What Microphone Does Ariana Grande Use? (2026)

Vocal Chains · Meshplugins.com

Ariana Grande's records use one of the most expensive vocal mics ever made — a Telefunken ELA M 251. Here's the mic, the chain around it, and how to get close for less.

Reported by engineer Joe Gallagher, her vocals run a Telefunken ELA M 251 into a Neve 1073 and an LA-2A. This is the mic story; the full reported chain is in the Bible.

Related: Ariana Grande's full studio vocal chain, how to sound like Ariana Grande and how to mix vocals like a pro.

The mic — a Telefunken ELA M 251

Reported Telefunken ELA M 251 — a tube condenser with a silky, airy top that flatters bright pop vocals. It's the mic on her sessions.

The preamp — warm and clean

Into a Neve 1073 for warmth and punch. A clean, slightly coloured preamp is half the recorded sound.

Why it suits her — smooth up top

The 251's lifted air and smooth midrange let breathy, high pop vocals sit forward without ever turning harsh.

Budget alternatives — get close for less

No $12k mic? A solid large-diaphragm condenser (a Rode NT1, an AT2020 or an SE) into a clean interface, then add air with an EQ. Free: TDR Nova for the air.

The rest of the chain — polish

An Teletronix LA-2A for leveling, light Auto-Tune, a Pultec-style EQ move and a tight plate. The mic gets you part way; the chain finishes it.

The chain at a glance

Starting settings (dial these in)

• The mic: Track ~15–20 cm off the mic with a pop filter; set gain so peaks land near −6 dB with no clipping.
• 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 suits her: Track ~15–20 cm off the mic with a pop filter; set gain so peaks land near −6 dB with no clipping.
• Budget alternatives: 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.
• The rest of the chain: 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.

Putting it together

1. The mic
2. The preamp
3. Why it suits her
4. Budget alternatives
5. The rest of the chain

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 does Ariana Grande use?

Reported a Telefunken ELA M 251 tube condenser into a Neve 1073 preamp and an LA-2A compressor. The full reported chain is in the Vocal Chain Bible.

Can I sound like Ariana with a cheap mic?

Yes — a good condenser into a clean interface plus careful EQ and de-essing gets surprisingly close. The performance and the chain matter as much as the mic.

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 →