vocal-chain

Vocal Chain

Set up a vocal processing chain on the vocal track. Stock Ableton plugins by default; user can swap to third-party manually.

Workflow

1. Identify the vocal style

Ask if not given:

Style	Sonic goals
Pop lead	Bright, present, controlled, clean
Rap (modern)	Aggressive, in-your-face, heavy compression
Indie/lo-fi	Warm, slightly distant, character preserved
R&B	Smooth, lush, with subtle pitch correction
Cinematic/spoken word	Intimate, breathy, minimal processing
Backing vocals	Sit behind the lead — duller, narrower, ducked

2. Inspect the recording

get_track_info for the vocal track. Check:

• Peak level (should be -6 to -3 dB ideally)
• Any existing devices (don't blow them away)
• Mono or stereo (vocals are usually mono)

If peaks are red or the recording is below -20 dB, flag it: "Re-record at proper gain first; processing won't fix a bad recording."

3. Build the chain

Order matters. Standard order:

1. Gate / Noise reduction (only if needed)
2. Subtractive EQ (cut problems)
3. De-esser (tame harsh sibilance)
4. Compressor 1 (peak control, fast)
5. Compressor 2 (leveling, slow)
6. Additive EQ (boost desired frequencies)
7. Saturation (optional, for character)
8. Pitch correction (Auto-Tune / Melodyne / Vocal Pitch — if needed)
9. Reverb send (to a return, not in-line)
10. Delay send (to a return, not in-line)

Pop lead chain (stock Ableton)

Slot	Plugin	Settings
1	EQ Eight	HPF 80 Hz, cut -3 dB at 250 Hz, cut -2 dB at 4k (problem range)
2	Multiband Dynamics	De-ess range 5-9 kHz, threshold -25 dB, ratio 4:1
3	Compressor	Ratio 4:1, attack 5 ms, release 60 ms, threshold for 4-6 dB GR on peaks
4	Glue Compressor	Ratio 2:1, slow attack, auto release, 1-2 dB GR (leveling)
5	EQ Eight	+2 dB at 100 Hz (warmth), +2 dB at 5 kHz (presence), +2 dB at 12 kHz (air)
6	Saturator (optional)	Drive 2-3 dB, Soft Clip mode
Send A	Hall reverb	15-20% wet, pre-delay 30-50 ms
Send B	Ping Pong delay	1/8 dotted, 15-20% wet, feedback 25%

Rap (modern, aggressive) chain

Slot	Plugin	Settings
1	EQ Eight	HPF 100 Hz, surgical cuts on resonances
2	Multiband Dynamics	De-ess 5-9 kHz, ratio 6:1 (aggressive)
3	Compressor	Ratio 6:1, attack 3 ms, release 40 ms, GR 6-8 dB
4	Compressor 2	Ratio 3:1, attack 30 ms, release auto, GR 2-3 dB
5	EQ Eight	+3 dB at 5 kHz (aggression), +2 dB at 200 Hz (chest)
6	Saturator	Drive 4-6 dB, Soft Sine mode (mild distortion)
Send A	Plate reverb (Ableton Reverb in Plate algorithm)	8-12% wet, short pre-delay
Send B	Slap delay	1/16 single repeat, 10% wet

Indie / lo-fi chain

Slot	Plugin	Settings
1	EQ Eight	HPF 70 Hz, gentle
2	Compressor	Ratio 3:1, slow attack 30 ms, release 80 ms, GR 3-4 dB
3	Saturator	Drive 3-5 dB, Tape mode (warmth)
4	EQ Eight	-1 dB at 8 kHz (slightly dull), gentle
5	Vinyl Distortion or Cabinet	Subtle, for lo-fi character
Send A	Vintage spring reverb	25-30% wet (more present)

4. Apply with confirmation

Show the proposed chain. Confirm before writing. Apply each device in order.

5. Listen and tune

After applying, the user listens. Adjust based on feedback:

• Too dark? → Add 1-2 dB at 10-12 kHz
• Too bright/harsh? → Reduce de-ess threshold, or cut at 4-5 kHz
• Pumping too obvious? → Reduce compressor ratio or threshold
• Sibilance still strong? → De-ess threshold lower or range tighter

Don'ts

• Don't auto-tune without asking — many vocals are intentionally raw.
• Don't apply 8+ dB of compression in one stage; use two stages instead (peak compress + leveling).
• Don't put reverb in-line — always on a send.
• Don't load expensive third-party plugins by default. Stock chain works for 80% of cases.
• Don't pitch-correct outside the song's key without confirming the key first.