How to Get Radio-Ready Pop Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand

Quick answer: A radio-ready vocal is clean, even and present. In Logic Pro, use a high-pass, two light stages of compression (a fast one then an opto-style one, 2 to 3 dB each), de-essing, a tone EQ for presence and air, and short reverb and delay on sends. Group the vocal layers on a bus and check the mix against a commercial reference at the same volume. Treat all numbers as starting points.

Looking for another sound? See all our vocal sounds by artist and style in one place. Thir13een is not affiliated with any artist named.

Pop vocal preset in Logic Pro: what it is and what you need

A pop vocal preset for Logic Pro is a saved channel strip setting. It loads a full vocal chain in one click: EQ, compression, de-essing, and tone, with reverb and delay set up on sends. A good one needs only Logic's stock plug-ins, so you can load it on any Mac with Logic Pro. Some presets use third-party plug-ins such as Waves, so check the requirements before you buy.

You can build the same chain yourself in about ten minutes. The settings are in the next sections. If you would rather start from a finished chain, browse our Logic Pro X vocal presets or take the free Logic Pro preset first.

This guide covers the standard chain used on modern pop, hip-hop and R&B vocals, using stock plug-ins. It also explains where our Waves-based Billboard preset fits. It describes a general approach, not a single record.

What "radio-ready" means for a vocal

• Consistent level. Every word is clear, even at low volume.
• Clean low end. No rumble or mud under the voice.
• Controlled highs. Bright but not piercing.
• Depth without wash. Reverb and delay add space but do not blur the words.
• Sits with the track. The vocal is the loudest element, balanced against the beat.

The chain in Logic Pro

Order	Plug-in	Starting point
1	Channel EQ	High-pass at 80 to 100 Hz. Cut 2 to 3 dB near 250 to 400 Hz if boxy.
2	Compressor (Studio FET)	4:1, faster attack and release, 2 to 3 dB of gain reduction on peaks.
3	Compressor (Vintage Opto)	Set the level so the meter shows 2 to 3 dB of gain reduction on the loud words.
4	DeEsser 2	6 to 8 kHz. Use as much as needed and no more.
5	Channel EQ (tone)	1 to 2 dB near 3 kHz and a high shelf of 1 to 2 dB above 10 kHz.

Using two compressors that each work lightly sounds more natural than one that does all the work. Logic's Compressor has Studio FET and Vintage Opto circuit types, so you can build this chain with one plug-in loaded twice.

Effects on sends

• Plate reverb: ChromaVerb, 1 to 1.5 seconds, pre-delay near 25 ms.
• Delay: a quarter-note or eighth-note echo, low feedback, filtered.

Pop vocal chain in Logic Pro with stock plug-ins

This is the pop vocal chain I start from on a lead vocal. Every plug-in ships with Logic Pro. Adjust each setting by ear against your own voice and your own beat.

Slot	Plug-in	Settings to start with
1	Channel EQ	High-pass at 80 Hz. Cut 2 dB at 300 Hz with a medium-wide Q if the voice sounds boxy.
2	Compressor, Studio FET	Ratio 4:1, fast attack, medium release. Set Input until you see 3 dB of gain reduction on peaks.
3	Compressor, Vintage Opto	Light second stage. Aim for 2 dB of gain reduction so the level stays even between words.
4	DeEsser 2	Set the frequency near 7 kHz. Raise the amount until the "s" sounds stop cutting, then back off a little.
5	Channel EQ (tone)	+1.5 dB at 3 kHz for presence. High shelf +2 dB at 12 kHz for air.
Send 1	ChromaVerb	Plate-style room, about 1.2 seconds decay, pre-delay near 25 ms. Roll off the lows of the reverb return.
Send 2	Stereo Delay	Eighth-note time, low feedback, high-cut the repeats so they sit behind the words.

Load the Studio FET first because it catches the fast peaks. The Vintage Opto stage then smooths what is left. Send the lead vocal and the backing vocals to separate buses, then lower the backing bus about 3 dB so the lead stays on top. For more detail on each plug-in, read the Logic Pro vocal chain guide.

Preset or DIY chain: which should you use?

Build the chain yourself if you want to learn why each plug-in is there. It takes longer, but you will know how to fix a vocal that does not fit. Use a preset when you want a working starting point in seconds, or when you record often and want the same sound on every session. Either way, the preset is a starting point. Every voice, mic and room is different, so expect to adjust the high-pass, the de-esser and the compressor input.

A preset also gives you a reference for your own chain. Load it, open each plug-in, and compare its settings with yours. That is a fast way to learn how a finished pop vocal is built.

How to install a pop vocal preset in Logic Pro

1. Download the preset and unzip it if it comes in a zip file.
2. Close Logic Pro. Copy the preset files into your Music folder, in Audio Music Apps, then Channel Strip Settings. Create the folders if they do not exist.
3. Open Logic Pro and create an audio track for the vocal.
4. Click the Channel Strip Setting name at the top of the Inspector and open the Library. Find the preset in the list and click it.
5. Record or drop in your vocal, then lower the input level of the first plug-in if the chain sounds too heavy.

Each pack includes its own install notes. Follow those first if they differ from the steps above.

Reference against a real record

1. Pick a commercial song in your genre and drag it into your project on its own track.
2. Match its loudness to your mix by ear, using the track volume.
3. Switch between the two while looking at the vocal's level, brightness and space.
4. Make small changes to your EQ and compression and compare again.

Do this at the same loudness. A louder version always sounds better, which hides real differences.

Balance and loudness

• Set the vocal level first, then bring the beat up around it.
• Leave 3 to 6 dB of headroom on the master if a mastering engineer will finish the song.
• Streaming services adjust loudness, so heavy limiting adds little. Spotify, for example, normalizes to about -14 LUFS by default.

The same sound in GarageBand

• Use one Compressor with a medium ratio, then a second light compressor if the session has the slots.
• Use Channel EQ for the high-pass, mud cut and tone.
• Use the Reverb and Echo controls on the track.
• Use a vocal patch from the Library as a base.

To follow the pop chain in GarageBand: open the track, choose a clean vocal patch in the Library, then click the Smart Controls button and open the plug-ins area to edit Compressor and Channel EQ. Start with the same high-pass at 80 Hz and 2 to 3 dB of compression. Raise Reverb and Echo slowly, until you can just hear them, then stop. If you want a ready-made option, see the GarageBand vocal presets collection.

Common problems

• Harsh highs: reduce the 3 kHz boost, or de-ess earlier in the chain.
• Dull vocal: check the compressor is not squashing the transients, and add a gentle shelf.
• Vocal sounds small: add a double and a short slapback, rather than more reverb.
• Vocal jumps in loud passages: automate the fader or add a final limiter with 1 to 2 dB of gain reduction.

The Waves-based Billboard preset

Our Vocal Billboard 100 preset for Logic Pro X ($10) uses select Waves plug-ins such as the CLA-2A compressor and Renaissance EQ, so you need those plug-ins installed. If you do not own Waves, build the stock chain above, or start with one of our presets that use only Logic's plug-ins.

We do not publish the exact values inside our paid presets. The starting points above are general mixing practice. For a full walk-through, read Logic Pro vocal chain, step by step and the vocal EQ cheat sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Waves plug-ins for a pop vocal preset in Logic Pro?

No. Logic Pro's stock plug-ins can build a full pop vocal chain. Only the Billboard preset requires Waves.

How do I install a pop vocal preset in Logic Pro?

Copy the preset files into Music, Audio Music Apps, Channel Strip Settings. Then open the Library in the Inspector and click the preset on an audio track.

Does this pop vocal chain work in GarageBand?

Yes, with fewer plug-ins. Use Compressor and Channel EQ in the same order, then add Reverb and Echo to taste.

More artist-style vocal guides

• Drake-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• The Weeknd-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Travis Scott-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Tory Lanez-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Post Malone-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Chris Brown-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Ed Sheeran-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Justin Bieber-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Migos-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Reggae Dancehall Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand

Not affiliated with the artists named above.

Back to the full list: every artist-style vocal guide. Related: Record Vocals Like Chris Brown and You Too Can Sound Like Chris Brown.