How to Make Hyperpop Vocals That Cut Through the Chaos

Hyperpop is a genre where nothing is too loud, too weird, or too over-processed. It’s chaotic, genre-blending, and completely fearless — and that’s exactly why so many artists are gravitating toward it. From glitchy autotune to speaker-blasting distortion, hyperpop vocals don’t just sit in the mix — they slice through it like a razor.

But with all that chaos comes a unique challenge: how do you make your hyperpop vocals stand out without drowning in the sea of synths, pitched drums, and distorted bass?

In this guide, we’ll break down the full process of crafting hyperpop vocals that are sharp, exciting, and unmistakably modern — all inside your home studio setup. Whether you’re using FL Studio, Logic Pro X, or BandLab, you’ll learn how to build a vocal chain that delivers the sonic punch hyperpop demands.

What Defines Hyperpop Vocals?

Hyperpop vocals are not traditional. They’re stylized, extreme, and often intentionally artificial. The sound is characterized by:

• Heavy autotune or pitch correction
  
  
• Formant shifting (chipmunk or demon voice effects)
  
  
• Glitchy artifacts, stutters, or distortion
  
  
• Stereo widening
  
  
• High-end EQ boosts for brightness
  
  
• Creative reverb and delay for space
  
  

The vocals are usually mixed to cut through extremely busy instrumentals. That means aggressive EQ shaping, fast and hard compression, and a fearless use of FX chains.

Whether you're aiming for a sound like 100 gecs, glaive, ericdoa, or midwxst, the formula remains similar: make your vocals sound like they shouldn’t work — but they do.

 

 

Start With a Clean Recording

Even if your end goal is glitchy chaos, you should start with a clean vocal take. A poor-quality recording makes it harder to control the sound later.

Here’s what you need:

• A condenser mic like the AT2020 or Lewitt LCT 240 Pro
  
  
• A treated space (or at least a quiet one)
  
  
• 24-bit audio recording in your DAW
  
  
• Pop filter and minimal background noise
  
  

Record multiple takes so you can comp together the best moments. Don’t worry about being perfect — emotional or “imperfect” delivery can add to the character of your hyperpop vocals.

 

Step-by-Step: How to Build a Hyperpop Vocal Chain

Step 1: Pitch Correction (Autotune or Pitcher)

This is non-negotiable. Hyperpop vocals lean heavily into robotic, stylized pitch correction.

If you're using:

• FL Studio: Use Pitcher or NewTone
  
  
• Logic Pro X: Use Pitch Correction or Auto-Tune plugin
  
  
• BandLab: Use Autotune feature in vocal effects tab
  
  

Set the key of your song. Use fast retune speed (0–10) and low humanization to get that synthetic tone. Don’t be afraid to let the “tuning artifacts” through — they’re part of the aesthetic.

Step 2: Formant Shifting for Texture

Want a chipmunk voice? Drop the formants up. Going for a darker, demonic tone? Shift them down.

Formant shifting is what gives hyperpop vocals that cartoonish, surreal edge. You’ll hear it on tracks from Gupi, osquinn, and Laura Les.

Tools:

• FL Studio: Use NewTone or third-party plugins like Little AlterBoy
  
  
• Logic Pro: Use Flex Pitch
  
  
• BandLab: Use Tone knob under FX to shift voice texture
  
  

Try duplicating your main vocal and pitch/formant-shifting the copy to create harmonies or contrast layers.

Step 3: EQ to Carve Out Space

Hyperpop instrumentals are dense — layered synths, drums, risers, distortion — so EQ is your best friend when trying to make your hyperpop vocals stand out.

EQ tips:

• High-pass filter everything below 100Hz
  
  
• Cut low-mids (200–500Hz) to avoid mud
  
  
• Boost high-mids (4–8kHz) for presence
  
  
• Add air (10–14kHz) for shimmer
  
  

Use subtractive EQ to clean up the vocal before adding effects. If needed, de-ess at 6–8kHz.

 

Add Compression to Lock It In

Hyperpop vocals are usually very compressed — often with multiple stages.

Start with a standard vocal compressor:

• Ratio: 4:1 or higher
  
  
• Attack: Fast (5–15ms)
  
  
• Release: Medium-fast
  
  
• Gain Reduction: 5–10dB on loudest parts
  
  

Then use a limiter or maximizer to push it forward in the mix. You want your vocals to feel "glued" and aggressive without sounding smashed.

 

 

Add Creative Effects for Style

Now’s the time to add flavor. Here’s where hyperpop vocals come alive.

• Distortion/Saturation: Add grit with soft clipping or tape saturation. Try Fruity Blood Overdrive or Logic's Overdrive.
  
  
• Bitcrushing: Use plugins like Fruity Squeeze or Redux to give vocals a pixelated, crunchy tone.
  
  
• Chorus/Flanger: Adds width and movement.
  
  
• Stereo Delay: Ping-pong delays can help vocals bounce without cluttering.
  
  
• Granular/Glitch FX: Use glitch plugins to stutter or time-shift parts of your vocal for sudden chaos.
  
  

Automation is key. Turn FX on/off at specific moments to keep things interesting.

 

 

How to Layer Hyperpop Vocals Like a Pro

The genre thrives on layered vocals — but not all layers should be treated the same. Here's how to do it right:

• Lead Vocal: Bright, upfront, full FX chain
  
  
• Double: Slight pitch shift (up/down 5–10 cents), panned left/right
  
  
• Formant Harmony: Shifted copy of lead vocal with altered tone
  
  
• Ad-Libs: Panned wide, more reverb/delay, maybe distorted
  
  
• Whispers/Shouts: Add sudden contrast or surprise
  
  

Each layer should fill a different pocket in the stereo field or frequency spectrum.

 

 

The Only Hyperpop Vocal Checklist You Need

Here’s our one numbered list to guide your vocal chain from start to finish:

1. Record clean, clear vocals with minimal noise
   
   
2. Apply heavy pitch correction (fast retune speed)
   
   
3. Use formant shifting
   
   
4. Layer vocals for texture: doubles, harmonies, whispers
   
   
5. Add distortion or saturation for grit and edge
   
   
6. Use delay and reverb for space — but automate them creatively
   
   
7. Experiment with glitch or granular FX for movement
   
   
8. Automate pitch, tone, or FX sends to create chaos-on-command
   
   

Follow these steps and you’ll have a hyperpop vocal chain that doesn’t just sit in your mix — it takes over.

 

 

Don’t Forget Vocal Presets: Your Secret Weapon

Building hyperpop vocals from scratch every time can be exhausting — especially when you want to stay in the creative zone. That’s where vocal presets come in.

At Cedar Sound Studios, we offer vocal presets specifically tailored to experimental and genre-bending styles like hyperpop. These presets are:

• Designed using only stock plugins
  
  
• Compatible with FL Studio, Logic Pro X, and BandLab
  
  
• Perfect for layering, pitching, and automating with ease
  
  
• Ideal for beginners who want pro-quality results fast
  

 

 

Tips for Standing Out in the Hyperpop Scene

Hyperpop isn’t just about loudness and pitch—it’s about personality. Here’s how to make sure your vocals stand out, even in a genre full of chaos:

Tell a Story Through FX

Automate delay throws on emotional words. Add distortion only on certain phrases. Pitch your voice up or down mid-line. These tricks make your vocals feel alive.

Use Silence as a Tool

A sudden stop before the hook. A dry vocal line before a drenched chorus. In hyperpop, contrast is just as powerful as FX.

Don’t Over-Polish

Hyperpop isn’t meant to be perfect. Let breaths, voice cracks, and imperfections shine through. It adds raw energy to your track.

 

 

Final Thoughts: Push It to the Limit

Creating hyperpop vocals that cut through the chaos isn’t about subtlety — it’s about excess, emotion, and experimentation. The best mixes in this genre aren’t clean; they’re expressive. When you combine a fearless approach to FX with vocal presets that get you in the zone faster, your sound will instantly elevate.

Whether you're producing for yourself or others, don’t be afraid to push the boundaries. Because in hyperpop, the only rule is that there are no rules.