The infamous Lab Recording Studio
At one time the most hip underground club in Auckland, this
large, discrete, multi-room space has been transformed into one of the
country's leading vintage studios. Housing more than just an impressivecollection
of musical equipment, the most important feature is that
it’s all within a liberating environment, seething with noir character
and the ghosts of illegitimate children, with restaurants, a liquor
outlet, burgers, pies, and decent coffee all
within stumbling distance.
The Lab is like a large comfortable lounge that also
happens to have a serious studio in it. While the environment is the
perfect place for musicians to relax, feel comfortable and send the
distractions of life to the back blocks for a while, the studio is
stacked with equipment that could be called both “industry standard”
and of the highest quality. Olly and Jol,
the resident house engineers,
have the knowledge and experience to get the very best out of the setup
without anyone really noticing, so that the technical aspects are kept
as far away as possible from interfering with the creative
process.
The Lab also has a small production suite, essentially Jol’s musical office, and known as The Oven, it’s where projects that don’t require the use of the main studio, or those on a limited budget, can be worked up. Jol has his own healthy array of ideas, guitars, keyboards, synths, amps, drums, and other eclectic gear to take music into exciting, unpredictable and original directions.
The main recording room is large without being excessively reverberant, and has a characteristic ambience that is well regarded and particularly useful, while also being highly conducive to musicians enjoying themselves while performing in the room together.There is also a smaller isolation room (formerly the stage when the place was a nightclub!), which is great for a super 70’s drum sound, isolating loud things, or any other application that requires as little ambience as possible.
The control room is full of comfy couches, a collection of odd lamps, and houses a superb little vintage Neve. It’s a great place to spend the better part of a day.
To discuss the requirements of your next recording, or to obtain a quote...get in touch with The Lab today.