Quick answer: A Logic Pro vocal preset is a channel strip setting file (.cst). To install it, unzip the download, copy the file or folder into your Channel Strip Settings folder, restart Logic Pro, then pick it from the Library on an audio track. On a Mac this takes about two minutes. If the preset does not appear, check the file location and restart the computer.
This page is part of our complete Logic Pro vocals guide, which walks through the whole vocal chain from recording to space and presets.
What you need
- A Mac with Logic Pro installed. These steps apply to Logic Pro on Mac. They do not cover Logic Pro for iPad.
- The preset download, usually a .zip file that contains a folder of .cst files.
- One clean vocal recording to test with.
How to install a Logic Pro vocal preset, step by step
- Unzip the download. Double-click the .zip file. You get a folder of channel strip settings.
- Open the Channel Strip Settings folder. Press Command and Space to open Spotlight, type "Channel Strip Settings" and open the folder it finds. Then open the "Track" folder inside it.
- Drag the preset folder in. Drag the unzipped preset folder into the Track folder.
- Restart Logic Pro. Close it fully and reopen it so the Library reads the new files.
- Add an audio track. Click the plus button above the track list and choose Audio.
- Load the preset. Open the Library on the left, choose "User Channel Strip Settings" and pick your preset pack and then the preset.
- If you cannot see the pack, restart the computer and open Logic again.
How to find the right folder if Spotlight does not work
Logic reads user settings from one folder on your Mac. To see which one, load any channel strip, open the Settings menu at the top of the channel strip and choose Save As. The dialog opens in the right folder. Cancel the dialog and copy the preset folder into that location. This is the most reliable check, because folder locations can differ between Logic versions.
How to use a vocal preset after you install it
- Record the vocal with the input level peaking around -12 to -6 dBFS, so the first plug-in has clean signal to work with.
- Load the preset and play the loudest part. Lower the track gain if the meter clips.
- Turn each plug-in off and on to hear what it does. Keep the ones that help.
- Move the compressor threshold until you see roughly 3 to 6 dB of gain reduction. This is a starting point, not a rule.
- Adjust the reverb send to taste, then compare the vocal against a reference song at the same volume.
Presets are fast, but they are not magic. A preset works best on a clean recording. If your vocal sounds muddy or boxy before you load it, fix the recording or the EQ first. Our vocal EQ cheat sheet shows how.
The preset does not show up: fixes
- The file is in the wrong folder. Use the Save As check above to find the correct folder.
- The folder is nested twice. If Logic shows a folder inside a folder, move the .cst files up one level.
- Logic was open during the copy. Quit and reopen Logic Pro.
- The preset loads but plug-ins are missing. The preset uses a plug-in you do not own. Presets built with stock plug-ins load on any Logic Pro install.
- The download is still zipped. Logic cannot read files inside a .zip.
What types of Logic Pro vocal presets exist
- Clean-up chains: EQ, compression and de-essing for a polished lead vocal.
- Artist-style chains: a full chain built to approximate a known sound. Browse them in vocal sounds by artist and style.
- Effect chains: pitch effects, telephone and lo-fi vocals.
- Pitch correction chains: Logic's Pitch Correction or Flex Pitch with set speeds. See Auto-Tune in Logic Pro.
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.
For every preset type, including patches and plug-in settings, see our guide to Logic Pro presets.
Frequently asked questions
What file type is a Logic Pro vocal preset?
A channel strip setting, with the .cst extension. It stores the plug-ins and settings of one track.
Do vocal presets work in older versions of Logic Pro X?
Presets built with stock plug-ins usually load in recent versions. Check the product page for the minimum version.
Can I install Logic Pro presets in GarageBand?
No. GarageBand uses its own preset format. Read how to install vocal presets in GarageBand.
Where can I get a free preset to test the steps?
Download the free Toronto Warmth vocal preset for Logic Pro X, or read our list of free Logic Pro vocal presets.
Need a full chain to build from? Read the Logic Pro vocal chain guide.
Back to the full guide: Logic Pro vocals, from recording to presets. Related: Logic Pro Templates.
