Having a DAWs that gels with your workflow is essential as a music producer. Of course, with countless options available on the market today, making that choice can be difficult.
Two of the most popular DAWs in the electronic music realm are FL Studio and Ableton Live. In this guide, we’re going to take an in-depth look at FL Studio and Ableton Live to help you decide which DAW is the best fit for your music production needs!
Let’s dig in.
FL Studio vs. Ableton – Features
Of course, what better place to start than with the unique features of each DAW?
It’s worth noting that Both FL Studio and Ableton Live are feature-rich DAWs with their own unique set of tools and capabilities.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the key features that differentiate the two.
FL Studio – Step Sequencer
FL Studio is probably best known for its iconic Step Sequencer, which allows users to easily create drum patterns, melodies, and chord progressions by programming steps on a grid.
One of the benefits of the Step Sequencer is its simplicity. It offers the what might just be the easiest learning curve for beginners, and it’s perfect for quickly laying down drum patterns, basslines, and melodies.
You can also easily copy and paste patterns, and create variations by changing individual steps.
FL Studio – Piano Roll
The Piano Roll in FL Studio is another standout feature, providing a visual representation of MIDI notes that can be edited and manipulated in a variety of ways.
In addition to your basic MIDI programming, the Piano Roll has a range of advanced features, such as the ability to create chord progressions, arpeggios, and even strumming patterns. You can also easily switch between different scales and modes to help you stay in key and create more musically coherent compositions.
Compared to Ableton, FL Studio’s Piano Roll is more expandable, giving you a more versatile way to arrange MIDI.
FL Studio – Mixer
The Mixer in FL Studio is highly customizable, offering users the ability to add and route multiple tracks, apply effects, and adjust levels and panning.
FL Studio’s Mixer features a range of built-in effects and processors, such as EQ, compression, and reverb. These can be applied to individual tracks or to entire submixes, allowing you to sculpt the sound of your project with the utmost precision and control.
FL Studio – Plug-Ins
FL Studio comes with a vast library of built-in plugins, including synths, samplers, effects, and more. While Ableton definitely has an array of plugins too, FL Studio takes the cake in terms of quantity, especially if you get the ‘All Plugins Bundle.’
Ableton Live – Session View
One of the things that truly sets Ableton Live apart from other DAWs is the Session View. This super unique feature that allows users to launch and manipulate audio and MIDI clips in a non-linear, improvisational manner.
It’s become a go-to tool for producers who like to jam and make music in real time. Plus, it’s almost unmatched for live performances and DJing.
Ableton Live – Warping
Ableton Live’s warping capabilities are among the best in the industry, allowing users to easily time-stretch and pitch-shift audio clips without affecting their quality. I’m not totally sure what they have going on under the hood, but I’ve A/B’ed enough to be certain about the quality differences.
Ableton Live – Instrument and Effect Racks
When it comes to complex sound design, Ableton Live’s instrument and effect racks are top-notch. You can use them to quickly and easily group and layer instruments and effects within a single track, eliminating the need for multiple tracks and reducing clutter in the arrangement view. Plus, each rack can have its own set of parameters and macro controls, perfect for fine-tuning or controlling multiple parameters within a rack with a single knob or fader.
Ableton Live – Max for Live
Of course, we can’t talk about the features of Ableton Live without mentioning Max for Live. This integrated visual programming language allows users to create custom devices, instruments, and effects with endless creative possibilities.
FL Studio vs. Ableton – Resources and Support
Learning how to use a DAW is not an easy task, by any means.
So, having available resources or community support can be helpful in your journey.
Let’s break down the resources and support offered by FL Studio and Ableton Live.
Manuals
Both FL Studio and Ableton Live come with comprehensive user manuals that covers all aspects of the software, including detailed explanations of features and workflows.
However, Ableton’s manual is, in our opinion, much clearer. It’s probably one of the best DAW manuals we’ve seen.
Online Resources
Both websites offer a wealth of online resources, including video tutorials, articles, and forums where users can connect with each other and get help with any questions or issues they may have.
However, if videos and articles are what you’re looking for, FL Studio is the better choice. It’s been around much longer than Ableton Live and has a much larger online electronic music community making written and visual tutorials.
With that said, even though there are fewer Ableton Live resources, most of them are super high quality.
Customer Support
Both Ableton Live and Image-Line, the company that develops FL Studio, offer excellent customer support. Unfortunately, however, neither of these companies provides a direct phone line.
If you feel like troubleshooting on your own, you can find individual knowledge bases and FAQ sections on their websites with solutions to common issues.
Certification
One of the things that sets Ableton apart from FL Studio in terms of support is the fact that Ableton offers a certification program for users who want to become certified in using the software.
This program includes in-depth training and practical exams to test your knowledge and skills of the DAW. If you’re serious about getting out there and demonstrating your skills to artists and employers as potential clients, certification is a great thing to have on your resume.
FL Studio vs. Ableton – Price
Regardless of the DAW you ultimately select, it’s important to note that it’s a significant long-term investment.
Sure, price is going to be a deciding factor, just as it is with every purchase you make in life.
However, it’s equally crucial to consider which DAW aligns best with your style and workflow. Price should come second to that.
Of course, a true comparison wouldn’t be anything without price as a characteristic, so let’s check it out.
FL Studio Pricing
FL Studio, as with many other DAWs, offers several unique editions, each of which come with a different set of features:
- Fruity Edition: $99
- Producer Edition: $199
- Signature Bundle: $299
- All Plugins Bundle: $499
One of the best things about Image-Line compared to pretty much any other DAW manufacturer we can think of is that they also offer free lifetime updates for all editions! No matter which version you purchase, you’ll get all future updates for free without having to pay a cent!
Ableton Live Pricing
Ableton Live, on the other hand, offers three main editions, which come with similar features, as well as a suite of instruments and effects. Here’s the pricing you can expect from Ableton Live:
- Ableton Live Intro: $99
- Ableton Live Standard: $449
- Ableton Live Suite: $749
While it may be more expensive than FL Studio, it’s worth noting that Ableton also offers a 20% discount to students and teachers, and offers free updates for all major versions (i.e. from Live 11 to Live 12), with smaller updates available at a discounted price.
Overall, FL Studio is the winner when it comes to affordability. You get a much lower entry price point for what you get and more affordable upgrade paths.
On the other hand, Ableton Live gives you a more versatile and cohesive package right off the bat, even though you have to fork over a higher entry price for it. However, if the additional instruments and effects are your thing, it might be worth it.
Remember, however, price isn’t everything. Don’t base your choice solely on how much you’ll spend.
Final Thoughts – Which DAW Is the Winner?
Even though we’re clearly huge fans of FL Studio here at FLTips, it’s important to note that there isn’t a definitive winner between FL Studio and Ableton Live. As I mentioned earlier, each of these DAWs has strengths and weaknesses, which is why it’s so hard for us to make an objective decision.
When all is said and done, you have to allow your preferences to guide you.
It’s always a good idea to download a demo of one or both of the DAWs to get a feel for how they work before making a final decision.
There’s nothing like a hands-on experience for making more informed decisions.
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