Image Line FL Studio 10

Reviews | Image Line FL Studio 10
96
T
o many seasoned producers,
Image Line’s name is still
associated with the ‘Fruity
Loops’ moniker – a well-
regarded beat creation and
programming tool from roughly 12 years
ago. However, along the way and as new
features were added, the program
developed into a fully-fl edged DAW. In
other words, its functionality has
extended into the realms of integrated
multi-track audio, MIDI and plug-in
technology. However, despite this there
are signs of the original ‘Fruity’ past in
the DNA of FL Studio, but this
shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing.
Essentially, FL Studio offers pattern
or track-based sequencing via a step
sequencer or piano roll editor using
built-in and third-party hosted plug-ins.
Check out the box on page 98 for more
information on the various FL fl avours
that are available, and what is included
with each version.
The last time I looked at FL Studio
was last summer, with the arrival of the
FL9.5 public beta. This brought with it
a host of new features, ultimately
paving the way for the move to version
10.0.0 that sits before me right now.
Give me some juice...
So that brings us to the features that
will be new to those moving from FL9 to
10, and who hadn’t dared delve into the
world of public beta-testing. In general
terms, we get 64-bit plug-in support, as
the plug-in Wrapper now detects the
presence of 64-bit versions and
automatically opens them in ‘bridged’
mode. Interestingly, FL Studio also
support 32-bit bridging.
In the 32-bit Operating Systems,
such as Windows XP, the total memory
each application (and by implication all
the plug-ins that sit inside it) can use is
limited and infl exible. Bridging solves
some of these issues, by allowing
plug-ins to use their own memory
space, which is then ‘bridged’ back to
the main application.
The signifi cance of this for most
users is in when using sample-based
plug-ins that eat-up large chunks of
available RAM – now you should be able
to run more of them with less problems.
This improved use of memory allows
plug-ins to use 2GB (in a 32-bit OS)
and up to 192GB in a 64-bit
environment. FL Studio now also uses a
WHAT Is IT?
A virtual studio with
built-in instruments,
effects, MIDI, audio
recording and sample
manipulation tools.
cONTAcT
Who: Et Cetera
Tel: [phone]
Web: fl studio.image-
line.com
HIGHLIGHTs
1 Value for money
2 Plug-in bridging options
3 New patcher
Image Line FL
Studio 10 | £299
FL Studio has just seen an update to double-digits.
Bruce Aisher takes a look at the latest incarnation of
this ever-evolving system and wonders what it has up
its sleeve this time around
ON THE DVD
pRIcING
FL Studio Express Edition
(download) - $49
FL Studio Fruity Edition
(boxed) - £99
FL Studio Producer Edition
(boxed) - £199
FL Studio Signature Bundle
(boxed) - £299
FMU240.rev_flstudio 96 4/21/11 3:11:57 PM