Section 1:Getting Up and Running with FL Studio
In this section, we will get up and running with FL Studio. We will learn how to navigate the FL Studio workspace, compose melodies, and route tracks to the Mixer.
We will cover the following chapters in this section:
- Chapter 1, Getting Started with FL Studio
- Chapter 2, Exploring the Browser, Playlist, and Channel Rack
- Chapter 3, Composing with the Piano Roll
- Chapter 4, Routing to the Mixer and Applying Automation
Chapter 1: Getting Started with FL Studio
Think about your favorite songs. What makes you like them? Is it the melody, the chords, the catchy rhythm? Maybe a combination of a whole bunch of things that fit together perfectly. Perhaps you've tried making songs at home and realized there's a big difference between the sound you're making and the level of professionalism you hear from your favorite musicians.
In the pages ahead, you'll learn the ins and outs of music production and be well on your way to making music similar to your favorite songs. You'll learn about tools used for composing, mixing, mastering, and publishing your music. By the time you've finished reading this book, you'll have all the tools you need to create music at a professional level.
In this chapter, you'll be introduced to music production and FL Studio. You'll be given a high-level overview of the music career you can take and we will introduce you to the steps involved. Lastly, you'll create your first song.
This chapter comprises the following topics:
- Exploring the music production landscape
- A musician's career path
- Steps in composing a song
- What is FL Studio?
- Making your first song
Technical requirements
In this chapter, we'll be using FL Studio. You can download a free trial version or a paid version of FL Studio from https://www.image-line.com/.
Exploring the music production landscape
Music production has changed significantly in the last two decades. Before, a musician required the assistance of a music producer. You'd go to a studio to meet with a series of technicians who'd play around with mixing equipment that cost as much as your car or house. Then, you'd sign a deal locking you into a music contract for the foreseeable future. The studio would control how your album got released and what royalties you got paid. You had very little negotiating power.
Digital Audio Workstations (known as DAWs) changed everything. Software came out that revolutionized the music playing field. It became possible to be a music producer in your bedroom using just your computer. Nowadays, most music producers create music on their own long before they venture into a recording studio (if they do at all).
Studios started to decrease their investment in developing artists from scratch. They preferred artists that already had success and popularity with fans before considering them. iTunes appeared, along with iPods and smartphones that could hold an entire music catalog in your pocket. Consumers wanted to get their music online instead of from physical stores so that they could download music directly onto their phones. Independent artists gained the ability to sell their music online on their own. Artists could now release their own music and collect their own royalties.
Music streaming platforms such as Spotify and YouTube became mainstream. Why buy individual songs when you could access all of them, all the time, anywhere you go? Consumers now have their own personalized playlist recommendations, filled with songs that suit their own personal taste. New artists could find their way onto a playlist by accident, subject to the whims of mystical algorithms behind the scenes.
All of this poses a powerful opportunity for the independent artist. You can promote yourself using tools equivalent to what record companies use. You can produce a song on your own, get your music into households around the world, and market your own brand. That's what this book is about. It's a handbook to show you the ins and outs of music production and jump-start your musical career. By the end of this book, you will know how to compose, record vocals, master and market your music, and sell it online. This can all be done from home on a minimal budget.
The DAW we'll use in this book is FL Studio. FL Studio is a music software suite that contains all the tools you'll need to produce music. It's one of, if not the leading music production workstation software currently on the market and is used by professional musicians all around the world.
The musician's career path
Many of you reading this book will be looking for guidance on how to begin your music career. You've come to the right place. Whether you are a musician, DJ, composer, or music producer, this book will provide you with a how-to guide to get started with making music.
Let's briefly look at your career path ahead. First, you'll spend some time getting familiar with your DAW. You'll come up with song ideas, record, and learn mixing techniques. You might invest in music plugins, synthesizers, hardware, and samples to play with.
At a certain point, you'll feel comfortable with your tools. It's here when you'll realize that knowing how to use your tools is only one part of comi...
