How to Load a Vocal Preset in FL Studio: Using a Mixer Track State (.fst)

You downloaded a vocal preset for FL Studio and you're looking at .fst files. Those are mixer track states: a complete mixer insert with all the plugins and their settings. You load them on your vocal track in a few clicks. Here's how.

Step 1: Unzip the file

Unzip it somewhere it can stay, like a Vocal presets folder in your Documents. Leave the files there, so you can always find them again. Our FL presets come with four: LEAD 1 (rap), LEAD 2 (melodic, with Pitcher), BACKING and ADLIBS.

Step 2: Send your vocal to a mixer insert

Open the mixer (F9) and pick an empty insert. Then open the channel settings of your audio clip and set Track to the number of that insert. Recording straight in? Then pick your mic input on that insert.

Step 3: Load the mixer track state

  1. Right-click the name of the insert, or click the small arrow at the top of the insert window.
  2. Choose File > Open mixer track state.
  3. Pick the .fst file. The plugins load into the slots of that insert.

Step 4: Set the gain and Pitcher

  • Input gain. Our presets have a gain knob at the front. Turn it up until the compressor clearly kicks in on your loudest words, but not all the time. A quiet recording needs more gain.
  • Pitcher. LEAD 2 has Pitcher on it for the autotune effect. Pick the key of your beat; use the free BPM and key finder if you don't know it. A faster Speed gives you the hard effect, slower sounds more natural.
  • Space. You set more or less reverb and delay on the effects in the chain.

Common problems

You get a message about a trial or demo plugin

That means you're on an edition of FL Studio that doesn't include one of the plugins by default, like Pitcher, which comes with Signature. In demo mode you can often still hear the preset, but you can't always save it. We go deeper on this in our article about an FL Studio vocal preset that's gone after reopening.

My vocal sounds distorted

Your recording or the input gain is too high. Turn the gain down. Also see distorted recording? how to prevent clipping.

My recording isn't on the beat

That's latency, not the preset. We cover it in our article about FL Studio vocal recordings that aren't on the beat.

Looking for a preset?

All NameOnTheBeat FL presets use only stock plugins from FL Studio Signature. New in the lineup: eight Type presets in the style of Dutch artists, like Boef, Kraantje Pappie, Snelle and Idaly, and eight in the style of US artists, like Drake, Future and Juice WRLD. Every product page has a before and after you can listen to. These are independent Type presets, not official products of the artists named. Mixing in Dutch? Then also check out our guide to mixing Dutch rap vocals in FL Studio.

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