Professional recording, mixing, and mastering serving River Forest 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 River Forest’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 River Forest 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
Untold Stories Recording provided top tier service from the beginning to the end! From the initial call, to the scheduling, recording, state of the art equipment, listening session and production. In the voiceover industry, it isn’t easy finding a business that delivers quality on all levels!! Untold Stories Recording Studio will now be my go-to recording studio for all projects!!!!
Hands-down, best recording studio in Chicago!👊 Extraordinary, mixing and mastering Great input, guidance, etc. but also an excellent listeners This is where we go to bring our visions to reality
This is the best recording studio in all of Chicago!!! If you’re looking for high quality recording, mixing and mastering, call and ask for Ian!!
I am a professional singer/songwriter who recently recorded at Untold Stories Recordings, and I can tell you it is one of the most satisfying and productive experiences I have ever had in a recording studio. The studio has top-notch recording equipment, and the owner Ian is a pro sound engineer and genius at mixing and mastering. Ian is also a great teacher and mentor to new talent, even going so far as to give advice and direction to help the artist navigate the tricky music business and give them their best shot at getting their music heard. Take it from me if you’re a seasoned professional or studio newbie Untold Stories Recordings is the place for you with the best rates in town!
What a blast! Ian is so patient and kind with feedback. He's such a pro and is doing the work of an entire recording studio himself. So impressive and so much fun to work with him. Highly recommend!
I recently had an awesome experience at a Untold stories recording studio. It was my first time recording, and I had no prior knowledge of the process. However, everything was easy to understand, and the steps were straightforward. I would highly recommend this studio for anyone looking to record, mix, and master their music.
Why River Forest Musicians Trust Us
River Forest maintains a quiet, residential elegance just west of Chicago—tree-lined streets, historic homes, and a community that values quality and substance over flash. Musicians from River Forest bring that same understated professionalism to their recording projects: they’ve invested time developing their craft, they know what they want to achieve, and they’re looking for an engineer who can deliver results with skill and efficiency. Whether you’re a rock band tracking guitars, bass, and drums, a classical musician recording piano or string instruments like violin and cello, or a voice actor capturing professional narration for audiobook work, you’ll find a studio environment that delivers technical expertise without unnecessary complications. Artists from this community value clear communication, reliable execution, and an engineer who respects both your artistic vision and your time. As Chicago’s #1 rated recording studio on Google, Untold Stories has earned that recognition by consistently delivering professional work for artists who expect quality. River Forest musicians choose us because we approach every project with the same attention to detail and commitment to excellence they’ve invested in their own development.
Getting Here from River Forest
From River Forest, the drive to our Pilsen studio at 1007 West 19th Street takes approximately 20-25 minutes via I-290 E (Eisenhower Expressway). Head south and east on Harlem Avenue to access I-290 E, continue toward Chicago, exit at Damen Avenue, and head south into Pilsen. The route is straightforward with clear signage. Street parking in Pilsen is completely free and abundant, typically within half a block of the studio. No meters, no permits, no downtown parking expenses. If you prefer public transit, the CTA Green Line runs through Oak Park just to the south (you can drive to Oak Park or Ridgeland stations), or the Metra UP-W line serves River Forest Station with service to Ogilvie Transportation Center, where a rideshare southwest to Pilsen takes about 10 minutes. Many River Forest artists appreciate the reasonable commute—close enough to make scheduling multiple sessions practical, and the drive provides time to warm up vocally, review material, or mentally transition into recording mode. By the time you arrive at the studio, you’re focused and ready to capture your best performances. Plan to arrive right on time for your session, and you’ll find parking effortless, access simple, and the entire experience focused on delivering quality recordings.
What Makes River Forest Artists Unique
Musicians and voice actors from River Forest tend to approach recording with thorough preparation and high standards. These are artists who arrive with material rehearsed to performance level, arrangements refined, and clear expectations for what professional recording requires. River Forest artists value quality without pretension, efficiency without rushing, and honest feedback from an engineer who understands their goals. They appreciate collaboration where both the artist and engineer contribute expertise to create the best possible final product. We see rock bands recording full instrumentation, classical musicians tracking piano and string instruments like violin and cello, singer-songwriters capturing acoustic and electric guitar arrangements, adult contemporary projects, indie bands developing their sound, and voice actors recording for audiobook publishers and commercial clients from River Forest. Many are artists who’ve studied music formally, performed extensively, or dedicated years to developing their skills with the same discipline they bring to other pursuits. What sets River Forest artists apart is their focus on substance over style—they’re creating work that represents their abilities authentically rather than chasing trends or manufacturing an image. They’ve researched their options, they understand what distinguishes competent work from exceptional work, and they choose Untold Stories because we deliver the technical quality and professional attention their projects deserve. When you walk into our studio from River Forest, you’re working with an engineer who respects your preparation, values your artistic choices, and is committed to capturing your music with the clarity and precision it requires.
Location & Hours
1007 West 19th Street Chicago IL 60608
M-F 8am-8pm, Weekends 10am-7pm
Rates
-Recording is $45 per hour (Please Read Studio Usage Minimums).
-Mixing with Mastering starts at $175.00 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: $45 non-refundable deposit is required to secure/book time, covering the first hour of your session.
-Saturdays: $180 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 5-10 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.