Keane · Album, 2004
Hopes and Fears
21 sourced items across 5 sectionsVerified9Reported12
This is an album-level record: the sources describe how the album as a whole was recorded, not one song. Where a detail belongs to a single song, the row says so.
Songs this record stands for: Bedshaped, Somewhere Only We Know. We found nothing specific to these songs, so this album record is the closest account we have.
What the sources do and do not say
One Sound On Sound interview with producer Andy Green, read in full, covering the Hopes And Fears sessions at Helioscentric. Only the piano-to-amp row is tied to 'Somewhere Only We Know'; everything else is album-level, so this is an album record. Green also says much of this song's vocal is live, but names no gear for it.
Lead vocal
2 items
Tom Chaplin
Microphone
The real chain
Brauner VM1
Reported
Microphone used to record Tom Chaplin's vocals on the album, chosen after he tried several.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
Tube-Tech MEC 1A
Verified
Channel strip used for the vocals, with a little compression and a lot of top-end EQ applied while recording.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Close match
Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II
compressor
Models Tube-Tech's CL 1B, the same maker's valve optical compressor, so it covers the compression half of this strip; it is not a model of the MEC 1A and has no preamp or EQ.
Bass
2 items
Tim Rice-Oxley
Amplifier
The real chain
Recorded direct (DI), no amplifier
Verified
Bass was recorded direct rather than through a bass amp.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Recorded direct, so there is no amp to model. Leave the amp simulator off.
Input chain
The real chain
Tube-Tech MEC 1A
Verified
Channel strip the bass was DI'd through; the same unit was used for the vocals.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Close match
Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II
compressor
Models Tube-Tech's CL 1B, the same maker's valve optical compressor, so it covers the compression half of this strip; it is not a model of the MEC 1A and has no preamp or EQ.
Drum kit
9 items
Richard Hughes
Microphone
The real chain
AKG D112
Reported
Green believes this was the bass drum microphone.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The D112 is still made.
The real chain
Shure SM57
Reported
Green believes SM57s were used on the snare, one above and one below.
- Position
- above and below the snare
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Neumann U 67
Verified
Overhead pair for the kit, set at 90 degrees to each other.
- Position
- overheads at 90 degrees to each other
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The MD 421 is still made.
The real chain
Coles 4038
Reported
Green recalls two figure-of-eight ribbon room mics of this type among about six room mics.
- Settings
- figure-of-eight pattern
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Neumann U 47 fet
Reported
Green says he would probably have placed one above the kit pointing at the snare.
- Position
- above the kit, pointing at the snare
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
Unidentified 16-track analogue tape machine
Reported
Drums were recorded to two-inch 16-track analogue tape, with all the kit mics on separate tracks.
- Settings
- 15ips, Dolby SR engaged
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Approximate
Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder
tape
A multitrack tape model for the same job. The machine used is not identified, so no closer match is possible.
The real chain
UREI 1176
Reported
Heavily compressed the FET 47 mic aimed at the snare, as Green recalls it.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
compressor
Models several revisions of the 1176, including the blackface units.
Also worth a look 1
- Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter (Models two 1176 revisions (blacky and bluey))
Piano and keyboards
7 items
Tim Rice-Oxley
Instrument
The real chain
Yamaha CP70
Reported
Main piano on the album, taking the place of guitars; it was plugged in via its pickup rather than miked.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Arturia CP-70 V
instrument
An emulation of the Yamaha CP-70 electric grand.
The real chain
Hohner Pianet
Verified
Played through the Amp Farm plug-in in Pro Tools and then filtered with Filter Freak so it sounded like an old synth.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Modartt Pianoteq Hohner Collection
instrument
A physical model of the Pianet N and Pianet T, made with Hohner's authorisation. It is an add-on for Modartt's Pianoteq.
The real chain
Unidentified Siel or Solina string machine
Reported
String sounds for choruses were usually recorded from a Siel or Solina string machine (the text does not say which), often played twice and panned left and right. (recalled with uncertainty)
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
Arturia Solina V
instrument
Models the Solina String Ensemble, one of the two string machines the source names. If the Siel was used, it is the same kind of instrument but not a model of it.
Amplifier
The real chain
Unidentified Guitar combo amplifier (model not stated)
VerifiedOne song
On "Somewhere Only We Know" the piano was sent out to an amp, and the audio was offset in Pro Tools to give a slap-back between the clean and amped sounds.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
The real chain
Unidentified Guitar combo amplifier (model not stated)
Verified
Small green 1x12 guitar combo (name not remembered) the piano was put through to fill out the sound and make it more aggressive.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann U 67
Reported
Two valve U67s recorded the "brown piano", one at the high end and one at the low end, at 90 degrees to each other.
- Position
- parallel to the sound board, at 90 degrees to each other, one at each end of the range
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
Joemeek SC1
Reported
Stereo compressor on both U67 channels of the "brown piano".
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
Waves CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter
compressor
An optical compressor like the original, though smoother in character; it is not a model of this unit.
Mix
1 item
Mark "Spike" Stent
Mix effects
The real chain
Solid State Logic G-series console
Reported
Console on which the album was mixed by Spike Stent at Olympic Studios.
Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Emulation of this unit
Waves SSL G-Channel
channel strip
Models the SSL 4000 G-series channel strip.
Also worth a look 1
- Solid State Logic SSL Native Channel Strip 2 (SSL's own channel strip plugin, based on its later 9000-series desks)
Sources
- Producing Keane's Hopes And Fears, Sound On Sound, 2004-08. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
What the ratings mean
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.
Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.