Image Line Launches FL Studio 10.5 Beta With Performance Mode

I had a email come through this morning from the press department over at http://www.image-line.com/ who if you dont already know are the guys behind FL Studio formally known as Fruity Loops saying that FL Studio 10.5 (beta) is available to registered customers for testing.

They say "While FL Studio has continued to gain popularity in home & professional studios (with over 30,000 downloads of the demo per day), the path from studio to stage hasn't been as clear it could be. We are excited how FL Studio 10.5 changes that. "

A major part of this update is the addition of Performance Mode. Performance Mode is saved per-project and allows you to trigger Clips from the Playlist. When the project is playing you can use a mouse on the Playlist, the typing keyboard or a controller to trigger Clips. The purpose is to create new performances or remixes of a projects Clip content (Audio, Pattern & Automation). Performance mode works by treating the area before the Start Marker as a 'Performance Zone' that allows Clips to be triggered out of sequence between tracks. Record mode determines whether performances are recorded and laid out after the Start marker for later rendering.

Performance mode works by unmuting and muting Clips. The Performance Zone, before the Start marker, allows one Clip per Playlist track to play simultaneously. There are a number of automated playback modes and triggering options as shown above and the ability to create Scenes (groups of clips that play together) as shown below. You can trigger Clips from your Typing keyboard, a MIDI keyboard or other controllers. Most popular 'Clip Launching' controllers are supported.

Heres a video playlist containing 10 videos that go into more detail on Fl Studio performance mode and how you can hook up to various outboard gear and triggers such as Novation Launchpad, Akai APC40 and Korg PadKontrol .

• Performance Mode
  Trigger Clips using your mouse, touch screen, typing keyboard or MIDI controller.
• New controllers supported
  APC20/40, Launchpad, Block, MASCHINE / MASCHINE MIKRO, padKONTROL
• Unique controller MIDI input port
  Controllers can now be assigned unique input & output ports for feedback.
• Linking includes MIDI input port
  Links now use MIDI input ports to avoid conflict between controllers
• New Content Library
  The content library has received a complete overhaul based on user input.
• Options > Project general settings > Play truncated notes in clips
  Restores notes overlapping slice points in Pattern Clips.
• Horizontal / Vertical movement locking
  Shift (horizontal lock) & Ctrl (vertical lock) when moving items.
• Piano roll click & hold functions
  Glue notes, Mouse wheel velocity change, Mouse wheel tool select.
• Piano roll - Brush tool
  Monophonic step mode (hold shift for old behavior).
• Chop chords
  Strum & Articulate tools.
• Improved Tap Tempo & Fine control
  Updated algorithm + nudge control for Performance Mode.
• Instrument Channels
  Ctrl+mouse wheel on Channel button to change the mixer track.
• Stay open sub-menus
  Right click to check several menu items without closing them.
• Plugin Picker
  Start typing plugin names to highlight entries.
• Right-click data enter
  Most controls now allow a Right-click option to type in values.

FL Studio 10.5 beta marks the transition to features that will find their way into FL Studio 11.

FL Studio is developed through a series of public betas that culminate in the next official version. 10.5 is the first in the series of coming betas that will culminate in FL Studio 11.

In this way they ensure all new features are thoroughly tested and customers can hit the ground running with the final release.

Personally I think this is a really exiting step forward for FL Studio but let us know what you think about this new release. Did you try it yet ?