← Blog

FL Studio

The Right FL Studio Export Settings (Streaming, Mixing & MP3)

By HOPEX · Updated July 2026

Wrong export settings quietly ruin good music — clipped masters, cut-off reverb tails, 96 kbps demos. Here's the exact dialog setup for each situation, once and for all.

For distribution (Spotify, Apple)

WAV, 16-bit, 44.1 kHz is the universally safe master format. Keep 'Resampling' at 512-point sinc, disable dithering only if you exported 24-bit. Make sure the master peaks under 0 dB — check with a LUFS/peak meter first.

For sending stems to a mix engineer

WAV, 24-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz, and use Split mixer tracks so every insert exports as its own stem. Turn the master limiter OFF — engineers need headroom, not your limiter.

For demos and quick shares

MP3 at 320 kbps is transparent enough for anyone. Never send 128 kbps — cymbals turn into static and clients hear 'cheap'.

Tail and loop settings

'Leave remainder' ON keeps reverb/delay tails instead of chopping the file at the last bar. For loops you'll re-import, use 'Wrap remainder' so the tail folds into the loop start.

The settings that don't matter

Ignore oversampling hype for export quality — FL's default sinc resampling is already transparent. And 96 kHz masters gain you nothing on streaming platforms; they'll be converted anyway.

Check your export before you upload →Free LUFS & true-peak check against Spotify and Apple targets.

Frequently asked questions

Should I export in 16-bit or 24-bit?

24-bit while the file will still be processed (stems, mixing, mastering). 16-bit for the final distributed master.

Why does my export sound different from FL Studio?

Usually the export clipped (master over 0 dB) or you monitored with a soundcard enhancement on. Fix headroom first.

What is dithering and do I need it?

Tiny noise added when reducing bit depth (24→16). Enable it only on that conversion — never on 32-bit float exports.

More guides

  • What Is LUFS? Loudness, Normalization & Targets Explained
  • Mastering at Home: A Realistic Chain, Step by Step
  • What Are Stems in Music? (And Why Everyone Asks for Them)