Audio - .wav, .mp3, .ogg rendered formats that save the complete audio mix of your project (see the note below on including sounds from external hardware).
Mode - Displays whether FL Studio will render the whole Song or currently selected Pattern.
Total Time - Shows total time length of the song to be exported.
Disk Space - Shows the disk space required to hold exported audio file/s. If more than one save format is selected in the Output panel the combined total is reported.
Bar# - Reports the current bar being rendered and the total number of bars in the project (current/total).
Looping Mode
Looping mode only applies to audio formats (.wav, .mp3 and .ogg) and determines how any decaying sound after the last bar of your project/loop is rendered. For example, the tail of a reverb of a sound
may be important for the impression of smooth continuity when looping, or to prevent the decaying reverb in a 'straight' render being chopped off. If, after rendering the last bar from the song there is still sound
decaying, this option sets how FL Studio should proceed. Leave remainder is the default. NOTE: If you are making loop files use .wav format, .mp3 in particular leaves a small silence at the start of the
sound that will interfere with looping.
Leave remainder - Expands the song length to capture any decaying sounds. If 'Leave remainder' still chops of any trailing audio, the PlaylistRepeat marker
can be used to define the rendering end-point. While Repeat marker positions are usually ignored, if they are placed after the last Pattern, Audio or Automation Clip in the Playlist, the project will be rendered up
to the position of the Repeat marker.
Wrap remainder - Wraps any decaying sound at the end of the song onto the beginning (useful when rendering loops with effects).
Cut remainder - Cuts the render at the end of the last bar.
Quality
Sample Interpolation - Select the waveform interpolation method used for Sampler/Audio-Clip channels. Interpolation
is a curve fitting process that computes intermediate sample amplitude data between the known sample points (filling in the gaps). This is only required when samples are transposed from their original pitch and the
program calls for a sample value out of sync with the source data-points. Without interpolation quantizing (amplitude) errors can create unwanted high-frequency harmonic artifacts (aliasing &
quantizing errors).
FL Studio provides several methods of increasing computational complexity and therefore accuracy -
Linear interpolation is the fastest method. It provides basic linear averaging between samples, however it can result in aliasing (high frequency noises) if samples are transposed far from their original pitch.
6-point Hermite has been optimized to be a quick curve interpolation method with superior quality to linear interpolation. It is ideal for exporting 'working drafts' of your audio files.
64, 128, 256, 512-point Sinc methods provide increasing quality interpolation, but they are also very slow. We recommended that you use at least 64-point Sinc on
your final render, or better still, the maximum Sinc value that you are prepared to wait to finish rendering.
NOTE: There is an independent 'live' output interpolation set on the F10 > Audio Settings, Mixer section. If different Mixer and Render interpolation options are set,
this can cause the live and rendered audio to sound different, specifically in the high frequency regions. Live aliasing tends to create a 'false' high frequency brightness. Settings the live interpolation method to
64-point sinc will minimize this problem, should it arise.
Dithering - Applies 32 to 16-bit dithering to 16-bit .wav and .mp3 files. Dither should only be applied once to your final 16 bit render. If you plan to master or post-process your track then don't apply dithering.
Dither breaks up the predictability, and so signal-like quality, of quantizing noise (rounding errors in signal amplitude that occur when transposing bit-depths, 32 to 16 for example) making it sound more like
background hiss and less like an audio signal that will draw your attention (i.e. less noticeable). Quantizing noise is generally only audible in the quietest parts of a recording, where the music is approaching the
limits of the bit-depth. If you are hearing noise artifacts and your track is approaching 0 dB, then it is some other type of noise, probably aliasing (see the interpolation settings) or compression artifacts (mp3/ogg bit-depth).
Alias-free TS404 - When enabled, prevents TS404 from "aliasing", but also slows down the rendering process.
HQ for all plugins - Sets high quality mode for any plugins (effects and
instruments) used in the song.
Disable Max Poly - Ignores the max poly setting in Miscellaneous Channel Settings but does NOT ignore Mono option if selected.
Output format/s
Select the output format/s for the project render. To save in more than one format simply select multiple options on this panel.
Sample rate
The output (Mixer) sample rate is set in the Audio Settings window.
Values between 22000 Hz (22 kHz) and 192000 Hz (192 kHz) are possible. 44100 Hz (44.1 kHz)is the CD standard.
Wave (Audio)
Wave is a lossless audio format and preferred
for handling audio in a production environment (use it to save all your samples, sounds and archive material). The drop-down menu contains bit-depth options for the exported wave file -
16-Bit int wave is the highest-quality audio file compatible with a wide range of playback devices. CD audio format: If you want to create audio files compatible with CD format use 44.1 kHz, 16-bit .wav files. Check that the
Mixer sample rate is set to 44.1 kHz in the Audio Settings window. Also note that FL Studio does not burn to CD format, it creates audio files ready for
burning. Use any 3rd party CD burning program to create the audio CD.
24-Bit int wave is a common bit-depth used by DAW hardware & some older software DAWs. Use this bit-depth only if 32-Bit float is not supported by the 3rd party software/hardware.
32-Bit float wave is the native format of FL Studio mix engine. Render to 32-Bit floating point format when you intend to continue mixing or editing the file in another application (wave editor
or DAW) that supports 32-Bit floating point format. 32-Bit float provides more precision for mathematical operations on the audio and so will ensure the highest quality is preserved in your audio files during
post production activities.
MP3/OGG (Audio)
mp3 (Mpeg Layer 3) and ogg
(Ogg Vorbis) are both 'lossy' formats that compact the audio to save space. This means that at lower bit-rate settings you may hear unwanted artifacts often described as 'underwater sounds' or 'bubbling'. The slider sets
bit-rate of the mp3/ogg audio file, as bit-rate increases the audio quality improves, but at the expense of file size.
What bit-rate should I use?
64 kb/s (or less) is a useful for low-quality internet 'demo' tracks. Compression artifacts will be noticeable.
128 kb/s is the point where 'acceptable' quality starts for the majority of people. It is useful for web streaming and e-mailing music files.
160 kb/s is the point where it becomes difficult for many people to distinguish CD from mp3 (not discerning FL Studio producers, of course). It is a good minimum bit-rate to use for music distribution and listening purposes.
Some material may still produce audible compression artifacts. Listen carefully to the entire track with headphones if quality is important and consider a higher bit-rate.
224 kb/s (or greater) and mp3/ogg become practically indistinguishable from CD under normal listening conditions. It is a good minimum bit rate to use for archival of a quality compressed copy of
audio. Bit-rates of 224, or greater, can be useful when collaborating over the Internet and you need to share audio files that may be impractical in CD .wav format (1400 kb/s).
NOTES: The maximum bit-rate for mp3 is 320 kbps and 450 kbps for ogg. This means if you set the slider to 450 kbps, mp3 files will still render at 320 kbps while ogg files will render at 450 kbps.
The relationship between kbps setting and the audibility of artifacts will depend on the material being rendered and the listening environment. You should always check your rendered files with a good pair
of headphones prior to release. Where possible use at least 16-bit .wav format when sharing or saving audio in a production environment.
MIDI (Data)
MIDI is a standard note & automation data format and will save the contents of the Step Sequencer and Piano roll. As note data is saved along with FL Studio
project, only export to MIDI if you intend to import the note data into a 3rd party application. To export:
Make sure to save your project in its current state, the next step will replace Channel instruments.
Use the macro Prepare for MIDI export on the main Tools menu that replaces all Channels with auto-configured MIDI Out plugins.
This is necessary to export project-wide MIDI in the correct multi-channel format. To export individual Piano roll data as MIDI files use the Piano roll menu option
'Export as MIDI file'.
Select MIDI on the Export Project Dialog and press Start.
Don't save your project in this state you will lose the original Channel settings. Save to a new project if required.
NOTE: MIDI is not an audio format. If your media player can play MIDI files it is using the synthesizer/sampler built into your soundcard to create audio from the MIDI data.
Options
Split Mixer Tracks - When selected, each Mixer track in the project is exported as a
separate .wav file. NOTE: this option does not export to mp3/ogg formats.
Save ACIDized - Saves additional information
in the wave file that is read when using the rendered loop in Sony Acid™.
Save Slice Markers - If enabled, each note will create a slice marker in the exported file. This means that FL Studio exports
sliced drum loops which are automatically ready for slice re-ordering and high quality time stretching.
Delay compensation - Applies only to .wav files. ON: Strips any PDC delay from the rendered .wav. Use this when start/end-timing is critical in the rendered .wav
(when making loops for example). OFF: An amount of silence equal to the Master channel PDC will be added to the start of the .wav and the same again removed from the end.
Rendering Buttons
Background Rendering - Minimizes and renders in background mode, allowing you to work on other Windows applications.
Start - Starts Rendering. The name will change to Abort once rendering is underway.
is a curve fitting process that computes intermediate sample amplitude data between the known sample points (filling in the gaps). This is only required when samples are transposed from their original pitch and the
program calls for a sample value out of sync with the source data-points. Without interpolation quantizing (amplitude) errors can create unwanted high-frequency harmonic artifacts (aliasing