BandLab does not use preset files like the ones sold for Logic Pro or GarageBand, but you can build a preset-style vocal from its own effects. Add AutoPitch, a compressor, delay and reverb to a Voice track. Set each one to a starting point below, then adjust by ear while the full beat plays.
This guide is about BandLab's built-in effects only. Thir13een does not make presets for BandLab. Our files work in Logic Pro X and GarageBand, and we say more about that near the end. For a wider look at the app, read our BandLab review.
Can I use vocal presets in BandLab?
Not our files, and not files made for other apps. BandLab has its own effect presets inside the editor. A Logic Pro or GarageBand preset is a saved chain of that program's plugins, so it cannot be opened in BandLab.
What you can copy is the idea behind a preset. A good vocal chain is just a few steps in a sensible order: tune lightly, even out the volume, add a little echo, then add space. BandLab has an effect for each step, so you can set up your own version and save it as a starting point for the next song.
What effects do I need for a preset-style vocal in BandLab?
Four effects cover most of what a finished vocal preset does. They are listed here in the order we use them while building.
- AutoPitch. This is an effect for Voice and Audio tracks. You choose the key and scale, and the Level knob sets how strongly notes are pulled toward the scale. See BandLab's guide: Using AutoPitch.
- Compressor. BandLab's Standard Compressor has attack, release, ratio, squeeze and makeup gain controls. BandLab explains them in its compression guide.
- Delay. The controls are mix, delay time, feedback and cutoff, as described in BandLab's delay guide.
- Reverb. BandLab's effects overview lists Vocal Verb, a clean reverb that ducks when you sing. Check your own effects list for other reverb options and pick what sounds best on your voice.
Effect names and plan details can change, so check what shows in your own effects list before you start.
How do I build a vocal chain in BandLab, step by step?
- Record a clean take. Use a Voice track. Keep the mic a hand's width from your mouth and record quietly enough that the loudest word does not clip.
- Set the key in AutoPitch. Choose the song's key and scale. Start with the Level low so the voice still sounds like you, then raise it only if notes drift.
- Add the compressor. Set a ratio of about 3:1. Lower the threshold until the loudest words drop by a few decibels, then use makeup gain to bring the level back up.
- Add delay. Keep the mix low so you feel the echo more than you hear it. Set the time to match the tempo, and keep feedback low so the repeats fade fast.
- Add reverb. Raise the mix slowly until the voice sits inside the beat. Stop as soon as the words begin to blur.
- Check the order. BandLab's own guide on vocal chain order suggests this order for the creative effects: saturation, then delay, then reverb, then a final EQ. Try that order and compare it with yours.
- Listen on two systems. Play the mix on headphones and on a phone speaker. Fix anything that disappears on either one.
What are good starting settings for each effect?
These are our own starting points, not BandLab defaults. Every voice and every beat is different, so move one control at a time and judge it against the full mix.
| Effect | Control | Starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoPitch | Level | Low to medium | Corrects off notes without a robotic sound |
| Compressor | Ratio | About 3:1 | Evens out loud and quiet words |
| Compressor | Attack and release | Medium attack, medium release | Keeps consonants clear and avoids pumping |
| Delay | Mix | 10 to 20 percent | Adds depth without a visible echo |
| Delay | Feedback | Low, about 1 to 3 repeats | Stops repeats from piling up |
| Reverb | Mix | 10 to 25 percent | Places the voice in the room with the beat |
If a setting sounds good on its own but weak in the full song, trust the song. Vocals usually need less effect than you expect once the beat is playing.
How do I save my BandLab vocal chain so I can reuse it?
Write your final numbers in a note, or save the effect settings as a preset if your version of the editor offers it. Name it by the sound, such as "soft ballad vocal" or "tight rap vocal". On your next song, load the same chain and change only the key and the reverb amount. This is the habit a preset gives you: a fixed starting point, then small changes.
What if I want real preset files for my vocals?
This is where a change of app helps. Thir13een vocal presets are made for Logic Pro X and GarageBand. They are not BandLab files, and they do not load in BandLab. Each preset is a full vocal chain that you load as one patch.
GarageBand is free on Mac and iPhone, so it is an easy second app to try. When you are ready, browse our GarageBand vocal presets or our Logic Pro X vocal presets. Our GarageBand install and use guide shows each step.
To test the idea first, download Toronto Warmth, our free Logic Pro X vocal preset. More free options are listed in our free vocal presets hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Logic Pro or GarageBand presets in BandLab?
No. Those presets are saved chains of Logic Pro or GarageBand plugins, and BandLab cannot open them. Build the same kind of chain with BandLab's own effects, or move the project into the app the preset was made for.
Are there free vocal presets for BandLab?
BandLab has its own effect presets inside the app, and you can build and save your own with the steps above. We do not sell BandLab presets. Our free Toronto Warmth preset is for Logic Pro X only.
How much AutoPitch should I use on a vocal?
Start with a low Level and raise it only until the off notes sit in key. A light touch keeps the natural sound of your voice. Higher settings give a more obvious, stylized tuning effect, which suits some genres but not all.
What order should vocal effects go in?
A common order is tune, compress, then add delay and reverb. BandLab's own vocal chain article suggests saturation, delay, reverb, then EQ. Try both on your voice and keep the one that sounds clearer in the full mix.
