FruityLoops 2.54

FruityLoops has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a virtual drum machine. The developers have introduced three ‘flavours’ of the program so that people can register the features they use without paying for the ones they don’t. The basic version of FruityLoops is very modest, and is essentially a simple virtual drum machine. It’s not until you upgrade to FruityLoops Pro that things start to get really tasty.
FruityLoops Pro supports unlimited channels with pattern lengths of 16,32,48 or 64 steps. You can then sequence as many patterns as you like — not just in sequential order, but simultaneously using the playlist. This is something none of the other sequencers provide.
The Pro version also provides a keyboard so you can pitch shift notes and write melodies. You have volume, pan, filter cut-off and resonance controls for each note, which can be edited graphically. On top of this, there are eight ‘plug-in banks’, each containing up to four VST or DirectX
plug-ins, and you can route any channel to any plug-in bank.
With the full TS-404 version of FruityLoops Pro, you get a built-in virtual synth. The TS-404 is a fully featured software synth with a very broad spectrum of sounds. The full version also includes live recording, giving you full real time control over any knob, which can be recorded live to an event list. For those fortunate enough to own MIDI instruments with their own knobs, these can be assigned to any of the knobs in FruityLoops Pro.
Each sample has its own envelopes for volume, cut-off, resonance, pitch and pan as well as an independent LFO (low frequency oscillator) for each of these parameters. There are also three custom effects and a delay for each channel.
Fruity Pro integrates support for a few other programs. It can load sound presets from SimSynth and DrumSynth, and using the engine of a program called Beat-Slicer, it can import drum loops, chop them up and sequence the individual
sounds for you. You can also import old ReBirth songs.
Unlike the other programs reviewed here, FruityLoops Pro offers a built-in drum machine, virtual synth, flexible sequencing, multiple effects support — both custom and third party — all rolled into one. It can even export an MP3 when you’re done. The full version is expensive, but you get a lot for the money.