Kendrick Lamar and SZA · Black Panther: The Album, 2018
All the Stars
24 sourced items across 5 sectionsVerified22Reported2
What the sources do and do not say
One Sound On Sound Inside Track with engineer Matt Schaeffer, read in full, centred on his in-the-box Pro Tools mix of this song. It covers plug-in chains rather than tracking hardware; the only hardware named for the song is the microphone on the violins. Vocal tracking microphones for Lamar and SZA are not stated.
SZA vocals
6 items
SZA
Mix effects
The real chain
Antares Auto-Tune 8.1
Reported
Pitch correction inserted on every SZA vocal audio track in the final mix session.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD Pultec EQP-1A
Verified
Boosted high frequencies on the SZA vocal sum track, in a chain of stacked equalisers.
- Settings
- Boost at 16kHz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio Pultec Passive EQ Collection
equaliser
The current version of the plugin used on the record.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD 1176E
Verified
One of the compressors in the insert chain of the SZA vocal sum track.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
compressor
The plugin named in the source.
The real chain
Waves DeEsser
Verified
Three de-essers stacked on the SZA vocal sum, each aimed at a different harsh frequency, working like narrow multiband compression.
- Settings
- Three instances targeting 11400Hz, 15032Hz and 2000Hz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Waves DeEsser
de-esser
The plugin used on the record.
The real chain
Soundtoys MicroShift
Verified
Last insert on the SZA vocal sum, adding a little width and slight ambience without making the vocal too stereo.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Soundtoys MicroShift
modulation
The plugin used on the record.
The real chain
Waves H-Delay
Verified
Used on the SZA delay aux tracks, both set to eighth notes, one as ping-pong and automated to appear only in certain places.
- Settings
- Eighth-note delays; one ping-pong, automated
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
Kendrick Lamar vocals
7 items
Kendrick Lamar
Mix effects
The real chain
Waves SSL Channel (E or G version not stated)
Verified
Channel strip on Lamar's verse vocal bus, kept from the tracking session.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Waves SSL E-Channel
channel strip
Kinelski names only the Waves SSL channel strip. Waves sells an E-Channel and a G-Channel; the source does not say which he used.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves SSL G-Channel (The other Waves SSL channel strip. The source does not say which version was used)
The real chain
Soundtoys Decapitator
Verified
Added during mixing on the Lamar verse vocal bus as one of several processors, each adding something a bit different.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD Pultec EQP-1A
Verified
Boosted 100Hz and 16kHz on Lamar's verse vocal bus.
- Settings
- Boost at 100Hz and 16kHz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio Pultec Passive EQ Collection
equaliser
The current version of the plugin used on the record.
The real chain
Soundtoys Echoboy
Verified
Main delay heard on Lamar's verse, set to quarter notes.
- Settings
- Quarter note
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Soundtoys EchoBoy
delay
The plugin named in the source.
The real chain
Audio Ease Altiverb
Verified
Reverb on the 'Huge Verb' aux that Lamar's verse vocal is sent to, with low end removed by an EQ after it.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
iZotope VocalSynth
Verified
Main source of the robotic, vocoder-like sound on Lamar's pre-hook vocals.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
Soundtoys Little AlterBoy
Reported
Used on the pre-hook lead vocals for formant and pitch changes; he recalls one set up an octave and another with a lower formant.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
Kick and claps
4 items
Sounwave (programmed)
Mix effects
The real chain
SPL Transient Designer
Verified
On the main kick, used to take the sustain down a lot.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
FabFilter Pro-Q 2
Verified
On the main kick, boosting low end, dipping around 100Hz and cutting everything above 500Hz to leave only low-frequency content.
- Settings
- Boost around 40Hz, dip around 100Hz, cut above 500Hz
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
FabFilter Pro-Q 4
equaliser
Current version of the plugin used on the record; Pro-Q 2 is no longer sold.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD 610
Verified
Clap chain: boosted input and top end to add harmonic distortion.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD 1176LN
Verified
Compressor placed after the two reverbs in the clap chain, to bring out more ambience.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
compressor
The plugin named in the source.
Synth pads and bass synth
2 items
Al Shux and Sounwave (programmed)
Mix effects
The real chain
Waves Renaissance Compressor
Verified
Compressor on the summed synth track, holding the synth parts in place.
- Settings
- Ratio 4.8:1
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Waves Renaissance Compressor
compressor
The plugin used on the record.
The real chain
Waves OneKnob Pumper
Verified
On a low synth track filtered to 50-100Hz, giving a side-chain-style ducking to the beat.
- Settings
- Quarter note
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
Violins and mix buses
5 items
Ezinma (violins)
Microphone
The real chain
Telefunken ELA M 251
Verified
Used to record violist Ezinma's violin parts for this song and the title track.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Mix effects
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD LA-2A
Verified
Used as a leveller on the violin sum so nothing leaps out.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection
compressor
The plugin named in the source.
The real chain
Valhalla DSP Vintage Verb
Verified
Reverb on the violin sum, in the same concert hall setting as the beat aux, so they sound in one space.
- Settings
- Concert hall mode, 1980s colour
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Valhalla DSP ValhallaVintageVerb
reverb
The plugin named in the source.
The real chain
Universal Audio UAD SSL G-series compressor
Verified
Compressor on the vocal print bus in the final mix.
- Settings
- 4:1 ratio, slow attack, fast release
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. This is already software, so the stand-in is the thing itself. No product link has been added for it yet.
The real chain
Waves NLS
Verified
On the beat sub bus in the final mix, on the EMI setting.
- Settings
- EMI setting
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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The plugin used on the record
Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer
console emulation
The plugin named in the source.
Sources
- Inside Track: Kendrick Lamar | Black Panther 'All The Stars', Sound On Sound, 2018-05. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
What the ratings mean
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.
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