Make a sound you can reopen

You finish with: A saved project that plays when you reopen it.

Only 15 minutes? Do steps 1 to 3 and save. Next time, start at step 4: reopening is the check.

Step 1: Open an empty project

Open FL Studio.
Choose File, then New from template, then Minimal, then Empty.
Save it as FirstTrack.flp in Documents, then Music, then FL Learning, then Practice.
Create those folders if they aren’t there yet.

Menus look different?

This course was checked against FL Studio 2026.1.6. You don’t need to update mid-project. If a control differs, use the named menu or the current manual. Spend one session on setup at most; if you’re blocked, record a phone idea and pick up setup next time.

Welcome to FL Studio

Watch it done · FL Studio · Synthet · 00:12–03:24

Watch on YouTube (new tab)

Step 2: Hear one instrument

Put your headphones on. FL Studio silent? Do Before you start first.
Open the Browser (Alt+F8 (Mac: Option+F8)).
Go to Packs, then Drums, then Kicks.
Drag 707 Kick into the Channel Rack (F6).
Select PAT mode.
Set the tempo to 90 BPM.

No 707 Kick, or no sound?

If 707 Kick isn’t there, use the first kick in that folder. If it’s silent, check the selected audio device in Options, then Audio settings and your headphone output. The Browser is Alt+F8 (Mac: Option+F8); the Channel Rack is F6.

Audio settings

The detail, if you want it · Official reference · Read the audio device and buffer settings.

Open the reference (new tab)

Step 3: Make two pulses

In the kick’s row, turn on steps 1 and 9.
Press Space to listen.
Press Space again to stop.

A step is a small slice of time; these two hits give you something repeatable to build on.

Listen for: two even kicks, repeating, and nothing else.

Which buttons? No sound?

Use the first and ninth small step buttons in the kick’s row. No sound yet? Go back to Options, then Audio settings before you add more instruments.

Fig. 1. One bar of the kick’s row, cut into sixteen steps. Press 1 and 9, then play.

Now in FL Studio: in the kick’s row, turn on steps 1 and 9. Press Space to listen, then Space to stop.

Step 4: Save and check

In Options, then File settings, set Autosave to Frequently.
Press Ctrl+S (Mac: Cmd+S).
Close the project.
Reopen FirstTrack.flp from File, then Open.
Press Space in PAT mode.

On the free trial FL Studio can’t reopen saved projects, so follow the trial line in Before you start.

Listen for: the same two kicks you made before you closed it.

FL closed, or an edit went wrong?

Look in Browser, then Backup for a recent project. Open it, check it, then use Save as with a new filename. This page saves your lesson position, not your music.

Autosave and recovery

The detail, if you want it · Official reference · Read Backup (Autosave).

Open the reference (new tab)

The check: Hear the same two kicks after reopening? Then you’re done. That’s today’s music.

Next: Play a phrase with your hands →

Or stop here. Your place is kept on this device.

Want your place on another computer too? Save it (optional).

Step 1: Open an empty project

Step 2: Hear one instrument

Step 3: Make two pulses

Step 4: Save and check

Finish