FL Studio users got a nice solstice gift – lots of new features, covered in their lifetime updates plan.
For all the nice new stuff, Mac users I expect will be happiest about the M1 compatibility tweaks. Intel VST and AU plug-ins now work in the Apple Silicon native host via a process bridge. (Previously, you’d need to force FL Studio to run in Rosetta 2 as an Intel app.) I’m still hopeful more plug-ins add support, and AU don’t require the tweaks, but this is useful for VST-only plug-ins like VCV Rack Studio, at least until they’re updated.
As usual, FL has a lot of new goodies, though. In short:
New stuff:
- Pitch Shifter with real-time pitch manipulation
- Vintage Chorus a la Roland’s Juno-6, which it seems we can’t get away from these days
- Stretch Pro for Sampler Channel and Audio Clips Instrument with real-time formant controls
- SoundFont Player is back, now 64-bit, and on macOS even Apple Silicon native
- Shift Markers in NewTone Editor
- Improved Patcher Tool with a mini-map for navigation and grid – love that one, actually, it allows you to make custom-routed chains of instruments and effects
- FLEX now lets you dump-to-score
- Better audio recording with new input modes, monitoring, Playlist track controls
- Clip Editor automation is improved with multi-point editing, target highlighting, and link management
- 64-bit sample lengths for handling larger recordings and audio
- Enhanced MIDI Scripting functionality
- Improved Event to Automation Clip conversion
- Multi-select, cloning in Playlist Tracks
- Undo anything
- Expanded Typing Keyboard features
- Expanded Merge Clips
- More Context Aware Value support across plugins and Automation Clips
In other words, it’s a great workflow release – especially for automation and recording and arrangement – with some new effects goodies to match.
What’s new [documentation]