Vocal chain of XXXTentacion

Audio engineer Koen Heldens has generously shared his “secret sauce” behind the iconic vocal chain used on XXXTentacion’s hit song Sad. In an exclusive breakdown, Koen reveals the exact plugins and settings (screenshots from the session) that shaped the track’s distinctive sound. To make things even easier, I’ve included links for you to explore and purchase the gear and plugins featured in this legendary vocal chain. Dive in and discover the magic behind the mix!

1. Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone
2. Neve 1073SPX Microphone Preamp & EQ
3. Tube-Tech CL 1B Tube Optical Compressor
4. Universal Audio Apollo Twin X
5. Avid Pro Tools Ultimate - Perpetual License
6. 
7. Antares Auto-Tune Pro 11 Pitch-correction and Vocal Effects Plug-in
8. 
9. Waves Renaissance Vox Plug-in
10. 
11. Waves MV2 Compressor Plug-in
12. 
13. AVID STOCK EQ
14. 
15. Relab Development LX480 Essentials Reverb Plug-in
16. 
17. TSAR-1 Reverb
18. 
19. Waves H-Delay Hybrid Delay Plug-in

Make sure to subscribe to my blog! I’ll be sharing local chains, plugin settings, and tips used by major artists and engineers, so you can implement them directly into your workflow. Also, don’t forget to follow Koen Heldens on social media for more insights!

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 →