Prerequisites:

You need to have some samples to install! Or use these (97KB).

1. The need for 3rd-Party Samples

When you're first starting out with FL Studio, samples are not your greatest concern - your time is probably more consumed by the learning curve of the software. But as you get to the point where you are comfortable with the software, and able to focus a little more on the actual creative process of making music - you'll probably begin to find that the stock samples are a little lacking. Lacking in quantity and quality.

Fortnately - FL Studio makes it very simple to add more samples to your library.

2. Sources of 3rd-Party Samples

Commercial:

Probably the more sure way of getting high quality samples with the least inconvenience - is to buy samples CD's. This tutorial will focus on free samples - but I will note one thing. Just because you pay money for them doesn't mean they're going to be any good! Make sure you listen to sample samples, and maybe read reviews before blowing any cash.

Free:

If you're willing to do some digging, the internet contains a vast amount of free, quality samples. And dig you must! I've found personally that about 98% of the samples I download are good for nothing but the recycle bin. For the purpose of this tutorial, I've included a small set of 6 snares.

3. Installing 3rd-Party Samples

So you've got your samples (or use these), and you need to install them.

1. Put your samples in an organized directory structure. As your collection starts to grow, you'll want to have them well organized. I keep mine on a dedicated music disk, seperate from the OS disk. But you can put them wherever - for this tutorial, I'll put them under My Documents/Samples/Drums/Snares.

Figure 1

Once you have installed your files like so (or however you want to organize them), it's time to open up FL Studio, and add this directory to the FL Browser!

2. In FL Studio, click the Options menu, then File Settings. That will bring up a window like the one shown below:

Figure 2

Click the folder icon next to one of the blank fields, browse to My Documents and select the Samples folder you just created - it should look like Figure 2 (minus the D:\Music\fl\ directory). As soon as you hit OK, the directory will become visible in FL's browser. You can close the setting dialog.

If you expand the new directory in the FL Browser, it should look like this:

And voila! You can now access your samples in FL Studio.

As an extra tip - you can also add a directory for your .flp files, so instead of going to FL's "File, Open..." command, you can just pick your project from the browser!

That does it for this one. As always, feel free to ask questions or give me feedback.