This article explains how to insert Native Instruments plug-ins in FL Studio 20, including:
- Inserting an instrument plug-in (e.g. Massive X, Kontakt, etc.) in a plug-in channel.
- Inserting an effect plug-in (e.g. Raum, Guitar Rig, etc.) in an effect insert slot and routing an audio signal to the corresponding Mixer insert track.
Note: some NI products can be inserted both as instruments or effect plug-ins (e.g. Absynth 5 / ABSYNTH 5 FX, etc.).
Note: If you are using FL Studio 12 (or earlier), read this article.
Info for Mac users: FL Studio 20 introduces the ability to use Audio Units (AU) on Mac computers; however, we recommend using VST whenever possible for the following reasons:
- Sharing projects - If you are sharing projects with Windows users, you must use the VST versions of plugins since Audio Units are not available on Windows.
- MIDI out - AU does not support MIDI out to other plugins.
Inserting a NI Instrument Plug-in
- Click the Plug-in database symbol in the FL Studio Browser.
- In the Browser, navigate to the Plug-in database > Installed > Generators > VST. Here you will find a list of all your installed VST plug-ins, including your NI plug-ins.
Note: if you cannot find your NI plug-ins here, read this article to learn how to manage your plug-ins in FL Studio 20: MAC / WIN.
- Right-click on the plug-in you want to use and select Open in new channel in the context menu. In the example below, we want to load Massive X.
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Massive X is now loaded in the FL Studio Channel rack. Its audio output is automatically routed to FL Studio's master output. To display or hide the plug-in's window, click once on the NI plug-in's name in the Channel rack.
Inserting a NI Effect Plug-in
Effect plug-ins must be loaded in a mixer insert track. You can then send the Channel where your NI plug-in is loaded to these insert tracks. In this example, we will load an insert effect into the first insert slot of a Mixer insert track, then route the signal of the plug-in we have loaded before to this Mixer insert track.
- Show the FL Studio mixer by pressing the F9 key on your computer's keyboard on Windows and older Mac computers. On newer Mac computers, press the fn (function) + F9 on the touchstrip.
- Select the Insert mixer track you want to load your effect to by clicking it. Here we select the Insert 1 channel. When selected the insert channel will be highlighted in green.
- On the right-hand side of the Mixer, you will find the Insert Slots to where you will load your effect plug-in. If the Insert Slots are not visible, press 'Ctrl + Enter' ('Command + Enter' on Mac) on your keyboard.
- In the FL Studio Browser, navigate to Plugin database > Installed > Effects > VST. Here you will find a list of all your installed effects, including your NI effects.
- Drag and drop the effect plug-in to a free insert slot. In the example below, we want to load Raum to Slot 1.
- In the Channel rack, select the insert slot you want to send your channel to by clicking the Mixer Track Routing button, holding the mouse button pressed, and dragging it up or down. In our example, we choose to send Massive X to the first (1) insert track.
- The audio signal sent by Massive X is now processed by the first Insert mixer track where RAUM is loaded. The Insert mixer track is then routed to FL Studio's master output. You can use the FX Wet Mix knob to the right of the plug-in's name to control the amount of effect processing the signal.