Logic Pro Vocal Chain: Stock Plugins, in Order (2026)
A complete Logic Pro vocal chain with stock plugins: Channel EQ, the Compressor's Vintage FET and Opto models, DeEsser 2, ChromaGlow, Tape Delay, and ChromaVerb. The order, starting settings, and how to save it as a channel strip setting.
The short answer: Logic Pro ships with everything a professional vocal chain needs. In order: Channel EQ (high-pass and cleanup), Compressor in Vintage FET mode (fast peak control), Compressor in Vintage Opto mode (smooth leveling), Channel EQ (tone and air), DeEsser 2, and ChromaGlow (saturation), with Tape Delay and ChromaVerb on buses. Save the strip as a channel strip setting and every vocal starts from the same chain. The Compressor's vintage models give you the classic 1176-into-LA-2A pairing without a single third-party plugin.
I've rebuilt my vocal chain natively for Logic before; the structure below is the same one behind the vocals on my releases (Sony, Universal, Ultra, Dim Mak).
The chain, in order
| Slot | Plugin | Job | Starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Channel EQ | Clean up | High-pass 80 to 120 Hz, cut mud at 200 to 400 Hz by 2 to 4 dB |
| 2 | Compressor · Vintage FET | Catch peaks | Ratio 4:1, fast attack, 2 to 4 dB of reduction |
| 3 | Compressor · Vintage Opto | Level the performance | Gentle, 2 to 3 dB of steady reduction |
| 4 | Channel EQ | Tone + air | Broad +1 to 2 dB around 3 to 5 kHz, high shelf above 10 kHz |
| 5 | DeEsser 2 | Tame esses | Detect around 5 to 8 kHz, 2 to 4 dB on esses only |
| 6 | ChromaGlow | Warmth + density | Low drive, blend to taste (Logic Pro 11) |
| Bus 1 | Tape Delay | Delay | Synced 1/8 dotted or 1/4, filtered, low feedback |
| Bus 2 | ChromaVerb | Space | Plate or room, pre-delay 30 to 80 ms, high-passed |
Get exact delay and pre-delay values for your BPM in the delay and reverb calculator.
Stage notes
The FET into Opto pairing. Logic's Compressor has several circuit models. Vintage FET reacts fast and adds attitude; Vintage Opto levels smoothly. Running both lightly is the classic modern vocal sound. How to compress vocals explains why two light stages beat one heavy one.
DeEsser 2 after compression. Compression lifts sibilance, so de-ess after it. Use the monitor option to find where the esses live on this voice, then reduce only those moments. What a de-esser does.
Flex Pitch or Pitch Correction first. If you tune, do it before the chain. Flex Pitch for invisible note-by-note fixes, Pitch Correction for the real-time effect. How to tune vocals.
Space on buses. Send to Tape Delay and ChromaVerb on aux buses so the dry vocal stays in front. Reverb vs delay covers when to lean on which.
Save it as a channel strip setting
Click the Setting button at the top of the vocal channel strip and choose Save Channel Strip Setting As. It lands in Channel Strip Settings and appears in the same menu in every project. Pair it with a track template and a new vocal session takes seconds.
What a chain can't fix
A bad recording, an arrangement fighting the vocal, or a mix balanced in solo. Record it clean, then balance in context.
A finished chain, today
My full vocal chain, with 8 macros and a parallel split for space, width, and an octave layer, is available now for Waves and runs inside Logic through StudioVerse. The Logic stock version is part of the vocal chain series.
Runs inside Logic Pro
THE ULTIMATE VOCAL CHAIN
15 Waves plugins in one StudioVerse file, 8 macros, a parallel split. Drop it on your lead vocal in Logic and it already sounds finished. Logic stock version coming in the series.
See the Vocal ChainQuick answers
What is the best vocal chain in Logic Pro? Channel EQ, Compressor (Vintage FET), Compressor (Vintage Opto), Channel EQ, DeEsser 2, ChromaGlow, with Tape Delay and ChromaVerb on buses.
Does Logic have a good stock de-esser? Yes, DeEsser 2 is capable for most vocals. Place it after compression.
What compressor setting is best for vocals in Logic? Vintage FET for fast, punchy peak control and Vintage Opto for smooth leveling, both doing a few dB each.
How do I save a vocal preset in Logic? Save the channel strip setting from the Setting menu at the top of the channel strip; it's available in every project.
Written by
CHARLIE CROWN
Founder of Born Creative Audio. Independent artist and engineer: 50M+ streams, 100% owned, never signed a record deal. Also founder of Born Creative Records. Work-for-hire remixes for Sony, Ultra, and Dim Mak. FabFilter featured artist; endorsed by iZotope, Sonarworks, and McDSP. Everything on this site comes from running a real independent music business, not theory.
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