How to Get Ed Sheeran-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand

By Thir13een Team | Last updated: October 25, 2026

Quick answer: An Ed Sheeran-style vocal is close, warm and natural, with the dynamics left mostly intact. In Logic Pro, use a high-pass filter near 80 Hz, a gentle opto-style compressor (2:1 to 3:1, 2 to 4 dB of gain reduction), a little warmth around 150 to 250 Hz, presence near 3 to 4 kHz and a short room reverb. Layer a few harmonies and keep effects subtle. GarageBand follows the same order. Treat all numbers as starting points.

This page breaks an acoustic pop vocal into parts you can hear and rebuild with the plug-ins that come with Logic Pro and GarageBand. It is for singer-songwriters who record a voice and a guitar at home. It describes a style, not any single recording.

What defines an Ed Sheeran-style vocal sound

• Intimate and upfront. The voice sits right in front of the listener, like a person singing in the room.
• Natural dynamics. Soft lines stay soft and loud lines get louder. The compressor is gentle, not flat.
• Warm body, clear words. A little low-mid warmth with enough presence that lyrics stay easy to follow.
• Small spaces. Short room or plate reverb, with little or no long tail.
• Stacked layers. Doubles and harmonies build the chorus without hiding the lead.
• Fast, rhythmic phrasing. Occasional rap-like passages need extra care with S sounds and clarity.

The chain in Logic Pro

Order	Plug-in	Starting point	Why
1	Channel EQ	High-pass at 70 to 90 Hz. Cut 2 dB near 250 to 350 Hz only if the room sounds boxy.	Removes rumble and guitar-room mud
2	Compressor (Opto model)	Ratio 2:1 to 3:1, slow to medium attack, medium release, 2 to 4 dB of gain reduction.	Smooth control that keeps the dynamics
3	DeEsser 2	Around 6 to 8 kHz. Light reduction.	Handles S sounds on close-mic'd recordings
4	Channel EQ (tone)	Add 1 to 2 dB near 150 to 250 Hz for warmth, 1 to 2 dB near 3 to 4 kHz for clarity and a soft shelf above 10 kHz.	Body and openness

Pitch correction is optional. If you use it, choose a slow response and small amounts so the voice stays human.

Effects on sends

• ChromaVerb: a small room or plate preset with a decay of about 0.8 to 1.2 seconds. Keep the send low.
• Echo: a short slapback at about 80 to 120 ms with one repeat, filtered so it sits behind the voice.

Recording choices matter more than plug-ins

This style leans on a good take. Three habits help:

• Back off from the microphone. Sing 15 to 20 cm away to reduce the bass boost that comes from singing close, and use a pop filter.
• Keep the guitar out of the vocal mic. Angle the mic away from the guitar's sound hole, or record the two parts separately.
• Record in a dead room. Soft furnishings keep the room from adding echo you cannot remove later.

Layering harmonies

Harmony stacks create the big chorus without heavy effects. A simple plan:

Layer	Level versus lead	Pan	EQ
Lead	0 dB	Centre	Full chain
Double of the lead	-8 to -10 dB	Slightly left and right	High-pass near 150 Hz
Upper harmony	-6 to -8 dB	Left	Cut a little above 8 kHz so it does not compete
Lower harmony	-6 to -8 dB	Right	Cut a little at 200 to 300 Hz

Route the layers to a Vocal Bus with a light compressor so they glue together.

The same sound in GarageBand

• Use the Vocals library patch as a base, then open the plug-ins in Smart Controls.
• Use the Compressor with a low ratio and slow attack, and the Channel EQ for the high-pass and warmth.
• Use the Reverb and Echo controls on the track with the amounts turned down.
• GarageBand lacks DeEsser 2, so lower the high shelf and sing slightly off-axis if S sounds are sharp.

Problems that show up with this sound

• Boomy low end: too much proximity effect. Move back, or raise the high-pass.
• Guitar and vocal fight: cut 2 dB at 2 to 3 kHz on the guitar, and boost the same range on the vocal.
• Thin choruses: add a double and two harmonies before you add effects.
• Lyrics get lost on fast sections: add 1 dB of presence and reduce the reverb send.

Get the Ed Sheeran-style preset

We do not publish the exact values inside our paid presets. The starting points above are general mixing practice.

For the full method, read Logic Pro vocal chain, step by step and the vocal EQ cheat sheet.

Frequently asked questions

What plug-ins give an Ed Sheeran-style vocal in Logic Pro?

Channel EQ, Compressor (Opto), DeEsser 2, ChromaVerb and Echo. The key is subtle settings.

Do I need a loop pedal?

No. Record each layer on its own track in Logic or GarageBand. A loop pedal is for live performance.

Can I get this sound in GarageBand?

Yes, close enough for most songs. GarageBand has an EQ, a compressor, reverb and echo.

How much compression should an acoustic vocal have?

Often 2 to 4 dB of gain reduction. More makes it sound over-processed.

Why does my vocal sound boomy when I sing close to the microphone?

Directional microphones boost bass when you sing close, a result of the proximity effect. Step back or use a high-pass filter.

More artist-style vocal guides

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• Travis Scott-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
• Tory Lanez-Style Vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
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• Chris Brown-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
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Thir13een is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Ed Sheeran. "Ed Sheeran-style" describes a sound we aim to approximate, nothing more.