• Fl Studio Daw Controller
• Fl Studio

The original version of FruityLoops (FL, for short) was developed for Image Line by Didier Dambrin in 1997. It was officially released a year later while it was still, reportedly, essentially only a MIDI drum machine.

Now, for those of who-who are awake and preferably sitting the right way, a MIDI drum machine is an electronic tool that creates percussion and rhythms. Drum machines create artificial percussion lines digitally in the absence of an actual drummer, and modern versions can create interesting-sounding and unique mixes on the fly.

Most drum machines even allow users to program their own types of types of rhythms - slow, fast, medium, staccato, etc. - as well as other sounds or prerecorded samples can. These machines significantly influenced the music of the 1980’s and popular artist such as Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac, Prince, and Stevie Wonder have reportedly used them.

Drum Machines, DAWs, and, Finally, FL Studio for Mac

This is optimal in terms of latency but unfortunately FL Studio does not currently support routing midi from VST plugins to its piano roll. Thus, you will be limited to hosting synths and instruments inside MIDI Guitars internal plugin host. If using this option you need to make sure FL process audio in fixed size buffers. Dec 30, 2020 Another affordable DAW that’s extremely popular among electronic music producers. FL Studio is easy to use and has some great composition features. With easy to use automation and a flawless piano roll, FL is wonderful for writing MIDI. But it isn’t so great for working with audio.

The drum machine soon evolved to become a software version that could be downloaded for home and personal computer, but, before it could get there, the technology had to undergo one more transformation. The digital audio workstation (DAW) is an electronic device used for recording sound, editing it, and producing complex audio files. Essentially it is a computer and soundboard the is pre-programmed with sound manipulating software.

More advanced than a drum machine, DAWs could be rolled out in a number of configurations, but most had a central sound interface and mixing station attached to the core percussion unit. The idea, of course, was that all of the sound recording and post-production work could take place all in one machine.

Today, DAW hardware is still used in professional studios for the production and recording of music, speech, pre-recorded radio, books-on-tape, and television. But, for the home user, DJ, and casual musician a DAW usually refers to computer software for laptops, PCs, Macs, and even mobile devices, with FL Studio being one of the most well-known.

FL Studio, though, has undergone a number of updates since its introduction 20 years ago, and, on]Ma 22nd of this year it even introduced a native MacOS-compatible version. FL Studio 20 includes many items that the Mac Beta version did not, including support for time signatures, freezing for clips (to allow for processing in the background), new recording options, a smoother workflow, and the ability to have more than one project going at a time.

This long-awaited release came after the application made is original Mac-friendly debut in 2013. But, at that time, the reception was cool at best, reportedly due to errors in the programing language, Delphi, which needed to be completely overhauld to support the 64-bit MacOS running environment.

Download FL Studio for Mac From the Image Line Website

The upshot, though, was that, after the long wait, your FL Studio license would cover the software versions for both your Mac and Windows machines. Moreover, if you owned a license for the PC variety, you could download the Mac version for no additional charge, and projects were now completely compatible with both operating systems, despite third-party add-ons.

You can get the most basic “fruity” version of FL Studio for Mac or PC for $99 on the company’s website, while the pimped out, full version goes for $899 and includes all of the instruments, a boatload of plug-ins, and music samples galore.

Offering the ability to effortlessly migrate projects between PC and Mac with one license is no paltry thing, and it only improves what was an already intuitive and easy to use editing layout. Plus, the list of features tops what you would find in many DAWS that cost twice as much. So, let’s have a closer look at what FL Studio for Mac really offers.

• Time signatures support.
• Adjust the number of measures in a bar for proper viewing.
• Clip consolidation for easy viewing
• Playlist arrangements and menu for multiple projects.
• Picker panel with queued up audio clips.
• Plugin delay compensation to help support mixer sends.
• New and Improved mixer menu with FX slots
• Continuous adjustment while you roll the mouse wheel over the time icon or latency display.
• Updated Toolbar
• Graph Editor displays note velocity, pitch, pan, etc.
• Sampler Channels offer precomputed effects on the fly.

Clearly, version 20 is a beast of an update regardless of the fact that the software now offers support for MacOS. And, with support is for both VST and AU plugins as well as third-party plugins, the Mac version is as robust as the legacy version, but you will also get Image-Lines's lifetime updates plan, which, in an of itself, might be a sound reason to jump aboard the fruity loops bandwagon.

Now, as if all of those reasons were not enough to convince you to download FL Studio for Mac, the fact that you can download it for free might just seal the deal. That’s right! Get a free, non-time restricted version of FL Studio from the Image Line download page and try the software out for as long as you like.

The trial version is a complete version of FL Studio 20, and, albeit with some crucial limitations, you’ll have access to all of the plug-ins and features we talked about here. Plus, when you do decide to buy, there is no need to reinstall. Simply download the registration code, and, boom, you are in.

FL Studio Plug-Ins and Third Party Software

Much like Mac’s proprietary Final Cut, when you purchase FL Studio for Mac, you’ll have access to many plug-ins and the option to download and install a vast array of third-party software. Of course, you can buy many of these a la carte off from the Image Line website, but let's take a look at a few in order to see what you are actually getting when you buy the premium version of FL Studio for Mac.

• FX Bundle
• Gol’s Bundle
• Maxx Bundle
• Synth Bundle
• Value Bundle

Keep in mind that Image line is offering FL Studio with all bundles for $899.00, while they estimate the value of their software bundles to be at $707.50. If you factor in a lifetime of updates, you are in for deep discounts indeed, although, curiously, we noted that if you buy the 99 dollar version and then add in the $708 dollars (rounding up) of plug-ins afterward, it will only cost $808.

We guess that may be where the audio recording feature comes in? Nevertheless, there still seems to be some added value there, and, plus the addition of third-party software makes the FL Studio product even more robust. Again, this alternative software are available at a la carte from the Image Line website and are not included in any of the FL Studio for Mac bundles.

Regarding third-party software, Image-Line has created an extensive links page with resources that include a Knowledge Base, a FL Studio Help Page, YouTube Videos, a Song Exchange, and content libraries. Find topics like Sample Fusion, where you can download a vast number of free samples, FPC kits, and FL Keys libraries, and you will also enjoy links to recognized partners which include the following:

• KVR, a site for plugin reviews, news, and links to plugins
• ASIO4ALL - a site offering 3rd-party device drivers for device troubleshooting.
• The Freesound Project - one of the world’s largest databases containing Creative Commons licensed sounds.
• LibriVox - a site full of public domain recordings and modulations.

Please note, though, that in order access many of these resources, you must first create an account here. Upon successful login, you can read posts, download files, access the knowledge base and even post in the forum.

FL Studio for Mac Wrap-up

Fl Studio Daw Controller

After hearing about the history, the cross-compatibility, the added value, the resources, and the intuitive, user-friendly design, you might still be on the fence about FL Studio, and, to be fair, there are competitors out there.

However, consider that FL Studio also offers mobile versions of their software for editing on the go on your iPad or Android device. And the mobile version doesn’t skimp on features, either. You can use high-quality synthesizers and samples, the Step Sequencer, for fast percussion programming, and Touch Controllers with configurable virtual piano-keyboard and drum pads.

Plus, you will get all of the MIDI controls, the ability to live record sound, and a high-performance audio engine with a mixer and effects, like Auto Ducker, Piano Roll, Chorus, Limiter, Compressor, Distortion, Equalizer, Reverb, Flanger, and more.

Moreover, you’ll be able to export formats like WAV, MP3, and AAC, as well as sync to compatible devices and share with variously sized screens. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and download FL studio for Mac today.

FOR WINDOWS & MAC

MIDI Guitar turns any guitar into a true polyphonic MIDI Guitar, with latency and accuracy comparable to expensive and inconvenient hardware MIDI-Guitar solutions. This is achieved by connecting your guitar to your computer and letting MIDI Guitar use its polyphonic (multi-note) pitch detection algorithm to convert your guitars signal to MIDI that can be used to play a soft synth or virtual instrument or as a plugin in your Digital Audio Workstation

MIDI Guitar is available as both a VST/Audio Unit plugin, but also a standalone application that can transfer MIDI to your Digital Audio Workstation using Virtual MIDI on Mac OS X and a virtual MIDI cable driver on Windows.

The free trial of MIDI Guitar allows you to evaluate the recognition technology without any interruptions when using the Test Piano and with interruptions when hosting plugins or using MIDI output.

How do I install MIDI Guitar?
How do I buy and activate the license?
How to use in your DAW

Ableton Live

Ableton Live 9

IMPORTANT: if you installed the VST, but it doesn’t show up in Live, try the following:
1) goto Live / Preferences / Plugins
2) Hit “rescan” with the “alt” key pressed. This will force Live to evaluate all plugins.

Here is another video that shows the basics of using MIDI Guitar as a plugin in Ableton Live 9, but is also slightly misleading. Please see the comment below.

In this video, the MIDI Guitar 2 AudioUnit is loaded and it outputs MIDI with the V-MIDI option, which works, but cause a latency overhead. Please don’t use the AudioUnit with Ableton. Instead, load the MIDI Guitar 2 VST plugin and use the direct midi output (which is enabled by default). In your MIDI/instrument track, go to “MIDI From” and select the audio track on which the MIDI Guitar VST is loaded. Now, when recording, you get MIDI into the piano roll of that MIDI track.

Ableton Live 8

1. In Preferences / Audio, check that Audio Input Device and Audio Output Device are correct.
2. In Preferences / Audio, check that In/Out Sample Rate is 44100
3. In Preferences / Audio, check that Buffer Size is 256 or 128 samples
4. In Preferences / File Folder, set “Use VST Plug-in System Folders” to Yes on Mac OS X and make sure the MIDI Guitar VST is found on Windows.
5. Press Tab key to access Arrangement View
6. Check menu “options”. Latency compensation should be OFF!
7. Click “I-O” button to show In/Out section
8. Click “M” button to show Mixer section
9. Make sure you have an Audio Track named “1 Audio” and a MIDI track named “2 MIDI”
10. Add MIDI Guitar VST to “1 Audio” track
11. Click “In” button on the “1 Audio track” to verify that MIDI Guitar works with your audio interface.
12. Select “1 Audio” as “Input Type” for “2 MIDI” track to redirect MIDI from MIDI Guitar to your MIDI track.
13. Arm recording for “2 MIDI” track to record MIDI from MIDI Guitar.
14. Click Record and then Play to start recording MIDI from MIDI Guitar.

Acoustica MIxcraft (not compatible)

Mixcraft (windows only app) does not support standard midirouting and therefore does not work with our plugin out of the box. Workarounds are theoretically possible but not for the faint of heart!

Apple GarageBand

Video tutorial for GarageBand:

Apple Logic Pro X

Apple Logic Pro X

Logic does not support routing MIDI out of AudioUnit plugins, but virtual midi works to get MIDI into Logic and is simple to setup. First, make sure you apply Logic’s low latency mode.

Recommended setup:

The best way to use MG with Logic is using the MG AudioUnit (customers only):

1. Make sure you place the MIDI Guitar 2.component in your plugins folder (typically thats /Library/audio/plugins/Components/) as described above.
2. Restart your computer so that Logic Pro will scan the new files you have installed.
3. Next, open Logic Pro on your Mac and create two tracks… The first track should be an “audio track” for the audio from your guitar. On the channel fader of this “first” track, activate Midi Guitar 2 in the audio FX slot. Make sure you don’t use any other effects before MIDI Guitar (as MIDI Guitar needs a completely dry input).
4. Now, create a second track. This new “second” track should be an “instrument track” for the “midi information” that will automatically come from the Midi Guitar 2 plugin on the first guitar track you created… These two tracks will work together!
   On the second track you created, do not call up Midi Guitar 2 in the channel fader slots.
   When you create an “instrument track” in Logic Pro, it automatically installs an instrument in a midi instrument slot… That is the instrument that will be activated and played by the midi information recorded on the track.. you can of course change it to any instrument.

The following video shows how to use MG in Logic Pro X

This video shows how to use both internal sounds and midi in a simple studio setup:

Using only the MIDI Guitar standalone:

• Instead of using the MIDI Guitar Audio Unit, you can simply run the MIDI Guitar standalone and select the MIDI Output Route: “MIDI Guitar Virtual MIDI Out”. Now “MIDI Guitar” appears in Logic as a MIDI input without any additional work. That’s it. It’s just there. This method will add a bit of latency compared to recommended approach described above.

Apple Mainstage 3

Toggle Conte

nt goes here

Ardour

If the buffersize in Ardour is set to 256, the usage of our MIDI Guitar VST is very straightforward.

We still need to add a quickstart vid here.

AVID ProTools (only via extra bridging plugin and midi loopback)

AVID ProTools

Since ProTools does not support VST or AU plugins you need to use MIDI Guitar standalone and a virtual midi driver. The idea is that you connect MIDI Guitar to ProTools though a virtual cable (in much the same way you would connect a physical midi keyboard controller though its software driver). Its fairly simple:

1. If you are using Windows you need a virtual midi loop driver, such as loopMidi or loopBe1 (both freeware). Mac users can skip this step as Apple operating systems already include a virtual midi standard.

2. Make sure MIDI Guitar works in standalone mode, i.e. you can play the Test Piano.

3. In MIDI Guitar select the virtual midi loop driver as MIDI Output (bottom left). On Windows that is a loopMidi/loopBe1 device. On Mac its the “MIDI Guitar Virtual MIDI Out”.

4. In ProTools, enable the same device as input. (Setup > MIDI >Input Devices > Check the box next to the MIDI Guitar loop output). Mac users just select the built in “MIDI Guitar Virtual MIDI Out”.

5. Thats it. Your guitar is now connected to ProTools, just like a midi keyboard.

Note that virtual midi is not ideal in terms of latency, although usually the impact is unnoticeable. We will consider an AAX plugin in the future.

Note for Windows users: Since most ASIO drivers only works with one application at a time you might also need a second interface.

Using BlueCat VST wrapper ( this works only on macOS)

As an alternative to the above, you can use the BlueCat VST wrapper.
You have to load the MIDI Guitar AU audio unit: that plugin will create a virtual midi port.

Bitwig

Our plugins work in Bitwig, and the MIDI is routable from our plugin to other tracks.
there is a quirk however with getting Bitwig to be able to record the MIDI onto a pianoroll.
We contacted Bitwig but still havent got an answer yet

Cakewalk by Bandlab

Cakewalk Sonar

Starting with Sonar X3 and any newer versions works great with MIDI Guitar:

1. Copy the MIDI Guitar plug-in to the VST folder
2. Launch SONAR. If the plug-in is no listed in the Audio FX list, run the VST scanner.
3. Create or open a project.
4. Add new audio track, set the input to a mono source (or use an existing mono track). Insert MIDI Guitar into FX bin or ProChannel. To record MIDI data from MIDI Guitar MIDI, using the VST2 drop down in the plug-in header click “Enable MIDI Output” otherwise load a synth plug-in directly into the instrument output of MIDI Guitar, enable input echo on and skip step 5.
5. Add a new synh or change the input to an existing synth to MIDI Guitar. Make sure both the MIDI Guitar audio track and the synth (Instrument or MIDI) track have input echo enabled.

Old versions of Sonar:

In older versions of Sonar (version X1, X2) there are issues with MIDI Guitar. The Sonar addressed these issues in version X3, but some have found a workaround for old versions Sonar that apparently works in X1 and X2.

( Quoted from MoreK at KVR Forum: RE Sonar X2 & MIDI Guitar )

What I missed was the MIDI Guitar pop-up menu in the Synth rack. Clicking the keyboard icon with right mouse button gives a menu with no “Enable MIDI Output” option. You have to click grey area of the synth and you’ll get a different menu with the MIDI output option.

So, to summarize the whole setup:

1. Copy VST plugin to your VST folder
2. Launch Sonar. It should automatically recognize the new plug-in and create needed registry entries (ie you should see the plug-in as an effect in Audio FX menu). If not, use Plug-in Manager to scan new plug-ins.
3. Use Cakewalk Plug-in Manager, find MIDI Guitar in Effects section and open “Plug-in Properties”. Enable “Configure as synth” option.
4. Close Sonar and use Regedit to change generateEvents key from “0” to “1” in HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareCakewalk Music SoftwareSONAR ProducerCakewalk VST X64Inventory -> MIDI Guitar
5. Launch Sonar. Add new audio track. Insert MIDI Guitar (now found in Soft Synths menu) to FX bin.
6. Go to Synth rack view. Right click grey area of the MIDI Guitar synth block and click “Enable MIDI Output”.

That’s it. Add your favourite synth to a new track and route MIDI input from MIDI Guitar, which should be visible in MIDI input menu.

Thanks again, works like a charm now.

Cockos Reaper

Cockos Reaper

Reaper 5.2

Fl Studio

Reaper 4.2

Add MIDI Guitar as a FX plugin and click on the record field and select “Record: Output” and then “Record: MIDI Ouput”

Steinberg Cubase

Steinberg Cubase 9 and up

Windows users:
Please deactivate/uncheck the “ASIOguard“ in Cubase audio settings!!
For further helpseeCubase 8 video

Steinberg Cubase 8

Cubase 7

Add an audio track and an instrument/MIDI track. Add MIDI Guitar as an Effect plugin to the Audio track and select MIDI Guitar as input on the Instrument/MIDI track

FL Studio 20 (unconfirmed performance)

FL Studio 20

.. is available for both windows and macos now!
The internal routing allows for connecting the loaded MIDI Guitar plugin to purchased FL synths and none-FL synths.
Note 1: MIDI Guitar is not made with variable buffersize in mind. The display of buffersize and cpu load are erratic.
Note 2: as for now, we dont really know how well it works latency and stabilitywise. It may be so that the standalone/virtual midi is more stable, especially on macos.

FL Studio (before version 20)

You have two options:

1. You can use the MIDI Guitar VST plugin inside FL Studio. This is optimal in terms of latency but unfortunately FL Studio does not currently support routing midi from VST plugins to its piano roll. Thus, you will be limited to hosting synths and instruments inside MIDI Guitars internal plugin host.
If using this option you need to make sure FL process audio in fixed size buffers. Please see the FL docs: http://www.image-line.com/support/FLHelp/html/plugins/wrapper_2_processing.htm

2. The other option is to use a virtual midi loop and the MIDI Guitar standalone. This is detailed below.

Install loopMIDI. Start loopMIDI and add a MIDI port.

In FL Studio MIDI Settings, Enable the loopMIDI Input MIDI device and set the loopMIDI Output MIDI device port number to 0

In the Mixer add MIDI Guitar plugin to an available channel other than Master. In MIDI Guitar plugin settings set MIDI Output port to 0. In the step sequencer select and enable a synth such a DX10.

MOTU Digital Performer

MOTU Digital Performer 8 & 9

1. In Preferences / Audio Plugins, make sure MIDI Guitar VST is enabled.
2. In Setup / Configure Audio System / Configure Hardware Driver, check that Master Device is correct.
3. In Setup / Configure Audio System / Configure Hardware Driver, check that Sample Rate is 44100
4. In Setup / Configure Audio System / Configure Hardware Driver, check that Buffer Size is 256 or 128
5. In Setup / Configure Audio System / Input Monitoring Mode, make sure that “Monitor record-enabled tracks through effects” is selected.
6. Select Sequence tab
7. Add a Audio Track
8. Select Audio Input for the Audio Track.
9. Enable Input Monitor and Record for the audio track.
10. Select Mixing Board tab
11. Add MIDI Guitar VST to audio track.
    In MIDI Guitar, set Patch to “Test Piano” and strum your guitar to test MIDI Guitar.
12. Select Sequence tab.
13. Add a MIDI track
14. Arm MIDI track for recording
15. Click record.

Magix Samplitude

Magix Samplitude

Very nice video introduction to MIDI Guitar using Samplitude by Kraznet.

Propellerhead Reason ( not compatible: no midi routing)

Propellerhead Reason 10

From Reason 9.5 on, VST plugins are supported, but the midi output from a VST is still not routed in Reason 10.

Propellerhead Reason 9.5

From Reason 9.5 on, VST plugins are supported, but the midi output from a VST is not routed yet.
We’ve notified Propellerhead of this, hopefully they add the functionality soon. You still need the use the standalone via virtual midi route now.
https://www.propellerheads.se/reason-95

Propellerhead Reason below 9.5

Since Reason does not support VST or AU plugins you need to use MIDI Guitar standalone and a virtual midi driver. Its fairly simple:

1. First make sure MIDI Guitar works in standalone mode. If you are using Windows you need to install a virtual midi loop driver (such as loopMidi or loopBe1, both freeware). Select the virtual midi driver as output route in MIDI Guitar. Mac users simply select the MIDI output route: “MIDI Guitar Virtual MIDI Out”.

2. In Reason you must register the virtual MIDI driver as a MIDI Control Keyboard/surface. See the image below.

Note that virtual midi is not ideal in terms of latency. We do not know yet if there is has any real impact or not on latency. We will consider Reason Rack Extension in the future.

PreSonus Studio One

Studio One Professional
IMPORTANT:
turn down dropout protection under Options->Audio Setup->DropoutProtection.
It cannot be set to maximum. Any other setting should be okay.

Studio One Prime

This free version of Studio One does not support VST plugins.

You can still use MIDI Guitar with it, using a virtual midi loop connection. On Mac its built in. On Windows you need loopMidi (freeware). Then select the virtual device as output route in MG and input in Sutiod One Prime.

Studio One Artist

You can still use MIDI Guitar with it, using a virtual midi loop connection. On Mac its built in. On Windows you need loopMidi (freeware). Then select the virtual device as output route in MG and input in Sutiod One Prime.

Older versions of Studio One

Makes sure your samplerate is set to 44.1Khz and buffersize 256 or 128 samples.

Add track 1 (mono audio). Arm it for recording so you have your guitar here. Add the MIDI Guitar VST to this track. Adjust sensitivity.

Add track 2 (instrument track). Change instrument input to “MIDI Guitar”, “CH1”. Arm it for recording so you have your guitar MIDI here.

Record audio and midi by pressing record.

Sensomusic Usine

Sensomusic Usine

Video introduction to MIDI Guitar using Usine by Nay-Seven.

Traktion 7

Compatibility with popular DAWs

Please find guides for each DAW above.

* On Windows it requires a virtual midi driver such as the free loopMIDI

Recommended DAW settings

Its recommended you run your DAW at 44100Hz using 128 or 256 samples pr audio buffer. Its important to understand that running at too high samplerates will cause latency and unresponsive tracking.

MIDI Guitar should work fine at high samplerates as well (88.2K, 96K, 192K, etc..), but it will cause additional CPU load and have no quality benefits as for MG concerned.

Processing old recordings

MIDI Guitar will generally process anyting on a track in a DAW, and this can be used to process old recordings in you DAW, in the same was as it can be used on live tracks, as long as those tracks are dry guitar recordings.

This means you can convert dry guitar audio recordings to MIDI, and have endless creative use cases. For inspiration please see this video: