Hướng dẫn automation pad fl studio 20 năm 2024

The following section shows how to record the movement of FL Studio and plugin interface controls. Movements can be made with either your mouse or any linked external hardware controller. Once movements are recorded they will play back as part of the project performance, perfect for automating mixes and synthesizer controls.

Setup

• Recording automation filter - The has a recording filter (Right-Click to view). The options set the data types that will be recorded - Audio, Score and/or Automation data. Make sure the Automation option is selected. You may want to turn off the Automation recording if, for example, you want to tweak project or plugin parameters while you are recording audio/score data and discard those tweaks.
• Mouse - The mouse needs no special setup, any interface control movements made while FL Studio is recording will be captured.
• Controller hardware - Before using an external controller it must first be correctly installed (see the MIDI Settings Wizard or MIDI Settings page) and then linked to the target control.
• What can be automated? - To determine if a native interface control can be automated, position the cursor over it and check the for the following icons:
  - The control is automatable (events can be recorded and then edited with the Event Editor)
  - The control can be linked to an external controller.

Recording automation

Mouse or external controller movements can be recorded and played back as part of the project. To record the mouse movements simply move the target control while the project is playing in record mode. In order to record an external controller it needs to be linked to an automatable parameter in FL Studio (e.g. knobs, sliders, LCDs, switches).

1. Select the target control/s: For mouse control you will simply click on any target control/s and move them while FL Studio is recording. External hardware controllers must first be linked to the interface target/s. Any number of links can be made, limited only by the number of unique controls on your hardware.
2. Select the Pattern: The automation will be recorded into the selected . If you automate more than one control during the session all automation will be recorded into the same pattern. The Event Editor allows you to independently select and edit the all the automation data associated with the pattern.
3. Turn on the Automation recording filter: Right-Click the and make sure 'Automation' is selected as a recording type (all data types with a tick will be recorded).
4. Arm for Recording: Click the record button in the , it will turn red to show FL Studio is ready to record.
5. Press Play. FL Studio will play the project and record any movement of controls animated by your mouse or controller keyboard.
6. Press stop.

Where is my automation data stored?

Automation data recorded from live mouse or controller movements is recorded into the Event Editor associated with the that was selected during the recording session. You will find all automation in the current project listed in the folder in the Browser. You have two choices after recording the automation how it should be stored:

1. Patterns: Automation Event data remains associated with the pattern it was recorded into. This Event data can be further edited using the Event Editor. When you place the pattern in a Clip Track the automation data will remain synced to its pattern. Event data shows as a background image in the Pattern Clip. Also note that Event Automation remains active in either Pattern or Song mode.
2. Automation clips: Event data can be converted into Automation Clips. The conversion is initiated from the Event Editor (Main menu (down arrow) > Edit > Turn into Automation Clip). Note that Automation Clips must be placed in the Clip Track area of the Playlist to become active in the song and you may need to manually align them with the correct part of the Project. In other words, the sync between the original Pattern the automation data was recorded into is lost, and the Automation Clip must now be synced to the Playlist time-line. Reestablishing the relationship is not difficult, just start the related Pattern and Automation Clip on the same bar in the Playlist.

Recording score/note data

See the section on score/note recording.

Cancelling a recording session

You can cancel a recording session (so it does not apply the recorded notes and automation events) in two ways:

Automation Clips move (automate) linked controls on the FL Studio interface or plugins. They are closely related to Event automation and are a type of internal controller. Unlike event data they are not bound to a specific pattern and exist as a special type of Generator, loaded into a Channel. Automation Clip data can be displayed in the Playlist window as a line-graph, as shown below.

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NOTE: Once an Automation Clip is created it will appear as an 'Internal controller' link option in the 'Link to controller' Right-Click dialog on automatable controls.

Automation Clips

See the section for more on-Clip options.

Automation Clip Focus

The clip focus selector (shown below) is used to focus various clip types. This is particularly useful when clips are stacked, the focused clip will be brought to the top for selection and editing. Selecting CTRL+click will focus all clips so they can be moved together.

• Right-Click tab - Show Automation Clip menu.
• Step - Sets the Automation Clip curve editor in 'step editing' mode. Left-click and drag in the clip to create a "free hand" curve where a new control point is defined for every step in the timeline (steps depend on the current snap settings). Hold SHIFT while dragging to draw "pulse" lines (straight vertical/horizontal lines only). Note that each new segment created this way uses the last tension set while adding a segment.
• Slide - Preserves the relative distance between a dragged control point and all control points following it.

Creating Automation Clips

There are several ways to create an Automation Clip:

1. Native FL Studio controls - Native controls, those on the FL Studio interface and Image-Line plugins, can be Right-Clicked to show a popup menu. Select 'Create automation clip'. A clip will be added to the Playlist Clip-Track area (as shown above). See Notes below.
2. VST/AU plugin controls - There are two methods; Prefer 'Last tweaked' unless that does not work then use the 'Current project' method. Not all plugins support 'Last tweaked'. Both methods create an Automation Clip and place it in the Playlist for further editing. For more information on linking targets in FL Studio and plugins see the sections on Linking internal controllers and Linking hardware controllers.
   • Last tweaked - Move (tweak) the target control on the VST/AU using your mouse, then, from the select 'Last tweaked > Create automation clip'. Alternatively, Right-click the and use the similar menu options there.
   • Current project - From the > Current project > Generator / Effects folder, locate the Plugin and click it. This will open the list of automatable parameters. Right-Click the desired target and select 'Create automation clip'.
3. Add menu - Tweak the target control and use the Add menu > Automation from last tweaked parameter.
4. Convert from Event Data - All recorded automation is saved as Event Data. Convert Event Data to an Automation Clip from the 'Edit > Turn into automation clip' command in the Event Editor menu.
5. Audio Clips - FL Studio also provides you with a quick way to automate the volume/pan of an Audio Clip. Open the clip menu and select either Automate > Panning or Automate > Volume. The new Automation Clip will be placed over the target Audio Clip.

NOTES:

• Time range - If you pre-select a time-range in the Playlist, the Automation Clip will be restricted to the selected range. If no range is selected then the Automation Clip will span the entire song length.
• Placement - If you are using , Automation Clips will be created as a sub-track of the parent Playlist Track. Otherwise, Automation Clips will be automatically placed on the highest empty mixer track in the viewable area of the Playlist.

Deleting Automation Clips

To Delete an Automation Clip - Delete the Automation Clip Channel OR delete the Automation Clip from the Picker panel. Deleting the Automation Clip from the Playlist will leave the Channel in place for use later in the Project.

Initialized controls - When an Automation Clip is created using the Right-click menu option, the controls value will be . That is, the original value will be saved, and so remembered after the Automation Clip is deleted or unlinked. When you start the song, the control will return to this single value.

• To remove the initialization - Find it in the Browser > Current project > Patterns > Initialized controls list, then Right-Click and select 'Delete event' OR set the control to the desired starting level and Right-Click it to select 'Init song with this position'.
• To prevent initialized controls - Deselect the option General settings > Don't initialize controls automatically.

Working with Automation Clips

The following operations may be performed in the Clip Track area of the Playlist. See

Video Tutorial here.

• Automation Clip focus
  - Selects the Automation Clip layer/s for editing.
  • Step - When selected, allows you to draw relatively free-hand curves by laying down a new control point each time a Left-clicked mouse is dragged past a grid line.
  • Slide - When selected, slides any grabbed control points to the right of the selected point without changing the shape. When de-selected the moved control point will move relative to the points to the right of it.
• To place the Automation Clip in the Playlist - Use the Clip selector along the top of the Playlist window to select the Automation Clip to be placed, then Left-click in the Playlist window while in
  Draw (Shift+P) or
  Paint (Shift+B) mode.
• Add control points - (Right-Click) on the clip area, continue to hold and drag to reposition the point. Hold ( Shift) while dragging to lock the vertical position, or ( Ctrl) to lock the horizontal position. Hold (Alt) to override snapping (if selected). To add a Control Point without disturbing the exiting level use (Shift+Right-Click). NOTE: If 'Snap' is on, use (Alt+Shift+Right-Click).
• Copy / Paste control point values - Right-Click the source control point and select Copy value then Right-Click the destination control point and select Paste value.
• Delete Control Points - Right-Click a control point and select Delete (make sure '' mode is off), OR quicker, hold (Right Alt) and Left-click points.
• Move control points - Left-click the control point and drag to the desired position (the point will snap to the background grid unless
  Playlist Snap Selector is set to none). Hold ( Shift) while dragging to lock the vertical position, or ( Ctrl) to lock the horizontal position. Hold ( Alt) to override snapping (if selected).
• Set precise values for control points - Right-Click the node and select 'Type in value...' and enter your value (from 0 to 1).
• Change envelope curve - Left-click a tension handle and move up/down. Holding ( Ctrl) will allow fine adjustment. Right-Click the tension handle to reset curve tension.
• Change curve type - Right-Click the right-most control point of the segment to be changed, this will open the Curve Type Menu with the following options:
  • Single curve - Default mode for creating straight or curved segments (depending on the tension).
  • Double curve - Smooth 'S' curves, useful for scratching effects.
  • Alt single curve - Asymmetrical smooth 'S' curves, useful for scratching effects.
  • Alt double curve - Asymmetrical linear, or accelerating / decelerating curves (depending on the tension).
  • Hold - Single steps between points, useful for creating jumps in position.
  • Stairs - Multiple steps between the control points. Left-click on the tension handle and move your mouse up/down to change the step frequency. Useful for glitch / decimation effects. Step size controls the 'graininess'.
  • Smooth stairs - Multiple smooth steps between the control points. Left-click on the tension handle and move your mouse up/down to change the step frequency. Useful for changes in pitch and granular effects.
  • Pulse - Square wave pulse, adjust the frequency with the tension handle.
  • Wave - Sine wave pulse, adjust the frequency with the tension handle.
  • Half sine - One half of a sine wave. Useful for creating start, stop and scratch effects.
  • Smooth - Allows for smoothly joining points with an 'S' curve.
• Change length - Drag the last control point to stretch the clip. When Automation Clips are created they will span the length of the Playlist selection or the entire length containing data.
• Clone / Copy an Automation Clip - From the Clip menu select 'Make unique'. The new Automation clip will not be linked to any of the original clips targets.
• Restrict /change the automation range - Use the MAX & MIN knobs on the Automation Clip Channel settings to keep the automation in the sweet-spot. NOTE: The automation values will be restricted, but the Playlist display will remain unchanged.
• Slicing - Clips can be sliced
  (Alt + Right-Shift) and then re-arranged. Once a clip is sliced any data outside the visible window may be accessed with the slip editing tool
  (Shift+S). Use the Clip Menu 'Make unique' function to convert the new slice into an independent clip that can be further edited without affecting the parent clip.
• Control point & Tension handle Values - The values will display in the FL Studio when moved.
• Automation Clip targets - The envelope is usually played back along with the Playlist patterns, sending modulation data to any linked controls (one Automation Clip may feed multiple controls or multiple Automation clips can be linked to a single control).
• Triggering - Automation Clips can be triggered with the Piano roll, Step Sequencer or live with a controller keyboard. The clip will automate while the note is held, note pitch will vary the automation speed. Clips do not need to be placed in the Playlist to be effective if triggered by note data.

A

video tutorial is also available on the FL Studio website.

Automation Clip Channel Settings

The Automation Clip Settings can be used to edit Automation Envelopes, activate and edit LFO Mode or Edit Target Links.

• To Open - Double-click the Automation Clip in the Playlist. The location where you double-click will auto-locate the editor to that section.
• Zoom out - Use the 'Home' key on your keyboard or the Magnifying Glass icon in the toolbar to the right of the Options Menu.
• LFO Mode - Converts the Automation Clip to operate as an LFO. Selecting this mode will not delete any automation clip data you have edited in.
• Control Point Selection - To select a single point (Left-Click). To select multiple points (Ctrl+Click & Drag) over points. To add points to a selection (Shift+Ctrl+Click & Drag) over the points to add. To deselect a point (Middle-Click) it. To deselect all points (Left-Click) on the background grid.

Options Menu (Automation Editor & LFO)

• Copy/Paste state - Copy and paste Automation Clip data between Automation Clips.
• Flip vertically - Inverts the current envelope.
• Scale levels - Opens the Scale Level tool.
• Normalize levels - Scales the envelope so the highest and/or lowest levels reach +/- 100%.
• Decimate points - Opens a simple tool that allows manipulation of the number of control points in the envelope (useful in conjunction with Analyze audio file).
• Filter - Opens the Envelope Filter tool (useful in conjunction with Analyze audio file).
• Smooth up - Opens the Smooth Up tool that allows smoothing of the envelope shape (useful in conjunction with Analyze audio file).
• Smooth up abrupt changes - Preset filtering to remove abrupt changes (smoothing).
• Turn all points smooth - Preset filter to filter the envelope.
• Create sequence - Opens the Envelope sequencer.
• Analyze audio file... - Creates an envelope that mirrors the volume amplitude profile of the analyzed sound (you will be prompted to choose an audio file after selecting).

Target Links Panel

Add, Delete, Edit, Locate (opens target window or plugin) and Animate target links for the selected Automation Clip (see icons, left to right):