FL STUDIO BASICS

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Keyboard & Mouse Shortcuts ! "
FL Studio 20 Reference Manual
This page lists some of the keyboard shortcuts
Title Page
to useful commands in FL Studio. Please
What is FL Studio?
examine the menus/context menus for more
What's New in FL Studio 20?
shortcuts.
Product Information
NOTE: Typing keyboard to Piano
Purchasing & Registration
keyboard ( Ctrl+T) - Single key
Introduction to FL Studio shortcuts will only work when 'Typing

What's New? keyboard to piano' ( Ctrl+T) is OFF.

The user interface

Video tutorials Windows vs Mac Equivalent keys

Making music The following tables assume you are using a
Hardware controllers Windows keyboard. To use these shortcuts on a
Software controllers Mac, substitute keys as follows:

Touch Controllers
Windows Mac Equivalent
IL Remote App
Alt option
Keyboard & Mouse shortcuts
Backspace delete (< X)
Useful web-links
Ctrl command
Getting Started
Delete fn+delete (< X)
Main Windows

Setup Wizard Insert (Ins) fn+return

Soundcard Setup Windows command

ASIO Driver Setup

Global Shortcuts
Primary Sound Driver Setup

MIDI Setup
Keys/Action File Operations
File Settings Setup
Ctrl+Z Undo / Redo last edit
Next Steps
Ctrl+Alt+Z Undo step-by-step
Options & Settings

System Settings
Shortcuts by Window
MIDI Settings

Audio Settings Keys/Action File Operations

Audio ASIO4ALL Settings Ctrl+O Open file

General Settings Ctrl+S Save file
File Settings
Ctrl+N Save new version
Debugging Information
Ctrl+Shift+S Save As...
Project Settings
Ctrl+R Export wave file
Project Information
Ctrl+Shift+R Export mp3 file
Project General Settings
Ctrl+Shift+M Export MIDI file
Main Menu, Panels & Tool Bars
Alt+0,1..9 Open recent files 0..9
Main Menu Bar
Ctrl+Shift+H (Re)arrange windows
File Menu

Edit Menu

Add Menu

Patterns Menu Keys/Action Pattern Selector (Numpad)

View Menu 1..9 Select patterns 1..9

Options Menu + Next pattern

Tools Menu - Previous pattern

Help Menu F2 Open name editor for selected
Toolbar pattern. Repeated presses randomly
choose colors.
Editing the Toolbar
F4 Next empty pattern with naming
Main Menu
dialog
Title & Hint Panel
Ctrl+F4 Next empty pattern
Transport Panel

CPU & Memory Panel

Global Snap Panel

Keys/Action Channel Rack & Step Sequencer
Output Panel
1...9, 0 Mute/Unmute first 10 channels
Online Panel
Ctrl+1..9,0 Solo/UnSolo first 10 channels
Pattern Panel

Shortcut Icons Up-Arrow Select previous channel

Time Panel Down-Arrow Next channel

Multilink Controllers Icon Page Up Next channel Group

Main Volume & Pitch Panel Page Down Previous channel Group

Window Controls Alt+Del Delete selected channel/s

File Browser Alt+Down- Change the selected Channel,

Plugin Database Arrow one step down

Project Browser Alt+Up-Arrow Change the selected Channel,

one step up
Advanced folder stuff
Alt+C Clone selected channels
Channel Rack & Step
Sequencer Alt+G Group selected channels

Channel Button Menu Alt+M Toggle Mixer Track Selectors

Channel Settings Alt+U Unzip selected channel/s
Main Control
Alt+Z Zip selected channel/s
Sampler Setting
Ctrl+Alt+R Force restretch of all Audio Clip
Instrument Setting Channels

Miscellaneous Setting Ctrl+Enter Focus Playlist

Automation Clip Setting Ctrl+Shift+C Clone channel/s

Layer Setting Ctrl+C Copy channel Steps/Score
Plugin Window Setting
Ctrl+L Route selected Channel/s to free
Piano Roll mixer track/s

Piano Roll Arpeggiator Ctrl+V Paste channel Steps/Score

Piano Roll Articulator Ctrl+X Cut channel Steps/Score

Piano Roll Chopper Shift+Up- Move selected channel/s Up
Piano Roll Claw Machine Arrow

Piano Roll Flam Tool Shift+Down- Move selected channel/s Down

Arrow
Piano Roll Flip Tool
Shift Steps Left
Piano Roll LFO Tool
Shift+Ctrl+Left-
Piano Roll Key Limiter Tool Arrow

Piano Roll Menu Shift Steps Right

Import MIDI Data Dialog Shift+Ctrl+Right-
Arrow
Piano Roll Quantizer

Piano Roll Randomizer

Riff Machine
Keys/Action Record / Playback / Transport
Piano Roll Scale Level Tool

Piano Roll Strum Tool Toggle Line/None Snap

Backspace
Playlist
Space Start/Stop Playback
Patterns
Start/Pause Playback
Audio Clips
Ctrl+Space
Automation Clips
L Switch Pattern/Song mode
Performance Mode
R Switch On/Off recording (This also
Instrument / Generator works during playback)
Plugins
0 Fast forward
Plugin Wrapper (NumPad)
Wrapper: Menu
/ Previous bar (Song mode)
Wrapper: Additional (NumPad)
Settings
* Next bar (Song mode)
Wrapper: Plugin (NumPad)
Processing
Ctrl+E Toggle Step Edit mode
3x Osc
Ctrl+H Stop sound (panic)
Audio Clips
Ctrl+T Toggle typing keypad to piano keypad
Autogun
Ctrl+B Toggle blend notes
Automation Clips
Ctrl+M Toggle metronome
BassDrum
Ctrl+P Toggle recording metronome precount
BeepMap

BooBass Ctrl+I Toggle wait for input to start

recording
Channel Sampler

Control Surface

Dashboard
Keys/Action Window Navigation
DirectWave Sampler

FLEX Tab Cycle nested windows

FL Keys F8 Open Plugin Picker

FL Slayer Enter Toggle Max/Min Playlist

FL Studio Mobile Esc Closes a window

Home panel F1 This Help

Playlist F5 Toggle Playlist

Rack F6 Toggle Step Sequencer
Instruments
F7 Toggle Piano roll
Drum Sampler
Alt+F8 Show/hide Sample Browser
DirectWave
F9 Show/hide Mixer
MiniSynth
F10 Show/hide MIDI settings
GMS
F11 Show/hide song info window
Transistor Bass
F12 Close all windows
Effects

Autoduck Arrange windows

Ctrl+Shift+H
Chorus

Compressor

Distortion
Keys/Action Mixer
Equalizer (Para)

Filter Alt+Left- Move selected mixer track/s

Arrow / Right- Left/Right
Flanger Arrow

Graphic EQ
Alt+L Select the channels Linked to the
Leveller selected mixer track

Limiter Alt+W Toggle Peak-meter 'Wave' view

Multi FX Ctrl+L Link selected channels to selected

mixer track
Phaser

Reverb Shift+Ctrl+L Link selected channels STARTING

From selected mixer track
Stereoizer
Move selected mixer track/s
Tape Delay
Shift+Mouse- Left/Right (mouse-over track)
Trance Delay Wheel

Mixer Select multiple mixer tracks

Ctrl+Shift+Left-
Editors
Click
Controllers
Ctrl+Shift+S Save Mixer track state
FPC
F2 Rename selected mixer track
Fruit Kick
S Solo Current track
Fruity Dance
Alt+S Alt Solo - Activate Current track
Drumaxx
and all tracks Routed TO/FROM It
Drumpad
Alt+R Render Armed tracks to .wav
Fruity DrumSynth Live

Fruity DX10

Fruity Envelope Controller

Keys/Action Playlist action
Fruity Granulizer
B Paint tool
Fruity Keyboard Controller

Fruity Layer C Slice tool

Fruity Slicer D Delete tool

Fruity Soundfont Player E Select tool

Fruity Vibrator P Draw tool (pencil)

Fruity Video Player S Slip edit tool

Groove Machine T Mute tool

Groove Machine Synth Y Playback tool
Harmless
Z Zoom tool
Harmless Tutorials
Alt Bypass snap (very useful when
Harmless Credits combined with other modifiers)

Harmor Alt+G Ungroup selection

IL Remote Alt+M Mute selection
MIDI Out
Alt+P Open the Picker Panel
MiniSynth
Alt+T Add Time marker
Morphine
Alt+/* and Jump to Next/Previous song
Morphine: General Ctrl+Alt+/* marker (if present)
Settings & Controls
Alt+Left-Click Grouped Tracks Mute switches -
Morphine: Generator Mute/Unmute all.
Page
Alt+Right- Audition the clip selected.
Morphine: Resynthesis Click
Morphine: Morph-Mix
Alt+Right- Engage snap free 'Slice Mode',
Page
Shift release Alt after clicking on the
Morphine: Modulation Clip to use snapping.
Page
Alt+Shift+M Unmute selection
Morphine: Technical
Ctrl+A Select All
Information

Morphine: Credits Backspace Toggle Global Snap (none,

current setting)
Ogun
Ctrl+B Duplicate selection (or all Clips
Ogun Master
in zoom range if nothing is
Ogun Synthesis selected) to the right.

Ogun Effects Ctrl+C Copy selection

Ogun Tutorial Ctrl+D Deselect selection

Ogun Pad Harmonics Ctrl+P Toggle Performance Mode

Tool
Ctrl+T Add Time Marker
Patcher
Ctrl+V Paste selection
VFX Color Mapper
Ctrl+X Cut selection
VFX Key Mapper
Ctrl+Alt+C Consolidate selected
VFX Keyboard Splitter
Pattern/Audio Clips to audio,
VFX Level Scaler starting from the first selected
Plucked! Clip

PoiZone Consolidate selected

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C Pattern/Audio Clips to audio,
PoiZone: Master
starting from the start of the
Controls
Playlist
PoiZone: MIDI
Ctrl+Alt+G Grid Color
PoiZone: LFO
Toggle Resizing from Left
PoiZone: Envelope Ctrl+Alt+Home
Generator
Ctrl+F8 Open Project Picker
PoiZone: ADSR
(Amplifier) Ctrl+Ins Add space at the start of the
timeline selection of equal
PoiZone: Oscillators length to the selection
PoiZone: Filter
Ctrl+Del Delete space according to the
PoiZone: Arpeggiator timeline selection

PoiZone: Effects Ctrl+Enter Select time around selection

PoiZone: Trance Gate Ctrl+Left- Select time before/after

ReWire Arrow/Right- selection equal to the selection
Arrow length
Sakura
Ctrl+Left- Select
Sawer
click
Sawer: General Settings
Add to selection
Sawer: Master Controls Ctrl+Shift+Left-
click
Sawer: Oscillators
Zoom to selected Clip
Sawer: Filter
Ctrl+Shift+Right-
Sawer: Modulation Click

Sawer: Effects (Delay, Ctrl+Right- Zoom on selection / Drag to

Chorus) Click make zoom selection (zoom on
Sawer: Arpeggiator release)

Sawer: MIDI Modulator Del Delete selected clip/pattern

source data
Sawer: Credits &
Information Double Left- Open clip/pattern properties
click on (e.g. Channel settings, Piano
SimSynth Live
clip/pattern roll)
Slicex
Home Move the playback marker to
Slicex: Master Panel the start of the Playlist.
Slicex: Articulation Panel
Insert Key Slice Clip at mouse cursor
Slicex: Wave Editor position

Slicex: Keyboard & Left- Add and resize clip/pattern

Piano roll Shift+Left-click (move mouse L/R after click and
(on Playlist) hold to resize). Must be in draw
Speech Synthesizer
mode (pencil icon).
FL SynthMaker
Left- Pan view
Sytrus Shift+Right-Click

Toxic Biohazard Middle mouse Pan view (hold & drag left/right)
Toxic Bio: Master button

Toxic Bio: Oscillators PgUp / Zoom in / Zoom out

PgDown
Toxic Bio: Filter
Draw tool + Swap to Paint
Toxic Bio: LFO
Shift
Toxic Bio: FM Matrix
Right-Click Delete selected clip/pattern
Toxic Bio: MIDI CC
Right- Slice clip/pattern (click
Toxic Bio: Sequencer
Shift+Left-click above/below clip/pattern & drag
Toxic Bio: Effects vertical)

Transistor Bass Right- Vertical Slice clip. Release alt to

Alt+Right- engage snap.
Wasp
Shift+Left-click
Wasp XT
Right- Slice clip/pattern & delete
Wave Traveller Shift+Right-Click smallest part (click above/below
Mixer & Mixing clip/pattern & drag vertical)

Mixer Functions Right- Quantize selected

Alt+Right-Click
Mixer Menu
Right- Mute selected
Plugin Effects
Alt+Left-click
Mixer Track Properties
Shift+C Select all Clips according to the
Audio Input/Output Routing currently selected Clip source
Audio Recording Shift+G Group selected Clips
Levels, Mixing and Clipping
Shift+I Invert selection
The dB Scale
Shift+Q Quick quantize Clip start times
Effect Plugins
Shift+Left- Move selection Left/Right
Plugin Wrapper Arrow/Right-
Arrow
Wrapper: Menu

Wrapper: Additional Shift+Up- Move selection Up/Down

Settings Arrow/Down-
Arrow
Wrapper: Plugin
Processing Shift+Left- Clone (drag while holding
click (on clip/pattern)
Control Surface
clip/pattern)
Edison Wave Editor &
Shift+mouse- Nudge Clip position
Recorder
wheel (on Clips)
Edison: Sample
Shift+Alt+T Set a Time Signature at the Play
Properties
head or time selection
Edison: Amp Tool
Shift+M Switch stretch mode
Edison: Blur Tool
Shift+mouse- Re-order Clip Tracks
Edison: Convolution /
wheel (on Track
Reverb Tool
label area)
Edison: Claw Machine
Shift + 0 Center Playlist to play-head
Tool
(zero) position (numbers above typing
Edison: Drum Tool keys)

Edison: Equalize Tool Shift + 1 to 3 Horizontal Zoom levels 1 (zoom

out) to 3 (zoom in), (numbers
Edison: Noise Removal
above typing keys)
Tool

Edison: Script Tool Shift + 4 Horizontal Zoom, show all

(numbers above typing keys)
Edison: Time Stretch /
Pitch Shift Tool Shift + 5 Zoom to selection (numbers
above typing keys)
Edison: Tune Loop Tool
Shift + 6 Fit Performance Zone to Playlist
Effector
(numbers above typing keys)
EQUO

Fruity 7 Band EQ

Fruity Balance
Keys/Action Piano roll action
Fruity Bass Boost
NOTE: Some keyboard modifiers apply
Fruity Big Clock
only to Draw mode ( ).
Fruity Blood Overdrive
B Paint tool
Fruity Center
C Slice tool
Fruity Chorus
D Delete tool
Fruity Compressor
E Select tool
Fruity Convolver (Reverb)
F Show next property in the Piano
Fruity dB Meter
roll event lane (lower section)
Fruity Delay
G Select the Channel above
Fruity Delay 2
H Select the Channel above with
Fruity Delay 3 note data
Fruity Delay Bank
J Select the Channel below with
Fruity Fast Distortion note data

Fruity Fast LP K Select the Channel below

Fruity Filter M Toggle Keyboard view mode

Fruity Flanger O Toggle Portamento

Fruity Flangus P Draw tool (pencil)
Fruity Formula Controller
T Mute tool
Fruity Free Filter
Y Playback tool
Gross Beat
Z Zoom tool
Main Options
Alt Bypass snap (very useful when
Gross Beat: Time combined with other modifiers)
Settings
Alt+A Arpeggiator
Gross Beat: Volume
Settings Alt+B View note helpers

Gross Beat: Envelope Alt+C Change color of selected note/s

Mapping Panel (to selected color group)

Gross Beat: Envelope Alt+E Riff machine

Sequencer Tool
Alt+F Flam
Gross Beat: Envelope
Smoothing Tool Alt+G Ungroup selected notes

Gross Beat: Envelope Alt+K Open Limit tool

Scaling Tool
Alt+L Open Articulate tool
Gross Beat: Information
Alt+M Mute selection
Hardcore Guitar Effects
Alt+N Switch waveform helper view
Fruity HTML Notebook (when available).
Fruity Love Philter Alt+O Open LFO tool when in lower
Fruity Limiter Event Editor area

Fruity LSD Alt+Q Quantize

Maximus Multiband Alt+R Open Randomize tool

Maximizer
Alt+S Open Strum tool
Maximus: Controls &
Alt+U Open Chop tool
Options

Maximus: Tutorials & Alt+V Toggle Ghost channels ON/OFF

Tips Alt+W Open Claw Machine tool
Maximus: Credits
Alt+X Open Scale Levels tool
Fruity Mute 2
Alt+Y Open Score Flipper tool
Fruity Multiband
Alt+Shift+M Unmute selection
Compressor

Newtone Alt+Mouse Change the selected note

wheel property of the note the mouse
Fruity NoteBook pointer is near or on.
Fruity NoteBook 2
Alt+Arrow Nudge the position of the selected
Fruity PanOMatic keys note/s OR all notes if no selection
is made.
Patcher
Backspace Toggle Global Snap (none, current
VFX Color Mapper
setting)
VFX Keyboard Splitter
Ctrl+A Select All
VFX Note Mapper
Ctrl+B Duplicate selection, or all notes in
Fruity Parametric EQ zoom range if nothing is selected,
Fruity Parametric EQ 2 to the right. Works also with
time-line selections.
Fruity Peak Controller
Ctrl+C Copy selection
Fruity Phase Inverter
Ctrl+D Deselect selection
Fruity Phaser

Pitcher Ctrl+G Glue selected and touching notes

Razer Chroma Ctrl+I Insert current controller value

Fruity Reeverb Ctrl+L Quick legato

Fruity Reeverb 2 Ctrl+M Import MIDI file

Fruity Scratcher Ctrl+Q Quick Quantize

Fruity Send Ctrl+U Quick Chop

Fruity Soft Clipper Ctrl+V Paste selection
Fruity Spectroman
Ctrl+X Cut selection
Fruity Squeeze
Ctrl+Alt+G Grid Color
Fruity Stereo Enhancer
Toggle allow resizing from left
Fruity Stereo Shaper Ctrl+Alt+Home

Fruity Vocoder Ctrl+Delete Delete space equal to selection

Wave Candy
Ctrl+Enter Select time around selection
Fruity WaveShaper
Ctrl+Insert Insert space equal to the current
Fruity X-Y Controller time-line selection

Fruity X-Y-Z Controller Ctrl+Up- Transpose selection UP/Down 1

Arrow/Down- Octave
Soundgoodizer
Arrow
SynthMaker
Ctrl+Left- Select time before (left) or after
Transient Processor Arrow/Right- (right) current selection
Vocodex Arrow

Vocodex: Setup Inputs Ctrl+Left- Select

click
Vocodex: Parameters
Add to selection
Vocodex: Carrier
Ctrl+Shift+Left-
Synthesizer
click
Vocodex: Tutorials
Ctrl+Right- Zoom on selection/Drag to make
ZGameEditor Visualizer Click zoom selection (zoom on release)
Installing & Using VST / AU
Del Delete selected
Plugins
Double Left- Open note properties
Recording: Audio, Notes &
click on note
Automation
Double Swap to Ghost channel to edit the
Audio Recording
Right-Click or note.
Audio Interfaces (USB X1 button on
Microphones) Ghost note

Note Recording Left- Add and resize notes (move

Note Step Entry Shift+Left-click mouse L/R after click and hold to
(on Piano roll) resize)
Automation Recording
Left- Pan view
Linking USB/MIDI
Shift+Right-
Controllers
Click
Preconfigured Controllers
Left- Audio preview
(USB/MIDI)
Alt+Right-Click
Linking Internal Controller
Middle Pan view (hold and drag
Plugins
mouse button left/right)
Mapping Formula
PgUp / Zoom in / Zoom out
Automation Clips PgDown

Automation Event Editor

Draw tool + Swap to Paint
LFO Tool Shift

Scale Levels Tool Right-Click Delete Selected Note/s

Import MIDI Data Tool Right- Quantize selected

Alt+Right-Click
Edison Wave Editor &
Recorder Right- Slice notes (click above/below
Edison: Sample Properties Shift+Left-click note and drag vertical)

Edison: Amp Tool Right- Slice notes & delete smallest part
Shift+Right- (click above/below note and drag
Edison: Blur Tool
Click vertical)
Edison: Convolution /
Shift+Alt+T Set a Time Signature at the Play
Reverb Tool
head or time selection
Edison: Claw Machine Tool
Shift+Ctrl+V Paste from MIDI clipboard
Edison: Drum Tool
Shift+C Select by color
Edison: Equalize Tool
Shift+D Discard selected note lengths
Edison: Noise Removal
Tool Shift+G Group selected

Edison: Script Tool Shift+H Select the next Channel, in the

selected Pattern, with note data.
Edison: Time Stretch /
Pitch Shift Tool Shift+I Invert selection

Edison: Tune Loop Tool Shift+K Select the next Channel

ReWire Support Alt+M Mute selection
Client Mode
Shift+N Turn off selected chord
Host Mode
Shift+Q Quick quantize
FL Studio as a Plugin (VST /
Shift+M Select groups of notes at random
AU)

FL Studio as a Plugin (VST Shift+R Select at random (multiple

or AU) presses will select more notes)

Load & Save File Formats Shift+Left- Move selection Left/Right

Arrow/Right-
Open & Import File
Arrow
Formats
Shift+Up- Move selection Up/Down
Open/Import File
Arrow/Down-
Formats
Arrow
FL Studio Loop File
Shift+Left- Clone (drag while holding
Zipped Loop File click clip/pattern), release Shift after
dragging to unlock vertical
BeatCreator/BeatSlicer
movement
Grid File

MIDI File Nudge Clip position

Shift+mouse-
Save & Export File wheel (on
Formats Clips)
Audio & MIDI
Re-order Clip Tracks
Raw FL Studio Project Shift+mouse-
(FLP) wheel (on
Track label
Archive FL Studio
area)
Project (ZIP)
Shift + 0 Center Playlist to play-head
Sample File Formats
(zero) position (numbers above typing
DrumSynth Preset keys)
Fast Tracker's Extended Shift + 1 to Horizontal Zoom levels 1 (zoom
Instruments 3 out) to 3 (zoom in), (numbers
MS Waveform File above typing keys)

ReCycle Loops Shift + 4 Horizontal Zoom, show all

(numbers above typing keys)
SimSynth Preset
Shift + 5 Zoom to selection (numbers
Speech Preset
above typing keys)
Other File Formats

Other File Formats

FL Studio State File

FL Studio Score File

Humanize Preset File

MIDI File

Trouble Shooting & FAQ's

Offline help installation

FL Studio Editions &

Features

Troubleshooting FAQ

Optimizing CPU
Performance

Missing Plugins or Files

Locate the FL Studio

Installation

Plugins Behaving Badly

Pitch or Tempo Problems

Updating & Upgrading

Procedure

Lost Registration
Codes/Login

Reset Settings

Lifetime Free Updates

Monitor Speakers

Copyright Cleared Content

Audio Myths & DAW Wars

Glossary

ACM Waveform

Cutoff and Resonance

Filter

Envelope

Gate

LFO

Acknowledgements