Panning Hi-Hats: Fl Studio Techniques For Beginners

how to pan hi hats fl studio

There are several ways to pan hi-hats in FL Studio. One way is to use the piano roll, similar to how you edit velocity. Another way is to automate the mixer track, which offers better results but requires more work. Additionally, FL Studio offers a plugin called Fruity Pan O’matic, which can be used to automate panning. This plugin allows you to play with the amount of panning modulation and the rate at which it occurs. You can also try manual panning by creating an automation clip and drawing in a complex pattern.

Characteristics Values
Panning technique Manual panning, Auto-panning
Tools FL Studio, Ableton, PanCake (free plugin), Fruity Pan O’matic, ShaperBox (panning plugin)
Process Use panning controls, draw pattern, use envelope in piano roll, automate mixer track, use sampler, map velocity to pan, adjust velocity of each note, adjust LFO area and modulation rate

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Using the piano roll

Creating a Note in the Piano Roll

Firstly, create a note in the piano roll that matches the length of the roll you want to create. You can do this by drawing the notes next to each other, making each note as short as possible. It is also recommended to make a longer note on the hats to indicate the length of the roll.

Highlighting the Note

Once you have created your note, you will need to highlight it. To do this, use the "Select" tool and simply click and drag your cursor over the note until it is highlighted.

Using the Chop Function

After highlighting your note, press "Alt + U" on your keyboard to open the chop function. This will bring up the chopper pop-up, which allows you to edit your note.

Adjusting the Time Multiplier

Within the chopper pop-up, you will find the "Time mul" knob. This knob is crucial as it determines the length of the notes within your roll. Experiment with different settings to find the sound that best suits your beat, tempo, and hi-hat sample.

Using the Paint Tool

Another method for creating hi-hat rolls is by using the paint tool. You can find this tool in the top left corner of the piano roll, along with various other tools that can be used for editing.

Creating a Humanized Feel

To create a more dynamic and interesting pattern, try making your rolls or accent notes descend in velocity. This technique can be especially effective for fast rolls, helping them to fade out smoothly. In the FL Studio piano roll, you can achieve this by right-clicking at the bottom of the green line directly below the first note of the roll.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating hi-hat rolls. Feel free to experiment with different techniques, note lengths, and tools to find the combination that best suits your musical style and preferences.

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Panning two channels

To pan two channels of hi-hats, you can follow these steps:

  • Create two tracks for your hi-hats.
  • Pan one track left and the other track right.
  • Adjust the timing of the hats on each track to achieve the desired effect. For example, if you want hats every 1/16, put hats on one track every 1/8 and then adjust the timing on the second track to hit every 1/16.
  • You can also use panning plugins to automate the process and save time. For example, the ShaperBox panning plugin can create a more complex and organic-sounding panning pattern.
  • Alternatively, you can use FL Studio's Fruity Pan O’matic plugin. Load the plugin on the mixer track where the hi-hats are routed. Locate the LFO area and select the LFO to modulate the panning. You can then adjust the amount of panning modulation and the rate of the LFO to create the desired effect.

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to pan hi-hats, and you can experiment with different techniques to find the sound that works best for your project.

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Using the PanOmatic plugin

Panning hi-hats in FL Studio can be done in many ways, but one of the easiest methods is to use the PanOmatic plugin, also known as Fruity Pan O’matic. This plugin can add stereo excitement to your hi-hats.

To use PanOmatic, first, make sure you have installed the plugin in FL Studio. Then, select a drum kit that includes both hi-hats and open hi-hats. Visualize your sequence and patterns before placing sounds. Think about how you want the rhythm to flow and keep your drum kit consistent.

Once you are ready to place your sounds, you can adjust the panning for each sound in the mixer. You will see a knob for each track that allows you to pan left or right. By panning your hi-hats to the sides, you create a wider sound. You can also try copying a track and panning the copy to the other side, but be aware that this may not create the desired stereo effect if the tracks are identical.

There are other plugins that can be used for hi-hat panning in FL Studio, such as MAutopan, Effectrix, and Maximus, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Experiment with different plugins and techniques to find the ones that best suit your desired sound.

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Using the ShaperBox plugin

ShaperBox is a plugin by Cableguys that can be used to create elaborate, multilayered effects for your hi-hats. It is compatible with FL Studio and many other DAWs. ShaperBox includes the PanShaper tool, which can be used to create rhythmic panning on tracks.

To use ShaperBox for audio triggering, follow these steps:

  • In ShaperBox's LFO Settings bar, click the Audio button, then the External Sidechain button, to switch to Audio Trigger mode and activate the external sidechain.
  • In the Mixer, click the 'Route' button on the channel you want to trigger the sidechain with. In the panel that pops up, click the menu in the 'Sends' section and select the track hosting ShaperBox.
  • Click the output menu and select the appropriate output.
  • Start playback, and the LFO will be triggered by the transients in the external signal.

Additionally, you can tailor the transient detection by opening the Global Audio Triggering Setup panel by clicking the cogwheel icon in the LFO Settings bar. If the trigger signal is too loud in the sidechain input, simply lower the 'Gain' knob in the 'Input' section.

ShaperBox also includes other tools besides PanShaper, such as ReverbShaper, TimeShaper, and VolumeShaper, which can be used to create a variety of effects.

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Manual panning

To manually pan your hi-hats, you will need to duplicate the track and pan one left and the other right. You can then move the second track so that the hats hit at the desired intervals. For example, if you want hats every 1/16, make a track with hats on 1/8, pan left, duplicate the track, pan the duplicate right, and then move the second track so that the hats hit every 1/16.

Another way to manually pan in FL Studio is to use the PanOmatic plugin. Load the plugin on the mixer track where the hi-hats are routed and locate the LFO area. Select the LFO to modulate the panning and then adjust the amount of panning modulation and the rate of the LFO.

You can also try mapping velocity to pan in the Midi tab of a sampler. This will allow you to change the velocity of each note to move it from left to right, giving you easy control over the panning.

Frequently asked questions

You can use an auto-panner plugin like Fruity Pan O’matic or ShaperBox. Load the plugin on the mixer track where the hi-hats are routed and locate the LFO area. Select the LFO to modulate the panning and adjust the amount of panning modulation and the rate of the LFO.

Yes, you can manually pan hi-hats by creating an automation clip for the panning. This allows you to draw in a custom pattern. Alternatively, you can duplicate a track with hi-hats panned left and then pan the duplicate track right.

You can create an automation clip for the rate knob and increase it over time to add tension as the panning of the hi-hat gets faster. This technique can be useful during a build-up before a drop.

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