Audio MilitiaImmersive Sound from Johannesburg

How a South African audio powerhouse built a Dolby Atmos-ready facility around ADAM Audio A Series monitors.

When you’re crafting immersive sonic experiences for global brands and Grammy-winning artists alike, you need a studio that matches your ambition. That’s exactly what Audio Militia, a Johannesburg-based full-service audio agency, set out to build—a space where creativity and technical precision coexist seamlessly.

Founded in 2007 by Craig Hawkins and Paul Norwood, with Nick Argyros joining as a third partner in 2011, Audio Militia has grown into one of South Africa’s premier audio production companies. Their multidisciplinary team—comprising music strategists, composers, engineers, producers, and even music psychologists—tackles everything from original music composition to sound design, mastering, and music supervision. “We’re built around creativity and technical precision—and we bring both in spades,” says Craig Hawkins, now Chief Creative Officer.

Nestled on a lush property in Rosebank, Johannesburg, Audio Militia isn’t just a studio—it’s a creative sanctuary. Every element, from the acoustic treatment to the custom furniture, was designed and built in-house. “It’s quiet, beautiful, and creatively inspiring,” says Craig Hawkins. “It feels more like an artist’s retreat than a facility.”

Seven Studios, One Mission: Sonic Excellence

The Audio Militia facility includes seven bespoke studio spaces, each designed with a specific purpose in mind. From full-service rooms for film and TV to a remote-ready artist space packed with vintage synths, each room supports a modular, plug-and-play workflow. The crown jewel is room A6, a brand-new Dolby-certified Atmos suite built from the ground up using Dolby’s DARDT tool to ensure compliance with 7.1.4 specifications.

But building for Atmos was no small feat. “The biggest hurdle was designing to spec while making sure the speaker SPL handling matched the room size,” explains Craig Hawkins. “We spent a lot of time EQing and tuning to get as flat a response as possible. It paid off.”

Craig Hawkins brings a unique perspective to the studio. A former vocalist, producer, and engineer for South African rap-metal band Pestroy, he’s shared stages with icons like Metallica and The Prodigy—and even a wild street party with Pennywise in Berlin. That same passion for sonic experimentation now fuels his work with Audio Militia. “It’s the intersection between art and technology that drives me,” he explains.

Today, his day might include composing, engineering, or mixing across stereo and Atmos formats, working on projects ranging from cinematic commercials to full albums. Recent Atmos work includes a Nike x Spotify short film, an album for Grammy-winner Ricky Kej, and a deeply emotional final track with late South African legend Riky Rick, where the team used AI to recreate the artist’s voice.

Choosing ADAM Audio for their Dolby Atmos suite

To meet Dolby’s SPL requirements, the team selected ADAM Audio A7V nearfield monitors as the backbone of their Atmos system. “Once they were in the room, the features, clarity, and overall sound blew us away,” says Craig Hawkins. “It wasn’t just a spec fit—it was love at first listen.”

Their Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 setup, powered entirely by A Series monitors, delivers what Craig Hawkins calls “ridiculously punchy” low end and “razor-sharp” imaging. “Clients ask what sub I’m using, and I have to tell them—no LFE involved yet!” he adds. With the A Control software and Sonarworks SoundID Reference, the team can fine-tune EQ, upload speaker profiles, and adapt calibration to any room.