Image-Line FL Studio 20
As the fabulously fruity DAW turns 20, it’s finally embracing the Mac world
No, you’re not losing your mind: to celebrate two decades of the DAW formerly known as Fruity Loops, ImageLine have skipped straight from version 12 up to 20. Yep, the world’s favourite DAW is 20 years old, launching mere months before the world’s favourite music software magazine ( Computer
Music – duh). FL Studio updates are never a surprise: features are always visible months in advance thanks to Image-Line’s open beta programme. Yet this one retains its full shock factor as the hell-freezing, porcinelaunching prospect of a native Mac version becomes reality. Bundle up, Beelzebub, it’s here at last – FL Studio on your Mac, officially supported! It’s a 64-bit application for macOS 10.11 and above, supporting VST and AU plugins, with full project compatibility with the Windows PC version.
Less dramatic – but just as useful – is the introduction of time signature support. No longer are you bound to the 4/4 grid, and you can make as many time signature changes as needed. Image-Line say that FL’s pattern system “enables simultaneous and multiple time signatures at any point in the Playlist.” Prog trap, anyone?
Also new is in-place rendering (aka freezing); Playlist Arrangements, allowing users to “work with multiple versions of their project”; and VFX Level Scaler, which remaps velocity/release/pitch/pan/mod data from the piano roll.
Further highlights include revised plugin delay compensation (aka PDC – they say it’s been completely rewritten), revived ‘classic’ features (for example, Precomputed FX are back), improved audio recording, plugin updates, a new toolbar and more.
FL Studio 20 is out now for PC and Mac, in three zesty flavours: Fruity, $119; Producer, $239; and Signature $359.
URL www.image-line.com