FL Studio Basics from Coursera

FL Studio is one of the most powerful digital audio workstations (DAW) on the market today. This music software has come a long way since entering the market as “FruityLoops” at the turn of the century: It now has functions that can take your music project from a scratch track to a mastered mix, and even allows you to create visuals to accompany your audio.

This course is designed to take you through the basics of using FL Studio and show you what makes it unique from other DAWs out there. You will start by learning the primary windows and functions in FL Studio before practicing recording with audio and MIDI. Finally, we will broadly cover mixing and mastering a musical project. By the end of this course, you will be able to take your musical ideas from basic beginnings to a mastered final product.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to FL Studio Basics!

Welcome to the course! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.

Lesson 1: Sequencing in FL Studio

In lesson 1, we will start with an overview of the FL Studio interface, identifying the main windows and how to use them. We will then begin to use the four main windows in FL Studio to better understand their functions in music production. Finally, we will begin to create a new musical piece from scratch.

Lesson 2: Working with MIDI

In this second lesson, we will cover using MIDI in FL Studio. We will start by setting up a MIDI controller and learning how to record MIDI into FL Studio. We will then go over MIDI mapping and automation. Finally, we will learn about effects and using creative effects processing to make original sounds for our music.

Lesson 3: Working with Audio

In lesson 3, we will switch to working and recording with audio. We will start by setting up an audio interface in FL Studio before recording audio into the Playlist. We will then practice looping audio and comping as well as sampling and slicing the audio we record. Finally, we will learn how to create our own custom sounds using audio.

Lesson 4: Mixing and Mastering

In our final lesson, we will look at the mixing and mastering possibilities available in FL Studio. As I've mentioned, FL Studio has been used by many professional music producers, and you will see why when we begin to practice mixing and mastering in this lesson. We will start by covering some of the basics in mixing before moving on to mastering fundamentals. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to mix and then master one of your original creations.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops knowledge and skills used in an industry setting

Guides learners to apply FL Studio throughout their music production process

Suitable for those interested in working with MIDI, audio, and mixing/mastering

Covers the basics of using FL Studio, including sequencing, MIDI, and audio

Instructed by Rishabh Rajan, an expert in music production using FL Studio

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in FL Studio Basics with these activities:

Record a tutorial on a specific FL Studio feature

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Enhance understanding of FL Studio's features and improve communication skills by creating a tutorial that explains a specific aspect of the software.

Browse courses on Content Creation

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Choose a specific FL Studio feature to focus on.
Gather information and resources on the chosen feature.
Create a script for the tutorial, outlining the steps and explanations.
Record the tutorial using screen recording software.
Edit and publish the tutorial on a platform like YouTube or Vimeo.

Follow tutorials on advanced FL Studio techniques, such as sidechaining or automation

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Expand knowledge and skills in FL Studio by following tutorials that cover advanced techniques, enabling exploration of more complex and creative possibilities.

Browse courses on Automation

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Identify tutorials on specific advanced FL Studio techniques you want to learn.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step, practicing the techniques in your own projects.
Experiment with different settings and parameters to understand how they affect the sound.

Contribute to an open-source FL Studio plugin or template

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Enhance understanding of FL Studio's architecture and programming by contributing to open-source projects, allowing you to collaborate with others and make a meaningful impact on the FL Studio community.

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Find an open-source FL Studio plugin or template that interests you.
Read the documentation and understand the project's goals and functionality.
Identify an area where you can contribute, such as bug fixes or feature enhancements.
Propose your changes to the project's maintainers.

One other activity

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Compose and produce a complete song using FL Studio

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Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of FL Studio's capabilities by composing and producing a full song, incorporating various techniques and elements.

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Brainstorm ideas and develop a concept for the song.
Create and record instrumental tracks using FL Studio's instruments and virtual instruments.
Write lyrics and record vocals for the song.
Mix and master the song to achieve a polished and professional sound.

Career center

Learners who complete FL Studio Basics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Music Producer

Music producers oversee all aspects of musical production. They collaborate with artists, musicians, and technicians to create, record, and mix music. Music producers use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to create musical arrangements, add effects, and master final mixes. This course would give the student a strong foundation of understanding all the functions of FL Studio so that they could begin creating their own music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Audio Engineer

Audio engineers work with sound and audio equipment to create and record audio content. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to edit, mix, and master audio for various purposes, including music, film, and television. This course would give students hands-on experience with audio recording and editing in FL Studio.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Sound Designer

Sound designers create and manipulate sounds for various media, including film, television, and video games. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to create sound effects, design soundscapes, and mix audio. This course could give students a strong foundation in sound design principles and techniques using FL Studio.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Composer

Composers write and arrange music for various purposes, including film, television, and video games. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to create musical compositions, arrange instruments, and mix audio. This course could be useful for composers who want to learn how to use FL Studio to create and produce their own compositions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Musician

Musicians perform music on instruments or with their voices. They may work in a variety of settings, including live performance, recording studios, and teaching. This course could be useful for musicians who want to learn how to use FL Studio to record, edit, and produce their own music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musician

Music Teacher

Music teachers teach music to students of all ages. They may work in a variety of settings, including schools, private studios, and community centers. This course could be useful for music teachers who want to learn how to use FL Studio to teach music production and recording techniques to their students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Teacher

Audiovisual Technician

Audiovisual technicians install, operate, and maintain audio and visual equipment for various purposes, including live events, conferences, and presentations. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to mix audio and create visual effects. This course could be useful for audiovisual technicians who want to learn how to use FL Studio to enhance their technical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audiovisual Technician

Multimedia Artist

Multimedia artists create and produce content that combines audio, video, and graphics. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to create and edit audio for multimedia projects. This course could be useful for multimedia artists who want to learn how to use FL Studio to enhance their audio production skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Multimedia Artist

Broadcast Engineer

Broadcast engineers operate and maintain equipment for radio and television broadcasting. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to edit and mix audio for broadcast. This course could be useful for broadcast engineers who want to learn how to use FL Studio to improve their audio production skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Broadcast Engineer

Web Designer

Web designers create and maintain websites. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to create and edit audio for website content. This course may be useful for web designers who want to learn how to use FL Studio to create and edit audio for their website projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Podcaster

Podcasters create and produce audio content for distribution over the internet. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to record, edit, and mix audio for their podcasts. This course could be useful for podcasters who want to learn how to use FL Studio to improve their audio production skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Podcaster

Sound Editor

Sound editors edit and mix audio for various purposes, including film, television, and video games. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to edit, mix, and master audio. This course could be useful for sound editors who want to learn how to use FL Studio to improve their audio editing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Editor

Music Therapist

Music therapists use music to help people improve their physical, emotional, and cognitive health. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to create and edit music for music therapy sessions. This course could be useful for music therapists who want to learn how to use FL Studio to enhance their music therapy skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Game Audio Designer

Game audio designers create and produce audio content for video games. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to create sound effects, design soundscapes, and mix audio for video games. This course could be useful for game audio designers who want to learn how to use FL Studio to create and produce audio for their video game projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Audio Designer

Video Editor

Video editors edit and assemble video footage for various purposes, including film, television, and video games. They use digital audio workstations like FL Studio to edit and mix audio for their video editing projects. This course may be useful for video editors who want to learn how to use FL Studio to enhance their audio editing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Editor

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