SETUP WIZARD

File Settings Setup

Add external file directories to FL Studio

Click the File tab in the System Settings window. Here are three reasons why this is important:

• Save locations - FL Studio will, by default, save your projects to its installation directory (..\Program Files\Image-Line\FL Studio\Data\Projects). We strongly recommend that you add some extra search folder locations (your own directories) and save your projects there. This will make backups simpler and will keep your files separate from the FL Studio installation.
• External file locations - Additionally, if you have samples and sounds that you want to use with FL Studio, the File Settings page is used to add their directories to the Browser's list.
• External VST locations - At the bottom of the File Settings interface is also an option to search for VST/VSTi plugins. You can ignore this step if you don't have your own VSTs to add to FL Studio.

I don't have any external directories or VST instruments to add to the Browser

NOTE: At any time you can open a standard Windows Browser (right click on the Windows 'Start' button and select 'Explore') and then drag compatible files from the Windows Browser into FL Studio (FL Studio will behave in the same way as noted in step 1 below).

Add Directories to the Browser

Browser extra search folders

How to set a Browser extra search folder:

1. Left-click on the folder icon at the start of a row as indicated above and browse to the folder location and then click 'OK'. Alternatively, double-click the text fields to enter paths manually.
2. Optionally, left-click in the Name column and enter a custom name, this sets the name shown in the Browser. If the name field is left blank then the name of the target folder will be shown in the Browser.

What do they do? The folders set here will appear in the FL Studio Browser in a green font so that they are easily identified. Here are four good reasons to use them:

1. Drag sounds, samples or patches from the Browser onto the desired location in FL Studio and they will be loaded (channel sampler, slicer, projects [drag onto the desktop], etc).
2. External folders keep your data independent from the FL Studio installation.
3. The extra search folders are included in automatic search and load operations.

4. Perform manual searches of your sound library.

VST plugins extra search directory:

What does it do? This directory is a custom search location where you can put your 3rd party VST plugins. FL Studio will add any plugins to the pop-up lists that appear when you add a VST instrument to a Channel or effect to the Mixer. NOTE: The directory set here does not appear in the Browser. See the section on installing VST plugins for more details.

How to set:

1. Click the browse folder-button on the left side of the panel and browse to the directory you plan to use as your 3rd party VST location. Install VST instruments to this directory in future and they will be found by FL Studio.