FL Studio Keyboard Shortcuts
70+ FL Studio shortcuts for beat making, mixing, piano roll, and playlist. Windows and Mac reference.
Transport
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Play / Pause | |
| Play from start | |
| Toggle recording | |
| Toggle pattern/song mode | |
| Toggle typing keyboard to piano | |
| Go to beginning | |
| Go to end |
General
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Undo | |
| Undo step-by-step | |
| Save | |
| New project | |
| Open project | |
| Save as new version | |
| Export wav/mp3 | |
| Export MP3 |
Playlist
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Draw tool (Pencil) | |
| Paint tool (Brush) | |
| Delete tool | |
| Mute tool | |
| Slip tool | |
| Select tool | |
| Slice tool | |
| Zoom tool | |
| Select all | |
| Deselect all | |
| Copy selection | |
| Paste | |
| Duplicate selection | |
| Group selected |
Piano Roll
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all notes | |
| Copy notes | |
| Quick quantize | |
| Quantize dialog | |
| Quick legato | |
| Insert current controller value | |
| Quick chop | |
| Shift notes up/down octave | |
| Shift notes up/down semitone | |
| Transpose notes | |
| Randomize notes |
Mixer
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Mixer | |
| Link selected channels | |
| Move selected mixer track | |
| Open Step Sequencer |
Windows
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Toggle Playlist | |
| Toggle Step Sequencer | |
| Toggle Piano Roll | |
| Plugin Picker | |
| Toggle Mixer | |
| MIDI settings | |
| Song/Pattern Info | |
| Close all windows |
Zoom
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Zoom in/out | |
| Zoom best fit | |
| Zoom in/out vertically |
Pro tips
Ghost Notes in Piano Roll
Enable ghost notes (the faded notes from other patterns) in the Piano Roll to see how your melody relates to bass, chords, and other parts. Toggle with Alt+V.
Edison for Sample Editing
Drag audio into Edison (built-in audio editor) for precision editing, time-stretching, and sample slicing. Edison can record directly from any mixer insert for resampling.
Patcher for Complex Routing
Use Patcher to create complex effect chains, parallel processing, and layered instruments. It's like a mini modular synth environment within FL Studio.
Smart Disable
Enable Smart Disable in plugin settings to automatically disable CPU-heavy plugins when they're not producing audio. This dramatically reduces CPU usage during playback.
Riff Machine
Use Tools → Riff Machine in the Piano Roll to generate random melodies, arpeggios, and rhythms. Great for inspiration and overcoming creative blocks.
Color-Code Your Mixer
Right-click mixer tracks to assign colors and names. Group related instruments (drums, bass, synths) by color for faster mixing and better visual organization.
Frequently asked questions
Is FL Studio available on Mac?
Yes, FL Studio has a native macOS version since version 20.0.2. It supports AU (Audio Unit) and VST plugins. The macOS version has feature parity with Windows.
What's the difference between FL Studio editions?
Fruity ($99) includes basic features without audio recording. Producer ($199) adds audio recording and playlist audio clips. All Plugins ($499) includes every Image-Line plugin. All editions include free lifetime updates.
Do I get free updates forever?
Yes, FL Studio offers free lifetime updates. A one-time purchase entitles you to all future versions at no additional cost. This is unique among major DAWs and a significant value proposition.
Can FL Studio be used for professional music production?
Absolutely. FL Studio is used by Grammy-winning producers including Martin Garrix, Avicii, Metro Boomin, and many others. It excels in electronic music, hip-hop, and pop production.
How do I reduce CPU usage in FL Studio?
Use ASIO drivers, increase buffer size, enable Smart Disable, freeze tracks to audio, use mixer track sends instead of duplicating effects, and close unused plugins. Multi-threaded processing helps on multi-core CPUs.
Can I use third-party plugins?
Yes, FL Studio supports VST2, VST3, and AU (Mac) plugin formats. Install plugins in your VST folder, then scan in Options → File Settings → Plugin Manager. Both instruments and effects are supported.
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