There are too many features to list here. For example: Boobass - virtual bass Fruity Slicer - sample slicer Wavetraveller - Wave player (useful for making scratches) Granulizer soundfont player FPC - MPC drum kit emulator 3xOsc - synth FLKeys - piano keys and more... Effects are plentiful but not too great visually. Yoou have to learn about what various parameters mean. For example the compressor is just a bunch of knobs for the various params (threshold, attack, etc..) But therre are a gang of them and the newer effects have much better interfaces. Some of the effects: Vocoder, Reverb, Compression, Parametric EQ, Chorus, Flanger, Delay, Distortion, Stereo Enhancer, and many more... Other great features include: Step sequncing and piano roll, MIDI, Sample Browser, Recording, Timestretching, Automation, Channel Mixer... It has support for DX and VST effects and instruments. It comes with plenty of free sounds and 10x more can be downloaded for free from the SampleFusion site to registered users. My biggest wish for the program is that the would improve the mixer (as of this writing, changes are planned). For example, there is a solo button for the individual mixer channel but no mute. The interface is also a bit hard to use at higher resolutions (1280x1024 and above) because of the small buttons, knobs and sliders. Overall, the good outweighs the bad and for the price you cannot find a better deal.

Price paid

$149 + XXL package over time.

It is very easy to get started with this program. The step sequencer makes drum programming a snap. You will want to learn the more powerful features to maximize your composition though. Things like effect automation and mixer routing are definitely going to open new ground for the beginner but require some study.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

The stock sounds have always been a sore point for this program but it should be made clear that the rendering engine is near perfect in the Sinc Modes. There are enough stock sounds to get you going but the first thing you should do is accumulate some new sounds. There are many places on the net to get very good (free and commercial) samples. You can select the rendering method from low quality 'linear' (CPU friendly) to Ultra high quality 'Sinc 256' (CPU heavy). I tend to render using Sinc 64 at 24-bit for most mixdowns which is close to perfect to my ear.

It is very well programmed. Sometimes initial version (ie. From version 4 to 5.0) can have a few bugs that are quickly fixed.

OVERALL OPINION

It's great. For $149 you get a lot of bang. Also consider that it's is a lifetime price. I bought FL originally at version 3.x and now I have received 4.x and 5.x FREE OF CHARGE. 6.X is on the horizin with new effects and instruments that will also be free. You cannot find a better deal period.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: NFX ( 8-, 2005)