If you’re chasing that modern, upfront, and emotionally raw vocal sound like The Kid Laroi, you’re in luck. Engineer and content creator Gosha Sher has crafted a FREE vocal chain preset for Waves StudioRack, designed specifically to deliver that kind of mix-ready vocal tone — and it’s seriously powerful.
This chain is packed with some of Waves’ most iconic plugins and designed for clarity, warmth, punch, and spaciousness — all running inside StudioRack for easy control and parallel routing.
Let’s break down the full signal chain step by step. 👇
🔹 1. Sheps 73 – The Classic Starting Point
The chain kicks off with the Sheps 73, a Neve-style preamp and EQ. It’s used here for subtle analog saturation, a gentle high-frequency lift, and midrange shaping.
- Adds warmth and harmonic depth
- Lifts vocal presence without harshness
- Vintage tone meets modern clarity
🔹 2. CLA-2A – Smooth Optical Compression
Next up is the CLA-2A, an optical compressor known for its smooth, slow response. It gently levels the vocal while keeping it natural and musical.
- Controls peaks without sounding squashed
- Adds slight glue and fullness
- Perfect for emotional or intimate vocals
🔹 3. CLA-76 – Fast, Aggressive Compression
Following that, the CLA-76 adds fast, aggressive compression to tighten transients and bring the vocal forward in the mix.
- Enhances energy and edge
- Great combo with the CLA-2A (slow + fast compression)
- Adds extra character and presence
🔹 4. RDeEsser – Sibilance Control
To tame any excessive sibilance (S sounds), Gosha inserts the RDeEsser right after compression.
- Transparent sibilant control
- Simple threshold-style interface
- Keeps the vocal smooth and clean
🔹 5. REQ 6 – Surgical EQ Sculpting
With dynamics under control, the REQ 6 is used for more precise tonal shaping. This EQ helps cut out muddiness and emphasize the sweet spots of the voice.
- High-pass filter to clean low-end rumble
- Gentle cuts around 300–500 Hz if needed
- High shelf boost for air and shimmer
🔹 6. Equator & LV – Tone Sweeteners
Next come Equator and LV, two lesser-known but powerful Waves plugins. These are used to enhance tone and add subtle character.
- Equator may be used for curve shaping or harmonics
- LV likely adds final tone polish or light saturation
These stages are subtle but bring depth and fullness.
🌀 Parallel Effects: H-Reverb & H-Delay
To bring the vocals to life, the chain includes parallel reverb and delay buses using H-Reverb and H-Delay, routed inside StudioRack.
- H-Reverb gives a lush stereo tail that adds space without drowning the vocal
- H-Delay adds rhythmic echoes or subtle dimension
- Both are blended carefully to support the dry vocal
✅ Final Thoughts
This free vocal chain by Gosha Sher is a perfect example of balancing warmth, control, and space — all essential to modern pop and hip-hop vocals like Kid Laroi’s. The best part? You can load it instantly with Waves StudioRack and customize each plugin to match your vocalist.
If you’re looking for a vocal chain that:
- Works out of the box
- Uses tried-and-true Waves tools
- Sounds big, clean, and emotional…
👉 Download it and start experimenting today.
