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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.
To launch the Audio MIDI Setup: Open your 'Applications' folder. Inside the 'Applications' folder find and open the 'Utilities' folder. When you open the 'Utilities' folder, double click on the 'Audio MIDI Setup' icon. Universal Audio Apollo x4. If you’re eager to join the Universal Audio UAD ecosystem but haven’t known where to start, the Universal Audio Apollo x4 is the perfect point of entry. It rivals the performance of UA’s larger interfaces but eschews extraneous features, like 5.1 surround monitoring and +24dBu operation, for a streamlined, desktop design that will feel right at home in your studio. To set up an audio interface with FL Studio, you will need to connect the cable that came with your audio interface to the interface and to your computer. Next step is to set your sound settings. You can do this by going to the same drop-down menu by going back to “Options” then select Audio.
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
Mac Fl Studio
- 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.
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
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
- 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
Studio Interface Download
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:
Always wondered about FL Studio and whether it might be the right DAW for you? In this article, we’ll have a look at FL Studio 20 to bring you a tutorial and a review. Keep reading to find out more.
What is FL Studio?
FL Studio is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian software company Image-Line.
It started almost like a game in its infant stage. FL Studio is a DAW that is easier to navigate and create music quickly. It features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer.
FL Studio was first known as Fruity Loops but they changed the name to FL Studio (Fruit Loops Studio) because the former name seems professional and less childlike. FL Studio can also be used as a VST instrument in other audio workstation programs and it also functions as a ReWire client.
Image-Line, who owns the software, also offers other VST instruments and audio applications. But it was the simple interface of FL Studio that brought it a huge number of fans, in particular the States. It is quite popular in the hip-hop community.
FL Studio has been used by countless Hip-Hop, Beat Makers and EDM producers and has established itself as one of the top five most popular DAWs on the market.
What can you do with FL Studio?
FL Studio allows you to load instruments and samples, including the ability to play these instruments live
or you can manually enter the notes and record external sounds. You can save the completed project and export to a Wav, MP3 or OGG audio file.
Although FL Studio had capabilities to run on Mac, it was quite glitchy and complicated. In 2018, Image-Line finally created a compatible version FL Studio for Apple Mac users. Therefore you can now run FL Studio on your Mac Book Pro with full VST and AU support!
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Getting Started & Pricing
At the entry-level, you have FL Studio Fruity Edition. This is a great way to start out with a DAW such as FL Studio. It features a limited playlist, no audio clips and no audio recording. But it is a great price at only $99.00
FL Studio Producer Edition is an All-in-one virtual studio. This edition will cover all your music production needs in one simple to use location. For a budding or seasoned music producer with a bit of a budget, I would strongly suggest this edition.
It has full song creation & mic recording features including audio recording full playlist and 7 additional native plugins. This edition goes for $199 with a lot provided for your buck.
Next is the FL Studio Signature Bundle, which is a combination of FL Studio Producer Edition including some signature plugins. It features audio recording with full playlist and an increased 14 additional native plugins for $299.
If you are a producer that likes to collect countless synths and plugins, the All Plugin Bundle would work for you. It is priced at $699.
If you want to try out FL Studio before purchasing, you can try their free demo version which includes all of the program’s features. It includes all VST plugins and allows users to render project audio to WAV, MIDI, MP3, and OGG.
Download the free version here.
Setting Up
MIDI
Setting up MIDI to FL Studio can seem a bit daunting at first but it is quite simple once you become familiar with the interface. First, FL Studio needs to recognize that your MIDI keyboard is connected to your computer before you will be able to use it. If needed, you will be prompted to install the latest drivers for your keyboard and follow the instructions in the owner’s manual before proceeding.
To manage MIDI connections for FL Studio, you need to navigate to the MIDI Device menu. From this point, you can activate or deactivate the MIDI ports or channels of your hardware.
First, you need to click the “Options menu” from the top toolbar, then click MIDI Settings.
The next step is to go in the MIDI Options window, go to the Input settings section. You can select your MIDI keyboard and click Enable. If you happen to see the input named USB Audio Device, you should enable that, and change the controller type to Generic Controller. Finally, you should press a key or pad to confirm you’re getting a MIDI signal.
Audio Interface
To set up an audio interface with FL Studio, you will need to connect the cable that came with your audio interface to the interface and to your computer. Next step is to set your sound settings. You can do this by going to the same drop-down menu by going back to “Options” then select Audio.
From the drop-down box similar to the MIDI set up box, you can select your interface. Example, Focusrite or other default settings, including FL Studio. Although I am connected to my Focusrite, I tend to keep it on FL Studio. But you can play around with it and listen to the difference in the sounds.
Once your keyboard is set up, you can select it in FL Studio, and start working with FL Studio.
Let’s Talk Main Windows Flexibility
The FL Studio DAW has numerous windows. Most of these windows are movable, resizable, zoomable and easily interchangeable.
The main windows in FL Studio music creation are as follows:
- Playlist (F5)
- Channel rack ( F6)
- Piano roll (F7)
- Mixer(F9)
The Browser is used to access audio files, plugins & presets. You can press Alt+F8 to access the browser. The flexibility with the windows makes it quite easy to navigate between the different sections while creating – ideally have a large monitor screen or dual screens are best so you don’t have to keep flicking between windows and set up everything so essential gear can be accessed quickly.
Powerful New Features In Version 20
FL Studio recently celebrated their 20th anniversary.
To celebrate their 20th anniversary they skipped versions 13-19 and went straight to 20. With their 20th version came countless new features. Including the ability to render (freeze). You can create and save complete multi-track music projects & arrangements with their complete layouts of automation and pattern clips.
In addition, there is Plug-in delay compensation that ensures a smooth mixing experience. You’ll also enjoy an updated version of Graph Editor, Precomputed FX, an upgraded Channel Sampler, including a variety of new and updated plug-ins.
Powerful & Convenient
Image-Line FL Studio 20 has a full-featured melody and loop creation capabilities.
This includes audio sends, sidechain control, advanced automation, multi-touch support, and much more to boot.
The Piano Roll makes arranging and sequencing quite easy to accomplish. The playlist is very flexible and allows you to use Automation and Note data. Workflow is super-fast due mainly to FL Studio’s browser. A unique capability of FL Studio is the ability to use third-party VSTs.
Therefore making it extra powerful beyond its already powerful capabilities. This is quite an impressive quality and another selling point.
Advanced MIDI Music Production Capabilities
It’s very flexible loop-creation tools let you time-stretch, beat-slice, chop and edit mix your audio with ease.
Including, up to eight different effects can be added to each track, in addition to being routed to any of the other audio tracks.
There are a wide variety of effects that are already added to spark instant inspiration. Including effects such as:
- Delay
- Distortion
- EQ
- Filtering
- Reverb
- Phasing
- Flanging
- Chorus
- Vocoding
You can use the software just as a drum machine, beat maker or access the drum samples in conjunction with other high-quality instrumentals such as transistor bass and lead synths. Easy access to mastering tools like multiband compression/limiting and parametric EQ are also included.
Automation & Music Production Support
Fl Studio also has very slick automation features. It’s quite fluid with various ways to manipulate automation to allow you to breathe life into your songs and musical creations.
Among the other new features, FL Studio 20 also updated several of its signature features and plugins.
- You can customise the browser to make it easier to navigate back and forth during the creative process.
- Fruity Reverb 2 now includes a modulation section that adds some of that cool classic metallic ring modulation to your sound.
- FL Studio’s very unique sample chopper and beat arranger Slicex has been updated with new slicing and send options.
- The main window features such as Channel rack, Playlist and Browser can be clicked on or off. Therefore decluttering the DAW’s creative workspace is much easier to accomplish.
- Automation can be added to the Playlist later.
- The mixer in FL Studio is customisable with channel width and number of controls on display.
- FL Studio 20 Producer version comes with 80 VST plug-ins which can be added to the Channel rack by hitting the + button and then selecting from a drop-down menu. This cool new feature makes it easier to add plugins rather than navigating away from the Channel rack.
- Piano roll editor now features plenty of melodic editing options within the Piano Roll editor.
- All of the settings are in one window via lots of tabs. Therefore you can set up everything you need for more fluidity.
FL Studio vs Ableton vs Logic
FL Studio is a quality DAW that’s not in question, with easy accessibility to numerous sounds in addition to ease of use to quickly create a musical idea.
It has more than enough effects to perform the highest level tasks. As a long time owner and user of FL Studio, there are so many other segments to this all in one powerful DAW.
You can keep discovering something new, years after owning it. One of their best synthesizers and my go-to synth in FL Studio is Systrus. This is a hybrid FM and additive synth with a wide sound palette.
FL Studio might best be compared to other DAWs such as Ableton or PreSonus but its features are more flexible. There isn’t the go-to DAW for producers or composers of a certain genre of music.
Therefore it might not have the unlimited number of track capabilities such as Logic, but it has both PC and MAC capabilities.
While Ableton seems to have a better MIDI controller support and less learning curve with most of its synths, FL Studio 20 has a lot of easily accessible sounds. Including easy to navigate windows to quickly come up with creative ideas.
There are so many sounds in the earlier edition of FL Studio and with FL Studio 20 there is a lot more to choose from.
Specs
- Bit Depth:
- 64-bit
- Format:
- VST2, VST3, AU
- Hardware Requirements – Mac:
- Intel Core Duo or higher, 4GB RAM or more recommended
- Hardware Requirements – PC:
- Intel Core Duo / AMD Athlon 64 or higher, 4GB RAM or more recommended
- OS Requirements – Mac:
- macOS 10.13.6 or later
- OS Requirements – PC:
- Windows 8.1 or later.
Conclusion
Audio Interface For Fl Studio
It would take you a while to even begin to scratch the surface. Another bonus and reason to get FL Studio 20. It has free updates for lifetime use, which other software brands don’t offer as you only normally get discounted upgrades from the purchase price, which some people criticise and stop them from upgrading.
Best Home Studio Audio Interface
FL Studio 20 is a great DAW for both, beginners and professional producers. Especially if you are into making beats and genres such as Hip Hop & EDM productions. You should definitely get this super cool All-in-one DAW by Image-Line.
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