How to Make a Phone Effect Vocal in Logic Pro and GarageBand

Last updated: October 26, 2026.

Quick answer: To make a vocal sound like a phone call, cut everything below about 400 Hz and above about 3.2 kHz, lift 3 to 5 dB near 1.5 kHz, add light distortion and compress hard. A standard phone line carries roughly 300 Hz to 3.4 kHz, so that narrow band is the effect. In Logic Pro, use Channel EQ, Overdrive or Bitcrusher and Compressor. GarageBand follows the same recipe.

The telephone vocal is a classic effect for intros, verses and bridges. This guide gives the exact build, three variations, and the automation that opens the sound back up into the full vocal. It sits on top of a clean chain: for that, read the complete Logic Pro vocals guide or the complete GarageBand vocals guide.

In this guide

• Why it works
• Build it in Logic Pro
• A second Logic Pro method: process just one phrase
• Build it in GarageBand
• Variations: change the band to change the device
• Automate it in and out
• Problems that show up
• Get the Cellphone Effect preset
• Frequently asked questions

Why it works

Telephones squeeze the voice into a narrow band, so the bass and the high air disappear. The result sounds thin, boxy and a bit distorted. You copy that by removing the same frequencies and adding a little crunch. The chart shows the shape.

Our own chart: the full voice (dashed) against the telephone band-pass shape (orange).

Build it in Logic Pro

Order	Plug-in	Settings
1	Channel EQ	High-pass at 400 Hz, steep slope. Low-pass at 3.2 kHz, steep slope.
2	Channel EQ (same plug-in)	Add 3 to 5 dB near 1.5 kHz, medium width.
3	Overdrive or Bitcrusher	Low drive, mix 20 to 40 percent. Bitcrusher at a high bit depth with a slightly lowered sample rate adds grit.
4	Compressor	6:1, fast attack, 6 to 8 dB of gain reduction. Phone audio is squashed.

If the filters on your EQ are gentle, stack two copies of the plug-in so the cut is steeper. Start with the plug-ins on a duplicate of the vocal track, so you can blend the effect with the dry voice.

A second Logic Pro method: process just one phrase

If the effect belongs on one line, not the whole track, Logic Pro can render it onto a selection. Use the Marquee tool to select the phrase, open the Functions menu and choose Selection-Based Processing. Load a plug-in or preset in the processing slot, check it with the pre-listen button, then apply it. Space Designer includes telephone and megaphone style impulse responses in its preset list, though preset names differ between versions. Selection-Based Processing needs Logic Pro 10.3 or later. Use the EQ chain above when you want to automate the effect or adjust it later, because a rendered selection cannot be reopened.

Build it in GarageBand

1. Select the vocal track and open Smart Controls, then the Plug-ins section.
2. Add a Channel EQ. Set the high-pass near 400 Hz and cut the highs above about 3 kHz. If your EQ has no low-pass, use a strong high-frequency cut with a low shelf.
3. Boost 3 to 5 dB near 1.5 kHz with a medium width.
4. Add a Distortion or Bitcrusher plug-in at a low amount if your version has one, otherwise turn up the compressor.
5. Add the Compressor with a high ratio and fast attack.

Plug-in names and counts change between GarageBand versions, so use the plug-in list on your Mac. The recipe is the same: narrow the band, add grit, squash it.

Variations: change the band to change the device

Starting values for related sounds. Adjust by ear.

Sound	High-pass	Low-pass	Extra
Old telephone	400 Hz	3.2 kHz	Light distortion, 6:1 compression
Walkie-talkie or radio	500 Hz	2.8 kHz	Heavier distortion, add crackle noise at low level
Speakerphone	300 Hz	4 kHz	Short room reverb with a small decay
Megaphone	600 Hz	3 kHz	Strong mid boost near 1.5 to 2 kHz and hard compression
Lo-fi radio	200 Hz	5 kHz	Bitcrusher, gentle noise and a slight pitch wobble

Automate it in and out

1. Put the effect chain on a duplicate of the vocal track, or use a bypass switch.
2. Draw automation on the EQ's frequency controls, or on the plug-in's bypass, so the sound opens at the chorus.
3. Crossfade the dry and the effect tracks over one or two beats, instead of switching at once.
4. Time the change to a drum fill or a drop for the most impact.

A smooth open-up is the difference between a gimmick and an arrangement choice. Step it in a few bars before the chorus so the listener feels it coming.

Problems that show up

• Too thin to hear: lower the high-pass to 300 Hz, or blend 20 to 30 percent of the dry vocal under it.
• Harsh and piercing: reduce the 1.5 kHz boost to 2 or 3 dB and lower the low-pass to 3 kHz.
• Lost in the beat: narrow band sounds quiet. Raise the track level, and cut the beat a little near 1 to 2 kHz.
• Distortion crackles: lower the drive or the bit-crush mix.

Not sure what a number means? The vocal EQ cheat sheet maps each range to what you hear.

Get the Cellphone Effect preset

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, the GarageBand Starter Pack and the Vocal Preset Mega Bundle for Logic Pro X. Browse the Logic Pro vocal presets and GarageBand vocal presets collections.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a vocal sound like a phone call?

Cut below about 400 Hz and above about 3.2 kHz, lift near 1.5 kHz, add light distortion and compress hard.

What frequency range does a telephone use?

A standard phone line carries roughly 300 Hz to 3.4 kHz. Our recipe sits slightly inside that range for a stronger effect.

Can I do the phone effect in GarageBand?

Yes. Use Channel EQ to narrow the band, add distortion or a Bitcrusher if your version has one, and compress.

How do I make the phone effect only on part of the song?

Automate the EQ or bypass, or use Logic Pro's Selection-Based Processing on one phrase.

What is the best plug-in for a phone vocal?

Channel EQ does most of the work. Overdrive or Bitcrusher adds the grit, and a compressor squashes it.

Why does my phone effect sound too quiet?

Narrow band audio has less energy. Raise the track level and give the 1.5 kHz lift a little more.

Keep going: Logic Pro vocals complete guide | GarageBand vocals complete guide | chopped and screwed vocals.