How to Sound Like XXXTENTACION: Vocal Chain (2026)

Vocal Chains · Meshplugins.com

X's vocals swing from soft and intimate to distorted and screamed. Here's the reported chain.

Reported around an SM7B into a Neve 1073 and a CL 1B, into an Apollo Twin, with Auto-Tune. Short version below; the full chain is in the Bible.

Related: how to mix vocals like a pro, the free vocal chain and the vocal chain explained.

1. Dynamic mic - the intimacy — warm and raw

Reported SM7B into a Neve 1073. A dynamic keeps the soft parts intimate and handles the loud ones.

2. CL 1B - the control — smooth then loud

A Tube-Tech CL 1B for the soft passages; let the screams stay dynamic. Free: MJUC jr.

3. Auto-Tune - the melody — when it's sung

Medium Antares Auto-Tune on the melodic parts, off for the raw ones. Free: Graillon 2.

4. Distortion - the emotion — the scream

Drive Soundtoys Decapitator hard on the aggressive sections. The distortion IS the sound.

5. Reverb and space - the mood — lo-fi haze

Dark reverb, tape and lo-fi textures fit his emotional, raw aesthetic.

Want the real studio version? See XXXTENTACION's actual studio vocal chain by Koen Heldens — the exact gear an award-winning engineer used.

The chain at a glance

Starting settings (dial these in)

• Dynamic mic - the intimacy: Track ~15–20 cm off the mic with a pop filter; set gain so peaks land near −6 dB with no clipping.
• CL 1B - the control: Start around 3–5 dB of gain reduction. Fast attack, medium release for control; if it pumps, ease the ratio or release.
• Auto-Tune - the melody: 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.
• Distortion - the emotion: A little goes a long way — drive gently across the whole vocal for warmth, and push hard only on the aggressive lines.
• Reverb and space - the mood: 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. Dynamic mic - the intimacy
2. CL 1B - the control
3. Auto-Tune - the melody
4. Distortion - the emotion
5. Reverb and space - the mood

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

Do it for $0

You can get most of the way with free plugins: MJUC jr, Graillon 2. Start there, get the performance and the moves right, then upgrade only the one piece that matters most for your sound.

Want the exact chain — and 87 more?

This is the short version. The Vocal Chain Bible has the full reported chain for XXXTENTACION — 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 is XXXTENTACION's vocal chain?

Reported SM7B into a Neve 1073 and CL 1B, into an Apollo, with Auto-Tune. Full chain in the Vocal Chain Bible.

How do I get that distorted vocal?

Drive a saturator like Decapitator hard on the aggressive parts and keep the soft parts clean.

What matters most for the XXXTENTACION vocal sound?

It's the whole chain working in order: dynamic mic - the intimacy, cl 1b - the control, auto-tune - the melody, distortion - the emotion, reverb and space - the mood. 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 →