To double a vocal in Logic Pro, duplicate the lead track, pan the copy to one side, shift it a few cents in pitch, and delay it by roughly 15 to 30 milliseconds. Keep the copy 6 to 10 dB below the lead. Logic has no stock plug-in named "Doubler", but Pitch Shifter, Sample Delay and Modulation Delay do the job.
That is the whole idea. The rest of this guide shows each step, which controls to touch, and when a double hurts the mix. Every number below is a starting point. Your voice, your mic and your song will move them, so trust your ears over my values. If your chain is not set up yet, start with our Logic Pro vocals guide.
What is a vocal double, and why use one?
A double is a second copy of the lead vocal, played back slightly different from the original. Your ear hears two voices that almost match, and the result sounds wider, thicker and a little more polished than one voice alone.
There are two kinds. A real double is a second take, sung again against the first. An artificial double is a copy of the first take that you change with delay and pitch effects. A real double sounds more natural. An artificial double is fast, costs no studio time, and works well on a chorus when you did not record a second pass.
How do I double a vocal in Logic Pro without a plug-in?
The no-plug-in method is to record a second take. Duplicate the lead track, record the same line again on the new track, and pan the two takes apart. Because you never sing the same line the same way twice, the timing and pitch drift apart on their own.
- Finish and comp the lead. Fix the obvious timing problems first, because a double will make them louder.
- Create a new audio track with the same input and the same mic distance.
- Record the line again. Sing it a little softer than the lead and match the words, not every breath.
- Pan the lead near the center and the double slightly off to one side, or pan two doubles left and right.
- Pull the double fader down until you feel the width but cannot pick out a second singer.
How do I make an artificial vocal double with stock Logic plug-ins?
Put the copy on its own track and make it different from the lead in two ways: a small pitch change and a short delay. Both tools below are in the channel strip Audio Effect menu, and both are confirmed in Apple's Logic Pro effects guide.
Step 1: Detune the copy with Pitch Shifter
Choose Pitch > Pitch Shifter. Apple describes it as a simple way to combine a pitch-shifted version of the signal with the original. Leave Semi Tones at 0 and use the Cents control for a tiny detune. Set the Mix so the track is mostly the shifted signal, because the original is already on the lead track. In the Timing menu, Apple lists Vocals as the option that retains the intonation of the source, so try it first.
Step 2: Offset the copy with Sample Delay
Choose Delay > Sample Delay. Switch the unit buttons to ms, then raise the Delay value. A delay in the range of 15 to 30 ms makes the copy sound like a second singer rather than an echo. Go past about 40 ms and you start to hear a distinct slapback. Check the Delay control range on your version of Logic before you plan around a specific value.
Prefer one plug-in? Stereo Delay (Delay > Stereo Delay) lets you set the Delay Time in milliseconds for the left and right sides separately. Apple notes that it can be used on a mono track, and that the track becomes stereo from that insert onward.
Step 3: Pan and level the copy
Pan the copy to one side with the channel Pan knob. Lower its fader until it sits below the lead. For a pair of doubles, make two copies, detune one up and one down, and pan them to opposite sides.
Settings table: starting points
| Control | Starting point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch Shifter: Cents | A few cents up on one copy, down on the other | Keep Semi Tones at 0 |
| Pitch Shifter: Timing | Vocals | Apple lists it as retaining source intonation |
| Sample Delay | About 15 to 30 ms | Set the unit to ms |
| Pan | Each copy 30 to 60 percent to its side | Lead stays near center |
| Copy level | About 6 to 10 dB below the lead | Judge by ear in the full mix |
These values come from my own habits as a producer, not from Apple. Treat them as a first guess and move each control until the double fades into the lead.
Can Modulation Delay double a vocal in Logic Pro?
Yes, for a softer, more movement-based thickening. Choose Modulation > Modulation Delay. Apple says the Time knob gives flanger effects at the far left, chorus effects in the center and clearly audible delays at the far right. It also says that if you want to double the signal, you should not use Feedback. So set Feedback to zero, keep Mod Intensity low, and set Time near the center.
This gives a shimmer rather than a second performance. It works best on a copy, a background layer or an ad-lib track.
How wide should I pan a doubled vocal?
Start narrow. Pan a single double 30 to 50 percent to one side, or pan two doubles about 40 to 70 percent left and right. Wider is not always better. Very wide doubles can fall apart on a phone speaker or in mono, and they pull attention away from the lead.
Check the mix in mono once. If the double disappears or sounds hollow, reduce the delay time or the pan width.
Which Logic stock tools should I skip?
Do not use Direction Mixer with Spread at 0 to widen a vocal. Apple states that a Spread value of 0 produces a summed mono signal, so it narrows the image rather than widening it. The tool is for stereo recordings, not for turning a mono vocal into a double. Also, Logic has no stock plug-in called "Doubler", so ignore any guide that names one.
If you want a one-knob plug-in, there are third-party options. iZotope offers a free Vocal Doubler, and Soundtoys makes Microshift, which is paid. They are optional. The stock method above works and costs nothing.
When should I not double a vocal?
Do not double every line. Doubling the whole song makes the chorus feel less big, because nothing is left to grow into. Double the chorus and the hook words, keep the verse single, and let the contrast do the work.
- Verses: keep one voice for a close, intimate feel.
- Choruses: add one or two doubles for lift.
- Tight rap lines: double only the ends of lines or the punch words. See our rap vocals in Logic Pro X guide for how to route doubles to a bus.
- Weak timing: fix the lead first, because a double exposes sloppy timing.
Tame the harshness a double adds with a de-esser. Our de-esser settings page covers it. Compress the lead first, using vocal compression settings.
Are there free vocal plug-ins and presets for Logic Pro X?
Yes. Everything above uses plug-ins that ship with Logic. For a ready-made chain, you can download Toronto Warmth, our free preset and load it on the lead before you add a double. If you want more vocal chains for different genres, browse our Logic Pro X vocal presets.
FAQ
How do I double a vocal in Logic Pro without a plug-in?
Record a second take on a new track and pan it slightly off the lead. The natural differences in timing and pitch create the double. Keep it quieter than the lead.
Which stock Logic plug-ins make a vocal double?
Pitch Shifter, Sample Delay, Stereo Delay and Modulation Delay can all build an artificial double on a copied track. Logic does not ship a plug-in named Doubler.
Are there free vocal plug-ins for Logic Pro X?
Logic's own plug-ins are included. For a free chain, you can use our Toronto Warmth preset, and iZotope also has a free Vocal Doubler plug-in.
How wide should I pan a doubled vocal?
Start with 30 to 50 percent to one side, or two doubles at about 40 to 70 percent left and right. Check the result in mono.
Do I double every vocal?
No. Double the chorus and key phrases, and keep verses single so the chorus feels bigger.
