Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Kate Bush Army Dreamers
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Theory of Feels
  1. Artists
  2. Djs

Me in my studio: Ian Carey

News
By Chris Barker published 17 January 2012

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Intro

Intro

After both a top ten single and a collaboration with Snoop Dogg on the track, Last Night in the bag, it seems fair that Ian Carey's next single see's him collaborate with urban heavyweight, Timbaland.

With sell out DJ tours and more big league remixes in the bag, Carey is set to make 2012 his biggest year ever. Here he takes us around the Miami studio where he makes the musical magic happen.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Acoustics

Acoustics

"I spent a lot of time on this and can't reiterate how important this is in a studio. You see so many new kids with no acoustic treatment at all in their rooms, and you can hear it in their records.

"We sourced these great modular panels that hang from chains on the ceiling and by picture frame wire on the walls. I love them, and they can easily go from room to room with no problems."

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
The console

The console

"Sterling Modular put this together custom for me. I love the monitor position for the 2 main LCD monitors and the rack above for my huge master recording machine's monitor.

"They are positioned perfect for long hours in the studio, also the 2 sidecars have direct and easy access to all my gear."

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Crane Song Hedd and Neve compressor / limiters

Crane Song Hedd and Neve compressor / limiters

"This is the last and final point of my recording chain. At the end of the chain my signal goes through two Neve Portico 5043 compressor/limiters and into the Crane Song HEDD.

"The HEDD in my opinion is the best AD/DA converter I have heard in existence, it is a truly great high-end piece and well worth the investment especially if you are recording vocals, instruments or doing analog summing."

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Euphonix MC Mix

Euphonix MC Mix

"This is a great piece for easy access to parameters in your DAW, in my case Cubase 6.

"I have it set up to control my eight summing -group outputs, so I can have my mixer window devoted to channels only. When buss adjustments need made I go straight with this and do it with the faders, old school style."

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Event Opals

Event Opals

"These are damn near the best speakers I have ever mixed on. They are true and when it sounds good here it sounds good everywhere.

"I have them in the room with a KRK subwoofer just to give a bit more low end support. Great set of monitors for a project studio in the $3000-$5000 USD range before getting really silly with $10k plus super high end systems."

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Moog Little Phatty

Moog Little Phatty

Although I work mostly with soft synths, I always have this close by just in case software is not cutting it. I use it especially on basses and anything that just needs that extra meat to break through the mix. Love this thing!

...

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Summing chain

Summing chain

"I am a huge advocate of analogue summing and analogue mixing in general. I am commissioning a 48 channel Audient board in my new dedicated facility being built now.

"But for my home project studio this is perfect. I use 16 channels of passive summing that is then pre-amped back to line level with an SSL preamp. After than it goes through an SSL G series buss compressor. This setup is basically mimicking the master buss section on an SSL G Series console. The difference it makes to just doing a in the box digital bounce is incredible."

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Cortelco 2500 phone

Cortelco 2500 phone

"My wife calls me on this when the windows start rattling downstairs.

"I love old phones and kinda collect them, especially love this one, it reminds me of growing up in the 80s and gets me all nostalgic and inspires me to make cool music."

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Bongos

Bongos

"When ideas fail and I get board, I bang on these until something comes in my head.

"I was a drummer growing up so I have to have something lying around to bang on from time to time."

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Dead plant

Dead plant

"This is what happens when you go on tour for two months and nobody waters your plant..."

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Chris Barker
Read more
jimmy douglass
Producers & Engineers "This guy pops out of a trash can – it was Ginger Baker!": Jimmy Douglass on his early days working for Atlantic Records
 
 
asg
Artists “I have a little bit of a love-hate relationship with my Prophet ’08”: Art School Girlfriend on new project Lean In
 
 
Secret Cinema delivers a techno masterclass in the studio
Tech "Record everything all the time – and keep it all": 8 pro techno producers explain how they create their tracks
 
 
O'Flynn in the studio
Tech 5 things we learned in the studio with O'Flynn
 
 
deadmau5
Synths “I have severe Gear Acquisition Syndrome”: Deadmau5 shows off his insane synth collection
 
 
Music Studio
Music Production Tutorials 5 creativity-enhancing studio workflow tips
 
 
Latest in Djs
Diplo at Marquee on May 06, 2026 in New York City
Djs “The most exclusive party of the year”: Watch Diplo DJ at his 6-year-old son’s kindergarten graduation
 
 
Intergalactic human journey concept with an arm reaching out to the bright vibrant multicolor light
Djs Keep On Dancing: New study shows it provides “vigorous” exercise and lowers stress
 
 
O'Flynn in the studio
Tech 5 things we learned in the studio with O'Flynn
 
 
007 First Light logo and man with gun
Djs “Get ready to turn the speakers up”: Chase And Status sign up for new James Bond video game
 
 
Superbooth sign
Tech What is Superbooth 2026?: Everything you need to know about the Berlin music tech show
 
 
A young female DJ stretching out the cord from her headphones and making a mean face.
Djs "I don't know what he gets out of it": The scam promoter who's enraging Scottish techno DJs
 
 
Latest in News
Bret Michaels performs during the 2026 Extra Innings Festival at Tempe Beach & Arts Park on February 27, 2026
Gigs & Festivals “More divisive than what I agreed to be a part of”: Bret Michaels excuses himself from the ‘Great American State Fair’
 
 
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Roger Daltrey of The Who Performs At Acrisure Arena at Acrisure Arena on October 01, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Artists "I mean, it’s extraordinary": Roger Daltrey says that his voice is as strong as ever
 
 
CMAT performs during Radio 1's Big Weekend at Herrington Country Park on May 24, 2026
Singers & Songwriters “Success is increasingly becoming tarnished”: CMAT confronts social media abusers in a candid, emotional post
 
 
US musician and artist Jack White sits on "Sam Phillips Sofa" (2016) as he attends a photocall for the "Jack White: These Thoughts May Disappear" exhibition at Newport Street Gallery on May 28, 2026 in London, England. The exhibition marks the first public presentation of works by the American artist and musician Jack White, featuring his monumental sculpture The Red Tree (2015). (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Guitarists “Working with power tools is therapeutic”: Jack White opens an exhibition of ‘hardware store art’
 
 
Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift
Artists Olivia Rodrigo responds to being asked if she has a frosty relationship with Taylor Swift
 
 
Paul McCartney waves from a car, 2026
Singers & Songwriters “Everyone misses them. It’s not just me”: McCartney on loss, early memories, cookies and emojis
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...