How To Use Fl Studio 12 Riff Machine Tool To Create An Interesting Melody
In this tutorial, we will explore the riff machine tool in Fl Studio to create an interesting melody.
The riff machine is designed to more of an inspiration starter than an actual melody designer. I love this tool because it makes me start out with a new random melody.
There are great tools in riff machine that are designed to guide through the process, it is good for starting out a new melody, guitars, creating drum rolls and arpeggiator.
I will assume using a synth in this guide to create a melody with the riff machine.
So, load up your instrument, am using Sytrus for this article, you don't know how to load up an instrument - Use this guide
Right-click on the instrument you intend using, open piano roll, access the riff machine in Fl Studio, simply mouse over to the piano roll option drop-down menu. Click on it, scroll down to tools, and then clicking on Riff Machine will load up the riff machine or just use in the piano roll section to access the riff machine.
Let's adjust some setting to start creating a basic riff.
Select the chop button, scroll down and select Notes, I am selecting Basic 6.
Using the chop button will change things like the length, velocity and more.
Using the Throw dice option will randomize the melody for you.
There are some other options that take you through the entire process of creating a full professional melody such as Chord, Arp and more as you can see in the option above:
To use the Chord option, select the Chord and I'll be selecting another pattern such as six notes in one, and clicking on throwing the dice will randomize another melody for you.
As you can see, it creates a basic melody that sounds interesting, this is a great way of starting with the piano roll, and its a great way of inspiring yourself to start a new track.
Clicking Accept will then accept the riff pattern or melody that you have generated.
Another tool that will enhance your melody is the articulation tool, it simply lets you alter note lengths to create interest in the melody pattern.
You would notice a longer note
The tool is better used when you have recorded in a melody and want to ensure that it lines up accurately e.g MIDI keyboard, or other MIDI equipment.
Now that you've understood how the tool works, the next step is experimenting it further to create a further interesting melody.
Have a nice day!