Be warned, Fruity Balance is a bridged plugin starting in FL 12, so if you're using the 64 bit version, this might take up a lot of RAM. If you want to just automate the volume slider, you can change the "Max" knob in the automation clip settings. This changes the maximum value the automation clip can make, which is the highest level the volume slider can reach, so it changes the track volume proportionately.

You don't have to add Fruity Balance, just automate the volume knob of the individual instrument / audio clip in your pattern view. That way it's separate from your mixer channel's volume settings.

^this, you have a bunch of different ways to automate the volume without using a VST. if you want to automate multiple synths at once you can run them all inside patcher then automate the volume of one or all at the same time using the pattern view.

*put pitcher, meant patcher.

Bridging in FL really doesn't use up that much CPU compared to native 64bit plugins. It's something like ~1-2% of overhead per plugin according to the manual. I would say stability is probably a bigger determining factor. Still, it's often a much better alternative to use fruity balance while being able to active tweak mixer channels than it is to not use it for the tradeoff of using marginally less CPU.

Here is a thread I created on another forum to discuss multiple volume controls. I'll throw it on here just as a supplement to your comments

If you want to read the original thread:
http://www.futureproducers.com/forums/production-techniques/recording-mixing-and-mastering/lets-debate-multiple-volume-controls-514810/
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"Volume. Loudness. Headroom. Peak Levels. Clipping. What is it? Gain-Structure.

More likely than not you have heard of these terms and wondered how to properly and efficiently adjust variables to give you a more "professional" mix. Well in all honestly I'm in the same boat, let's discuss.

Three ways in which you most likely control you volume levels are through using the following faders:

Channel Volume (found on the Step Sequencer)
Mixer Volume (found on the Mixer)
Synth Output-Level Control (the synth's main volume level)

Which do you most frequently use in your mix, and why?

In all honesty I have never used the Synth Output-Level Control to adjust for volume. More often than not I am using the Mixer volume fader, and on occasion when I am layering several synths in the same channel/mixer I will adjust their individual Channel volume levels.

An article on Sound on Sound (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep13/articles/level-headed.htm) discussed gain-staging and proposed the idea that it is more effective to use the Synth Output-Level volume fader as opposed to the channel or mixer volume faders because "they won't affect the level flowing from your synth to any insert processors you add."

What are you opinions on this, or what do you do to adjust volume levels in your mixes?

Your suggestions for gain-staging and volume control?

Call me old fashioned, but I still use Fruity Mute 2 for this because IMO it's waaaaaaay cleaner than using Fruity Balance.
If you're using 12, Fruity Mute 2 probably disappeared for you which is a total shame IMO. You can still use it, you just have to find an older project file that has it in it and then flag it as a favorte AFAIK =/

Call me old fashioned, but I still use Fruity Mute 2 for this because IMO it's waaaaaaay cleaner than using Fruity Balance.
If you're using 12, Fruity Mute 2 probably disappeared for you which is a total shame IMO. You can still use it, you just have to find an older project file that has it in it and then flag it as a favorte AFAIK =/

How is it better than Fruity Balance? I've never used it.