The Playlist allows you to set a sequence of patterns to be played by FruityLoops. You can set several patterns to play at the same time, but note that you should not combine patterns that both contain notes for the same TS404 channel - since TS404 is monophonic, only one of the patterns will play.
Each line in the Playlist represents one pattern. The names of the patterns are displayed on the left side in the Playlist (6). You can right-click a name to change it.
Each column in the Playlist represents one bar. Bars are used as a unit of time in the Playlist. Current playing position is displayed by the playing position marker (3). Left-clicking in the grid puts a pattern in the Playlist, right-clicking it removes it - it acts much like the Step Sequencer, but the Playlist triggers patterns instead of samples. That is why when you create a loop longer than a bar using the Piano Roll, for example, you don't need to draw in the Playlist several successive bars - you should put just one and it will trigger the whole Piano Roll sequence.
When you want to trigger multibar patterns in the Playlist (no matter if it is automation data or piano rolls), you should think for it like a step sequencer, but for patterns, instead of samples.
This means that to trigger the FULL sequence of a four bars long pattern, for example, you put ONLY ONE dot in the playlist and leave three "holes" after it, as showed on the picture. A common mistake made by FruityLoops users is drawing a "line" of dots as long as the pattern, but as with the Step Sequencer, what they actually do is restarting the pattern each time they put a dot.
The Playlist menu button (1) shows a menu that contains many useful commands for managing the Playlist.
Contains one command - Grid Color, which opens a dialog box that lets you choose a color for Playlist's grid.
Scrolls Playlist's grid so the playing position marker (3) appears in the middle. Useful when you want to see the playing position in a long sequence.
Either double-click, or Ctrl+click the ruler in the Playlist and drag horizontally to select a desired area.
Either double-click, or Ctrl+click the ruler in the Playlist and drag horizontally to select a desired area.