To set up your vocal chain, follow this general order as a basis for great results. Start with autotune, or a pitch correction plugin as your foundation. Next up, EQ to shape the sound, making those vocals come to life. Next, add compression to balance the volume, then de-ess to soften the “S” sounds. Reverb and delay come next, adding some space and depth. Finish strong with a touch of saturation or distortion for extra character.

Yes, indeed, autotune typically goes first in a vocal chain. It’s like the first step in the beauty routine before makeup – you want to get that foundation just right! To fix pitch problems early on, put autotune at the start of the effects chain. By starting your vocal track this way, you create a strong foundation for adding creative enhancements. Read more on how to use autotune on your vocals.

Vocal presets and vocal chains may seem like peas in a pod, but they’re not quite the same thing. Imagine a vocal preset as the perfect outfit for your singing star at a concert. It includes EQ, compression, reverb, and more, all set for your vocal track.

Now, a vocal chain is more like building your superstar’s outfit from scratch. You handpick each piece, deciding exactly how much compression, reverb, and EQ you want to add.

1. Create a new channel strip by going to the “Channel Strip” menu in the top right and selecting “New Channel Strip.”
2. Name the channel strip something like “Vocal Chain.”
3. Start inserting your EQ and compressor plugin on the channel strip. You can do this by clicking the “Insert” button in the channel strip and selecting the right plugin from the menu.
4. Use the EQ to shape the tone of the vocals.
5. Adjust the compressor settings to taste. For vocals, you might want to set the threshold relatively low and the ratio relatively high.
6. Insert any other plugins you want to use, such as a de-esser to reduce sibilance or a harmonizer to add harmonies.
7. Use the channel strip fader to adjust the volume of the vocals in the mix according to your balance.

And that’s it! You now have a basic vocal chain set up in Logic.

• Compressor: Reduces the dynamic range of your vocals.. This can help even out the performance and makes vocals sit better in your mix.
• EQ: Allows you to shape the tone of the vocals by boosting or cutting certain frequencies. You can use it to make the vocals sound brighter, warmer, or more or less present in the mix.
• De-esser: This plugin helps reduce sibilance, or the “sss” and “shh” sounds that can be harsh on vocals.
• Harmonizer: Adds artificial harmonies to the vocals. You can set it at specific intervals above or below the original vocal.
• Reverb: Adds a sense of space to the vocals. You can use it to make the vocals sound like they were recorded in a large room, a small room, or anything in between.
• Delay: You can use it to create a sense of space or to add interest to the vocal performance.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other types of plugins that you might want to use in a vocal chain. The plugins you choose depend on the sound you want and the needs of your vocal performance.

We have a guide that goes in-depth explaining which steps should be taken when mixing vocals.

1. Find some vocal chain presets that you want to use.
2. Download the presets and unzip the file if necessary.
3. In Logic, open the “Channel Strip” menu in the top right and select “Import Settings.”
4. Navigate to the folder where you saved the presets and select the ones you want to import.
5. The presets will be added to the “User” section of the “Channel Strip” menu.

Vocal chaining describes the process of building a series of plugins that collaborate with each other with the objective of creating your desired vocal sound. A vocal chain is a series of plugins loaded on a channel strip within your DAW. They often comprise a mix of plugin units depending on the production objective of a vocal mix.