How do you sidechain a kick and bass in FL Studio using Fruity Limiter?

Route the kick and bass to separate mixer tracks, sidechain the kick to the bass track, then use Fruity Limiter’s compressor to duck the bass whenever the kick plays.

What keyboard shortcut opens the mixer in FL Studio?

Press F9 to open or bring focus to the Mixer window in FL Studio.

How do you create automation clips for effects and mixer controls in FL Studio?

Right-click the control you want to automate, such as volume or an effect parameter, and select “Create automation clip.”

Free Course Image FL Studio basics to be a DJ

Free online course FL Studio basics to be a DJ

Duration of the online course: 3 hours and 7 minutes

New

Mix cleaner drops and tighter bass in this free DJ course with FL Studio basics—sidechain, automation, EQ, MIDI setup, and pro workflow tips.

In this free course, learn about

Sidechain kick/bass in FL using Fruity Limiter for clearer low-end
Why kick-bass sidechaining improves mix clarity and groove
Workflow customization: coloring, layout, organization of tracks/mixer slots
Essential FL Studio shortcuts incl. opening mixer and faster navigation
Set up MIDI keyboards/drumpads; enable devices and configure inputs
Route MIDI so pads play drums while keyboard plays piano simultaneously
Create white noise risers; use Mod X to shape pitch/filter for builds
Make automation clips for mixer/effects/3rd-party plugin parameters
Edison editing shortcuts: reverse audio and trim outside selection
Use Fruity Parametric EQ 2: subtractive EQ, reading the spectrum range
Use Fruity Delay 2: Time knob controls delay timing/tempo division
Use Fruity Reeverb 2; Decay controls time to fade to -60 dB (RT60)
Vocal processing in FL: typical master buses and their roles
Project management: project folders, backups, and organizing assets

About the free online course

Want your mixes to hit harder, sound cleaner, and feel more professional without getting lost in technical overload? This free online course in Music production and DJ helps you build solid FL Studio fundamentals with a DJ mindset: speed, control, and results. You will learn practical techniques that make an immediate difference in your projects, whether you are preparing edits, creating transitions, or shaping your own tracks for a set.

A big part of sounding like you know what you are doing comes down to clarity and space. You will practice getting kick and bass to coexist through sidechaining and smart dynamics so the low end stays punchy instead of muddy. From there, you will develop stronger sound-design instincts by creating elements like a white noise riser to build energy into drops and transitions, using modulation in a way that keeps movement natural rather than random.

Workflow matters just as much as effects. You will explore how to customize the interface, use coloring to stay organized, and rely on key shortcuts that speed up everyday actions. You will also set up a MIDI keyboard or drum pad properly, making your sessions feel immediate and playable, and learn how to route controllers so different instruments can be performed at the same time without conflicts.

To take your sound further, the course focuses on core mixing tools you can reuse on any genre: automation clips for controlling changes over time, EQ to carve space and enhance clarity, and time-based effects like delay and reverb to create depth without washing out the mix. You will also get practical guidance on editing audio efficiently and understanding common studio habits such as using buses and group channels for cleaner routing, better control, and consistent processing.

Finally, you will build reliability into your creative process with simple project management habits like backing up sessions and using dedicated project folders. By the end, you will have a smoother FL Studio workflow, more confident mixing decisions, and the foundation to create DJ-ready productions and edits that translate well on speakers and in a live context.

Course content

Video class: How To Sidechain in FL Studio 12 - Kick and Bass Clarity - Fruity limiter 05m
Exercise: Why is sidechaining used between the kick and bass in FL Studio?
Video class: Best Ways to Customize FL Studio 12 - FL Studio Basics 07m
Exercise: In FL Studio, what is the purpose of coloring tracks and mixer slots?
Video class: Fl Studio 12 Shortcuts You Need To Know (FL Studio 12 Basics) 09m
Exercise: What combination of keys should you press to pull up the mixer in FL Studio?

Video class: How To Setup A MIDI Controller (Keyboard or Drumpad) FL STUDIO 12 Basics 09m
Exercise: What is the first step in setting up a MIDI keyboard controller in FL Studio?
Video class: How To Make a White Noise Riser in FL Studio - EASY Method - FL Studio Basics 13m
Exercise: In FL Studio, what is the purpose of using the 'mod X' function when creating a white noise riser?
Video class: FL Studio Automation - How to Create Automation Clips (Mixer, Effects and 3rd Party Plugins) 09m
Exercise: In the FL Studio tutorial, what is NOT one of the three main topics covered for automation?

Video class: FL Studio Tips and Tricks You Need To Know 16m
Exercise: Which of the following keyboard shortcuts in FL Studio's Edison plugin can be used to reverse a selected sample?
Exercise: Which shortcut in the Edison audio editor in FL Studio will trim off everything outside of the selected region?
Video class: The Best Way To Use Fruity Parametric EQ 2 - FL Studio Basics 12m
Exercise: Which frequency range does the Fruity Parametric EQ 2 visualizer display cover?
Video class: How to use Fruity Delay 2 - FL Studio Basics 10m
Exercise: What does the 'Time' dial in Fruity Delay 2 control?

Video class: FL Studio Tips and Tricks You Need To Know 16m
Exercise: Which of the following keyboard shortcuts in FL Studio's Edison plugin can be used to reverse a selected sample?
Exercise: Which shortcut in the Edison audio editor in FL Studio will trim off everything outside of the selected region?
Video class: How To Use Fruity Reeverb 2 - FL Studio Basics 13m
Exercise: In FL Studio, when adjusting the reverb using Fruity Reverb 2, which parameter would you adjust to control the length of time it takes for the reverb to decay down to -60 dB?
Video class: How To Set Up Your Midi Keyboard and Drumpad 07m
Exercise: How can you ensure that a drum pad MIDI controller plays drum sounds while a MIDI keyboard plays piano sounds simultaneously in FL Studio?

Video class: Vocal Processing in FL Studio 22m
Exercise: Which of the following is NOT one of the three master buses typically used in vocal processing in FL Studio?
Video class: How To Backup Your FL Studio 20 Projects 06m
Exercise: What is the purpose of creating a project folder in FL Studio?
Video class: How To Make Groups and Bus Channels In The Mixer - FL Studio Basics 08m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of creating a bus or group channels in FL Studio?

Video class: Subtractive EQ for Clarity - Acoustic Guitar EQ 09m
Exercise: In a subtractive EQ technique for cleaning up home recordings, what is the primary reason for using a high-pass filter?
Video class: 10 Quick FL Studio Producer Tips You Need To Know 07m
Exercise: Which function key allows you to jump to the next item in a smart find search in FL Studio's browser?

Learn aboutFL Studio

Explore free online FL Studio courses designed for beginners and aspiring music producers. Learn beat making, audio recording, mixing, mastering, MIDI, sound design, and workflow techniques at your own pace. Enroll today, build practical music production skills, and earn a certificate with every completed course.