Quick answer: To use a vocal preset in Logic Pro, select an audio track, open the Library on the left, choose User Channel Strip Settings and click the preset. You can also click the Setting button at the top of the channel strip and pick it there. The preset loads its whole plug-in chain at once. If it is not in the list yet, install it first (steps below), then set the input level and adjust the key plug-ins.
This page is part of our complete Logic Pro vocals guide, which walks through the whole vocal chain from recording to space and presets.
On this page: Install a preset | Use a preset | Adjust the key plug-ins | Save your own version | Use it on more tracks | Where presets are stored | Fixes | FAQ
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
Install once. After that, every Logic Pro vocal preset in the folder shows up in the Library of every project.
- 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 use a vocal preset in Logic Pro
A vocal preset is a starting point. It gives you a full chain in one click, and you then tune it to your voice and your room. Follow these steps in order.
1. Load the preset on your vocal track
Click your audio track so it is selected. There are two ways to load a preset:
- Library: press Y to open the Library if it is closed. Choose User Channel Strip Settings, open the preset folder, and click the preset. Use the arrow keys to step through the presets and hear each one on your vocal.
- Channel strip Setting menu: click the Setting button at the top of the channel strip, then browse to the same folder.
Press the space bar and play the loudest part of the vocal while you try presets. A preset that sounds good on a quiet verse can fall apart on the chorus.
2. Set the input level before the chain
Every plug-in in the chain reacts to the level that reaches it, so fix the level first. Record the vocal with peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS. If the meter clips after you load the preset, lower the track volume or use a Gain plug-in at the start of the chain. Do not turn plug-ins down one by one. This is a starting range, not a rule.
3. Check each plug-in
Click the power button on each plug-in to switch it off and on. Listen to what it adds. Keep the ones that help, and bypass the ones that do not suit your voice. A preset made for a deep voice can sound thin on a higher one, so this step matters.
Want a chain to practise on? The free Toronto Warmth vocal preset for Logic Pro X is a good test file. When you want more, browse the Logic Pro vocal presets collection.
Which settings to adjust first
Most presets sit well after three changes: the key, the compressor and the effect sends.
- Pitch correction key. If the chain has Pitch Correction or Flex Pitch, set the key and scale to match your song. A wrong key makes the correction pull notes the wrong way. If you are unsure of the key, turn pitch correction off until you know it. See Auto-Tune in Logic Pro for more.
- Compressor threshold. Play the loudest line and move the threshold until the gain reduction meter shows roughly 3 to 6 dB. Lower the threshold for a flatter, closer sound. Raise it to keep more dynamics.
- EQ. If the vocal sounds muddy or boxy, cut a little with a wide EQ band before you change anything else. Our vocal EQ cheat sheet shows where to look.
- Reverb and delay sends. Many presets route the vocal to a reverb or delay on a bus. Use the send knob on the channel strip to set how much goes there. Turn it up until you can hear the space, then back it off a little. Compare against a reference song at the same volume.
Presets work best on a clean recording. If the take has noise or room echo, fix that first. For the full order of plug-ins, read the Logic Pro vocal chain guide.
How to save your own version of a preset
Once the preset sounds right, save it so you do not lose your changes. Click the Setting button at the top of the channel strip and choose Save As. Give it a clear name, such as "Lead vocal - my voice". Logic stores it in your User Channel Strip Settings, so you can load it in any later project. Keep the original preset untouched, so you can always go back to it.
How to use a vocal preset on several tracks
A full song needs more than one vocal. Use the same preset as a base, and change it for each role.
- Lead vocal: load the preset and tune it as above.
- Doubles and harmonies: load the same preset on each track, or your saved version. Lower the volume, and turn the reverb send up a little so they sit behind the lead.
- Ad-libs: load the preset, then add more reverb or delay. Ad-libs can be brighter and wetter than the lead.
To save time, use the Library to load the same setting on each track. If many plug-ins are open at once and your Mac slows down, bounce the doubles to audio, or use one shared reverb bus instead of one per track.
Where are Logic Pro vocal presets stored?
Logic reads your own presets from the Channel Strip Settings folder in your user Music folder. The Save As check below shows the exact place on your Mac. Presets that came with Logic live inside the app and show under other Library headings.
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 Setting 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.
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 only with stock plug-ins need no third-party plug-ins.
- 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.
Not sure which to try first? Read our picks of the best vocal presets for Logic Pro X. For every preset type, including patches and plug-in settings, see our guide to Logic Pro presets.
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, all vocal presets and GarageBand vocal presets collections.
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.
How do I use a vocal preset in Logic Pro?
Select an audio track, open the Library, choose User Channel Strip Settings and click the preset. You can also load it from the Setting menu at the top of the channel strip.
Where are Logic Pro vocal presets stored?
In the Channel Strip Settings folder of your user Music folder. Open any channel strip's Setting menu and choose Save As to see the exact folder on your Mac.
How do I use a vocal preset on a second vocal track?
Select the second track and load the same preset from the Library. Then lower its volume and adjust the reverb send, so it sits behind the lead.
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.
Back to the full guide: Logic Pro vocals, from recording to presets. Related: Logic Pro Templates.
