What Mic Does XXXTENTACION Use? (2026)
Vocal Chains · Meshplugins.com
XXXTENTACION's raw, in-your-face vocals didn't come from a $10k condenser — a lot of it was a humble dynamic mic. Here's the story.
Reported to track on an SM7B-style dynamic into a Neve 1073 and a CL 1B, pushed hard. The mic is only part of it; the distortion and performance do the rest.
Related: XXXTENTACION's vocal chain by Koen Heldens, how to sound like XXXTENTACION and the free vocal chain.
The mic — a dynamic (SM7B-style)
Reported a Shure SM7B-type dynamic — it handles loud, screamed takes without distorting the capsule and keeps the room out. Cheap swap: an SM58 gets you most of the way.
The preamp — gain and warmth
A dynamic needs a lot of clean gain — into a Neve 1073 or any preamp with headroom and a little colour.
Why it works — raw over pristine
His sound is intimate and aggressive, not polished. A dynamic keeps the soft parts close and survives the loud ones.
Compression — control then loud
A Tube-Tech CL 1B for the soft passages; let the screams stay dynamic. Free: MJUC jr.
Distortion — the emotion
Drive Soundtoys Decapitator hard on the aggressive sections — the breakup is the sound, not a bug.
The chain at a glance
| Stage | Reach for | Free / cheap swap |
|---|---|---|
| The mic | — | — |
| The preamp | Neve 1073 | — |
| Why it works | — | — |
| Compression | Tube-Tech CL 1B | MJUC jr |
| Distortion | Soundtoys Decapitator | — |
Starting settings (dial these in)
- The mic: Plate or hall, 1.0–1.8 s decay, 20–40 ms pre-delay; roll off lows and extreme highs so it sits behind the vocal.
- The 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.
- Why it works: Track ~15–20 cm off the mic with a pop filter; set gain so peaks land near −6 dB with no clipping.
- Compression: Start around 3–5 dB of gain reduction. Fast attack, medium release; if it pumps, ease the ratio or release.
- Distortion: A little goes a long way — drive gently for warmth, push hard only on the aggressive lines.
Putting it together
- The mic
- The preamp
- Why it works
- Compression
- Distortion
Work top to bottom, commit as you go, and A/B against a reference. The order matters more than owning the exact gear.
Want the exact chains — 88 in one place?
The Vocal Chain Bible has 88 reported vocal chains from 70+ artists — every plugin, the exact order, free + paid alternatives, and the source clip. 5+ years and 100+ Grammy interviews in one 187-page PDF.
Get the Vocal Chain Bible →FAQ
What microphone did XXXTENTACION use?
Reported a dynamic mic (SM7B-style) into a Neve 1073 and a CL 1B, pushed into distortion. Full reported chain in the Vocal Chain Bible.
Can I get his sound with a cheap mic?
Yes — a dynamic like an SM58 into a decent preamp, then drive a saturator hard on the loud parts. It's more performance and distortion than gear.
More real talk → Meshplugins.com · the free vocal chain
— IvanFromRnD
Educational reference. Vocal chains and gear are compiled from public interviews and reports and may be inaccurate; not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by any artist. Sweetwater and Plugin Boutique links are affiliate links.
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 →Free forever · No sign-up · Runs in your browser
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