How much is for Vocal Chain of Burna Boy?

Grammy-nominated engineer Otis, engineer for Burna Boy, has revealed the vocal chain used to shape the global star’s signature sound. The exact chain is available in his exclusive template, giving you a chance to explore the tools and techniques behind Burna Boy’s vocals. Check it out now to elevate your own mixes!

Credits: Burna Boy, Drake, Metro Booming, 21 Savage, Lil Mosey, Trippie Redd, & many more.

1. Sony C-800G Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone
2. Neve 1073SPX Microphone Preamp & EQ
3. Tube-Tech CL 1B Tube Optical Compressor
4. Antares Auto-Tune Pro 11 Pitch-correction and Vocal Effects Plug-in
5. Avid Pro Tools Ultimate - Perpetual License
6. Avid EQ 7band
7. Waves Renaissance Compressor Plug-in
8. Waves DeEsser Sibilance Reduction Plug-in
9. FabFilter Pro-Q 3 EQ and Filter Plug-in
10. Solid State Logic 4K E Channel Strip Plug-in
11. C4 Multiband Compressor
12. Waves CLA Vocals Plug-in
13. Waves Q10 Equalizer Plug-in
14. Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter Plug-in - Native
15. Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter Plug-in (parallel on aux)
16. Oeksound soothe2 Dynamic Resonance Suppressor Plug-in
17. Valhalla VintageVerb
18. Waves H-Delay Hybrid Delay Plug-in

Total price of whole vocal chain is $23,639 + tax

Get the official template used by Burna Boy's engineer, featuring all the presets, settings, and effects. Available now on our website to help you achieve the authentic Burna Boy sound effortlessly.

How the Burna Boy vocal chain works

Engineer Otis builds a bright, upfront Afrobeats vocal on a classic hardware front end, then controls and colors it in the box. Here's each stage, with a free or cheap alternative.

Mic & preamp — the front end

A Sony C800G into a Neve 1073 — a bright tube condenser into a warm, punchy preamp. Free/cheap swap: a good condenser into a clean interface, then a preamp-style saturator.

Compression — smooth control

A Tube-Tech CL 1B keeps the level even without squashing the energy. Free swap: Analog Obsession or TDR Kotelnikov.

Tuning & EQ

Auto-Tune Pro for pitch, then a clean EQ (Avid EQ7 or FabFilter Pro-Q) to clear mud and add air. Free swap: Graillon 2 and TDR Nova.

Effects — the groove

Rhythmic, tempo-synced delay throws and a tight plate reverb give the modern Afrobeats bounce. Free swap: Valhalla Supermassive.

FAQ

What is Burna Boy's vocal chain?

Reported by engineer Otis: Sony C800G into a Neve 1073, a Tube-Tech CL 1B, Auto-Tune Pro and a clean EQ, with rhythmic delay and reverb.

Can I get an Afrobeats vocal like Burna Boy for cheap?

Yes — a bright condenser, Graillon 2, a free compressor, TDR Nova and Valhalla Supermassive get you most of the way. Full reported chains are in the Vocal Chain Bible.

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 →

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 →