Vocal Mixing Glossary: 40 Terms Explained Simply

October 25, 2026

Free: Toronto Warmth vocal chain for Logic Pro X

By Thir13een Team | Last updated: October 25, 2026

Quick answer: This glossary defines 40 vocal mixing terms in one or two plain sentences each, with a starting setting where one applies. Use it while you work in Logic Pro or GarageBand. For a full workflow, see the Logic Pro vocal chain guide.

Signal and recording

Gain staging: Setting the level at each step of the signal path so nothing clips and nothing is too quiet. A common target is peaks at -12 to -6 dBFS when you record.
Clipping: Distortion that happens when a signal is louder than the system can hold. Digital clipping at 0 dBFS sounds harsh and cannot be undone.
Headroom: The space between your loudest peak and the clipping point. More headroom gives plug-ins room to work.
dBFS: Decibels relative to full scale. It is the unit on a digital meter, where 0 dBFS is the maximum.
Phantom power: A +48V supply from an interface that powers condenser microphones.
Preamp: The circuit that raises a microphone's weak signal to a usable level.
Plosive: A burst of air from P and B sounds that overloads the microphone. A pop filter reduces it.
Proximity effect: The boost in bass that happens when you sing close to a directional microphone.
Latency: The delay between a sound going in and coming back out. Lower the buffer size while you record to reduce it.
Buffer size: The number of samples the computer processes at once. Small buffers reduce latency and raise CPU load.

EQ

EQ (equalizer): A tool that raises or lowers chosen frequency ranges.
High-pass filter: A filter that removes frequencies below a set point. On vocals, 80 to 120 Hz is a common starting point.
Low-pass filter: A filter that removes frequencies above a set point. It is used for effects like a muffled or telephone vocal.
Shelf: An EQ band that raises or lowers everything above (high shelf) or below (low shelf) a frequency.
Bell (peak) filter: An EQ band that changes a range around one centre frequency.
Q: The width of an EQ band. A high Q is narrow. A low Q is wide.
Mud: Cloudy, boxy tone usually found between about 200 and 400 Hz.
Presence: The range around 2 to 5 kHz that makes words clear and forward.
Air: High-frequency sparkle above roughly 10 kHz.
Subtractive EQ: Cutting problem frequencies rather than boosting good ones.

Dynamics

Compressor: A tool that reduces the gap between the loud and quiet parts of a signal.
Threshold: The level above which a compressor starts to work.
Ratio: How strongly the compressor reduces signal above the threshold. A ratio of 4:1 means every 4 dB over the threshold becomes 1 dB.
Attack: How quickly the compressor reacts after the signal crosses the threshold.
Release: How quickly the compressor lets go after the signal falls below the threshold.
Gain reduction: The amount a compressor turns the signal down, shown on its meter. Three to six dB is a common vocal starting point.
Makeup gain: Gain added after compression to restore the level.
De-esser: A compressor that targets harsh S and T sounds, usually between 5 and 8 kHz.
Sibilance: The sharp hiss in S, T and SH sounds.
Limiter: A compressor with a very high ratio that stops the signal from passing a set ceiling.

Space and time

Reverb: An effect that simulates the reflections of a room or hall, making a vocal sound like it sits in a space.
Delay: An effect that repeats the signal after a set time. Use note values synced to tempo. See the reverb and delay settings cheat sheet.
Pre-delay: The short gap before reverb starts. It keeps the dry vocal clear in front of the reverb.
Send and return: A routing method that sends part of a track to a shared effect, such as one reverb used by many tracks.
Wet and dry: Wet is the effected signal. Dry is the original signal.
Bus: A channel that combines several tracks so you can process them together.

Pitch, tone and arrangement

Pitch correction: Software that moves notes toward the nearest scale pitch. See Auto-Tune in Logic Pro and Auto-Tune in GarageBand.
Saturation: Soft distortion that adds harmonics and a warmer, denser tone.
Doubling: Recording the same part twice and layering the takes for a wider, thicker vocal.
Ad-libs: Short spoken or sung extras, such as shouts and echoes, placed around the lead vocal.
Channel strip setting: A saved set of plug-ins and settings for one track in Logic Pro. Most vocal presets are channel strip settings. See how to install them.
Vocal preset: A saved chain for a vocal track that you load in one click. Learn more in creating your own vocal presets.
Reference track: A finished song you compare your mix against at the same loudness.

Skip the building, or study a finished chain.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order of vocal plug-ins?

A common order is gain, high-pass filter, subtractive EQ, compressor, de-esser, tone EQ, then reverb and delay on sends. The Logic Pro vocal chain guide explains each step.