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Key Input Compression in FL Studio Guide
SaxxonPike@GMail.com 2009

Written for FL Studio 8, however it may
apply to earlier and later versions.
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START UP

1. Start a new project.
2. Delete the tracks that appear on the default project.
3. Open the MIXER window.

SET ASIDE A TRIGGER CHANNEL

4. Select channel 1.
5. Rename it to "Key Trigger" by pressing F2.
6. On the bottom FX slot (8), select Fruity Peak Controller.
7. Open the Peak Controller.

SETUP THE TRIGGER

8. Turn BASE up to 50%.
9. Turn VOL down to -100%.
10. Make sure MUTE is still on.
11. Go back to the MIXER window.

SET ASIDE A TARGET CHANNEL

12. Select channel 2.
13. Rename it to "Key Target" by pressing F2.
14. On the bottom FX slot (8), select Fruity Parametric EQ 2.
15. Open the Parametric EQ 2.

SETUP THE TARGET GAIN CONTROL

16. Change all the band types to DISABLED (optional)
17. Right-click on the MAIN LEVEL slider and select Link To Controller...
18. Under the INTERNAL CONTROLLER section, select "Key Trigger - Peak"
19. Click Accept.
20. Go to the STEP SEQUENCER.

CREATE A TRIGGER SOUND

21. In the menu, click Channels - Add One - 3xOsc
22. Open the 3xOsc you just created.
23. In the PLUGIN tab, turn the VOL down for OSC2 and OSC3.
24. In the FUNC tab, turn the GATE all the way down.
25. In the upper-right corner, assign this 3xOsc to FX channel 1.
26. The 3xOsc should no longer make sound. This is OK!

You have just finished setting up your Key Input Compression. This is
a pretty popular technique in electronic music where you determine what
gets compressed and what does not, and when. This way you can have a
pumping beat or synths that compress only with the bass drum, while
leaving the bass drum and other channels completely intact.

To make a channel compressed with the channels we have set up, you just
need to look at the MIXER panel, at the bottom of the channel strip.
Select the channel you want to compress, look below the volume fader
and above the "FX" button to find the routing arrow, DISABLE it from
the MASTER fader on the far left, and assign it to channel 2. You can
assign as many channels as you want using this technique.

If you go into the Fruity Parametric EQ 2 on the Target channel, you
will notice that it "pumps" every time the 3xOsc is played. That 3xOsc
is what will trigger your compression. You can vary the amplitude of the
3xOsc and it will pump more or less. If it's recovering too quickly for
you, you can go to the Peak Controller on the Trigger channel and change
the DECAY to your liking.