Studio Console

High-End Audio.
No Compromise.

A boutique recording and mixing facility in Johannesburg, specializing in Rock, Metal, Modern Pop, Folk and Voice Over production.

Portfolio

The Sound of Rabid Dog Studio.

Rock & Metal

Specializing in high-energy live tracking to capture the raw power of a full band performance, paired with boutique tube amps for a massive, radio-ready sound.

Modern Pop

Polished vocal production, hybrid arrangements, and a radio-ready commercial sheen.

Acoustic & Folk

Intimate vocal capture and natural room resonance for singer-songwriters.

The Facility

A Creative Sanctuary.

Combining a calibrated control room with flexible tracking spaces for almost all genres.

Control Room Main View Mixing Console Detail Studio Rack Gear
Main Control Room
Marshall JCM 900 Condenser Mic Van Halen and Steve Vai Pearl Drums
Live Tracking
500 Series Preamps Mix Bus Compression Valve Preamp
The Signal Chain
Calibrated Space

Acoustically treated for honest monitoring and professional translation.

Memorable Heads and Cabs

Access to authentic Marshall, Mesa Boogie and other tube amps for reamping and live tracking.

Beautiful Mics

A curated collection of industry standards including Neumann, Shure and AKG.

Hybrid Workflow

The best of analog character paired with high-end digital precision.

The Spec

Curated Hardware.

Signal Chain

  • 01 Neumann TLM / KM Series
  • 02 Shure SM7B / SM57 Industry Standards
  • 03 Rodeo Condensers
  • 04 Focusrite, SSL & ART Pro Preamps
  • 05 High-Resolution AD/DA Conversion

The Stacks

  • 06 Marshall JCM, JVM and JTM
  • 07 Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
  • 08 Le Roux Amp Works Boutique Tones
  • 09 Gibson, Fender, Ibanez and PRS guitars
  • 10 Custom Mapped Drum Samples

Monitoring

  • 11 Avantone CLA-10 / Yamaha Monitoring
  • 12 Cubase Environment
  • 13 Waves, FabFilter, UAD and SSL Digital Suite
  • 14 Hybrid Mixing Ecosystem
  • 15 Analog Compressors
  • 16 Acoustically Treated Control Room

Capabilities

The Service.

Johannesburg-based.
Globally accessible.

01

Full Production

A comprehensive journey from pre-production to final mastering, ensuring your creative vision is captured with absolute sonic integrity.

02

Remote Mixing

High quality hybrid mixing for artists worldwide, balancing analog warmth with modern digital precision.

03

Voice Over

Pristine recording for commercial narration, documentary, and radio imaging through high-end signal chains.

04

Reamping

Utilizing boutique Marshall and Mesa hardware stacks to breathe power and air into your DI tracks.

05

Session Work

Professional tracking for guitar, bass, and drums, tailored to your genre through world-class preamps.

06

Analog Mix Rendering

Professional analog mix rendering to capture the warmth and character of classic recording techniques.

07

Drum Stem Repair

Professional drum stem phase and time alignment to regain the punch and depth of your drum tracks.

08

Audio Stem Repair

Professional tool chains to repair audio stems, ensuring clarity and consistency. We can also extract stems from stereo files.

09

Vocal Tuning

Got the perfect vocal take but dropped it in one or two places? We can fix it.

Process

Common Inquiries.

What do you need from me to complete the mix? +
Please provide raw, untreated stems (unless stems have effects printed for creative reasons), demo mixes if any are available, tempo and lyric sheets or other information that would be useful to understand the vision of the song.
How do I prepare my files for mixing? +
Please provide consolidated, time-aligned WAV stems (16-bit/44.1kHz or higher). Ensure all tracks are clearly labeled and bypass any non-creative processing (limiting/heavy compression) unless it is part of your signature sound.
What is analog mix rendering? +
Analog mix rendering involves importing the final high resolution mix into our DAW and running it through our analog compressors and transformer preamps to add warmth, saturation and character. This is then exported as a high resolution file and returned to you to send to your favourite mastering engineer.
Does analog mix rendering work in all genres? +
Yes, if you are looking to add saturation and warmth to your full digital production, analog mix rendering can be a great option. However, it may not be suitable for genres that require a more transparent and neutral sound.
Why are you offering repair services? +
We understand that artists want to be in full control of their mixes and we encourage everyone to try mixing their own tracks. However, we also recognize that sometimes things don't go as planned and that's why we offer repair services to help you get back on track and focus on the creativity as opposed to the technical aspects.
What is the typical turnaround time for a mix? +
Single-track mixing typically takes 3–5 business days, while full production or EPs are scheduled based on project scope. We prioritize quality over speed to ensure every project meets the Rabid Dog standard.
Do you require a deposit? +
Yes, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your studio dates. The remaining balance is due upon approval of the final mix or completion of the session.
Can I attend the mixing session? +
While we primarily work in a focused, independent environment for the initial mix, we offer attended revision sessions at our Johannesburg facility to fine-tune the final result.