Ian Caple

Expert Mixing

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20 Reviews (10 Verified)
Ian Caple on SoundBetter

Ian Caple is a UK multi - platinum award winning record producer/mixer/engineer. Trained at EMI Abbey Road. Credits include Mansun, Tricky, Tindersticks

I started as an assistant at EMI & trained at Abbey Road, learning from some of the best engineers in the business . I left in the 80's & since then I've produced, recorded or mixed many hit albums worldwide including Attack of the Grey Lantern by Mansun (number 1 in UK), Fantaisie Militaire by Alain Bashung (number 1 in France) & Lifelines by A-ha (number 1 in Germany) & L'Absente album by Yann Tiersen
I started working with The Tindersticks in the early 90's, co producing their first album & I then went on to work with them for the next 16 years, either recording, co-producing or mixing 14 albums & movie soundtracks. I also remixed Black Steel & Hell is Round The Corner by Tricky & engineered, co produced, programmed & mixed his albums Nearly God & Pre Millennium Tension. I mixed his 2012 album False Idols & this year his latest album 'Fall to Pieces'. In 2021 I mixed the new album 'Forever I wait' & 'Pure Heart' EP for Martina Topley Bird, featuring 3D from Massive Attack.
I have been doing remote mixing online for very satisfied clients around the world for many years.
My studio is equipped with a fine mixture of vintage equipment as well as Pro Tools & Logic with all the best plug ins.
Additionally I can edit, tune & compile vocals & tighten up drum timing if needed.
Contact me & lets discuss your project.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Ian Caple
  • Alain Bashung
  • Martina Topley-Bird
  • Tricky
  • East Village
  • Cats in Space
  • Cats in Space
  • Cats in Space
  • Cats in Space
  • The Screaming Blue Messiahs
  • The Small Glories
  • Suede
  • Broken Twin
  • Broken Twin
  • Manfred Mann
  • Manfred Mann
  • Manfred Mann
  • Manfred Mann
  • Tricky
  • Cara Luft
  • The Mekons
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Our Broken Garden
  • Cocoon
  • Cocoon
  • Cocoon
  • Broken Records
  • Broken Records
  • Broken Records
  • Tindersticks
  • Simple Minds
  • Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine
  • Alexandra Roos
  • Alexandra Roos
  • Alexandra Roos
  • Alexandra Roos
  • Alexandra Roos
  • Mouzanar
  • The Mekons
  • The Mekons
  • Jacques Higelin
  • Jacques Higelin
  • Susi Hyldgaard
  • Mansun
  • Mansun
  • Vincent Delerm
  • Not Drowning, Waving
  • Not Drowning, Waving
  • Not Drowning, Waving
  • Not Drowning, Waving
  • Jérémie Kisling
  • Jérémie Kisling
  • Jérémie Kisling
  • Luc Van Acker
  • Paul Armfield
  • Paul Armfield
  • Paul Armfield
  • Dickon Hinchliffe
  • Stuart Staples
  • Stuart Staples
  • Lise Westzynthius
  • Lise Westzynthius
  • Lise Westzynthius
  • Lise Westzynthius
  • Lise Westzynthius
  • Hurleurs
  • Hurleurs
  • Hurleurs
  • Mansun
  • Minimal Compact
  • Buffseeds
  • Buffseeds
  • Buffseeds
  • Grand Drive
  • Anne Clark
  • David Bridie
  • Buffseeds
  • Buffseeds
  • Anne Clark
  • Tindersticks
  • Tricky
  • Tricky
  • Compulsion
  • a-ha
  • Dave Angel
  • Dave Angel
  • Dave Angel
  • Faithless
  • Tindersticks
  • Francois Audrian
  • Sawt el Atlas
  • The Wolfgang Press
  • Autour de Lucie
  • Autour de Lucie
  • Autour de Lucie
  • Autour de Lucie
  • Yann Tiersen
  • Yann Tiersen
  • The Mekons
  • David Bridie
  • David Bridie
  • David Bridie
  • David Bridie
  • David Bridie
  • Cousteau
  • Cousteau
  • Têtes Raides
  • Arielle
  • Andrew Weatherall
  • If Only
  • The Creatures
  • Tindersticks
  • Vitro
  • Vitro
  • Suede
  • The Mekons
  • Julian Cope
  • Keziah Jones
  • Keziah Jones
  • Keziah Jones
  • Stina Nordenstam
  • Stina Nordenstam
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • The Mekons
  • The Mekons
  • FGL
  • The Boo Radleys
  • The Boo Radleys
  • Sky Cries Mary
  • The Boo Radleys
  • Stina Nordenstam
  • Stina Nordenstam
  • Stina Nordenstam
  • Stina Nordenstam
  • Jean-Louis Aubert
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Malacoda
  • Malacoda
  • Suede
  • Tindersticks
  • Suede
  • Tricky
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Suede
  • 60 Ft. Dolls
  • Mansun
  • Mansun
  • Mansun
  • The Psyclone Rangers
  • Tricky
  • Tricky
  • Tricky
  • Nearly God
  • Tricky
  • Nearly God
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tricky
  • Tricky
  • Yoko Ono
  • Ima
  • Babybird
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Angel Cage
  • Low Pop Suicide
  • Low Pop Suicide
  • The Psyclone Rangers
  • The Psyclone Rangers
  • Tricky
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • McAlmont & Butler
  • Compulsion
  • Compulsion
  • Elastic Purejoy
  • Elastic Purejoy
  • Elastic Purejoy
  • Elastic Purejoy
  • Elastic Purejoy
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Sky Cries Mary
  • Sky Cries Mary
  • Sky Cries Mary
  • dEUS
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Manic Street Preachers
  • Liberty Horses
  • Tindersticks
  • Tindersticks
  • Shriekback
  • Shriekback
  • The Mekons
  • The Mekons
  • Sky Cries Mary
  • Sky Cries Mary
  • The Wolfgang Press
  • The Mekons
  • The Mekons
  • The Wolfhounds
  • The Wolfhounds
  • King Swamp
  • McCarthy
  • The Mekons
  • The Mekons
  • Londonbeat
  • The Men They Couldn't Hang
  • The Screaming Blue Messiahs
  • 3 Mustaphas 3
  • 3 Mustaphas 3
  • The Mekons
  • Shriekback
  • The Chameleons
  • The Danse Society
  • David Harrow
  • David Harrow
  • Jim Moray
  • Cutting Crew
  • Cutting Crew
  • Les Panties
  • Les Panties
  • Les Panties
  • Cathryn Green
  • Cathryn Green

20 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients

Endorse Ian Caple
  1. Review by Music Junkie
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    Super professional and takes his time to get the result both he and you want. Very humble, has a great ear and is genuinly interested in helping you get the results you’re after.

    … and the mix was super crisp, warm and 3D. Just as I had envisioned in my head, and that says quite a lot about his skills.

    Highly reccomend Ian.

  2. Review by Richard D.
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    Ian has done a very good job and delivered valuable vibes to my project. He's very efficient and he's a great professional.

  3. Review by Andre Ripa
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    I got a feedback from Ian on a song I produced, very helpful comments on mix and mastering!

  4. Review by yann6guillo
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    It was an honour to work with an engineer with such a pedigree. Ian truly delivers. He helped us get the best of a difficult song with an astounding work on the sound of all the instruments. Thanks Ian!

  5. Review by Christopher M.
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    Incredibly fast turnaround, true professional. I had a few reference bands that Ian has actually worked with (we learned later), and he just dialed it in & completely elevated the project. Can't thank him enough!

  6. Review by Charlie R.
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    Ian did a great job editing the vocals to a song of mine to make them sound clean, professional, and fantastic! Great communication, fast turnaround, and quality work - can't wait to work together again! Highly recommended to all. Thank you Ian! A+++

  7. Review by Данил Д.
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    Ian is great professional, lucky to work together!

  8. Review by Francis G.
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    It is one thing to work with a sound engineer who has expert technical knowledge. Yet, it is another thing to find someone who find someone with a creative ear and who understands your artistic vision. In that respect, Ian definitely ticks all the boxes! The results on my single track even exceeded my expectations. I would not hesitate to recommend Ian to anyone looking for a bespoke sound!

  9. Review by Stelios L.
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    We had an excellent communication with Ian, his mix was very inspiring he understood exactly what I want. I m really impressed with the level and the quality of his work.

  10. Review by Sasha R.
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    Ian is really top of the top!

  11. Review by arnaud l.
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    It's been a real pleasure to work with Ian on this record. End result goes beyond anything I could think of. Ian brought a lot of textures and colours to the songs. It sounds amazing, reveals each song individually but keeps unity across the album at the same time. Thanks!

  12. Review by Milktuth
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    We are so happy that we got the opportunity to work with such high-class professional as Ian.
    We had very specific idea about the end result we wished to achieve and he totally delivered and even more!
    He is always scrupulous and attentive to details with all the edits, helps to fix problematic moments in mixes, does amazing job with vocals, backing vocals and the mix in general.
    Very greatful for the job he’s done! Many thanks for the high quality result!
    It was a total pleasure to work with him.

  13. Review by Barkley McKay
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    by Barkley McKay

    I've worked with Ian now for more than 15 years, and our connection goes way back through Jon Langford and The Mekons. You couldn't work with a better engineer/producer. The sound is always engaging and when tracking parts I've always felt he has coaxed my performance and sound into the fabric of the song at the outset, a clear vision. He has a tremendous knowledge of recorded music and this manifests in great versatility, both technically and musically. As a performer to hear the words "very nice, lovely - just one more" over the cans is a very useful guide to know where one is at!

  14. Review by Mk
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    by Mk

    Fantastic mixing engineer a great man!

    Mk

  15. Review by Alain Verdier
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    by Alain Verdier

    Ian Caple, une rencontre musicale hors du commun !
    En effet, j’ai eu la chance et le bonheur de faire mixer notre dernier album (ANTIDOTE – Emotions Singulières) par ce grand maître du son. Ce fut une riche aventure faite d’échanges chaleureux, intelligents, constructifs, créatifs avec toujours un Ian Caple déployant tout son art et son talent afin de porter notre opus au plus haut niveau et ainsi nous combler de satisfaction quand au résultat final. Ian Caple, on ne peut en parler qu’au travers des superlatifs !

  16. Review by Martyn Barker
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    by Martyn Barker

    Working with Ian is an inspiration and a joy. His approach to music is very simple. He has top class instinct and you can rest assure he will get the best drum, vocal,gtr,keys and string sound you will ever hear in any studio. His mixing is of the best quality and balance. He brings out emotion and depth in all the songs I have had the pleasure to work on with him. His experience at the desk is huge. His touches and judgement are original and special.Thats why I have worked with him for most of my musical career.

  17. Review by Simon Edwards
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    by Simon Edwards

    Have had many great studio sessions with Ian producing and engineering. He has a world class musical touch. And his sound is always precise ind inspiring . A lovely guy to work with and his mixing and track record are superb

  18. Review by Jo Young
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    by Jo Young

    A richly experienced and talented producer/mixer/engineer. Ian is meticulous in his approach and the quality of his mixing and knowledge on gear is absolutely superb! Ian is someone who will get 'inside' the music and bring out not only the presence and depth and beauty of instrumentation and a phenomenal vocal sound, but will also let the personality and emotion of the music emerge fully. He's simply brilliant at what he does!

  19. Review by Michael Cozzi
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    by Michael Cozzi

    One of the most accomplished producer-mixer people I have worked with in my 30+ year music career. Just look at his resume. He approaches his work with the same enthusiasm as he did 30 years ago. Such a pleasure to work with.

  20. Review by Jono Harrison
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    by Jono Harrison

    Phenomenal producer, great vision with artists and all round lovely bloke! Drum sounds are consistently the best I’ve ever heard by a country mile. Vast knowledge of mic technique, vintage/analogue/digital gear, combined with an innate and profound musicality which is so important. Superb mixes which always serve the song. Fearless in experimentation but also very clear and focussed. Brings the best out of any artist. Ace to work with!!

Interview with Ian Caple

  1. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  2. A: just finished mixing an album for Martina Topley Bird, it's great !

  3. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  4. A: I'll help you to reach your goal

  5. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  6. A: make sure that you are happy with all the performances on your recording - I can enhance & change anything on the mix - but I can't improve the performance !

  7. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  8. A: I listen ! & I will work very hard to achieve the best result for the artist.

  9. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  10. A: I've got a mix studio on a beautiful farm in the middle of a forest. I use a vintage Soundcraft 800 series analog console with a Pro Tools HD system with 32 outputs, monitoring by KRK, Yamaha & an old pair of AR18 speakers that I've had for many years ! I use a combination of plug ins & real analog outboard eqs, dynamics & effects.

  11. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  12. A: It's all about the song, always do what's best for the song.

  13. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  14. A: the great rhythm section that have been on some of my best records ! martyn barker drums, simon edwards bass

  15. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  16. A: The Pre-millennium Tension album by Tricky is an album that I'm very proud of. We recorded it in a studio by the sea in Jamaica & mixed it in the mountains in Southern Spain. I had an Akai Sampler, an MPC drum machine & a pile of old vinyl albums. The whole record was made with very simple equipment & lots of imagination ! it also produced his hit single 'makes me wanna die' which is still one of my favourites.

  17. Q: How would you describe your style?

  18. A: open & flexible, with a vast amount of experience.

  19. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  20. A: an album with Tom Waits would be nice !

  21. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  22. A: I've worked on music of just about every genre in the past.

  23. Q: What's your typical work process?

  24. A: there is no typical work process - every project is different & I will work on each mix according to whatever's needed. I will normally take some time at the start to listen to the rough mixes & any reference tracks that I've been sent to really get to know the song & to follow the direction that the artist is aiming at. This is a crucial part of the mixing process for me. First & foremost I listen to the artist & make sure that I understand what they are looking for & I'll work very hard to achieve it.

  25. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  26. A: A Shure SM7, a Neve console & a coffee machine would be three of them !

  27. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  28. A: I love to use a mixture of both.

  29. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  30. A: It never really feels like a job.

  31. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  32. A: I am an experienced recording engineer & producer with my own studio in UK. I mix records remotely for clients around the world.

  33. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  34. A: I often find that mixing through the analog console, using real outboard gear, brings the track to life in a way that mixing in the box can't. I can build the mix with the faders & create a real sense of space & depth.

  35. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  36. A: I started as a young assistant engineer & learned from some of the best guys. Because I started in the late 70's I've been lucky to have had a real training in some of the best studios in London in the traditional way with tape machines etc. I was also one of the first people to adapt to pro tools recording in the 90's & have seen the development of digital recording from the start. I've had an incredibly wide experience with all types of music , from large orchestras to noisy rock bands ! - I have a lot of valuable experience to bring to any project..

  37. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  38. A: There are some great record producers who are a constant inspiration - George Martin, Quincy Jones, Tony Visconti, Brian Eno, Glyn Johns, Joe Meek.. guys who made timeless records.

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Tricky, I'm In The Doorway

I was the Mixing Engineer in this production

Terms Of Service

up to 4 revisions, any additional work will be charged at $50 per revision. All Pricing is flexible, contact me to discuss.

GenresSounds Like
  • Tricky
  • Alain Bashung
  • Yann Tiersen
Gear Highlights
  • Soundcraft vintage analog console
  • Pro Tools HD
  • KRK
  • Proac & Dynaudio Studio Monitors
  • Neve
  • Urei
  • Telefunken
  • spring reverbs
  • tape delay.
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SoundBetter Deal

5% reduction for 5 mixes or more, 10% reduction for 10 mixes or more.

  • New Tricky album ' Fall To Pieces' is released September 2020 Mixed by meOct 21, 2020