How to Mix Rap Vocals in Logic Pro

Quick answer: To mix rap vocals in Logic Pro, record at 24-bit with peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS, then build one chain: Channel EQ (high-pass and mud cut), Compressor (3 to 6 dB of gain reduction), DeEsser 2, a second Channel EQ for presence, and short reverb and delay on sends. Group the lead, doubles and ad-libs into buses so you can balance them against the beat.

This page is part of our complete Logic Pro vocals guide, which walks through the whole vocal chain from recording to space and presets.

For reverb and delay times at any tempo, use the reverb and delay settings cheat sheet for vocals.

This guide covers the full path for rap, from session settings to the final vocal bus. It uses only plug-ins that ship with Logic Pro. All numbers are starting points, so adjust them to your voice, microphone and beat.

1. Set up the session

• Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz is fine for rap. Set it in File > Project Settings > Audio before you record, because changing it later can cause problems.
• Bit depth: record at 24-bit. It gives you headroom, so you do not need to push the input level.
• Tracks: make one audio track for the lead, one for doubles, one for ad-libs. Name and colour them now. It saves time during the mix.
• Beat: import the beat on its own track and bounce it to stereo if it came as many stems. Leave a few dB of headroom on the master.

2. Record a clean take

Most mix problems start at the microphone. Keep your mouth 10 to 15 cm from the mic and use a pop filter. Set the input gain so your loudest line peaks near -6 dBFS. Record in a room with soft surfaces, such as a closet full of clothes, to avoid a boxy room sound. Record three or more takes of the hook, so you can stack them later.

3. Edit before you mix

Trim silence between lines, add short fades to the start and end of each region and remove loud breaths only when they distract. Fix timing issues on the lead with Flex Time if a line drags. Do this before any plug-in, since compression makes every noise louder.

For a harder, grittier edge, see how to get vocal distortion in Logic Pro with these plugins.

4. Build the lead vocal chain

If you use Auto-Tune style pitch correction, add Pitch Correction or Flex Pitch before the compressor. Read Auto-Tune in Logic Pro for the settings.

5. Add reverb and delay on sends

• Reverb send: ChromaVerb with a short plate or room, decay under 1.2 seconds. Rap needs space but not a wash, since the words come fast.
• Delay send: Echo or Stereo Delay on an eighth note or quarter note with low feedback. Roll off lows and highs inside the plug-in.
• Throws: automate the delay send up on the last word of a line for a classic rap effect.

Use sends instead of inserts so the dry vocal stays clear. Keep a mute button handy and mute the sends now and then to check that the dry vocal still sounds good alone.

6. Doubles and ad-libs

Pan the doubles slightly left and right, keep them 6 to 10 dB below the lead, and high-pass them higher than the lead, around 150 to 200 Hz. Ad-libs sit lower and wetter than the lead. Put them through a bit more reverb and a stereo delay so they sit behind the main vocal.

7. Balance the vocal against the beat

1. Route all vocal tracks to one Vocal Bus.
2. Put a light Compressor on the bus with 1 to 2 dB of gain reduction to glue the layers.
3. Set the lead level first, then the doubles, then the ad-libs.
4. If the vocal and the 808 fight, cut 2 dB near 200 to 300 Hz on the beat or the vocal, whichever sounds less important.
5. Check the mix at low volume. The words should stay clear.

Rap vocal chain in GarageBand

A rap vocal chain in GarageBand uses four stock tools in this order: Noise Gate, Channel EQ, Compressor, then reverb and echo from the track sends. Cut the low end, compress by 3 to 6 dB, add a small high-end lift, and keep the effects quiet so the words stay clear.

GarageBand has fewer controls than Logic Pro, but the same method works. The values below are starting points. Adjust them by ear against your beat.

Step 1: Clean the take with the Noise Gate

Open the Smart Controls and the plug-ins section for the vocal track. Add the Noise Gate and raise the threshold until the room noise between lines disappears. Stop before it clips the start of a word. Gating also keeps the compressor from lifting the noise.

Step 2: Shape the tone with Channel EQ

Add Channel EQ and set the high-pass to about 100 Hz. Cut 2 to 3 dB around 300 Hz if the vocal sounds boxy. Add 2 to 3 dB of shelf boost above 8 kHz for air. GarageBand does not include a separate de-esser plug-in, which DeEsser 2 in Logic Pro covers. If the "s" sounds get sharp, lower the high boost or cut a little around 6 to 7 kHz.

Step 3: Control the level with the Compressor

Add the Compressor after the EQ. Aim for 3 to 6 dB of gain reduction on the loudest words. Use a fast attack and a medium release so the delivery keeps its punch. Lower the threshold slowly, and stop when the performance starts to sound flat.

Step 4: Add space with reverb and echo

Use the track reverb and echo sends instead of putting the effects on the vocal itself. Keep the reverb short and low in the mix. Set the echo to a quarter note or an eighth note at the song tempo, and keep it quieter than the reverb. Ad-libs can take more of both than the lead.

Step 5: Fix pitch lightly and balance against the beat

Open the track editor and use the Pitch Correction slider. Start low so the voice stays natural. Then set the vocal level so the words are clear at low volume and sit just above the snare. Check on headphones and on a phone speaker.

Want a finished chain instead of building it by hand? Read about the best vocal chain presets for GarageBand, or see more GarageBand vocal effects you can add. The GarageBand vocal presets collection has ready-made chains. The GarageBand Vocal Preset Mega Bundle ($49) is the full set, and the Vocal Effects Variety Pack for GarageBand ($25) is a smaller option.

Common rap mixing mistakes

• Too much reverb, which pushes the vocal back and blurs the words.
• Boosting high frequencies without de-essing first.
• Over-compressing until the performance sounds flat.
• Judging the vocal while it is soloed, instead of against the beat.

Load a ready-made chain

If you would rather start from a finished rap vocal chain, try the free Toronto Warmth preset, then look at the Logic Pro Starter Pack ($19), the Vocal Preset Mega Bundle ($49) or the Logic Pro vocal presets collection. For style-specific starting points, see Travis Scott-style vocals and our vocal EQ cheat sheet.

Frequently asked questions

What plug-ins do I need to mix rap vocals in Logic Pro?

Channel EQ, Compressor, DeEsser 2, ChromaVerb and Echo cover a full rap vocal chain. All of them ship with Logic Pro.

How much compression should rap vocals have?

Start with 3 to 6 dB of gain reduction on the loudest words. Rap often takes more compression than singing, but stop before the delivery sounds flat.

How loud should the vocal be compared with the beat?

The words should be clear at low volume, and the vocal should sit slightly above the snare. Check on headphones and a phone speaker.

Do I need a high-pass filter on rap vocals?

Yes. A high-pass between 90 and 110 Hz removes rumble and clears space for the 808 and kick.

Can I use these settings in GarageBand?

Yes. The method carries over with fewer controls. Follow the rap vocal chain in GarageBand steps above. To load ready-made chains, read GarageBand vocal presets: how to install and use them.

To slow a vocal down and pitch it low, see how to build the chopped and screwed vocal effect in Logic Pro and GarageBand.

Back to the full guide: Logic Pro vocals, from recording to presets. Related: How To Mix Rap Vocals and 2 Effects Every Rapper Should Use For Vocals.