I've never really seem this topic debated here & I'm curious just what people think or prefer.
I started with Reason which didn't have the ability to place wav files in a play list and loop the actual wavs so naturally I learned by doing mostly pattern placements and blocks or w/e.

When I transfered to FL I didn't realize how ignorant I was being by not using the wav playlist and almost always using patterns to structure tracks.

So this is what I've came to notice or believe recently:

And anything obviously depends on your level of experience but,
Patterns have been seeming lately like a sort of "clutter trap" to me for a few reasons.

You can load a sample into a sampler, play with the envelopes and it *sounds good, but I've always been a REAL visual type of artist.

I've been noticing you can have a rideon cymbal, a clap, kick, ANY sample where you have the envelopes all intefering with each other. Like the ride overlaps the next ride and you get the 2 same samples competing with EACH OTHER in a loop.

So now I've been listing almost everything as wavs in the play list. This way I cut out ANYTHING that doesn't need to be there. If the kick runs into the begining of an offbeat bass, I cut out the end of the kick. I find its a lot more precise than playing with the release/sustain on the sample.
I've noticed a few things.

One, my tracks seem sharper and more defined.
With all the equalizing and panning etc that I was focusing on, simply cutting out part of a sample in the playlist to me has made an even bigger different than any amount of equalizing I do to a sample.

I notice some people do all wav, some do both, and some do mostly patterns. But I'm curious to see what people favor and why.
Plus I can actually see the structure of the wave, and SEE where things are peaking rather than seeing 10 flashes on a db meter and trying to narrow down which ones don't belong.

Anyone know what I'm saying or think this is a better way to work?
I like it a lot since I switched things up. I'll record melodies w/out fx, turn everything into a wav with its own channel, than mixdown that way dressing up with fx AFTER I can see the complete layout in the sequencer.

-Roxx

I do wavs for almost everything.

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What you're mentioning is a FLStudio "quirk" that most users in other DAW's never had to go through. Keep in mind that FLStudio has a very specific and unique way of working. It's actually closer to propellerheads rebirth than a typical DAW (only in it's way of arranging a song ofc, otherwise incomparable). In cubase (and logic, sonar, live...) when using an audio channel it's normal to see the wave file. Before v6 (or v7, not sure) fruity didn't have the option to place the wave files directly into the playlist so we had to use a sampler even for loops and oneshots. But there is no difference in sound. However, it may be easier when seeing it visually as you'll easily notice the structure, volume and dynamics of a loop.
Personally I use mostly cubase nowadays, but even when using FL I tend to use the sampler for most things as it's far more flexible then a simple audio track. Ofc, there are no rules. Whatever works for you.

Thanks for clarifying that... I was wondering what the hell the question was, but have never used FL.

I use Live and mostly I would say that I use patterns. Alot of times I will throw any samples in the Sampler or Simpler and I still use patterns. The only time I really use wavs is if I am recording a vocal or if I render a sidechained track. The effect of cutting the wavs to make it tighter as you suggested, I simply will use a gate to achieve the same effect. As LfmC says, whatever works for you

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Wav here. I gotta see the waveforms.

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https://soundcloud.com/ghostea stuff