How to Sound Like Juice WRLD: Vocal Chain (2026)

Vocal Chains · Meshplugins.com

Juice WRLD's vocals sit warm, melodic and drenched in autotune. Here's the reported chain - and how to get close for free.

The reported starting point was a Neumann U87 into a Neve 1073, then a stack of Auto-Tune, EQ, compression and delay. This is the short version - the full order and exact settings live in the Vocal Chain Bible.

Related: the free vocal chain, best free autotune plugins and the vocal chain explained.

1. Mic and preamp — the warmth

Reported as a Neumann U87 into a Neve 1073. No U87? Any large-diaphragm condenser into a clean preamp gets you in the zone.

2. Auto-Tune first — the melody

A medium-fast retune on Antares Auto-Tune keeps him in key while leaving the emotional pitch slides. Free alternative: Graillon 2.

3. EQ and compression — the body

Subtractive FabFilter Pro-Q to clear mud, then an 1176-style comp to even the level. Free: TDR Nova and MJUC jr.

4. De-ess and exciter — the polish

A de-esser like Waves R-DeEsser tames harsh S sounds, and an Aphex-style exciter adds air up top without turning it brittle.

5. Delay and plate — the space

A synced delay (Waves H-Delay) plus a plate or hall reverb (Valhalla VintageVerb) on sends make it float. Keep the vocal fairly dry and push the sends.

The chain at a glance

Starting settings (dial these in)

• Mic and preamp: High-pass 80–100 Hz, dip mud around 250–450 Hz, lift presence 3–5 kHz and add air with a high shelf at 10–14 kHz.
• Auto-Tune first: Set the song's key/scale first. Retune speed fast (0–20 ms) for the obvious effect, slower (40–90 ms) for a natural feel.
• EQ and compression: Start around 3–5 dB of gain reduction. Fast attack, medium release for control; if it pumps, ease the ratio or release.
• De-ess and exciter: Target 5–9 kHz and pull only 2–4 dB, and only on the harsh 's' sounds — don't dull the whole vocal.
• Delay and plate: Plate or hall, 1.0–1.8 s decay, 20–40 ms pre-delay; roll off the lows and extreme highs so it sits behind the vocal.

Putting it together

1. Mic and preamp
2. Auto-Tune first
3. EQ and compression
4. De-ess and exciter
5. Delay and plate

Work top to bottom, commit as you go, and A/B against a reference. The order matters more than owning the exact plugins.

Want the exact chain — and 87 more?

This is the short version. The Vocal Chain Bible has the full reported chain for Juice WRLD — every plugin, the exact signal order, free + paid alternatives, and the source clip — plus 87 more from 70+ artists. 5+ years and 100+ Grammy interviews in one 187-page PDF.

Get the Vocal Chain Bible →

FAQ

What plugins make the Juice WRLD vocal sound?

Auto-Tune (or Graillon 2), a clean EQ, an 1176-style compressor, a de-esser, and a plate reverb plus delay on sends. The full reported chain and settings are in the Vocal Chain Bible.

Can I get the Juice WRLD sound with free plugins?

Yes - Graillon 2, TDR Nova, MJUC jr. and a free reverb get you most of the way to that melodic, autotuned tone.

What matters most for the Juice WRLD vocal sound?

It's the whole chain working in order: mic and preamp, auto-tune first, eq and compression, de-ess and exciter, delay and plate. Nail the take and those stages in sequence and you're most of the way there — the exact settings are in the Vocal Chain Bible.

Who's behind this

Ivan Meshcheriakov · IvanFromRnD

5+ years ago I moved to LA with zero connections and started building from nothing — 14-hour days, and every night I'd hit my block, meet people and intern at studios. It took me 5+ years to meet and interview 100+ Grammy-winning engineers — then I sorted every interview and pulled the original vocal chains behind Drake, Beyoncé, Travis Scott & many more into one book.

Read my full story →