Photo credit: Shamrock Spitfire - Andrew Paul
I am an audio engineer with decades of experience now working in the Birmingham area as a film and video location sound recordist / dubbing mixer. I am based in Shropshire, West Midlands. I originally trained
in Film and TV technical operations at Ravensbourne and was an engineer in
broadcast radio for most of my career, working for Radio Luxembourg (London), Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton, BRMB Radio in Birmingham, and then the Capital Radio Group. My roles included producing commercials, recording and editing all
genres of music, documentaries, quiz programs and live event broadcasts.
Latterly, although still in broadcasting, my career diverted into IT but I still had an itch for recording sound and, in 2016, I used the location
sound recording course at the NFTS to familiarise myself with the sound requirements of the film world, and so a new chapter began. Since then I have worked as sound recordist and sound editor / sound designer on independent short and feature films, corporate videos, live broadcasts and documentary.
If you need an experienced set of ears, an easy going but professional
attitude, with good technical skills and some great kit on your next project I'd love to
talk. I'm up for recording drama, documentary, reality and corporate (anything that makes a noise really).
Presented by Richie Anderson, I provided location sound for this One Show insert celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the construction of Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham.
playA trip to the Royal Welsh showground to record a piece about the Smalholding and Countryside Festival for an episode of "Escape to the Farm" with Kate Humble.
Watch on 5I recorded the master interview with Jay at his workshop in Telford, Shropshire. The documentary was broadcast on BBC One and was been nominated for "Best Science Documentary" at the Grierson British Documentary Awards .
PLAYI recorded live sound for an episode of this online show as presenters Mike and Julia compare real life drone racing with a video game. Recorded at Weston Park, Staffordshire.
PLAYI recorded interviews in Birmingham for this documentary for the "My Life" series following 14-year-old disabled dancer Neisha as she works with choreographer Kate Stanforth to devise an artistic dance video with an industrial robot.
watch on IPlayerI provided live sound from Solihull in Birmingham for interview inserts into a Good Morning Britain "Cost of Living" special, co-presented by Martin Lewis.
Location sound on a documentary for the Cyrille Regis Legacy Trust’s Strike a Change mentoring programme. The documentary features six students talking to their parents or a member of the community from a Commonwealth country.
PLAYA dawn to dusk golf marathon raising money for prostate cancer. Location sound was recorded "on the run" at the Cotswolds Golf Club in Oxfordshire and I was responsible for the final sound mix.
PLAYSound recordist for the live action sequence for a TV Commercial produced by Vermillion Films for Cadbury World, shot at the Cadbury site in Bournville, Birmingham.
One of a series of short promotional sketches from Vermillion Films I recorded sound for, shot across two locations in central Birmingham.
This was a complex fast moving shoot using motion capture with a number of participants from Housing 21 at Birmingham Studios.
Interviews recorded as Gregg Wallace visits a family in Oswestry, Shropshire who have been helped by the charity Family Fund, supported by McCain.
In this edit I recorded the two contibutors from Avonvale vets in Warwick, West Midlands on a day spent with customers and staff.
Sound for a number of product explainer videos for Meridian Louspeakers recorded in Junction 1 1 Studio 1, Banbury.
Following the three day BMI Redland Apprentice of the Year roofing apprentice training and competition, recording interviews and actuality at BMI's training centre in the Cotswolds.
Labour Party campaign film for social media when Keir Starmer was Leader of the Opposition. I was sound recordist for interviews and a group discussion with students from Stoke-on-Trent.
An introduction for investors to Thrive Renewables. Film kit was craned onto the windy roof of an industrial building which is where the portability of my Zaxcom gear came in handy.
I recorded interviews with Jithin Kannanthara and Mathew Storey from Birmingham and Cranfield Universities explaining their entries into the BAe Systems iCase Awards.
A touching story made by Azara Media for Winston's Wish, a charity that supports children bereaved by suicide. Filmed at a school near Coventry.
A promotional film for Nova Innovation based in Edinburgh aimed at potential investors. The sequences I recorded are intercut with archive material.
My niche is working with Producers and Directors who seek a professional sound but for whom a conventional drama sound crew is inappropriate, and whose requirements go beyond what is possible with a "Zoom and a Boom". I have sought out the best techniques and high end equipment to make an
effective one man sound department, at the same time eliminating the technical complexity and communications overhead of a bigger team.
I've highlighted a selection of projects below with clips that hopefully demonstrate the consistency and quality of my work, both as a sound recordist and post production sound mixer (where indicated).
This true story of Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, a WWII fighter ace, was shot on three cameras across locations in Warwickshire with a large ensemble cast. Shot over several months availability meant I was one of six sound recordists credited on this film however I was responsible for about 60% of it.
An espionage thriller shot on location in Herefordshire. Uniquely the actor playing the central character had no idea of the film genre, no script because his character had suffered memory loss. The resulting level of improvisation, a confined space and a shoot in near real time on three cameras made this a fun challenge for sound.
Shot in two blocks, I share sound recording credits on this comedy horror. Mine are the scenes in the toilets, which tells you all you need to know.
Sound recordist for this horror short about an isolated film obsessive who discovers an exceptional reel that could complete his collection, for better or for worse.
Sparse but intense dialogue recorded on this story which follows a Muslim woman who, while moving house, discovers a box of old tapes from her husband's previous relationship.
I was location sound recordist working with a largely student crew through the Made In Worcester scheme on this proof of concept horror.
I was location sound recordist for this period spooky tale set in the beautiful Wye Valley.
Another ghostly tale from Hendrik, my roles were location recordist and post sound edit and mix.
I recorded location sound and did the final sound edit and mix for this very personal account of mental health struggles.
Credited as sound editor, I produced and recorded the music and did the final sound mix on this moving period piece.
I was sound recordist and sound designer for this feature length crime drama shot on location in Birmingham.
Hendrik Harms' take on the Steven King story "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away". Shot largely in a small hotel room in Worcester with an ensemble cast. I was sound recordist.
Sound recordist on this fright ridden straight to DVD feature with an ensemble cast. Shot over several very cold and windy days and nights in South Wales.
A post apocalyptic short starring James Cosmo and Alison Steadman. I was sound recordist and sound designer on this project.
“Ian is a professional delight. The quality of his technical abilities – which include diverse tasks from clean-up, to mixing and mastering – is unquestionable. This is backed up by his excellent, fast communications – and speedy turnaround under tight client deadlines. I would not hesitate to recommend him for any of his audio services.”
"Ian!!! Thanks so much for the email. You were brilliant and totally deserved that credit. We loved you on set and I’d love to work with you again."
Please do get in touch to chat through your film sound requirements.
I have Enhanced DBS and am a BBC external supplier.
I am based centrally near Bridgnorth in Shropshire and have easy access to Birmingham, the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Hereford and Worcestershire, and beyond.
Location sound recording in the West Midlands serving Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, location sound mixer in Oxfordshire. Film sound recordist in Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Sound Recordist in Birmingham, Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester, Stafford, Birmingham and the Black Country. and travel UK wide. Post production sound, sound design, mixing, restoration and clean-up operating remotely for anyone anywhere!
