Layer channels in FL Studio

Layer channels in FL Studio are something incredible powerful and yet easy to master.
Ever wonder how to build complex sounds and manage them easely?
Picture this: you want a complex sound composed of several synths to be handled like just one instrument, let's say an orchestra of synth strings wich you want to be as rich as posible in colors and textures of sound, maybe some could be gated a little bit, maybe another synth could be taking care of the low frequencies and another distinct synth taking care of high frequencies, maybe independently changing it's cutoff a little bit to spice the whole layer.
You could perfectly make one of these in a complex synthesizer with multiple oscillators and multipattern capabilities, but for sake of argument I'll skip this option and go straight to the layer channel usage, but I'm not denying it's existance.
For the example above we could use three synths taking care of each part of the complex sound and link their execution via one layer channel, by doing this we can use the layer channel as if it was the sum of the other three synths with just one keyboard to play them. As you may wonder, this technique also applies to other sounds than pads, in fact, using a layer channel to map various wav samples is something I do often and I easely create custom drum patches.


Setting a Layer Channel

Once you got your synths in place and added the layer channel, select it and set aside its window so you can see it even if you change to see the channel window.

In the channel window select the channels you want to add to the layer channel by turning on their respective green lights, and then click the "set children" button inside the layer channel.

This will add the selected channels to the command of the layer, this means that from this point all the channels you just add will be played by the midi instructions you give to the layer (e.g. play a note).
You can play lots of synths as if they were just one, using just one keyboard!


What are those "Random" and "Crossfade" lights? and what about the "Fade" knob?

Random: Turning this button on will cause the layer to trigger any of the channels at random when playing a note.
Crossfade: Will crossfade between the channels in this order:
-to the left of the knob the top channels will sound
-to the right of the knob the lower channels will sound


Extra Functions

Click on the arrow to the left of "Layering" to show a new array of functions.

Split children: Despite the family-wrecking-name it does a great job, this function will split the children into the layer's keyboard keys independently. I personally use this a lot.
Picture this scene: you got a full array of drum samples to make a patch wich you could use in your music.
A very confortable way to test and arrange patterns is to make the channels children of a layer and split them to its keys, and you got yourself a nice drum machine in your midi controller.
Group children: All children of the layer will be added to an existing Channel Group or a new one if you like. (a text box will appear to write the name of a group, if it doesn't exist, a new one will be created).


Cons

You can't make a layer channel containing other layer channels inside, it won't work, they can't be linked in any way. You can only link layer channels with any other channels than layer channels.

A "Layers Layer" is not possible in FL Studio.

Conclusion

Layer Channels in FL Studio is something worth learning, it's easy, it's confortable, it's fast (doesn't eats cpu, it's just a sorting feature).
A must-know in my opinion, this feature will give you speed and creativity in your music productions.

See you next time, live musically!


How and when to effectively use Channel Groups <-Previous Tutorial

5 Ways to kick start your musical productions <-Previous Post