THE LAB RECORDING STUDIO
Overview
The Lab Recording Studio is a legendary cornerstone of New Zealand's independent music history and vintage analogue tracking. Formally established in 1981, the facility spent its formative decades navigating commercial spaces on Fanshawe Street and Symonds Street before permanently relocating in1998 to its definitive final home at 537 Mount Eden Road in Auckland. The unique studio layout occupies the subterranean basement of the historic 1920s Crystal Palace Theatre, taking over the building's old ballroom dance-floor to feature an expansive tracking room with 100-year-old native Kauri hardwood floors that yield exceptional, ambient natural acoustics. Managed by long-time resident engineer Olly Harmer alongside producer Wayne Bell, this specialised sanctuary pairs its rich room tones with a vintage Neve console and a prized analogue gear archive, serving as the premier destination for New Zealand's alternative vanguard.
Featured Albums
