Don Toliver has carved out a unique space in modern hip-hop with his ethereal voice, dreamy production, and trippy vocal effects. If you're trying to capture that same sonic atmosphere, you're going to need the right vocal chain, delivery, and mix. Here's how to emulate his sound while keeping your own identity intact.
Vocal Delivery and Recording Style
Don Toliver’s delivery is smooth, melodic, and often leans into falsetto and sing-rapping. He layers harmonies and uses vocal inflections that feel hypnotic. When recording, focus on capturing emotion more than perfection. Let your voice glide and don't be afraid to stretch vowels or bend notes in ways that feel natural. Double-tracking your vocals is key, especially in hooks, to create that thick, spacey texture he’s known for.
Record clean takes with good mic technique. Use a condenser mic that captures detail and warmth. Record in a treated space to avoid reflections—this will give you more freedom when applying effects later.
Auto-Tune and Pitch Correction
Auto-Tune is central to the Don Toliver sound. Set your pitch correction to the key of the song, and use a medium to fast retune speed depending on how robotic or natural you want it to sound. Don often uses Auto-Tune as a creative tool, bending it to his style rather than hiding behind it. Combine Auto-Tune with formant shifting for more vocal character. Slightly adjusting the formant down adds depth and makes the vocal feel more otherworldly.
EQ and Compression for Clarity
EQ the vocal to be clean and bright. Start by cutting the low end to remove rumble, then scoop out any muddiness around the 200–400 Hz range. Add a gentle boost in the high frequencies to add air and sparkle. Compression should be smooth and musical. You want to tame dynamics without crushing the vibe. Don’s vocals often float above the mix, so keep the lead vocal present, but never harsh.
Effects: Reverb, Delay, and Space
Reverb and delay are what give Don Toliver’s vocals their signature floaty, dreamy vibe. Use a medium to long plate or hall reverb, then dial in pre-delay to keep clarity in the dry vocal. Delay should match the tempo of the track—quarter-note and eighth-note stereo delays work great. Don’t be afraid to experiment with ping-pong delays or reverse reverbs to create atmosphere. Automating reverb or delay send levels throughout the song will add movement and dynamic interest.
Harmonies and Layering
Thick vocal stacks are a big part of his sound. Record harmonies in thirds and fifths around your main vocal, and pan them slightly left and right. Layer doubles underneath your lead with different EQ and effects for a lush, full vocal bed. You can also pitch some background layers down or up and blend them quietly for that haunting stereo effect that’s common in his tracks.
Instrumental Style
Don Toliver usually rides over dreamy, atmospheric trap beats with slow-to-mid tempos. The drums are clean but not too punchy, allowing the vocals to carry the emotional weight. You’ll hear reverb-drenched pads, ambient textures, detuned synths, and occasionally chopped samples. Look for beats that leave space for vocals to breathe while creating an immersive vibe.
Use Vocal Presets to Speed Up the Process
If you want to sound like Don Toliver but don’t want to build the entire vocal chain from scratch, using a high-quality Don Toliver vocal preset is the move. At Cedar Sound Studios, our presets are designed to capture modern melodic trap styles using only stock plugins—so no extra gear or software needed. With just a few clicks, you can get that smooth, spacey Don Toliver-style vocal tone and spend more time perfecting your performance.