THE CM GUIDE TO FL STUDIO 20

Now finally available in MacOS format, the latest version of Image-Line’s DAW delivers juicy new features aplenty

Unlock all the new features in this huge DAW update

In any other industry, two decades would be an astonishingly long product cycle. However, in the domain of DAWs that have dominated for 35 years, at 20, FL Studio is merely matured – and given its origin as a simple four-track MIDI drum machine, that’s actually an understatement.

Image-Line’s DAW has, in fact, evolved into a production powerhouse, complete with its own comprehensive collection of effects, instruments and inspiring add-ons, and a unique interface offering a viable alternative to the homogeny of competing products.

Yet FL Studio often – and unfairly – gets a bad rep as the dabbler’s choice. Admittedly, it’s ideal for drumming up grooves on the grid, and its breakneck default BPM and initial 16-step pattern sequencer only adds to the perception.

However, FL Studio is truly a turn-key solution, having long offered users an unparalleled palette – assuming they weren’t trying to cobble together a complex progressive rock opus on a Mac. With the newly issued FL Studio 20 (actually its 13th incarnation), even those exclusions have been lifted, including the biggest of all: its former Windows-only status.

Indeed, FL Studio 20 can now be used natively on any 64-bit Apple computer – no need for Wine or any other wrapper. More impressively, current FL Studio license holders need pay nothing extra for the Mac version. And yes, lifetime updates are still very much a thing!

There are of course, plenty of other new features in this anniversary edition. The aforementioned would-be progressive rock virtuosos can now wrangle their widdly against an ever-changing metre, thanks to FL’s new support for unlimited time signatures.

Additional brush-ups include updates to the Mixer and playlist, comprehensive consolidation (freezing), punch markers, Toolbar customisation, and of course, loads of new plugin improvements.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the details with some talk, tips, and tutorials.