Stebbing Studios
Recording studio in Auckland, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stebbing Studios is a recording studio in Auckland, New Zealand. Artists who have recorded at the studio over the years include Ray Columbus & The Invaders, Split Enz, Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes, Th' Dudes, The Human Instinct, and Waves.[1]
Stebbing Recording Centre | |
| |
 Interactive map of Stebbing Recording Studios | |
| Owner | Stebbing family |
|---|---|
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Website | |
| https://www.stebbing.co.nz | |
The studio was founded by Eldred Stebbing, who also founded pioneer New Zealand music label Zodiac Records. Stebbing originally set up a recording studio in the basement of his family home in the Auckland suburb of Avondale in 1946.[1] He later built the Stebbing Recording Centre in 1970 on Jervois Road, where it is still in operation today.[2] The studio is well known for its importance to New Zealand music history, and is considered iconic.[3][4][5]
History
1970s
In 1970, the Stebbing Recording Centre was constructed on Jervois Road. At the time, Stebbing was the first studio in New Zealand to feature eight track recording technology.[6]
During 1974-1975, New Zealand singer-songwriter John Hanlon recorded at Stebbing.[7] In December 1974, Dragon recorded their Scented Gardens for the Blind album at the studio.[8] Also during 1974-1975, The Human Instinct recorded tracks for their Peg Leg album. The master tapes from the original sessions went missing inside the Stebbing archives, and were later rediscovered in 2001.[9] Australian Jazz musician Don Burrows recorded his album The Tasman Connection at Stebbing, which was released on the Cherry Pie label in 1976.[10]
1980s
By 1981, Stebbing Studios was one of four New Zealand recording studios to feature twenty four track recording facilities.[6]
1990s
In 1999, the studio entered into a CD production venture with Hargon International. Stebbing later bought Hargon out and invested $10 million in a new CD/DVD manufacturing plant that opened the same year in Ponsonby, close to the original recording studios.[11] The plant became the largest CD/DVD replication facility in New Zealand, producing 60,000 units a day at its peak.[12]
2000s
By the 2000s, the main studio had been expanded to accommodate up to sixty musicians.[13]
Eldred Stebbing died in 2009, aged 88.[14]
2020s
In 2023, Stebbing announced their expansion into producing vinyl LPs, based out of the same manufacturing facility as their CD/DVD plant.[12] The plant was originally scheduled to open in March 2023, but the arrival of the record press was delayed by the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods.[15] The plant opened in August 2023, with the ability to manufacture 900 records a day.