FL Studio
Gopher, an AI assistant, answers questions and controls features in FL Studio and its plugins, and stem separation splits audio into instrument layers.
Image-Line's pattern-based digital audio workstation for producing music, with lifetime free updates.
- Starting price
- $99
- Free trial
- Free trial with no time limit
- Output
- Produced and mixed music, exported as WAV, MP3, OGG, M4A, FLAC or MIDI
Overview
FL Studio is a digital audio workstation from Image-Line for producing music, built around a step sequencer, a piano roll and pattern-based arrangement. It runs as a desktop app on Windows and macOS. Four editions are sold as one-time licences with lifetime free updates, and FL Cloud is an optional subscription for sounds, AI mastering and distribution.
Our take
Pick FL Studio if you write beats and electronic music in patterns and the piano roll, and want to pay once and never pay for an upgrade. If you mainly record live instruments or deliver audio post for picture, choose a DAW built around tracking and editing instead.
Key Facts
| Category | |
|---|---|
| Starting price | $99 Fruity Edition, one-time licence. Producer $179, Signature Bundle $269, All Plugins Edition $449. Rent-to-own over 12 monthly payments is also offered. |
| Free trial | Free trial with no time limit |
| Output | Produced and mixed music, exported as WAV, MP3, OGG, M4A, FLAC or MIDI |
| Hosting | Desktop app for Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.15 or later |
Screenshots
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Features
- What it does
- Digital audio workstation for producing music, built around a step sequencer, piano roll, pattern-based and linear arrangement and a mixer with effects and routing
- Multitrack or two-track
- Multitrack: patterns and audio clips are arranged in the Playlist and routed through the mixer; recording audio into the Playlist starts at Producer Edition
- Noise removal and repair
- AI-powered declipping, plus stem separation into vocal, drum, bass and instrument layers from Producer Edition up
- Mastering and loudness
- Maximus multiband compressor and maximiser from Producer Edition, the Emphasis mastering compressor and limiter in All Plugins Edition, and AI mastering with genre presets in the optional FL Cloud subscription
- Formats and resolution
- Exports WAV at 16-bit integer, 24-bit integer or 32-bit float, plus MP3, OGG, M4A, FLAC and MIDI; mixer tracks can be split into separate WAV files
- Where it runs
- Desktop app for Windows and macOS, hosting VST, VST3 and CLAP on both platforms plus Audio Units on macOS
- Licence and pricing model
- One-time licence per edition at $99 (Fruity), $179 (Producer), $269 (Signature Bundle) and $449 (All Plugins), with lifetime free updates, pro-rated upgrades and rent-to-own over 12 payments
- Also included
- Gopher AI assistant, Chord Generator and Loop Starter in every edition, 82 to 118 instruments and effects depending on edition, and optional FL Cloud with royalty-free sounds, cloud backups and release through DistroKid
- API
- No hosted API. MIDI scripts written in Python add native support for MIDI controllers, call FL Studio functions for the playlist, channels, mixer, patterns, transport and plug-ins, and send data back to the controller
Integrations
- DistroKid
Deployment and Support
- Deployment
-
- On-premise
- Support
-
- Email helpdesk
- Community forum
- Onboarding
-
- Documentation and knowledge base
- Video tutorials
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Lifetime free updates for every edition
- The free trial has no time limit
- Hosts VST, VST3 and CLAP on Windows and macOS, plus Audio Units on macOS
- Upgrades between editions are pro-rated
Limitations
- Fruity Edition cannot record audio and has no stem separation
- Splitting mixer tracks into stems exports WAV only
- AI mastering needs the separate FL Cloud subscription
Pricing
-
Fruity Edition
$99
One-time licence with lifetime free updates. 82 instruments and effects, no audio recording.
-
Producer Edition
$179
One-time licence with lifetime free updates. 93 instruments and effects, audio recording and stem separation.
-
Signature Bundle
$269
One-time licence with lifetime free updates. 103 instruments and effects, audio recording and stem separation.
-
All Plugins Edition
$449
One-time licence with lifetime free updates. 118 instruments and effects, audio recording and stem separation.
Best For
Alternatives and Comparisons
What users say
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