Professional recording, mixing, and mastering serving Lincoln Square 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 Lincoln Square’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 Lincoln Square 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 Lincoln Square Musicians Trust Us
Lincoln Square has maintained a strong independent music community for decades, with local venues and a population of artists who value quality craftsmanship and authentic performances. Musicians from Lincoln Square bring a grounded professionalism to their recording projects—they know what they want to achieve and they’re looking for an engineer who can help them get there. Whether you’re a rock band tracking guitars, bass, and drums, a singer-songwriter recording piano and vocal arrangements, or a narrator recording audiobook content for publishers, you’ll find a studio environment that matches Lincoln Square’s commitment to substance and quality. Artists from this neighborhood understand that great recordings start with strong material and solid performances, and they’re looking for an engineer who can capture that authenticity without overcomplicating the process. As Chicago’s #1 rated recording studio on Google, Untold Stories has earned that recognition by serving artists who value honest recordings that showcase their work at its best. Lincoln Square musicians choose us because we deliver professional results with straightforward communication and genuine collaboration.
Getting Here from Lincoln Square
From Lincoln Square, the drive to our Pilsen studio at 1007 West 19th Street takes approximately 25-30 minutes via Lake Shore Drive or through city streets. By car, take Lincoln Avenue or Clark Street south, or access Lake Shore Drive south to Roosevelt Road and head west into Pilsen. The routes offer flexibility based on traffic and time of day. Street parking in Pilsen is completely free and abundant throughout the neighborhood—no meters, no permits, no hunting for spots. If you prefer public transit, the CTA Brown Line from Western or Damen runs south to the Loop, where you can transfer to the Pink Line at Clark/Lake and ride directly to 18th Street in Pilsen. Many Lincoln Square artists appreciate the straightforward commute—close enough to make multiple sessions practical, and the drive or train ride gives you time to warm up vocally, review material, or simply transition into creative focus. By the time you arrive at the studio, you’re ready to work. Plan to arrive right on time for your session, and you’ll find parking simple, access easy, and the entire experience focused on capturing your best performances.
What Makes Lincoln Square Artists Unique
Musicians and voice actors from Lincoln Square tend to approach recording with solid preparation and clear communication. These are artists who’ve spent time developing their material through performances and practice, and they arrive at the studio ready to execute. Lincoln Square artists show up with arrangements finalized and performances rehearsed, ready to make the most of their studio time. They value efficiency, quality, and an engineer who can balance technical skill with creative input when it serves the project. We see rock bands recording full instrumentation, indie and alternative artists developing their sound, singer-songwriters tracking guitar and piano arrangements, acoustic projects, punk and heavier genres, and voice actors working on audiobook narration from Lincoln Square. Many are artists who’ve been part of Chicago’s music community for years—performing regularly, refining their craft, and building their skills through experience. What sets Lincoln Square artists apart is their practical approach to recording—they understand what they’re trying to achieve, they communicate clearly about their goals, and they’re open to suggestions that improve the final product. They choose Untold Stories because we match their work ethic and deliver recordings that represent their sound authentically. When you walk into our studio from Lincoln Square, you’re working with an engineer who respects your preparation, listens to your vision, and is committed to capturing recordings that showcase your music at its best.
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.