Rent a recording studio in Chicago, IL

Since it officially became a city in 1837, Chicago has been an incredibly important center for music in the Midwest and in the United States as a whole. This is true both historically and in the modern era. Chicago has been the birthplace of everything from Chicago blues to house music, and in addition to birthing these genres, the city and its creatively gifted residents have also cultivated significant alternative rock, punk, and hip hop scenes. That’s not to mention its numerous world-class orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago (among many others). Many successful podcasts are also based in Chicago, including numerous podcasts from WBEZ Chicago (the city’s public radio station) like Reset, Curious City, and the Rundown. The Vanished Chicagoland Stories podcast has been popular, as have Knowledge Fight, Cognitive Dissonance, Making Obama, the Nerdette Podcast, and many others. If you’re in search of a Chicago recording studio for musical recording, for an audio/video podcast recording, or some other form of recording (whatever your needs might be!), you’ve come to the right place. Chicago provides a stunning range of recording studios from which to choose, with options to suit almost any budget, aesthetic, location, and need for expert creative/production support.

One of the coolest things about Chicago is the fact that everywhere you go in and around the city feels a little different. It’s anything but homogeneous, aesthetically and culturally. We’ll start with the Loop, which is Chicago’s central business district. This is where you go if you’re searching for world-renowned architecture like the Willis Tower and major cultural landmarks, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Cultural Center, the theater district, and more. Meanwhile, head to the sleek and high-end River North neighborhood for some of the best art galleries in Chicago as well as luxurious nightlife and dining. For more daytime-oriented activities like boutiques and eateries as well as plenty of green spaces (including a park and a zoo), Lincoln Park will be your best bet. Bucktown and Wicker Park, on the other hand, are a bit more funky and are known for their independent shops and music venues. The Chicago suburbs are nothing to sneeze at, either! For instance, Evanston (home of Northwestern University) offers lovely historic architecture and picturesque lakeside views. Naperville, on the other hand, has the best of both worlds: an overall cozy, family-friendly feel along with a fun, exciting downtown area.

When it comes to public transport, the easiest Chicago neighborhood to access is probably the Loop, which is easy to reach not only via Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train lines but also by the Metra and on a variety of buses. River North is accessible by bus as well as by the Brown and Red CTA lines, while Lincoln Park is served by the Purple, Brown, and Red CTA lines. To head to Bucktown and Wicker Park and enjoy their hip, artistic vibes, take the bus or use the Blue CTA line. Reaching the Chicago suburbs via public transportation is also easier than you might expect. Evanston is accessible via the Metra’s Union Pacific North Line and the Purple CTA Line, while Oak Park uses the Green CTA line and the Metra’s Union Pacific West Line. And Naperville may be a bit further from the heart of the city, but you can still get there on the Metra’s BNSF Railway Line.

Despite the fact that Chicago’s cost of living is roughly 120 percent of the United States’ average cost of living, keep in mind that living in a city is almost always more expensive than living in a suburb or a rural location. Compared to many cities in the US (and around the world), Chicago is considerably cheaper, and that extends to its recording studio rates. The average recording studio in Chicago costs about $95 per hour, but the cost can range from as low as $30 (e.g., for this small and affordable studio space in the city’s Austin neighborhood) to as high as $200 (e.g., for this beautiful video podcasting studio in Lake View). Cost-wise, a more representative average option would be this spacious recording studio known as Palisade Studios on the North Side, which costs $100 per hour. The rental cost depends on numerous factors, including the size of the recording studio, the location (downtown is typically more expensive than suburban locations), and included services and amenities like production, mixing and mastering, and editing.

Whether you’re in search of a podcast studio in Chicago, a Chicago video studio, or some other unique space, you’ve got dozens of options to choose from in and around the city. Here are some examples of the best spaces of this type that Chicago has to offer:

• For an incredible recording experience, visit this skyscraper recording studio in downtown Chicago (it’s located in the city’s world-famous Loop neighborhood, to be exact!). Known as Sunset Agency and run by the talented Sunset Martinez, this studio has the auspicious title of the “highest studio in the city of Chicago and all of the Midwest” because it’s situated inside of the impressive 44-story Board of Trade Building. Services include recording, producing vocals, mixing and mastering, content music videos for social media, and consultations to ask marketing questions—and all of these are included in the hourly rental price of $99, so you get excellent bang for your buck with this location. Keep in mind that the space is relatively small at 300 square feet (plenty of space for a recording studio), so you probably won’t be able to comfortably fit more than three people at a time in this space.
• Especially if you’re planning to record a video podcast, you’ll want to make sure to find a beautiful space in which to do it. This video podcast recording studio in Lake View is one of the most luxurious options of its kind in the Chicago area, so it definitely fits the bill. You’ll pay more per hour if you go with this space, but it’s definitely worth it, with a ton of technical features and amenities to choose from: three cameras that capture up to four guests at once, live streaming, viewer call-in options, HDMI for laptops, and best of all, an on-site engineer working behind the scenes to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. In addition, you’ll receive a live-cut version of your podcast recording immediately after you’re done with your session here, so you can get it posted as soon as possible. If you’re not yet fully convinced, check out the impressive photos of this space for evidence of its upscale vibe.
• Seeking a recording studio in the Chicago suburbs? This podcast recording studio is located in the South Suburbs, in South Holland, IL. It’s an especially affordable choice at just $40 per hour, and for many, it’s also a significantly more convenient location than visiting a recording studio in downtown Chicago. Avoid the hassle of navigating traffic or paying for parking and enjoy access to premium equipment in the podcast recording room, which has an all-in-one setup for podcasts with up to four people. The recording space also comes with a 50-inch TV that can display your show’s logo and LED soundproofing that covers the room’s main wall. In addition to your hosts and guests, there’s also seating in the space for up to four guests who aren’t recording. There’s even producer and director services available if you need them.
• Head to the northwest side of Chicago to visit this vibrant Jefferson Park recording studio. It’s a 300-square-foot space that’s ideal for recording music, voiceovers, and podcasts. This is thanks to not only its high-tech equipment—which includes touch screen monitors for the engineer, mic and headphones in a separate booth for the artists, and more—but also the space’s expert engineers, who can adapt to a range of creative needs. This studio also happens to be particularly cool and comfortable, with all the right touches to cultivate a creative vibe: it has a plush, spacious purple couch, neon black lights, and artwork featuring iconic musicians like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and Kanye. That’s not to mention that at just $40 per hour, this recording studio space for rent in Chicago is an absolute steal.