The problems occur because of the unique Fl studio workflow. In Ableton we also work with clips, but organization work much better in there. The solution to the two problems is the same; A hierarchy structure (what I refer to as folder tracks in the playlist).
When I se professional producers working in other daws, the first thing they do is to set up folders and groups. Because it's important to keep it organized or it will be pritty darn difficult to keep working creatively as the project (and mess) grows. The problem with FL is that there is no good way of preventing this from happening, because you simply can't organize things like you can in Cubase, Live, Studio One, Logic Pro etc where there is a hierarchy structure.
In those daws the automation is linked to the track. Even Ableton which also operate using clips, much like FL, has only one track pr instrument. So the automation follwos the same rule in there.
FL is unique in that regard, because automation clips are independent clips that take up space within the playlis. This means that the FL playlist will tend to be filled up much faster than any other daw, and that combined with the fact that automation can't be hidden and the playlist can't be organized using a hierarchy structure is in my oppinion a disaster!
If you have 20 instruments and you have 2 automation parameters for each one, that's 40 automation clips that will take up space in the playlist. So while you would end up with 20 tracks in any other daw, you end up with 60 tracks in Fl.
I will say it again: there is no daw in the world that needs a hierarchy structure more than FL Studio, due to the unique workflow. Yet they all have it, exept FL studio. It almost sounds like some kind of joke.
The average Fl studio user who only know of FL probably won't even think about this. But anyone who has ever used another DAW will quickly see how hopeless it is to work with large projects in FL compared to any other daw due to the lack of this A hierarchy structure.
It's like working on a desk with houndreds of papers everywhere, and you want to find something. Compared to other daws, where the "desk" is neatly organized, and all the papers are sorted and placed into drawers that are named. I think everyone can agree that they would prefer working on the organized desk with drawers, rather than the desk where everything was just throwed on top of the desk in a pile.
The solution to the problems is clear: A hierarchy structure (folders). But it just don't seem like this is something that has a high priority. Perhaps this is because allot of FL studio users are hio hop & trap producers who don't utilize enough tracks that it becomes a problem for them. This is probably also why Fl is often considered to be a "hip hop & trap daw".
I find that Fl studio is a very capable daw. The only drawback is the organization, or lack of it. If this had been improved it would make FL studio much more attractive to allot of producers who is currently using other daws due to Fl's unorganized workflow. Perhaps even some of the ones who has switched to other daws in the past would consider switching back. Surely this must be in Image Line's best interest.
