AUTOMATION & RECORDING

Mouse & Controller Recording

Introduction

The following section shows how to record the movement of FL Studio and plugin interface controls. Movements can be made with either your mouse or any linked external hardware controller. Once movements are recorded they will play back as part of the project performance, perfect for automating mixes and synthesizer controls.

Setup

• Mouse - The mouse needs no special setup, any interface control movements made will be recorded.
• Controller hardware - Before using an external controller it must first be correctly installed (see the MIDI Settings Wizard or MIDI Settings page) and then linked to the target control.
• Recording automation data - The Transport Panel Record Button has a recording filter (right-click to view). The options set the data types that will be recorded - Audio, Score or Automation data. Make sure the Automation option is selected. You may want to turn off the Automation recording if, for example, you want to tweak project or plugin parameters while you are recording audio/score data and not retain those tweaks.
• What can be automated? - To determine if a native interface control can be automated, position the cursor over it and check the hint bar for the following icons:

  - The control is automatable (events can be recorded and then edited with the Event Editor)

  - The control can be linked to an external controller.

Recording automation

Mouse or external controller movements can be recorded and played back as part of the project. To record the mouse movements simply move the target control while the project is playing in record mode. In order to record an external controller it needs to be linked to an automatable parameter in FL Studio (e.g. knobs, sliders, LCDs, switches).

1. Select the target control/s: For mouse control you will simply click on any target control/s and move them while FL Studio is recording. External hardware controllers must first be linked to the interface target/s. Any number of links can be made, limited only by the number of unique controls on your hardware.
2. Select the Pattern: The automation will be recorded into the selected Pattern. If you automate more than one control during the session all automation will be recorded into the same pattern. The Event Editor allows you to independently select and edit the all the automation data associated with the pattern.
3. Turn on the Automation recording filter: Right-click the Record button and make sure 'Automation' is selected as a recording type (all data types with a tick will be recorded).
4. Arm for Recording: Click the record button in the Transport Panel, it will turn red to show FL Studio is ready to record.
5. Press Play. FL Studio will play the project and record any movement of controls animated by your mouse or controller keyboard.

6. Press stop.

Where is my automation data stored?

Automation data recorded from live mouse or controller movements is recorded into an Automation Event associated with the pattern that was selected during the recording session. You have two choices after recording the automation how it should be stored:

1. Patterns: Leave the Automation with pattern as an Automation Event. Event data is able to be edited using the Event Editor. As automation Events are associated with patterns they can be placed in the block track or clip track area of the Playlist. Note that the automation associated with a pattern blocks is invisible in the Playlist and so can be confusing, it is better to place patterns with automation in the clip-track area where the Event data shows as a background image in the clip. Also note that pattern automation will be active in either pattern or song mode.
2. Automation clips: Event data can be converted into Automation Clips. The conversion is initiated from the Event Editor (Main menu > Turn into Automation Clip). Note that Automation Clips must be placed in the Clip Track area of the Playlist to become active in the song and you may need to manually align them with the correct part of the Project.

Recording score/note data

See the section on score/note recording.

Cancelling a recording session

You can cancel a recording session (so it does not apply the recorded notes and automation events) in two ways. The first one is to choose Cancel Current Recording command from Help menu, but note that you should do this while recording, BEFORE pressing the Stop button. If you press it, you can still undo the whole recording session by choosing Undo from the Edit Menu. If you had recorded mixer tracks during the last session, you will be prompted if you agree that the files are erased (i.e. undone). Be careful, because once you undo audio recording, the files can not be restored and you will have to record them again if needed.