Logic Setup

VOCAL

1+ inputs

8+ busses:

4+ main / 4+ sends

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INPUTS:

Vox 1 inputs (Output to Vox 1 BUS)
[Vox 2 inputs] (Output to Vox 2 BUS)
[Vox 3 inputs] (Output to Vox 3 BUS)

MAIN BUSSES:

Vox 1 BUS (Output: Vox SUB; copy to SENDS)
[Vox 2 BUS] (Output: Vox SUB; copy to SENDS)
[Vox 3 BUS] (Output: Vox SUB; copy to SENDS)
Vox FX (to Vox MASTER)
Vox SUB (to Vox MASTER)
Vox MASTER (to Stereo Out)

SENDS:

Vox KEY (no output)
VERB 1 (to Vox FX)
VERB 2 (to Vox FX)
DELAY (to Vox FX)
[Vox PARALLEL] (to Vox MASTER)
[Vox SATURATION] (to Vox MASTER)

Vox 1 BUS

INSERTS:

Parametric EQ
High Pass Filter on low end (below 100Hz)
Cut low mids if too strong

Compressor 1
Digital compressor
attenuate loudest peaks (1-2dB gain reduction)
3:1 ratio, slow attack (15ms), fast release (50ms)
hard knee
NO make-up gain

Compressor 2 (MAIN)
Optical Compressor (LA2A style)
3:1 ratio, slow attack, fast release
soft knee
3-6dB gain reduction (or more)
make-up gain as desired

SENDS:

Vox KEY
VERB 1
VERB 2
DELAY
[Vox PARALLEL]
[Vox SATURATION]

OUTPUT:

VOX SUB

Vox KEY

INSERTS:

[Compression]
Digital compressor
medium attack 8ms
fast release (50ms)
2:1 ratio
0-2dB gain reduction
makeup gain optional

OUTPUT:

set to “no output”
This BUS only is used to control sidechain compression

GOALS:

This compressor functions only to further control the dynamic range of the sidechain compression on reverbs and delays, etc. If the sidechain ducking of reverbs has too much dynamic range, this compressor smooths that out, allowing more reverb when vocal is strongest (so less attenuation of reverb via the sidechain).

VERB 1

INSERTS:

Close Reverb
100% wet
dial-in level to taste

Compression (Sidechain)
Digital compressor
Side-chain listens to Vox KEY
slow attack 15ms
medium release (100ms)
1-2dB gain reduction
NO makeup gain

[Parametic or Dynamic EQ]
shape tone as needed
cut troublesome frequencies as needed

OUTPUT:

VOX FX BUS

VERB 2

INSERTS:

Long Reverb
100% wet
dial-in level to taste

Compression (Sidechain)
Digital compressor
Side-chain listens to Vox KEY
slow attack 15ms
slow release (200-400ms)
4-8dB gain reduction
NO makeup gain

[Parametic or Dynamic EQ]
shape tone as needed
cut troublesome frequencies as needed

OUTPUT:

VOX FX BUS

DELAY

INSERTS:

Delay
100% wet
dial-in level to taste

Compression (Sidechain)
Digital compressor
Side-chain listens to Vox KEY
slow attack 15ms
slow release (200-800ms)
4-8dB gain reduction
NO makeup gain

[Parametic or Dynamic EQ]
shape tone as needed
cut troublesome frequencies as needed

OUTPUT:

VOX FX BUS

VOX FX

INSERTS:

Compression (Sidechain)
Digital compressor
Side-chain listens to Vox KEY
slow attack 15ms
medium release (50-100ms)
1.5:1 or 2:1 ratio
1-2dB gain reduction
NO makeup gain

[Parametic or Dynamic EQ]
shape tone as needed
cut troublesome frequencies as needed

[Mid/Side Dynamic EQ]
Sidechain listens to Vox KEY
Duck the mid-frequencies in the center (“Mid”) via sidechain
1-2dB gain reduction

OUTPUT:

VOX MASTER

GOALS:

The sidechain compression is a safety and just kicks in to smooth out the combination of effects. Light processing is best here. Mid-side dynamic EQ will further carve out space for the vocal to cut through in the center channel. Dial in carefully. Light processing best.

VOX SUB

INSERTS:

[Compression]
some kind of GLUE compression
1-3dB reduction
1.5:1 or 2:1 ratio
Make-up gain as desired

[Multiband Compression]
light compression as needed
apply to low-mids if vocals get muddy
apply to 1-2k mids for vocal presence control
apply to higher mids (3-5k) if sibilance arises

[Dynamic EQ]
same approach as multiband
more targeted frequencies

OUTPUT:

VOX MASTER

GOALS:

Glue for vocals, targeted dynamic control. Totally fine to use no processing here. Same processing can be applied on VOX MASTER. That bus just will include the reverb and other parallel processing such as Saturation and Parallel compression.

VOX MASTER

INSERTS:

[Compression]
some kind of GLUE compression
1-3dB reduction
1.5:1 or 2:1 ratio
Make-up gain as desired

[Multiband Compression]
light compression as needed
apply to low-mids if vocals get muddy
apply to 1-2k mids for vocal presence control
apply to higher mids (3-5k) if sibilance arises

[Dynamic EQ]
same approach as multiband
more targeted frequencies

OUTPUT:

STEREO OUT

GOALS:

Glue for vocals, targeted dynamic control. Totally fine to use no processing here. Same processing can be applied on VOX SUB. That bus just will not include the reverb or the parallel processing such as saturation or parallel compression.