How to Export a Beat in FL Studio: WAV, MP3 and Stems
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Your beat is done. Now it needs to come out of FL Studio, as a WAV, an MP3 or as separate tracks for a rapper or mix engineer. Here's how to export it without losing a tail or an effect.
Step 1: open the export
According to Image-Line, you export your mix with the export option in the File menu. Pick the format you need there, like WAV or MP3, and give your file a name.
Tip: put the tempo and key in the file name, for example "beat name 140bpm Cmin". Not sure about the key? Check it with the free Beat Lab.
Step 2: choose Song or Pattern
Under Mode you choose what to export. Song exports your whole track from the Playlist. Pattern exports only the pattern that's currently active. For a complete beat you almost always want Song.
Step 3: choose what happens at the end
Under Tail you set what happens to sound that's still ringing out at the end, like reverb or a long 808:
- Leave remainder: according to Image-Line, the export gets longer so those decaying sounds are still in it. Handy for a complete beat.
- Cut remainder: the export stops right at the end of the last bar.
- Wrap remainder: the decaying part is wrapped back to the beginning. Handy for a loop that needs to repeat seamlessly.
Step 4: WAV settings
For WAV you pick the bit depth. Image-Line describes 16-bit as the highest quality that works on a wide range of playback devices, 24-bit as common for DAW hardware and 32-bit float as the native format of FL Studio's mix engine. Exporting to 16-bit? Use dither. According to Image-Line, you only do that once, on the final export.
Step 5: MP3 settings
For an MP3 you pick the bitrate. According to Image-Line, 160 kb/s is the point where many people find it hard to tell the difference from a CD. A higher bitrate gives a bigger file. Want to convert an existing file? Use the free audio converter.
Step 6: export stems
Does a rapper or mix engineer want your beat in separate tracks? Turn on Split mixer tracks. According to Image-Line, every mixer track then becomes a separate WAV file.
Your project does need to be set up right for that. Every instrument should be on its own mixer track, or your kick and snare end up in one file, for example. Also check the effects options. With Enable insert effects, the effects on your mixer tracks are included in the files, and with Enable master effects, the ones on your master too.
Step 7: listen back to your export
Open the file and listen all the way through. Is the ending there? Does it sound the same as in FL Studio? Want to know how loud your export is? Check it with the free master checker.
Common mistakes
- Pattern instead of Song. Then you only export part of your beat.
- Cut remainder on a complete beat. Then the end of your reverb or 808 gets chopped off.
- Stems with everything on one mixer track. Then you get fewer separate files than you think.
- Dithering twice. Only do it on the final export.
No beat finished yet? Read how to make a trap beat in FL Studio. Working in Ableton Live? Read how to export a beat in Ableton Live. Rather start with a beat to rap on right away? Browse all beats.
FAQ
How do I export a beat as WAV in FL Studio?
Choose export in the File menu, pick WAV, set Mode to Song and choose your bit depth. Want to keep decaying sounds at the end? Set Tail to Leave remainder.
How do I export stems in FL Studio?
Turn on Split mixer tracks in the export window. Every mixer track then becomes a separate WAV file. Make sure every instrument is on its own mixer track.
Why is the end of my export cut off?
Tail is probably set to Cut remainder. Choose Leave remainder and the export gets longer so the ending is included.
Source: Image-Line's FL Studio manual and knowledge base.