Image-Line wants to break into live music and performance territory with FL Studio v10.5 beta - featuring a cool Performance mode.

Building on their home and studio recording reputation, v10.5 Beta gives you a glimpse of FL Studio's planned live music functionality.

The usual maintenance bug fixes and optimization are also applied to the software. This beta release is intended to start the transition into the coming FL Studio 11.

They usually release a series of public betas that goes into the next official version. This assures that they get enough feedback from their users before they get to another official release - which incidentally will now include nifty live performance features.

Some of the notable changes:

• Performance Mode - Use FL Studio as your live instrument by triggering clips using your mouse, touch screen, typing keyboard or MIDI controller.

• More controllers supported - Launchpad, APC20/40, Maschine / Maschine Mikro, Block, padKONTROL.

• Unique controller MIDI input port - Controllers can now be assigned unique input & output ports for feedback.

• Horizontal/Vertical movement locking - Shift (horizontal lock) & Ctrl (vertical lock) when moving items.

• Linking includes MIDI input port - Links now use MIDI input ports to avoid conflict between controllers.

• Improved Content Library - The content library has received a complete overhaul based on user input.

• Options > Project general settings > Play truncated notes in clips - Restores notes overlapping slice points in Pattern Clips.

• Enhanced Tap Tempo & Fine control - Updated algorithm + nudge control for Performance Mode.

• Piano roll click & hold functions - Glue notes, Mouse wheel velocity change, Mouse wheel tool select.

• Piano roll - Brush tool: Monophonic step mode (hold shift for old behavior). Chop chords: Strum & Articulate tools.

• Instrument Channels - Ctrl+mouse wheel on Channel button to change the mixer track.

• Right-click data enter - Most controls now allow a Right-click option to type in values.

• Plugin Picker - Start typing plugin names to highlight entries.

• Stay open sub-menus - Right click to check several menu items without closing them.

Instead of just reading about the changes, let's look at some of the Performance Mode videos that FL Studio released.

FL Studio 10.5 (beta) | Performance Mode:

FL Studio Alpha Testing | Performance Mode:

FL Studio Alpha Testing | Novation Launchpad:

FL Studio Alpha Testing | AKAI APC40 Performance Mode

This is just a taste of things to come, for more information on FL Studio, you can visit Image-Line.

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