Professional recording, mixing, and mastering serving Lakeview musicians.
Join over 1,000 Chicago artists who trust Untold Stories Recordings for personalized recording that resonates. Located nearby at 1007 West 19th Street, we serve Lakeview’s vibrant music community with state-of-the-art equipment and expert engineering.
“In my free 15-minute call, I learned more about making a song than I had in years of recording”
-Alyssa Serena
At Untold Stories Recordings, we believe every great project starts with clarity. That’s why we offer a free 15-minute phone consultation—no pressure, no cost—just expert advice on your music, your goals, and how to bring your vision to life in the studio.
Whether you’re booking your first session or your fiftieth, this quick call will give you insight into the recording, mixing and mastering process, help you plan your project, and answer any questions you have.
Why Lakeview Artists Choose Untold Stories Recordings
🎙️ Professional Sound Quality – Top-tier gear for polished audio.
Utilize top-tier equipment and industry-leading technology to achieve a polished and captivating sound that resonates with your audience.
Enjoy tailored sessions designed to reflect your unique artistic vision, ensuring your music is a true representation of your creativity.
Work alongside experienced audio engineers who are passionate about music and dedicated to helping you refine your sound and bring your ideas to life.
Immerse yourself in a supportive and inspiring environment that encourages artistic exploration and collaboration, making your recording sessions enjoyable and productive.
Access a full suite of services, including recording, mixing, and mastering, all under one roof for a seamless and efficient creative process.
Reviews From Untold Stories' Artists
An incredibly professional studio. Ian worked hand in hand with my band from recording to producing to mixing and mastering, and flawlessly understood our artistic vision. He was able to perfectly balance the delicate act of providing insights from his decades of experience, while simultaneously allowing us to take the reins and record our project how we envisioned it. An absolute privilege to work with him, highly recommend to anyone from veterans of the industry to brand new beginners.
There’s something truly special about seeing your songs come to life, especially at a studio such as this one where I feel truly at home and comfortable to be myself and express myself through music. Working with Ian, gave me so much motivation and reignited my passion towards making music. Many, many thanks to Untold Stories for being the safe space I needed to bring my vision to fruition.
A truly 10/10 studio that I'd strongly recommend to anyone needing studio time. Before even discussing the product, I want to highlight how awesome of a guy Ian (the owner and sound engineer) is...He's honest, kind, patient, and a joy to be around. When I initially reached out to him, I was nervous about visiting a professional studio, but he walked me through the process and gave me the knowledge and confidence to book a session and record some really great music. The studio itself is in a nice area that's easily accessible. Inside, the place is stocked with high-end equipment and great soundproofing/isolation. The gear - in tandem with Ian's creativity and expert musical sense (mixing/mastering) will have you making music that you're truly proud of. It's hard to put into words how awesome (and affordable) of an experience working with Ian is. My advice would be to book a session and see for yourself!
Untold Stories is the best. Everything you read in the reviews is true— trust your gut and book with Ian. He made arrangements for me on a tight timeline, he was professional and incredibly smart, super friendly, and a pleasure to work with!!
I had a game changing experience at Untold Stories (...great name btw!). I've been messing around with recording my own stuff from home for a few years, at an amateur level, but I came into the session with the mindset of trying to learn as much as possible about how to record properly. And I learned a bunch about what kind of equipment to invest in personally, how to produce tracks, tips on EQ settings and just generally how to work efficiently in a studio environment. As well as just having a blast the whole day, this genuinely upped my game for recording vocals, guitar and harmonica. I'd say Ian was the real star of the show though, as he created a very relaxed but professional vibe throughout the whole day, he really know's his stuff and even though I'm just starting out in the studio world, I guarantee he could record, mix or master for musicians at all levels. I felt like no time was wasted throughout the session and the cherry on top was that I finished the 8hr session with a completed track that I love! Highly recommend for any musical minstrels out there who are looking to lay down some quality tracks! 👌
I came all the way from Germany to record my album with Ian! Ive been to music studios all over the world and the customer service and quality from Untold Stories Recordings is the best i have ever experienced!
Working with Ian on Heaven in a Wildflower, my first audiobook, was a wonderful experience. His technical expertise was top-notch, but he also had the ability to be encouraging and patient as the narrator and I learned the process. This was a 60+ chapter book so a huge undertaking but everything went flawlessly. Highly recommend!
Why Lakeview Musicians Trust Us
Lakeview spans a massive stretch of Chicago’s north side, and that geographic diversity mirrors the artists who call this neighborhood home—from indie rock bands in Roscoe Village to electronic producers in Boystown to punk bands near Wrigleyville. Musicians from Lakeview don’t fit a single mold, and they don’t want a studio that treats every project like it’s the same genre, same approach, same template. Whether you’re tracking guitars, bass, and drums for a high-energy rock project, building electronic productions with synthesizers and drum programming, or recording intimate acoustic and vocal arrangements, you’ll find a studio that adapts to your specific needs rather than forcing you into a predetermined box. Artists from Lakeview understand that great recordings come from an engineer who can work across styles and actually listens to what you’re trying to achieve. As Chicago’s #1 rated recording studio on Google, Untold Stories has built that reputation by working with artists across every genre imaginable and delivering professional results that serve the song rather than showcasing the studio. Lakeview musicians choose us because we match their creative diversity—we’re not locked into one sound or one approach, and we’re committed to capturing your music authentically whether that’s raw and aggressive or polished and intricate.
Getting Here from Lakeview
From Lakeview, getting to our Pilsen studio at 1007 West 19th Street is one of the easiest commutes in the city—you’re looking at 20-25 minutes depending on which part of Lakeview you’re coming from. By car, take Clark or Ashland south through Lincoln Park and the Loop area, or access Lake Shore Drive south to Roosevelt and head west into Pilsen. The routes are straightforward with multiple options depending on traffic. Street parking in Pilsen is completely free and abundant—no meters, no permits, no downtown parking complications. If you prefer public transit, the CTA Red Line from Belmont, Addison, or Sheridan runs directly south to Roosevelt, where you can transfer to a quick westbound bus or rideshare into Pilsen. Alternatively, the Brown Line connects to the Pink Line at Clark/Lake, which takes you directly to 18th Street in Pilsen. Many Lakeview artists appreciate the transit accessibility—you can take the train when you’re not hauling gear, or drive when you need to bring drums, amps, or multiple instruments. The commute is short enough that scheduling multiple sessions is easy, and by the time you arrive at the studio, you’ve transitioned from the energy of Lakeview’s streets into a focused creative space. Plan to arrive right on time for your session, and you’ll find parking simple, access easy, and the neighborhood’s artistic character a natural extension of Lakeview’s own creative diversity.
What Makes Lakeview Artists Unique
Musicians and voice actors from Lakeview bring an eclectic energy and creative openness to their recording sessions. Living in one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods—economically, culturally, demographically—creates artists who’ve been exposed to every musical style imaginable and often blend influences in unexpected ways. Lakeview artists show up with material that refuses to be pigeonholed: indie rock bands incorporating electronic elements, acoustic artists experimenting with production techniques, punk and alternative projects that push boundaries, and singer-songwriters who defy easy categorization. They value an engineer who can adapt to their vision rather than imposing a predetermined sound, and they appreciate honest feedback that serves the music. We see rock bands tracking full instrumentation, electronic producers building tracks with synthesizers and programmed drums, indie and alternative artists developing their sound, acoustic and folk projects, heavier genres like punk and metal, and voice actors pursuing narration work from Lakeview. Many are artists deeply embedded in Chicago’s independent music scene—they’ve played countless shows at local venues, built followings through DIY promotion, and understand that professional recordings are investments in their careers, not just vanity projects. What sets Lakeview artists apart is their creative fearlessness—they’re willing to experiment, take risks, and push their sound in new directions when it serves their artistic vision. They choose Untold Stories because we meet them where they are creatively and technically, whether that’s capturing raw live energy or building intricate layered productions. When you walk into our studio from Lakeview, you’re working with an engineer who respects your creative vision, embraces the diversity you bring, and is committed to delivering recordings that authentically represent your sound without forcing it into someone else’s mold.
Location & Hours
1007 West 19th Street Chicago IL 60608
M-F 8am-8pm, Weekends 10am-7pm
Rates
-Recording is $50 per hour (Please Read Studio Usage Minimums).
-Mixing with Mastering starts at $300 per song. Please call for an estimate.
Studio Usage Minimums:
-Monday to Friday: If you are solely focused on recording and do not require mixing with mastering, the minimum booking duration for your recording session is four hours.
-Monday to Friday: If you are purchasing mixing with mastering at the end of your recording session, the minimum recording session is one hour.
-Saturday: Always a minimum four hour recording session, regardless of purchases of mixing with mastering.
Deposits And Booking
-Monday to Friday: $50 non-refundable deposit is required to secure/book time, covering the first hour of your session.
-Saturdays: $200 non-refundable deposit is required to secure/book time, covering the first four hours of your session.
-Deposits must be paid within 15 minutes of scheduling to secure your session. No exceptions.
-Failure to show results in deposit loss. No exceptions.
Timing and Payments:
-Sessions start at the confirmed arrival time. No exceptions.
-Please arrive no more than 5 minutes early. If unable to accommodate, you’ll need to wait outside.
-If purchasing, mixing with mastering is paid in full before it is started.
-Final master will be delivered in 5-15 business days.
-One free revision session is included after receiving the final master.
-Additional revisions are billed hourly and must be done at the studio.
-Payment methods: Cash, Paypal, Venmo, Cash App, and all major credit cards except Amex.
Lakeview’s Musical Legacy
Lakeview has been a hub for Chicago’s music scene for over 70 years. The Vic Theatre opened in 1912 as a venue for jazz and vaudeville, setting the stage for generations of live performances. In the 1970s, the Quiet Knight became a beloved folk music venue featuring Chicago artists like John Prine, Bonnie Koloc, and Jim Post. By the 1980s, the Cubby Bear near Wrigley Field was hosting punk bands like Naked Raygun, The Effigies, and The Subverts. Reckless Records opened on Broadway in 1989, becoming a destination for music lovers, while Bloodshot Records launched in 1994, championing alt-country artists like The Waco Brothers and Robbie Fulks. Today, Schubas Tavern continues the tradition, hosting indie rock and folk acts seven nights a week.
Want to learn more about Lakeview’s rich music history?
Read our deep dive into Lakeview’s musical legacy