Last updated: October 28, 2026
Quick answer: Logic Pro has three kinds of presets: patches (a full track), channel strip settings (a chain of plugins, file type .cst) and plug-in settings (one plugin). Your own presets live in the Audio Music Apps folder inside your Music folder. To save one, use the Settings menu of the plugin or channel strip and choose Save As. To install one, copy the file into the matching folder and restart Logic Pro.
This page is part of our complete guide to Logic Pro vocals. It covers every preset type, the folders Logic reads, how to save, load and share presets, and the best free and paid presets for vocals. For a step-by-step install of a vocal preset pack, see how to install Logic Pro vocal presets.
The three types of Logic Pro presets
People say "preset" for three different things in Logic Pro. Each type has its own file and its own folder, so it helps to know which one you have before you install it.
| Preset type | What it stores | File type | Where you load it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | A full track: instrument or audio channel strip, plugins, sends and their effect buses | .patch | Library pane | Instruments and complete vocal setups with reverb and delay buses |
| Channel strip setting | Every plugin in one channel strip, in order, with its settings | .cst | Setting button at the top of the channel strip, or the Library | Vocal chains (most vocal preset packs use this type) |
| Plug-in setting | The settings of one plugin | .pst for Logic plugins, .aupreset for Audio Units plugins | Settings menu in the plugin window header | One EQ curve, one compressor or one reverb you reuse |
A vocal chain preset is almost always a channel strip setting. It loads the EQ, compressor, de-esser, pitch correction, reverb and delay in one click. A plug-in setting changes only the plugin you have open.
Where Logic Pro presets are stored on a Mac
Logic keeps the presets you save or install in your user Music folder, not inside the app. The factory presets that come with Logic are stored separately, and you should not move or edit them.
| Preset type | Folder for your own presets |
|---|---|
| Patches | ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Patches |
| Channel strip settings | ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Channel Strip Settings (vocal chains go in the Track folder inside it) |
| Logic plug-in settings | ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Plug-In Settings, one folder for each plugin |
| Third-party Audio Units presets | ~/Library/Audio/Presets, one folder for each developer and plugin |
The ~ sign means your home folder. The Library folder in your home folder is hidden. To open it, click Go in the Finder menu bar, hold the Option key and choose Library.
The fastest check: open any channel strip or plugin, open its Settings menu and choose Save As. The dialog opens in the exact folder that Logic reads for that preset type. Note the location, then cancel. This works on every Logic Pro version, even when a folder name changes.
How to save a preset in Logic Pro
Save a plug-in setting
- Open the plugin window.
- Click the Settings menu in the plugin header. It shows the current setting name, such as "Default" or "Manual".
- Choose Save As, type a name and click Save.
Save a channel strip setting (a vocal chain)
- Set up the plugins on your vocal track in the order you want.
- Click the Setting button at the top of the channel strip in the Inspector or the Mixer.
- Choose Save Channel Strip Setting As, type a name and save it in the Track folder.
Save a patch
- Select the track and press Y to open the Library.
- Click Save at the bottom of the Library, type a name and click Save.
- The patch keeps the sends and the effect buses that the track uses, which a channel strip setting does not.
Give presets clear names, such as "Rap Lead - Bright" or "Ballad - Wide Reverb". You will have dozens after a few months, and a clear name saves time.
How to load a preset in Logic Pro
- Channel strip setting: select the track, click the Setting button at the top of the channel strip and choose the preset from the menu. You can also open the Library (press Y) while the Setting button is active.
- Patch: select the track, press Y and click the patch in the Library. Your own patches are under User Patches.
- Plug-in setting: open the plugin and choose the preset from its Settings menu.
Loading a channel strip setting or a patch replaces the plugins on the track. Save your current chain first if you want to keep it.
How to install Logic Pro presets you download
- Unzip the download. Check the file type: .cst, .patch, .pst or .aupreset.
- Copy the files into the matching folder from the table above. For a .cst vocal chain, that is the Track folder inside Channel Strip Settings.
- Quit Logic Pro fully and open it again, so the Library reads the new files.
- Load the preset on an audio track and play the loudest part of the vocal. Lower the track input if the meter clips.
If the preset does not appear, the file is usually in the wrong folder. Use the Save As check above to find the right one. If the plugins in the chain show as missing, the preset needs third-party plugins that are not installed on your Mac. The full walkthrough is in how to install Logic Pro vocal presets.
Free Logic Pro presets
The factory presets inside Logic
Logic Pro comes with hundreds of patches and channel strip settings, including a Voice or vocal category. They are a good place to learn what a full chain looks like. Open one, then switch each plugin off and on to hear what it does. Many factory vocal patches are general starting points, so expect to adjust the compressor threshold and the EQ for your voice and microphone.
Free Thir13een vocal preset
Our Toronto Warmth vocal chain preset is free. It is a .cst channel strip setting with compression, EQ and reverb, for a warm R&B and hip-hop sound, built with stock Logic plugins. It is a good test of how a ready-made chain fits your voice before you buy anything.
For more free options in Logic Pro and other apps, see our list of free Logic Pro vocal presets.
Paid Logic Pro vocal presets
Paid packs save setup time and give you chains built for one style. Check three things before you buy: the file type (it should be .cst for vocal chains), whether the chain needs third-party plugins, and which Logic Pro versions it supports.
| Pack | What is in it | Price | Third-party plugins needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Pack | 3 best-selling vocal chains for hip-hop, R&B and pop | $19 | No |
| Vocal Effects Variety Pack | Creative chains: Auto-Tune, telephone, chopped and screwed and other effects | $25 | No |
| Vocal Preset Mega Bundle | Every vocal chain preset in our catalog: artist styles, genres and effects | $59 | Most chains use stock plugins only; the product page lists any exception |
You can also browse single presets by style in the Logic Pro vocal presets collection. Prices were checked on the date at the top of this page.
How to get a preset to fit your voice
A preset is a starting point. The same chain sounds different on a different voice, microphone and room. Make these four checks every time:
- Input level: record so the loudest part peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS. Too hot a signal makes the compressor work too hard.
- Compressor threshold: move it until you see roughly 3 to 6 dB of gain reduction on the loud words.
- De-esser: listen to the S and T sounds. Lower the threshold if they are sharp, raise it if the voice sounds dull or lisps.
- Reverb and delay: set the send level last, with the beat playing, not on the solo vocal.
When the chain sounds right, save it as a new channel strip setting under your own name. Next session it loads in one click. For the reasons behind each plugin, read the Logic Pro vocal chain guide.
FAQ
Where are Logic Pro presets stored?
Your own presets are in ~/Music/Audio Music Apps, in the Patches, Channel Strip Settings and Plug-In Settings folders. Third-party Audio Units presets are in ~/Library/Audio/Presets. Factory presets are stored separately and you should not edit them.
What is the difference between a patch and a channel strip setting?
A channel strip setting stores the plugins on one channel strip. A patch stores the whole track, including the sends and the effect buses they feed. Vocal preset packs usually use channel strip settings.
Can I use Logic Pro presets in GarageBand?
Usually not. GarageBand can read some simple patches, but channel strip settings built with Logic plugins that GarageBand does not have will not load correctly. Use presets made for GarageBand, such as those in our GarageBand vocal presets collection.
Do Logic Pro X presets work in Logic Pro 11?
Presets that use stock Logic plugins generally load in newer Logic Pro versions on a Mac. Presets that use third-party plugins also need those plugins installed. Logic Pro for iPad is a different app, so check the seller's notes before you use a Mac preset there.
How do I share a Logic Pro preset with someone?
Find the file in the folder from the table above, compress it to a .zip and send it. The other person copies it into the same folder on their Mac and restarts Logic. If the preset uses third-party plugins, they need the same plugins.
Keep learning
Go back to the complete guide to Logic Pro vocals for the full workflow from recording to export. Related reading: the best vocal plugins for Logic Pro and Auto-Tune in Logic Pro.
