To build a Kendrick Lamar-style vocal in Logic Pro or GarageBand, keep the lead dry, close and clear, compress it for steady energy, and add tight doubles and ad-libs on separate tracks. Use very little obvious reverb. Start with a high-pass near 80 Hz, a Compressor at 3:1 to 4:1, a short room reverb under 1 second on a send, and let your delivery change the character of each line.
This guide gives you stock-plugin starting settings for that sound. People often describe the artist's records as dry, upfront and full of changing voices and tones. We use that description as reference listening only. We do not know the artist's real settings, plugins or recording setup, so every value below is a starting point that you adjust by ear. To load a finished chain, see our Logic Pro vocal presets or our GarageBand vocal presets.
Thir13een is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Kendrick Lamar or anyone who works with him. "Kendrick Lamar-style" names a sound we aim to approximate, nothing more.
What does a Kendrick Lamar-style vocal sound like?
Listeners often point to a few traits. The voice sits at the front of the mix with little space around it. The delivery moves a lot: a low, calm line can turn into a sharp, high, almost shouted line within one verse. Some parts use character voices that sound like different people. Tight doubles and short ad-libs back up key words. Reverb and delay are present but rarely obvious.
That last point matters. Much of this sound is performance, not plugins. A chain can keep the voice clear, steady and close, but it cannot create the acting. Record each line with a clear idea of who is speaking, then use the chain to keep every version of that voice readable. Listen to a few reference tracks and match what you hear, not what you read.
How do I keep the vocal dry and upfront?
Close and clear comes from the source and the first few plugins. Record close to the microphone with a pop filter, and leave a little room in the level so loud lines do not clip. Then build the chain in this order: cleanup EQ, compression, de-esser, light saturation, then short ambience on a send.
Keep the lead on its own track and do not put long reverb on it directly. A dry lead stays in front of the beat even when the beat is busy. If the voice feels too naked, add a short room on an aux send and bring it up slowly until you only notice it when you mute it.
What are good starting settings?
Use this table on a clean vocal. It uses stock plugins, so it works in Logic Pro and GarageBand on Mac. Logic Pro names come first. Change one setting at a time and judge it against the full beat.
| Stage | Plugin and parameter | Starting value | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQ | Channel EQ, high-pass | About 80 Hz | Removes rumble and keeps the voice natural, not thin |
| EQ | Channel EQ, low-mid cut | Cut 2 to 3 dB around 250 to 400 Hz | Clears boxy sound from a close mic |
| EQ | Channel EQ, presence | Boost 1 to 2 dB around 3 to 5 kHz | Keeps fast words clear and forward |
| Compressor | Ratio | 3:1 to 4:1 | Handles big swings from quiet to loud lines |
| Compressor | Threshold | About 4 to 6 dB of gain reduction on loud phrases | Watch the gain reduction meter |
| Compressor | Attack / Release | Attack 10 to 20 ms, Release 60 to 120 ms | Keeps the start of each word and recovers before the next |
| De-esser | DeEsser 2 (Logic). In GarageBand, use a narrow Channel EQ cut near 6 to 8 kHz | Around 6 to 8 kHz, reduce 2 to 4 dB | Controls sharp "s" sounds on shouted lines |
| Saturation | Overdrive or Distortion plugin, low drive | Low; add just until the voice feels a little thicker | Adds body without a dirty sound |
| Ambience | ChromaVerb or Space Designer (Logic), Reverb (GarageBand), on a send | Room or small space, under 1 second, send low | Adds depth without a long visible tail |
| Delay | Echo or Delay Designer, on a send | One short slap, 80 to 120 ms, low feedback | Adds width that stays out of the way |
A deep voice may need less low-mid cut. A thin voice may need less presence. The table is a map, not a destination.
How do I handle changes in delivery and character voices?
Wide changes in volume and tone are the hard part. A single compressor setting that suits a soft line can squash a loud one. Two steps help. First, use two compressors in a row, each doing a little work: the first at about 2 to 3 dB of gain reduction, the second at about 2 to 3 dB. Second, ride the fader or use clip gain, so each line reaches the compressor at a similar level.
For character voices, record each one as its own take or its own region. You can then give a voice a different EQ if it needs it. For example, cut more low end from a high, tight voice, and add a little more 250 Hz body to a low one. In Logic Pro, use Flex Pitch or the Pitch Correction plugin only if a line is truly off; this style often keeps natural pitch movement. In GarageBand, leave the pitch correction slider low or off for the same reason.
How do I add tight doubles and ad-libs?
Record the lead first. Then record a double of the key words, matching the timing as closely as you can, and keep it a few dB below the lead. Doubles should thicken the line, not turn it into a chorus. Pan them slightly left and right, or keep one centered under the lead.
Record ad-libs as short separate takes that answer the lead. Put them in the gaps and keep them below the lead. Give them a touch more reverb than the lead so they sit behind it. In GarageBand, record each layer on its own track. Our rap vocal chain guide shows the full signal order for a stock-plugin chain.
How do I do this in GarageBand?
On Mac, select the vocal track, open the Smart Controls, and use the Plug-ins section to add Channel EQ and Compressor. Use the Reverb and Echo sends in the track controls for the ambience. On iPhone and iPad, GarageBand has fewer effect options and the layout differs between versions, so use the closest controls available: the track EQ and compressor settings, plus the reverb and echo sends. We have not listed iOS-only values, because they do not match the Mac plugins one for one.
Stock plugins or a preset: which should I use?
The stock chain above is free and enough for a finished mix. A preset saves time, because the chain is already built and you tune it to your voice. We do not claim any preset reproduces an artist's voice. A preset is a starting chain, nothing more.
For rap vocals in GarageBand, the Hip-Hop Hitmakers Vocal Preset Bundle for GarageBand ($20.00) is a good fit. It is an instant digital download. See every option in the GarageBand vocal presets collection.
Logic Pro user? You can download Toronto Warmth, our free preset for Logic Pro X. It is built for Logic Pro X, so it only helps if you also use Logic. For more options, see the Logic Pro vocal presets collection.
More vocal style guides
- Vocal sounds by artist: every style guide in one place
- Rap vocal chain: a stock plugin starting chain
- How to get Juice WRLD-style vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
FAQ
Is there a free Kendrick Lamar-style vocal preset?
Our free preset, Toronto Warmth, is for Logic Pro X and is not made for this sound. Our GarageBand presets are paid. The stock chain on this page is free in both apps.
How do I get a Kendrick Lamar-style vocal in GarageBand?
Keep the lead dry, add a compressor and EQ, then use a short reverb send and a low echo. Record doubles and ad-libs on separate tracks.
Does he use a lot of reverb or Auto-Tune?
We do not know his settings. Many listeners describe his vocals as dry and close with natural pitch movement, so this guide keeps reverb short and pitch correction low.
Is this made by or endorsed by Kendrick Lamar?
No. Thir13een is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Kendrick Lamar.
