Vocal chain

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To get an “expensive” vocal sound in Cubase, you need more than just one compressor. Professional vocals are usually processed in stages—each plugin doing a small, specific job so that no single plugin has to work too hard.

In your Mix Template, set up this Lead Vocal Chain in the following order:

1. The Correct Chain Order

Slot Plugin Purpose Settings
1 Gate/Expander Removes headphone bleed/noise. Set threshold just above the “hiss.”
2 Frequency 2 Surgical cleaning. HPF at 80–100Hz; Cut “mud” at 250Hz.
3 De-Esser Tames harsh “S” and “T” sounds. Target 5kHz–8kHz; 3dB reduction.
4 FET Compressor Catches fast peaks (Aggressive). Attack: Fast; Ratio 4:1; 2–3dB reduction.
5 Tube Compressor Adds “Body” and smoothness. Attack: Slow; Ratio 2:1; 2–3dB reduction.
6 Studio EQ The “Money” boost. +2dB High Shelf at 12kHz.
7 Saturation Harmonic “Excitement.” Magneto II or DaTube (very subtle).

2. The “Double Compressor” Secret

Most beginners use one compressor to do 6dB of gain reduction. This sounds “squashed.”

  • The Pro Way: Use the FET (VCA) compressor first to catch the lightning-fast peaks (like “P” pops or loud starts of words).

  • Follow it with the Tube Compressor (opto-style) to smooth out the overall performance. This “serial compression” makes the vocal stay perfectly in front of the mix without sounding lifeless.

3. Using “Frequency 2” for the “Air”

In Step 6 of the chain, use Frequency 2 or Studio EQ.

  • The “Air” Band: Instead of boosting the mid-highs (which makes vocals harsh), use a High Shelf starting at 12 kHz. This adds that “breath” and expensive sheen found in professional pop and rock recordings.

4. Parallel Processing (The “Magic” Send)

In your template, don’t just put effects on the vocal track. Use Sends to these FX Channels:

  • The Slap Delay: A very short delay (80ms–120ms) with 0% feedback. This adds “width” and makes the vocal feel 3D without the “washiness” of reverb.

  • The Plate Reverb: Use a bright Plate (like Cubase REVival or Revelation). High-pass the reverb at 500Hz so the vocal stays clear.

  • Parallel Compression (Optional): Send your vocal to a Group Track with a compressor set to “Maximum Crush” (20:1 ratio). Blend a tiny bit of this back in with your main vocal to add “weight” and consistency.

5. Final Checklist for your Vocal Template

  • Color Code: Make your Lead Vocal a bright, distinct color (e.g., Yellow) so you can find it instantly.

  • Automation: Once your chain is set, use Vocal Rider or manual Clip Gain to smooth the vocal volume before it hits the plugins. This makes the compressors work much more musically.

How to Save This Chain

Once you have these plugins loaded and set up:

  1. Right-click the Inserts rack in the Inspector.

  2. Select “Save Selected Attributes as Track Preset…”

  3. Name it PRO_Lead_Vocal_Chain.

  4. Now, in any project, you can right-click an empty track and “Apply Track Preset” to load this entire logic instantly.

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