effectSoundtoys
Decapitator
Five analog saturation models, from subtle tube warmth to all-out distortion, with a one-knob drive and the famous Punish button. The go-to for adding analog character to anything.
What Plugins Does Mike Dean Use?
Mike Dean is one of the most influential producer-engineers in hip-hop history: decades of production and mixing for Kanye West, Travis Scott, The Weeknd, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, plus a reputation as the genre's great analog-synth obsessive. When he names a plugin, it is because it survives sessions at the absolute top of the industry.
This page only lists plugins Mike Dean has publicly, verifiably talked about, each with his own words and the source. It is deliberately short: no inferred gear, no screenshot guesswork.
Written and reviewed by Kasper Nods. Updated July 2026.
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effectDecapitator
The saturation stage after EchoBoy: Decapitator's analog-modelled drive is what turns the clean repeats into the distorted vocal delays he describes.
“I have been using the Effect Rack from Soundtoys experimenting with EchoBoy going into Decapitator for some interesting distorted vocal delays. Try a FilterFreak after for some nice variations!”
effectSoundtoys
EchoBoy
The studio-standard delay: four delay modes, 30 vintage echo styles (EchoPlex, Space Echo, Memory Man) and Groove/Feel controls that make repeats sit musically with the track.
EchoBoy
The first stage of that chain: EchoBoy supplies the delay character, which Dean then pushes into saturation for texture.
“I have been using the Effect Rack from Soundtoys experimenting with EchoBoy going into Decapitator for some interesting distorted vocal delays. Try a FilterFreak after for some nice variations!”
effectSoundtoys
Soundtoys Effect Rack
A modular rack that chains any of the Soundtoys effects into one signal path, with a global mix and per-effect controls. Build distorted delays, vibey vocal chains and parallel processing in seconds.
Soundtoys Effect Rack
The chain Dean describes runs inside Effect Rack, Soundtoys' host that combines their effects into one rack with global mix and recall, the backbone of the distorted vocal-delay sound he outlines.
“I have been using the Effect Rack from Soundtoys experimenting with EchoBoy going into Decapitator for some interesting distorted vocal delays. Try a FilterFreak after for some nice variations!”
Frequently asked questions
What is Mike Dean's vocal delay chain?
In his own description: Soundtoys Effect Rack hosting EchoBoy running into Decapitator for distorted vocal delays, with a FilterFreak after it for variations. The quote and source are on this page.
Does Mike Dean use hardware or plugins?
Both, famously. He is known for his analog synth collection (Moogs above all), but his publicly described vocal-effect chains run on Soundtoys plugins, which is what this page documents.
Why does this page list so few plugins?
Because it only includes plugins Mike Dean has verifiably, publicly talked about, with a quote and source for each. Gear-list sites that show dozens of items are largely inference; we would rather be short and right.