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..

Occupying half of the old ballroom dancefloor, The Lab stands as one of the few remaining large-scale recording environments in New Zealand. Our space is centered around a custom 1970s Neve console and an expansive collection of vintage, classic, and industry-standard gear. It’s a liberating, high-ceilinged environment—one steeped in character and the echoes of its storied past.

The Crystal Palace basement is vast, and The Lab takes up barely a quarter, with the rest of the spaces occupied by a trio of gifted musician/producers at the heart of the local independent music scene. This creates a natural hive of activity and creative collaboration. Located in the heart of Mt Eden Village, with it’s eclectic mix of cafes, bars, and restaurants.

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.

What used to be the stage is now the isolation booth, with space for a full drum kit, and 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