Get a Great Vocal Sound with Waves CLA Vocals

Let’s be honest — building the “perfect” vocal chain from scratch can take forever.

EQ, compressor, de-esser, reverb, delay… by the time you’re done, you’ve lost the vibe.

That’s exactly why Waves CLA Vocals exists.

Created with legendary mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge, this plugin gives you a polished, radio-ready vocal sound in just a few knobs. No complicated routing. No 10-plugin chains. Just fast results.

Here’s how to make it sound great without overthinking it.

🎤 Step 1: Start with a Decent Recording

CLA Vocals is powerful — but it’s not magic.

Make sure your vocal:

• Isn’t clipping

• Doesn’t have too much background noise

• Is gain staged properly (peaks around -6 to -10 dB)

If the recording is clean, this plugin will shine.

🎛 Step 2: Turn the Magic Knob (Input Sensitivity)

This is where most of the magic happens.

The Input Sensitivity knob controls how hard the internal compression works.

Turn it up until:

• The vocal feels tight and controlled

• The level sounds consistent

• It doesn’t feel squashed

If it starts sounding flat or lifeless, back it off a little.

Simple.

🎚 Step 3: Adjust the Tone

You only get two main tone controls — and honestly, that’s a good thing.

Bass

• Add if the vocal sounds thin

• Reduce if it’s muddy

Treble

• Add for air and shine

• Reduce if it’s harsh

Small tweaks. Don’t go crazy.

✨ Step 4: Add Some Flavor (Effects Section)

This is where you shape the vibe.

Reverb
Keep it low for modern pop.
Push it up for emotional ballads.

Delay
A little slap delay = instant thickness.
Tempo-synced delay = cool rhythmic vibe.

Pitch / Doubler
Great for width.
Use subtly for natural thickness, or push harder for that modern pop sound.

🎵 Quick Genre Settings

Here’s a cheat sheet:

Pop

• Medium input sensitivity

• Slight treble boost

• Light reverb

• Subtle doubler

Rock

• Higher input sensitivity

• Boost presence

• Less reverb

• Slight slap delay

Ballads

• Softer compression

• More reverb

• Gentle delay

🔥 Pro Tips

• Use a de-esser before CLA Vocals if needed

• Automate effects during the chorus for extra energy

• Try different settings on background vocals for width

• Add surgical EQ after CLA if something needs fixing

Why People Love It

• Fast workflow

• Beginner-friendly

• Big, commercial sound

• All-in-one vocal chain

• Keeps your creativity flowing

Final Thoughts

If you hate spending 30 minutes building a vocal chain, Waves CLA Vocals might be your new best friend.

It’s not about endless tweaking — it’s about getting a solid, polished sound quickly so you can focus on the song.

And honestly? Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.