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Where Sound Meets Vision

Crafting Iconic Music in the Heart of Byron Bay

Musicians – Artists – Producers

RockingHorse Studios is an iconic space where creativity and expertise converge, empowering artists to shape and refine their sound with precision and artistry.

About

Where Music Finds Its Soul

An iconic recording space in Byron Bay’s scenic hinterland, RockingHorse Studios was crafted with both flexibility and efficiency at its core. Inspired by the timeless charm of classic recording spaces, Studio A combines the warmth of natural timber with expansive windows that flood the room with natural light, creating an inviting environment for musicians and producers alike. Thoughtfully designed with clear sight lines, it seamlessly connects three isolated tracking rooms to a unique control room renowned for its exceptional drum-tracking acoustics.

With top-tier equipment, including Neve and Avalon mic preamps, GML and Pultec equalizers, and compressors by Neve, Urei, DBX, and Smart Research, our control room offers unparalleled precision. Supported by a Slate Monitoring Control system, Slate Raven multi-touch console, and high-quality monitors by Genelec, KRK, and Yamaha, RockingHorse Studios captures every nuance of your sound.

Set in the beautiful Byron Shire countryside with a variety of nearby accommodation options, it’s the perfect space to immerse yourself in the recording process and find fresh inspiration. Available for dry hire or with in-house engineer/studio packages, RockingHorse Studios is where visions are brought to life.

The Equipment

Equipped with industry-leading gear, RockingHorse Studios combines vintage analogue warmth with cutting-edge digital precision. Our carefully curated selection of preamps, compressors, and monitors ensures every detail of your sound is captured with clarity and depth.

Recording System

  • 2020 i7 Mac Mini with 64gig ram
  • Protools HDX running Protools Ultimate Version 2020.5
  • Lynx Aurora n 32×32 AD/DA Converter

Monitors

  • Yamaha NS10M with Bryston 3B amplifier
  • Genelec 1032A
  • KRK V8 S4
  • Slate Monitor Control

Pre Amps

  • 4 x NEVE 1064
  • 24 x NEVE 1272
  • 2x Avalon M2
  • 16 x Neve V Series Channel Strips

Equalizer

  • 2 x Pultec EQP-1
  • 1 x GML 8200

Microphones

  • 1 x Neumann U89i
  • 2 x Neumann TLM 170
  • 1 x Neumann U47 FET
  • 4 x Neumann KM84
  • 1 x Sennheiser MD441
  • 4 x Sennheiser MD421
  • 2 x AKG C414EB
  • 1 x AKG D112
  • 4 x Shure SM57
  • 3 x Shure Beta 57
  • 2 x Shure SM58
  • 1 x Shure SM7B
  • 1 x Beyer M201
  • 2 x PZM Mic’s
  • 2 x EV N/D 408A
  • 2 x Royer 121 Matched Pair
  • 1 x Josephson e22
  • 1 x Heil PR40
  • 1 x Audix D6

Studio Effects

  • 1x Rod Harris Stereo Valve Stage
  • 1x Ursa Major Reverb
  • 1x EMT 240 Gold Plate Reverb
  • 1x DBX 120xp Subharmonic Synthesizer
  • 1x Roland Dimension D
  • 1x Sansamp PSA-1

Compression

  • 3 x Urei 1176
  • 2 x Neve 2254 with Stereo Link
  • 2 x Urei LA4A with Stereo Link
  • 2 x DBX 160 VU
  • 1 x DBX 160x
  • 1 x Smart Research C2

Headphone Systems

  • Behringer Powerplay P16
  • 5x Beyerdynamic DT 770  Pro Headphones

Unmatched Equipment, Exceptional Sound

From cutting-edge recording systems and classic vintage effects to world-class microphones and meticulously curated instruments, RockingHorse Studios is equipped to bring your artistic vision to life. Each piece of gear, each acoustic choice, and every detail in our live rooms has been selected to empower artists and producers to achieve the highest quality sound at the source. Step into a space designed for creativity, precision, and performance.

Recording System

Capable of handling the most punishing of sessions, our powerful 2020 Mac Mini based ProTools Ultimate HDX system is ready to bring your music to life. To ensure your music arrives safely, we have selected the latest mastering grade 32 i/o Lynx Aurora interface. The power, clarity and stability of this system means that nothing will stand in your way when working at Rockinghorse Studios.
Would you rather operate the session from your own computer? Simply plug in via the thunderbolt 3 cable and install the HDX drivers. You will be up and running in no time!

Studio Effects

Our collection of vintage effects will help you create lush soundscapes authentically. Choose from real plate reverbs, subharmonic generators, digital reverb and delay units and spatial chorus effects. Then add a little boutique valve harmonic distortion to round things off! You are only limited by your imagination.

Microphones

Like any great painter, a recording engineer must have a broad selection of colours to bring out nuances in style and tone. Our collection of classic and vintage microphones offers just such a palette. From the powerful depths of a bass drum to the soaring timbre of world class singers, we have all the bases covered. Whether our recently restored vintage Neumann and AKG microphones or modern classics by Royer Labs, there is no limit to what you can accomplish here at Rockinghorse Studios.Would you rather operate the session from your own computer? Simply plug in via the thunderbolt 3 cable and install the HDX drivers. You will be up and running in no time!

Instruments

Our lovingly maintained Yamaha U3 upright piano is the centrepiece of the instruments on offer here. After close consultation with piano maintenance professionals and Tim Freedman from The Whitlams, we have settled on a timbre which transcends preconceptions of upright pianos to provide the artist with a rich, sweet and highly playable instrument.
For more general backline requirements, we have sourced a range of quality instruments which are available for hire including: drums, guitars, basses, amps and keyboards. For more information on our hire range please fill out the Instrument Hire form and a PDF will be emailed to you.

The Gear

This studio is designed to capture great music without headache, to save you time and money. Efficient workflows and great tone are our guiding principles. Patch into our wide collection of vintage Neve or Avalon preamps, our vintage Pultec or GML equalisers and then really bring your music to life through our original Urei, DBX, Smart Reseach or Neve Compressors. These world class recording processors have a reputation for a reason. They get the job done and they sound amazing. What more could you ask for?

Live Room Features

The three critical components of any recording are the artist, the equipment and the space you record in. While the artist and equipment can travel anywhere, the space you record in cannot. Euphonic room acoustics are what separates real studios from bedroom operations. Whether they be purpose built spaces such as Rockinghorse Studios or adapted for purpose buildings such as churches, the only way to capture that unique tone is to record in that unique space.
All of the recording spaces at Rockinghorse Studios have been purpose built to embellish and embolden the sound of your instrument and production. From powerful drums and rich double bass to sublime piano and soaring vocals, this studio helps you produce better results faster. Don’t waste time and money “fixing it in the mix”, get it right at the source and be proud of your art.

Step Inside: 3D Studio Tour

Explore RockingHorse Studios like never before with our immersive 3D tour. Walk through our state-of-the-art recording spaces, vintage-inspired rooms, and stunning live areas. Get a feel for the atmosphere and envision your next session here, where every detail is crafted for creativity and precision.

Bring Your Vision to Life at RockingHorse Studios

Discover a recording experience like no other in the Byron Bay hinterland.
With our world-class studio facilities and inspiring surroundings, RockingHorse Studios is designed to ignite creativity and enhance your sound. Stay close by and immerse yourself fully in the creative process.