Welcome to The Lab

Hidden beneath Mt. Eden's historic Crystal Palace Theatre, the studio resides in the Ballroom, once a popular and notorious night club.  . Read the full history of the lab here..

Picking up where the ballroom left off, this discrete space is now one of the few remaining large recording studios in New Zealand. The Lab features a custom 70's Neve and an extensive collection of vintage, classic and industry standard recording equipment, all housed in a liberating environment infused with noir character and the ghosts of illegitimate children.

The basement is spacious, with The Lab occupying about a third; the remainder is home to a thriving community of producers and musicians, which results in a hive of activity and collaboration. 

Conveniently located in Mt Eden Village, with coffee, alcohol food, and a couple of great op-shops, literally within stumbling distance.

The Studio

The main recording room is large without being excessively reverberant, displaying the balanced tonal characteristics only a 100 year old hardwood floor can bring. Built for the purposes of music and entertainment back in the 1920s, it sounds just as good today.

There is an isolation booth large enough for a full drum kit, with sight lines through to the control room.

In the control room you will find the superb vintage Neve, keeping everything warm, and a rack full of hardware versions of all those plugins you’ve been using