- The best thing about it is that it's a free fl studio plugin that comes with the program. All you have is a simple interface with three operators. While it might appear limiting for people who need to have more from their synthesizer, ImageLine's 3xosc is expandable. Don't be deceived by its appearance, or its hefty price tag.
- Best FL Studio Plugins. The FL Studio is used by the masses as it gives the amazing option to use the best plugins for FL Studio and thereby it accentuates the performance of the software and thus it delivers efficient output. Some of the best FL studio plugins are.
- Performance / clip launchers (FL Studio 10.5 onward) These are dedicated to clip launching, typically feature more pads (usually 8x8) & are 'the real deal' including controller feedback and full functionality: Akai APC20/40 (8x5 rotated, 3 colors, scene launch & stop pads, knobs APC40 Behringer CMD LC-1 (8x4 pads, 8 knobs, buttons).
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I have been using FL Studio since the late 1990s (when it was originally called Fruity Loops), and it truly has come a long way in terms of its capability. If paired with the correct audio interface, FL Studio is in my opinion, the best Digital Audio Workstation. 6 Best FL Studio Courses, Tutorial, Lessons, Classes, Certification & Training Online 2021 JANUARY UPDATED 1 Millionaire DJ: FL Studio 12 – Pro Music Production Free Course (Skillshare) Created by Evan Humber, the online course is for aspiring music producers to learn creating songs and beats, and can learn more new ways to use tools.
I recently published a review and buyer's guide on the top ten best audio interfaces you should get if you are serious about music production.
I broke down the factors you need to consider if you need to get a superb interface, and I rounded up the post by recommending the ten best audio interface.
Since Fl studio is one of the most downloaded and used DAW application in the world, it make sense to consider recommending an interface that works best for Fl, though any audio interface / external sound-card should be able to work with Fl right out-of-the-box, as long as you have a way of connecting the audio interface to some computer with cables.
Regardless of the situation, Let me guide you on how to choose an interface for Fl studio, tips and my recommendations.
Page Contents
- How To Choose Your FL Studio Audio Interface
- Input and Output Count (I/O)
- Recommended Audio Interface For Fl Studio
- One Last Thing!
Helpful Guide & Tips!
As you all know, an audio interface is responsible for the playback of your audio from your computer, and your pc comes preloaded with one (it might likely be in your pc or a chip on your motherboard), that chip is the one responsible for making the sound you hear or in playback.
Even if your PC has an interface by default, you might still need an external audio interface for various reasons.
And here's why you might need one…
- You need an audio interface if you want to work with a professional microphone (XLR).
- The default interface chip on your motherboard won't be able to correctly plug-in a balanced input, if you wish to properly plug in a balanced input or a good pair of studio monitors to check your mixes on, without an external audio interface, you won't have anywhere to plug those in.
- If you plan on recording live instruments or vocal.
An audio interface or an external sound card would make you listen to a better representation of an audio sample.
Does that imply choosing any interface?
Fat No!
There are lots to consider before choosing an interface, knowing these factors would not only be useful but a lifesaver for you.
Before I list the things you need to consider before choosing an interface for Fl studio, let me answer one of the most asked questions about an interface.
Would an audio interface affect the quality of your rendered track?
An audio interface is used to playback a better and more precise version of your digital audio data that has been processed by your daw or music production software.
It has nothing to do with the quality of your rendered (output) tracks except if used to record or recorded sample in your track.
I guess this is an eye-opener for you about how an audio interface work, Let's work through the proper way of choosing an audio interface for Fl Studio.
How To Choose Your FL Studio Audio Interface
There are a few factors to take into consideration when sifting through audio interfaces. I covered this part in the best audio interface guide, and I'll cover it again.
Here's a checklist to use:
Your Budget
The more you pay for an audio interface doesn't result to a better interface, if you are not going for multiple recording, and if otherwise, go for a higher range (which is recommended in this guide).
Audio Interface Connector
Types of connectors are USB, Firewire and Thunderbolts. USB is mostly used in a home studio, and if your budget carries the weight, you can opt for Firewire. From personal experience, If you need a faster data transfer rate, go for Thunderbolt; it's faster than either USB or Firewire. Libra lucky days to gamble.
Note: The higher you go, the better the transfer rate, and an added plus to your dough.
Input and Output Count (I/O)
I can't stress this enough If you are going for multiple recordings; opt for more inputs and output for your equipment, and if you are going for fewer records; go for lesser input and output.
Don't waste money on more input where you likely won't use it.
Alternatively, you can use Adat for expansion, which I would explain in the next section.
Added Tip For Input and Output Count (I/O)
I/O is confusing to some, but it's plain simple.
This is what it means…
Input means you are connecting a device into your audio interface to feed your DAW, for example, if you are recording a vocal with your mic, all you are doing is feeding your DAW the audio data recorded from your Mic.
Output means your sending 'Out', e.g. send data from your DAW software to either your studio speakers or your headphone.
Just remember – Input means 'In', and Output means 'Out.'
ADAT For Expansion
Macbook pro 2013 lock. This is good for minimising load (I/O), as well as maximising the Input and Output count. An Adat enabled interface will help you to expand your input count with an optical cable without buying a new interface with more count.
The cost of an ADAT-equipped interface is cheaper than buying an interface with various inputs on board.
Recommended Audio Interface For Fl Studio
Time to make your choice of an Audio interface for Fl Studio. The advantage of Fl studio 20 is that it has a super-intuitive user interface, and immensely easier to learn if you have no prior experience.
I selected some Thunderbolt connectivity interface as it is the fastest, and also some interface with an ADAT option. I also chose some USB interface as it's relatively cheap.
As you read along with the recommendation below, note the Input and Output count if it's expandable (ADAT), and the connector (USB or Thunderbolt).
1. UA Apollo Twin (2-in/6-out)
An audio interface wouldn't affect the quality of rendered track unless if used to record directly into your DAW but do know UA Apollo Twin can reduce the strain on your host CPU.
It does Real-time UAD Processing for tracking through vintage compressors, EQ's, tape machines, mic preamps, and guitar amp plug-ins with very low latency.
It's a USB 3 audio interface that allows you to record faster than the regular USB 2.0 bus-powered. You are also powered with a stunning 24/192kHz audio conversion rate and high-quality Mic preamps.
What's interesting about this interface is that you have an ADAT in, meaning you can expand the input of your audio interface, and also use it for processing with almost zero latency.
Who is this recommended for? – Studio of all level who wants a compact, and a portable audio interface while also providing a pro sound quality with options to expand with an ADAT in.
Technical Specifications Best hard drives for time machine backups.
- 2 -input/6-output
- ADAT for more input expandability
- USB 3.0 bus-powered
- 24bit/192khz
- Compatible with Windows 7 or higher (64-bit Editions) only
- It Includes ‘Realtime Analog Classics' plug-in bundle – featuring a vintage compressor, EQs and so on.
2. Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 (8-in/6-out)
This is one of my favorite interface of all time, and I like if for a couple of reasons:
You get high-end features at a reasonable price, come bundled with an 8-in/6-out Firewire interface with two astonishing Focusrite Mic preamps, XLR combo inputs (for balance input), line and instrument ins, and to sum all, you get an onboard DSP mixer that optimizes performance.
If you are a newbie and you're just getting started with a suite of plugins, then you would find the latest version of the Focusrite plug-in suite useful, the suite includes Reverb, Compression, Gating, and EQ – both VST and AU compatible.
That's not all. You also have an addition plugin packed with Saffire Pro – Xcite, which features lots of royalty-free loops, and a soft-synth to start making music right away.
In cases where you need to upgrade your connectivity, you can go from firewire to Thunderbolt with an adapter.
Technical Specifications
- 8 -input/6-output
- Firewire
- 24bit/96khz
- Xcite+ software bundle
3. Focusrite Scarlett (2-in/2-out)
Haha! One of the most used home studio interface in the world due to its portability and achieving great sound right out of the box.
You would love how this seamlessly integrates with Fl studio, a stunning conversion and sample rates up to 192kHz / 24 bit-perfect for recording two mics at once. No worries with the Mic part, you have two natural-sounding Scarlett mic preamps and the same sound quality and digital conversion as the rest of the Scarlett range.
If all you need is a compact audio interface you can use on the go, and you don't need a lot of I/O's, I strongly recommend this audio interface for your Fl setup. It would serve you well.
Who is this recommended for? – Beginner Studio who isn't too concern about more I/O, or who isn't interested in connecting multiple instruments at once.
Technical Specifications
- 2 -input/2-output
- No ADAT option
- USB bus-powered
- 24bit/192khz
- Compatible with Windows 7 or higher, and Mac OS X 10.10
or higher
4. Audient iD14 (10-in/14-out)
Audient iD14 provides you with high-performance conversion and a sample rate of up to 24bit/96khz. It has a few more ins and outs than most of the recommended interface on this page, and the most interesting thing is that you can expand the input with ADAT in, giving you an extra layer of 8-Channel.
Rugged designed with two Audient console mic preamp, and Burr-Brown converter technology. That's not all. You have an option for user-defined function keys; customized the way you like, and make it the hub of your studio
Who is this recommended for? – Beginner and Professional Studios who would love to start with more inputs, and expand if necessary with ADAT option.
Technical Specifications
- 10 -input/4-output + 2 Mic Preamps
- ADAT for more input expandability
- USB 2.0 bus-powered
- 24bit/96khz
- Compatible with Windows 10 & macOS High Sierra
5. PreSonus AudioBox (2-in/2-out)
If you are familiar with Studio One DAW, then you should be on the lookout for this one, as Presonus themselves are developing it. Decent priced audio interface packed with lots of amazing features and free tools.
It is a 24-bit resolution device and has a high-quality sampling rate of 44.1 and 48KHz. The new version goes all the way to 96 kHz – which makes it ideal for recording instruments, and vocal.
One of the features I love about PreSonus AudioBox is the Asio Compatibility, which means a significant performance advantage when running FL Studio.
Technical Specifications
- 2-input/2-output channel
- No ADAT option
- USB 2.0 bus powered
- 24-bit/96kHz
One Last Thing!
I hopefully guided you through buying a better interface for Fl Studio, and I gave you some insight on how to choose an audio interface that fits your need, the next thing you need to do is to set up and start using your interface.
If you are using Focusrite Scarlett together with Fl Studio, you can check how to get it set-up in this guide – How To Use Focusrite USB Audio Interface With Fl Studio.
If you aren't familiar or don't know much about setting up an interface, use the manual (it's made to guide you), or drop your comment, and I'll help you out hopefully.
Good luck with good music, and I hope to see you at the top.
Useful Related posts:
Whether you're a home producer or work at a major recording studio, Autotune and other pitch correction software can help deal with a weak vocal performance.
In a hurry? I love Melodyne 4 Studio from Celemony. It's sounds incredible, leaving little to no artifacts on vocals recorded in a treated space, but are in need of a little fixing.
But Autotune isn't reserved exclusively for pitch correction. T-Pain popularized the hard-straightened pitch, even going as far as releasing an iOS app called 'I Am T-Pain.'
Pitch correction software can also be utilized for other instruments as well. I've even used VariAudio (the 'Autotune' built into Cubase) on bass guitar parts that were slightly out of tune. The result was surprisingly excellent, with little to no audio artifacts.
There's a lot you can do with Autotune and similar software.
With so many options for producers, how can you decide on which one to use? Fortunately, I've had the experience working with many pitch correction plugins to weed out the good from the bad.
I'm going to include both free and paid options, so please read on!
Have an interest in virtual instruments? Don't miss my other roundups!
Table of Contents
1) Antares Auto-Tune Pro (Paid)
Auto-Tune is the original pitch correction software. It's so popular that its name is synonymous and is more of a colloquial term.
Antares gives you a couple of options to pick from depending on your needs — Pro, Artist, Access, or EFX+. As you'd guess, the price moves up the more features there are.
Auto-Tune is very hands-off. I'd even go as far as to say that it's the most straightforward plugin for correcting pitch.
Pros
- Easy to use for beginners
- Lightweight on memory
- Great-looking user interface
Cons
- AUTO mode is limited
- Difficult for beginners to use GRAPH
- A little outdated compared
When using Auto-Tune on a vocal track in AUTO mode, set the key, the retune speed, and the amount of humanization. You should be able to hit the playback button now and hear hopefully great results.
Because it's simplicity, I find that it doesn't perform as well as others (when using the quick settings) that require more fine-tune vocal editing.
To fix an abysmal vocal performance, use the graph mode and hand tune each note to your liking. This process is much more complicated but yields a far better result.
I am not huge on Auto-Tune (I know many are), but it can deliver exceptional results. If you take the time to learn how to use it properly, you'll have great-sounding vocals with ease.
Auto-Tune from Antares is available at Plugin Boutique.
2) Steinberg VariAudio — Cubase Pro (Paid)
Steinberg's VariAudio is a pitch correction software included in Cubase Pro. It's not a standalone plugin, so you won't be able to use it if you don't own Cubase Pro.
But, for those of you with Cubase who didn't realize your DAW has pitch correction, rejoice!
I love VariAudio — so much so that I couldn't imagine switching DAWs. I've been on Cubase for ten years, so I know my way around, but VariAudio is the one thing that will keep me as a forever customer.
Pros
- Integrated into Cubase
- Quick to edit any clip
- Very fast and no CPU
Cons
- Audio artifacts are very noticeable if not careful
- Limited cutting resolution
- Not intuitive at first
VariAudio functions similar to Melodyne and Auto-Tune's graph mode. Double-clicking on a clip opens up the editor, where you can choose to enable VariAudio — no plugin required.
From here, it's simple as using Pitch Quantize and Straighten Pitch on each clip. Cutting clips also helps pitch only individual sections of a waveform.
The newest version of VariAudio introduced some incredible options for adjusting pitch that make the software even more valuable.
I highly recommend considering Cubase Pro if you plan to switch DAWs — for VariAudio exclusively!
Steinberg's Cubase Pro is available from Plugin Fox.
3) Celemony Melodyne (Paid)
We're moving up the price ladder, but for a good reason. Melodyne from Celemony is one of the most utilized pitch correction plugins used by professional vocal editors and producers.
Melodyne offers (to my ears) the most accurate and musical sounding algorithm, leaving no tuning artifacts that are easily recognizable to the untrained ear.
Pros
- Incredible-sounding algorithm
- Tons of flexibility when vocals sound poor
- Zero audio artifacts in most cases
Cons
- Difficult for new users
- Rather expensive
The software has incredible note detection allowing for more accurate tuning. I find that in VariAudio, there are times that the software cannot understand individual notes, so they are omitted. It's not too often this occurs, but Melodyne does it better.
Melodyne is available at Plugin Boutique.
4) Waves Tune (Paid)
Waves Tune operates similarly to Auto-Tune and Melodyne. Before you begin tuning, the software scans the audio track and displays audio waveforms.
The process of editing is quite similar as well, though the interface is slightly dated.
Pros
- Included in many of Wave's plugin bundles
- Relatively lightweight on CPU
Cons
- 2-input/2-output channel
- No ADAT option
- USB 2.0 bus powered
- 24-bit/96kHz
One Last Thing!
I hopefully guided you through buying a better interface for Fl Studio, and I gave you some insight on how to choose an audio interface that fits your need, the next thing you need to do is to set up and start using your interface.
If you are using Focusrite Scarlett together with Fl Studio, you can check how to get it set-up in this guide – How To Use Focusrite USB Audio Interface With Fl Studio.
If you aren't familiar or don't know much about setting up an interface, use the manual (it's made to guide you), or drop your comment, and I'll help you out hopefully.
Good luck with good music, and I hope to see you at the top.
Useful Related posts:
Whether you're a home producer or work at a major recording studio, Autotune and other pitch correction software can help deal with a weak vocal performance.
In a hurry? I love Melodyne 4 Studio from Celemony. It's sounds incredible, leaving little to no artifacts on vocals recorded in a treated space, but are in need of a little fixing.
But Autotune isn't reserved exclusively for pitch correction. T-Pain popularized the hard-straightened pitch, even going as far as releasing an iOS app called 'I Am T-Pain.'
Pitch correction software can also be utilized for other instruments as well. I've even used VariAudio (the 'Autotune' built into Cubase) on bass guitar parts that were slightly out of tune. The result was surprisingly excellent, with little to no audio artifacts.
There's a lot you can do with Autotune and similar software.
With so many options for producers, how can you decide on which one to use? Fortunately, I've had the experience working with many pitch correction plugins to weed out the good from the bad.
I'm going to include both free and paid options, so please read on!
Have an interest in virtual instruments? Don't miss my other roundups!
Table of Contents
1) Antares Auto-Tune Pro (Paid)
Auto-Tune is the original pitch correction software. It's so popular that its name is synonymous and is more of a colloquial term.
Antares gives you a couple of options to pick from depending on your needs — Pro, Artist, Access, or EFX+. As you'd guess, the price moves up the more features there are.
Auto-Tune is very hands-off. I'd even go as far as to say that it's the most straightforward plugin for correcting pitch.
Pros
- Easy to use for beginners
- Lightweight on memory
- Great-looking user interface
Cons
- AUTO mode is limited
- Difficult for beginners to use GRAPH
- A little outdated compared
When using Auto-Tune on a vocal track in AUTO mode, set the key, the retune speed, and the amount of humanization. You should be able to hit the playback button now and hear hopefully great results.
Because it's simplicity, I find that it doesn't perform as well as others (when using the quick settings) that require more fine-tune vocal editing.
To fix an abysmal vocal performance, use the graph mode and hand tune each note to your liking. This process is much more complicated but yields a far better result.
I am not huge on Auto-Tune (I know many are), but it can deliver exceptional results. If you take the time to learn how to use it properly, you'll have great-sounding vocals with ease.
Auto-Tune from Antares is available at Plugin Boutique.
2) Steinberg VariAudio — Cubase Pro (Paid)
Steinberg's VariAudio is a pitch correction software included in Cubase Pro. It's not a standalone plugin, so you won't be able to use it if you don't own Cubase Pro.
But, for those of you with Cubase who didn't realize your DAW has pitch correction, rejoice!
I love VariAudio — so much so that I couldn't imagine switching DAWs. I've been on Cubase for ten years, so I know my way around, but VariAudio is the one thing that will keep me as a forever customer.
Pros
- Integrated into Cubase
- Quick to edit any clip
- Very fast and no CPU
Cons
- Audio artifacts are very noticeable if not careful
- Limited cutting resolution
- Not intuitive at first
VariAudio functions similar to Melodyne and Auto-Tune's graph mode. Double-clicking on a clip opens up the editor, where you can choose to enable VariAudio — no plugin required.
From here, it's simple as using Pitch Quantize and Straighten Pitch on each clip. Cutting clips also helps pitch only individual sections of a waveform.
The newest version of VariAudio introduced some incredible options for adjusting pitch that make the software even more valuable.
I highly recommend considering Cubase Pro if you plan to switch DAWs — for VariAudio exclusively!
Steinberg's Cubase Pro is available from Plugin Fox.
3) Celemony Melodyne (Paid)
We're moving up the price ladder, but for a good reason. Melodyne from Celemony is one of the most utilized pitch correction plugins used by professional vocal editors and producers.
Melodyne offers (to my ears) the most accurate and musical sounding algorithm, leaving no tuning artifacts that are easily recognizable to the untrained ear.
Pros
- Incredible-sounding algorithm
- Tons of flexibility when vocals sound poor
- Zero audio artifacts in most cases
Cons
- Difficult for new users
- Rather expensive
The software has incredible note detection allowing for more accurate tuning. I find that in VariAudio, there are times that the software cannot understand individual notes, so they are omitted. It's not too often this occurs, but Melodyne does it better.
Melodyne is available at Plugin Boutique.
4) Waves Tune (Paid)
Waves Tune operates similarly to Auto-Tune and Melodyne. Before you begin tuning, the software scans the audio track and displays audio waveforms.
The process of editing is quite similar as well, though the interface is slightly dated.
Pros
- Included in many of Wave's plugin bundles
- Relatively lightweight on CPU
Cons
- Outdated
- Difficult to use
I have never enjoyed using Waves Tune but figured it needed a mention since Waves is one of the most popular audio plugin companies.
5) Waves Tune Real-Time (Paid)
While cheaper than the regular version of Tune, Tune Real-Time offers a quick and user-friendly experience for tuning vocals. I'd compare this plugin to using Auto-Tune on AUTO mode.
Note transition is iffy at best and artifacts are present throughout (at least when I used it). The plugin isn't smooth sounding at all, and there aren't many parameter changes available.
I'd recommend Real-Time for two different scenarios. Image resizer 1 7 – resize photos. The first being someone new to audio production looking to fix a vocal without technical knowledge of tuning vocals. You won't get the most professional sound, but it will be acceptable.
The second scenario is for producers working with singers in the studio who struggle to sing on pitch.
Using a pitch-correction software can boost the confidence of the singer in the booth, though I can't say for sure if this will lead to a better sounding vocal take.
Despite the marketing of Waves Tune Real-Time, claiming instant vocal tuning, I could envision latency becoming an issue in some home studio settings.
Free Auto-Tune VST Plugins
If you're on the fence about which one to get or want to save a little cash, try some of these free pitch correction plugins I've listed below.
Things To Consider When Choosing a Pitch Correction Software Plugin
Despite all the choices I've laid out, you still may be confused on the correct option. Here are some things to consider before making a decision.
Does the software maker provide a trial? https://qjvn.over-blog.com/2021/01/mp4-converter-download-mac.html.
If so, take the trial and check out the software! There's nothing more frustrating than buying a plugin only to find out that it's non-refundable.
Do you need graph editing functionality?
Graph editing, like seen in Melodyne and VariAudio, is for advanced vocal editors. If you need a quick tuning for a little enhancement of a track, you may not need to edit each note.
If you want to draw in the notes physically, a more advanced pitch correction software will be necessary.
Further features you may desire are formant control, MIDI input (for vocoder), and note straightness. These types of effects are often essential in a lot of today's popular music.
The Best Fl Studio Plugin
Does your DAW already have pitch processing?
Mine does — that's why I've included VariAudio in this list. Digital audio workstations like Propellerhead's Reason and MOTU Digital Performer also come with their native pitch correction software.
The Best Fl Studio Lessons
Wrapping Up
Best Fl Studio Audio Settings
Which one do I like most? If I didn't have VariAudio included in Cubase, I'd most likely be using Melodyne exclusively. It sounds incredible, and the workflow is so intuitive.
So there you have it — my list of the best Auto-Tune/pitch correction VST plugins. Which one do you currently use in the studio? I'd love to hear from you down below in the comments. Thanks for reading!
