Vocal Chain Order: How to Build Your First Rap Vocal Chain

A vocal chain is the set of effects your vocal runs through, one after the other. The order matters, because each plugin reacts to whatever the one before it sends out. You do not need a long list of secret settings to start. You need a sensible order, a clean recording and the habit of checking every change with the beat playing.

What is a vocal chain?

In every DAW you add effects to a track in slots. The vocal goes through the top slot first and the bottom slot last. That stack is your vocal chain. Reverb and delay usually live somewhere else: on a separate track that you send the vocal to. More on that below.

A vocal preset is a saved version of a chain, with the settings already dialled in. The chain is the idea, the preset is one way to store it. Vocal chain vs vocal preset goes deeper into the difference.

Before the chain: the recording

No plugin fixes a take that clips, or a vocal recorded far from the mic in an echoey room. Record at a level that stays well out of the red, keep the same distance from the microphone and pick your best take before you add anything. A clean, confident take needs fewer plugins.

The vocal chain order, step by step

1. Noise gate (optional)

Hiss or background noise between your lines? A gate mutes the track while you are not rapping. It does nothing while you are rapping, so it is no fix for a noisy room. Set it gently, or it cuts off the start and end of words.

2. Pitch correction (optional)

Autotune goes near the top, so it reads a clean signal. Set it to the key of the beat before anything else. Not sure what key the beat is in? Check it with the free key finder.

3. Cleanup EQ

Remove what does not belong: low rumble from the desk or traffic, and a boxy or boomy spot if you hear one. A low cut around 80 to 100 Hz is a common start for a rap vocal. Slide it up until the voice gets thin, then back off a little.

4. Compression

A compressor evens out the level, so loud words do not jump out and quiet words do not get lost. A ratio around 3:1 to 4:1 is a fair start. Lower the threshold until the loudest parts get a few dB of gain reduction. Hear pumping or a squashed voice? Back off.

5. De-esser

Compression brings up S and T sounds. A de-esser after the compressor only turns down that harsh top end when it gets too loud, so the rest of the voice stays bright. Check on earbuds, where sibilance shows up first.

6. Tone and saturation

Now shape the character: a small EQ boost for presence, or a bit of saturation for warmth and edge. Toggle it at the same level. If it only sounds louder, it is not better.

7. Reverb and delay on sends

Put reverb and delay on their own tracks and send the vocal to them. You control the amount of space per vocal, and lead, doubles and ad-libs can share the same room. For rap, keep the reverb short and quiet so the lyrics stay clear. A delay synced to the tempo works well on the last word of a line. Need a delay time in milliseconds? Use the BPM to ms calculator.

Why this order works

Tuning goes first because it works best on an unprocessed signal. Cleanup EQ goes before the compressor, so rumble and boom do not make it react. The de-esser comes after the compressor, because compression pushes the esses forward. Tone comes late, so you shape a vocal that is already under control. Reverb sits on a send, so the compressor on the vocal never squashes it. You can break any of these rules, as long as you can hear why.

The same chain in your DAW

Every popular DAW has stock plugins for each step. This is what they are called:

On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.

BandLab: tuning is called AutoPitch and works while you record. Other effects go on each track through Add Effect: up to 10 per track, or 20 with a Membership, according to BandLab's help center. See AutoPitch in BandLab and recording rap in BandLab on your phone.

Want the full walkthrough for your DAW, with starting values?

• Logic Pro vocal chain: plugin order for rap
• FL Studio vocal chain: plugin order for rap
• Rap vocal chain in Ableton Live
• Rap vocal chain in GarageBand
• Rap vocal chain in REAPER

Lead, doubles and ad-libs

Your lead gets the full chain. Doubles and ad-libs usually go to one shared track or group with a lighter version of it, and sit lower in the mix. More low cut, and doubles panned left and right, keep the middle free for the lead. Read whether ad-libs should use the same preset as your lead.

Common mistakes

• Copying settings from a video. Your voice, mic and room are different. Use numbers as a starting point only.
• Judging by volume. Louder sounds better for a second. Compare at the same level.
• Mixing solo. Make your decisions with the beat playing.
• Too much reverb. In rap, clear words come first.
• Autotune in the wrong key. It pulls notes the wrong way and sounds off.
• Plugins without a job. If you cannot hear what a plugin does, take it out.

Vocal chain FAQ

What is the correct vocal chain order?

There is no single correct order, but the most common one for rap is: noise gate if needed, pitch correction, cleanup EQ, compressor, de-esser, tone and saturation, then reverb and delay on sends. Start there and change it when you hear a reason to.

Does EQ go before or after compression?

Both. Cleanup EQ goes before the compressor, and a tone EQ often goes after it. Plenty of chains use an EQ in both places.

Where does autotune go in a vocal chain?

At or near the top, before EQ and compression. Set the key of the beat first.

Do I need expensive plugins?

No. Every step can be done with the plugins that come with your DAW. The recording and your own choices make the biggest difference.

Is a vocal chain the same as a vocal preset?

Not quite. The chain is the set of effects and their order. A preset saves a chain with its settings, so you can load it in one go and adjust it to your voice.

Skip the setup if you want

Rather start from a prepared chain? A vocal preset loads the whole chain at once, and you adjust it to your own take. Check the product page for the DAW and the plugins it needs, or browse the vocal presets for Logic Pro and FL Studio.

Keep reading

• Recording rap vocals in Logic Pro
• Recording with a preset on or adding it later
• What a vocal preset does
• Mix rap vocals over a beat