How It Was Recorded

Polo G · Hall of Fame, 2021

Rapstar

Lead vocal808 and drumsUkulele, beat bus and mix busVerified18Inferred4

What the sources do and do not say

Sound On Sound Inside Track with mixer and vocal engineer Todd Hurtt, read in full over two pages. The vocal recording chain (Sony C800G, Neve 1073, CL-1B or LA-2A) is his usual chain for Polo G, not stated for this song specifically, so it is general-practice. The mix plug-in rows describe his Pro Tools session for Rapstar. The article gives no settings beyond the quarter-note delay and the -18 dBFS trim, and no microphone position.

Lead vocal

Polo G

Microphone

Sony C800G

InferredUsual practice

Main vocal microphone in Hurtt's usual recording chain for Polo G.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Todd Hurtt describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

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.

Input chain

Neve 1073

InferredUsual practice

Preamp following the microphone in the usual Polo G vocal chain.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Todd Hurtt describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection

preamp and EQ

Made with AMS Neve as a model of the 1073 preamp and equaliser.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves Scheps 73 (Models the 1073's preamp and equaliser, made with Andrew Scheps).

Tube-Tech CL 1B

InferredUsual practice

Compressor at the end of the usual Polo G vocal chain, given as an alternative to the LA-2A.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Todd Hurtt describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II

compressor

Made with Tube-Tech as a model of the CL 1B.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Teletronix LA-2A

InferredUsual practice

Compressor at the end of the usual Polo G vocal chain, given as an alternative to the CL-1B; Hurtt says he likes it on Polo.

A suggestion, not a documented fact: Todd Hurtt describes this as usual practice; it is not stated for this record.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection

compressor

Universal Audio owns the Teletronix name; this is its own model of the LA-2A.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Waves CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter (Models an LA-2A from Chris Lord-Alge's collection. Cheaper and runs without UA hardware).

Mix effects

Antares Auto-Tune EFX

Verified

First insert on every vocal track, set to the sound Polo G wants and left alone.

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.

Oeksound Soothe 2

Verified

Takes out harshness and specific problem frequencies from the vocal, after the Auto-Tune.

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-DS

Verified

De-esser on the individual vocal tracks, used twice in the insert chain.

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-C 2

Verified

Compressor in the insert chain on each vocal track.

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

Equaliser in the insert chain on each vocal track, cutting unwanted frequencies.

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

Sound Radix SurferEQ 2

Verified

Last plug-in in the vocal insert chain, used to track and attenuate problem frequencies in the vocals.

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 SSL E-Channel

Verified

On the Vox Sub aux, takes some muddiness out of the vocal.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves SSL E-Channel

channel strip

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves C4

Verified

One of the plug-ins on the Vox Sub aux, where Hurtt does most of the vocal effects work.

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 Vintage Verb

Verified

Hall reverb on a send from the vocal.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Valhalla DSP ValhallaVintageVerb

reverb

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves Renaissance Reverb

Verified

Plate reverb on a send from the vocal.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves Renaissance Reverb

reverb

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

FabFilter Pro-R

Verified

Chamber reverb on a send from the vocal.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

FabFilter Pro-R 2

reverb

Pro-R 2 is the current version of the reverb named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Waves H-Delay

Verified

Quarter-note delay on a send from the vocal.

Settings
Quarter-note delay time

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 CLA-2A

Verified

Parallel compression on the 'Szechuan' vocal track.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

The plugin used on the record

Waves CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter

compressor

The plugin named in the source.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

808 and drums

Mix effects

iZotope Neutron

Verified

Added to the 808 once the stems arrived.

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.

Ukulele, beat bus and mix bus

Mix effects

Brainworx bx_solo

Verified

Used for stereo width on the ukulele.

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 9

Verified

On the Beat Sub aux, using the Exciter and Spreader modules mainly to shape the low end.

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.

Black Box Analog Design HG-2

Verified

On the Sub Mix track, used to add low end.

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.

HoRNet AutoGain 2

Verified

Used at the start of the mix to bring every track down to -18 dBFS for headroom.

Settings
Trim to -18 dBFS

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: Polo G 'Rapstar' (page 1), Sound On Sound, 2021-09. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
  2. Inside Track: Polo G 'Rapstar' (page 2), Sound On Sound, 2021-09. 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.

Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.