By Thir13een Team | Last updated: October 25, 2026
Quick answer: A chopped and screwed vocal is slowed down, pitched down and cut into rhythmic repeats. In Logic Pro, lower the speed with Varispeed (speed and pitch together), then add a long, dark reverb, an echo with higher feedback and stutter cuts on key words. The sound started in Houston with DJ Screw's slowed mixes. GarageBand lacks Varispeed, so you approximate it with a pitch plug-in and a slower tempo.
This guide shows the effect in steps for Logic Pro and GarageBand. It describes a technique and a style. Use only audio you have the rights to use.
What defines the sound
- Slow tempo. The track is slowed far below its original speed, often into the 60 to 70 BPM range.
- Low pitch. Slowing the audio like tape also lowers the pitch, so voices sound deep and heavy.
- Chops. Short phrases or syllables repeat or stutter on the beat.
- Dark space. Reverb and echo are long and muffled, with the highs rolled off.
Step by step in Logic Pro
- Set the tempo. Pick a slow target, for example 65 BPM for a 100 BPM source.
- Slow with Varispeed. In the control bar, switch Varispeed to Speed and Pitch, then lower it. Speed and pitch fall together, like slowing a record.
- Or slow a single vocal. Use the Time and Pitch Machine function on the vocal region to lower speed and pitch by chosen amounts.
- Chop it. Split the vocal into short regions at key words, then duplicate and repeat them on the grid. Stutters on the last word of a line are classic.
- Add echo. Use Echo on a send with a quarter-note time and 40 to 50 percent feedback.
- Add reverb. Use ChromaVerb with a long hall of 2.5 to 4 seconds and cut the highs above 5 kHz.
- Shape the tone. Use Channel EQ to cut above 6 to 8 kHz, add warmth near 150 to 250 Hz and high-pass at 80 Hz.
The same effect in GarageBand
- GarageBand has no Varispeed, so lower the project tempo and use the audio region's Flex Time to follow it.
- Add a pitch-down effect with the Pitch Shifter or the Vocal Transformer plug-in in Smart Controls. Lower the pitch by 3 to 7 semitones to taste.
- Use the Echo and Reverb controls, with feedback high and the highs reduced.
- Duplicate regions and split them for the chops.
The result sounds close, but it will not match tape-style slowing exactly, because Flex Time keeps pitch separate from speed.
Chop patterns to try
| Pattern | How |
|---|---|
| End stutter | Copy the last syllable four times in a row on sixteenth notes |
| Half-bar loop | Repeat the first half of a line twice before the second half |
| Reverse hit | Reverse a word and place it before the downbeat |
| Pitch dip | Lower a single word by an extra 2 semitones on the repeat |
Problems that show up
- Muddy mix: long reverb and low pitch pile into the low mids. Cut 2 to 3 dB near 250 to 400 Hz and high-pass the reverb.
- Clicks on chops: add short fades to every region edge.
- Vocal loses clarity: raise presence a little near 2 to 3 kHz before the low-pass.
- Beat and vocal drift apart: slow everything together, not only the vocal.
Get the Chopped and Screwed preset
Skip the building, or study a finished chain.
Logic Pro X: Chopped and Screwed vocal preset for Logic Pro X is $10 and uses stock plug-ins. GarageBand: Chopped and Screwed vocal preset for GarageBand is $10.
Want a finished chain instead of building one? Start with the free Toronto Warmth vocal preset for Logic Pro X. Then compare the Logic Pro Starter Pack ($19, three best sellers), the GarageBand Starter Pack ($19) and the Vocal Preset Mega Bundle for Logic Pro X ($49). You can also browse the Logic Pro vocal presets and GarageBand vocal presets collections.
We do not publish the exact values inside our paid presets. The starting points above are general mixing practice. Read reverb and delay for vocals for more on echo times.
Frequently asked questions
What does chopped and screwed mean?
Slowed, pitched-down audio with repeated cuts. DJ Screw made the style popular in Houston.
How slow should I go?
Many tracks sit in the 60 to 70 BPM range, but slow until it feels heavy and still groovy.
Can I do this in GarageBand?
Yes, though without Varispeed. Use a lower tempo and a pitch effect.
Is it legal to chop and screw other artists' songs?
Releasing a remix without permission can infringe copyright. Use your own recordings or licensed samples.
What is Varispeed in Logic Pro?
A control that changes speed and, optionally, pitch for the whole project at once, much like a tape machine.
