Pro Tips:
- Master the Piano Roll: 80% of FL production happens here; learn shortcuts like Alt+U (quantize) and Alt+A (arpeggiate)
- Route Everything to Mixer: Press Ctrl+L for each channel; gives full mixing control
- Use Patterns as Building Blocks: Create 4-8 bar patterns, then arrange in Playlist
- Sidechain Your Kicks: Right-click mixer track > Sidechain to kick for pumping basslines
- Enable Auto-Save: Options > Project > Auto-save every 5-10 minutes
- Freeze Tracks: Right-click mixer track > Render/freeze to save CPU on complex synths
- Learn Stock Plugins: FL's built-in effects (EQ2, Limiter, Reverb) are professional quality
- Browser is King: F8 opens browser; drag-and-drop samples/presets directly to Channel Rack