How It Was Recorded

Doja Cat · Hot Pink, 2020

Say So

VocalsGuitarsBassDrumsKeysMix bus and parallel processingVerified24

What the sources do and do not say

One Sound On Sound Secrets of the Mix Engineers article in which mixer Clint Gibbs describes his mix session for the original Say So. It covers mix-stage plug-ins only; tracking is described in general terms and not tied to this song, so no tracking rows are given. The Mix Online interview with Jesse Ray Ernster was read but is about Woman and names no gear for Say So. The remix-only 808 and Nicki Minaj vocal processing was left out.

Vocals

Doja Cat

Mix effects

Metric Halo Channel Strip 3

Verified

Used on all the vocal tracks as a high-pass.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Avid Bomb Factory BF-76

Verified

Compressor on all the vocal tracks, with all its buttons in for a pop vocal sound.

Settings
All buttons in

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Avid Dyn-3 De-Esser

Verified

De-esser used on all the vocal tracks.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

FabFilter Pro-Q 3

Verified

Added by Gibbs on the lead vocals as gentle EQ cuts.

Settings
Cut 1 dB at 279 Hz and at 740 Hz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Close match

FabFilter Pro-Q 4

equaliser

Pro-Q 4 is the current version of the same equaliser.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

McDSP AE600

Verified

Dynamic EQ on the lead vocal bus, removing problem areas only when they occur.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Valhalla DSP Valhalla Vintage Verb

Verified

Reverb on the BG2 backing vocal bus.

Settings
2.4 s reverb, mix at 18 percent

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Universal Audio UAD 1176

Verified

Parallel compression on the Vocal Rear bus, which Gibbs says is where the vocal loudness comes from.

Settings
-20 dB compression

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

JST Clip

Verified

Used on the Vocals bus for some level boosting.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Guitars

Mix effects

API Vision Channel Strip

Verified

EQ on the guitar track for body and bite, with its compressor off.

Settings
Boost at 240 Hz and 5 kHz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Plugin Alliance bx_shredspread

Verified

Adds some mid-range and a little width to the guitars.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Universal Audio UAD Roland Dimension D

Verified

Chorus on the parallel Guitar Dim bus, added for a disco feel.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Bass

Mix effects

iZotope Ozone 8 EQ

Verified

EQ on one of the bass tracks, adding some low end.

Settings
Boost around 60 Hz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Klevgrand Knorr Bass Vitalizer

Verified

Used on the other bass track to add a little more attack.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

FabFilter Saturn

Verified

Saturation on the parallel Bass Saturation bus; bypassed on the main Bass bus.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Drums

Mix effects

NI Transient Master

Verified

The only plug-in placed directly on an audio drum track, used on the hi-hat.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Universal Audio UAD Massenburg EQ

Verified

Three-band EQ on the aux bus fed by the two cymbal tracks.

Settings
Three-band

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Massenburg DesignWorks MDW Parametric EQ

equaliser

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Avid Pro Compressor

Verified

Parallel drum compression on the D-Crush bus, crushing the drums hard; bypassed on the main Drums bus.

Settings
12 to 15 dB compression on the D-Crush bus

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

iZotope Ozone 8 EQ

Verified

EQ on both drum buses adding weight to the kick at the bottom end, as the version had no 808.

Settings
Boost around 60 Hz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Plugin Alliance Black Box

Verified

Saturation on the drum buses, with a little more dirt on the parallel D-Crush bus.

Settings
Pentode knob up, mix at 17 percent on the Drums bus

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Keys

Mix effects

Waves F6

Verified

Dynamic EQ on the Keys bus, side-chained from the lead vocal to make room for the voice.

Settings
Dips in the 900 Hz and 2 kHz range while she sings

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Waves Spectre

Verified

Adds harmonics for excitement on the Keys bus.

Settings
Harmonics around 4.3 kHz

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Mix bus and parallel processing

Mix effects

Waves Aphex Aural Exciter

Verified

Excitement added on a parallel Aphex bus fed by most tracks except vocals; automated off in the intro and outro.

Settings
Bypassed on the All bus, pushed hard on the Aphex bus

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Cytomic The Glue

Verified

Bus compressor on the Sum bus, added late for a pumping character.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

iZotope Ozone 8 Maximizer

Verified

Final loudness stage on the Sum bus, chosen over FabFilter Pro-L 2 to keep kick transients.

Settings
Transient mode

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.

Sources

  1. Inside Track: Doja Cat ft. Nicki Minaj 'Say So', Sound On Sound, 2020-07. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
Verified

Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.

Reported

Stated by a reputable secondary source.

Inferred

An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.

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