I've recorded 3 albums with one of the engineers that runs Soapbox. When he told me that he was…read moreworking to open a new studio/practice space in Chicago, I knew the quality that would emerge from that project. Soapbox, and their engineers, have been my reliable, go-to sources for my recording needs for going on the better part of 7 years, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Kind folks, great expertise, and acoustically wonderful; they've got it all.

I went to the opening of this sound & music rehearsal studio and recording space with my friends a…read morecouple months back. It was very chill. The best thing is the fact that you can book your practice times through their website, so you don't have to play phone tag with voicemail messages. Also, the location is close to where I live in Logan Square, so that's a plus for me. I like that they have a drum kit there, so I don't have to lug my own over every time. The space is small but discreet, and good for bands looking for affordable practice space in Chicago... only 15-35$ an hour! Some places charge per person or you have to commit to a whole month, so this is a good compromise for me, since I'm in a few different groups and I need a flexible space to meet up with other musicians.

Back in the day when I lived in Logan Square I was in a band and we practiced at a space in…read moreHumboldt Park. The space was pretty convenient and you always knew when the Chicago Puerto Rico parade is taking place. I actually had someone tag my backpack while I was waiting for the bus...while the backpack was still on my back. And I really didn't think I was that buzzed at the time but I completely didn't notice the handiwork. I have moved from Logan Square to Lincoln Square and have started practicing once again with the drummer from my previous band. The most convenient space is the Music Lab. I had seen their ads forever in the Chicago Reader and had passed by the space thousands of times but never really noticed the place. It really doesn't stand out, mainly because the first floor houses a doggie daycare. Evidently that ain't too rock and roll. The spaces are fairly small but that seemed to work out just fine. The sound bounced off the walls and worked out pretty well. The spaces also smelled of dog urine but overall it isn't a bad practice space. The location, the price and the acoustics all fall in the positive column, while the doggie daycare is a minor distraction. So in short the Music Lab is a hidden, urine scented gem.

This place is great for the sole purpose that it allows me to play music (especially drums!!) at…read morewhatever volume without anyone leaving me nasty anonymous notes on my door. So that's a plus. Additionally, the neighborhood is great. Super, super close to the brown line, plenty of street parking in the evenings and on weekends. And it's within walking distance to great bars and restaurants on Lincoln Ave. The guy who runs it is also a very nice guy. However, for what it is, the price is a bit much. The rooms are small and not nearly soundproofed enough. If the guys next door are playing, their bass causes me to have to play louder than I'd like. Additionally, since it's above a doggy day care place, every now and then the hallway reeks of dog urine. Oh, and you can't flush toilet paper down the toilet, not that you'd want to risk sitting on it anyway. Also unfortunate is the complete lack of temperature control--my space easily breaks 100 degrees in the summer months. It's not pleasant to have three sweaty dudes with a bunch of equipment in a 100+ degree glorified closet. Unfortunately this place seems to have a monopoly on music practice space in my neighborhood. It could definitely use some work, but for what it is it definitely gets the job done. My irritable neighbors and I greatly appreciate the service!

I worked with Tim and Jon recently to record a voiceover demo, and these guys are Total Pros…read more I'm a stage and screen actor who has always been interested in getting into voiceover work to supplement my income. My concern was always how expensive the costs were to rent studio time and pay for a sound engineer. For starters, the price is right. There is no other full-service studio in Chicago that I'm aware of that offers such a fantastic price for studio time AND an engineer AND the post-production services to complete my demo. Jon is an excellent sound engineer, and Tim brings to the table a great deal of industry experience to help choose the right scripts, coach you through the recording session, and to really craft the best demo. It was a lot of fun and totally stress-free working at The Foxhole on my demo. MOST IMPORTANTLY...with this demo, I snagged myself a voiceover agent at Naked Voices, one of the top voiceover agencies in Chicago. I highly recommend Tim and Jon and The Foxhole Chicago for your audio recording needs, be it voiceover demo, band demo, or otherwise.

My wife and I rented this place out to host our rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding. We…read moreworked closely with Tim Frank to get everything organized and he was terrific. The venue was very flexible with our needs. They provided us tables and chairs and allowed us to bring in our own caterer and beverage. The space is ordinarily used as a recording studio, and theater groups also rent the space out for their rehearsals - so the lighting and acoustics are awesome. It was exactly what we were looking for. It fit our party of 30 comfortably. It felt intimate, and not at all cramped. They have tall ceilings with exposed brick, and some of the walls have random strips of wallpaper from the 60s which gives it a real cool offbeat loft feel. There's a large chalkboard in the center of one of brick walls, before we got there they had inscribed a "Congratulations" with our names and some neat wedding bell drawings. We had our own special table for two with a king and queen chair. Very nice touch. Other cool features included a free old school juke box. Good selection of tunes. They had an iPod hooked up for us too in case we wanted to stream Pandora instead of using the box. They offered us use of a microphone, though we didn't use it. There were two people there the whole evening that were just stairs away in case we needed anything. Blake was really sweet about checking in on us to make sure we were all good. They had set up our tables and chairs before we arrived and were really helpful when we got there to help us with set up. When we were wrapping up, they even came back down to see if we needed any help tearing down. They had several coolers on hand that they let us use to store our drinks. There's a gas station conveniently located about a block away that sells ice. Plenty of meter and free street parking too. I would totally rent this place again for a party. Good people, great experience. Highly recommend.

Back again! I had the pleasure of working with Tightrope Recording for my new podcast series, I…read morecouldn't be happier with the results. From start to finish, Jessi, Colin and Max went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of the recording process was seamless and professional. First and foremost, the studio itself was top-notch. They have an amazing amount of options of microphones to choose from, I went with a Sennheiser 416. Additionally, the studio's acoustics were excellent, providing a clean and crisp sound without any unwanted background noise, we used studio A mostly. The entire recording process was enjoyable and stress-free, I was there a lot so that's saying something- Overall I can't recomend them enough. If you're looking for a recording studio that will deliver then make sure you work with them.

Tightrope Recording, and their owner Max, did not live up to their promises. They promised a great…read morerecording and finished mixes for one price of $1500. They did a great job recording, but sent us home with only the rough cut, and no finished mixes. They claimed that it took a lot of effort to set up for a multi-instrument band and they had to bring in extra help, thus extra cost. They had no more money or time to finish the mixes. Max had the audacity to say that each song would be at least another $350 to finish, even though he promised us finished mixes when we spoke on the phone. I feel that this was unscrupulous practice. Make sure you get your promises in writing from Max, or he may just try to swindle you.

Gravity Studios is incredible…read more From start to finish, the whole experience was smooth and easy. Ramsey, the studio manager, was on top of everything -- super clear communication, super organized, and genuinely cared about making the session great. Nothing felt stressful or rushed at any point. Danny, our engineer, absolutely crushed it. He was fast, dialed in, and knew exactly how to get the best out of the session without overthinking anything. The vibe stayed relaxed, the takes came together quickly, and it just felt like working with someone who really knows what they're doing. The files came back insanely fast and were perfectly organized -- which honestly matters more than people realize. No chasing, no confusion, just solid work delivered quickly. One of the best studio experiences we've had. Can't wait to go back.

Great staff, unbelievable setup. Would recommend to any musician serious about recording!read more

I'm over 50 and have been hustling in this business a long time. I have to say that, with all…read morehonestly, Rick was the most professional recording human I've worked with. I was coming in for a session after a 15 year hiatus. I was terrified. The whole experience was so fun, welcoming and masterful that I had totally forgotten to be nervous! Rick is incredibly talented and patient and gives excellent and helpful notes/suggestions to make your piece as best as it can be. I will be back for sure and I've already recommended Handwritten Recording to everyone on my Friends List. LOL. If you've got it in ya - Rick can get it outta ya. LOL

He genuinely gives a shit…read more In all seriousness, this was one of the best recording experiences I've had in this city. Rick is interested, more than capable, friendly, professional, and has mastered the ability of constructive criticism -- and yet will be the first to admit that he can be wrong in his suggestions. His rates are reasonable, his space is warm and comfortable, his gear is top notch. Ive enjoyed every moment of recording, mixing, chatting about beer (even though he trends towards the obnoxiously hoppy), and simply sharing space with him. Go make a record with him! What are you waiting for?

So lucky to have this place here! Great location and offers anything you'll need. Large, clean,…read morefriendly, and productive. Hourly rates and even monthly rentals. First times or pros this place is great!

As an artist-musician I have found and used producers available through Ft. Knox. My son takes…read moreCuban percussion classes there and the instructor is great. Very knowledgeable and gives a fun class.

Don't be fooled! The…read moreprevious post is probably by someone who works there! They are liars and will steal your security deposit! Rooms are too small, overpriced and loud. Free pop machine is always empty!!! Bathroom is filthy!!! BEWARE!

I received negative vibes from this place overall…read more The important things for you to know are: -nothing is in writing - be careful with your security deposit. the negotiations are loose and open ended so things could end up with you being confused about why you don't get your security deposit back. The owner will have little to say about this if and when you inquire about your deposit: "You are not our only tenant. I don't have time to sit on my phone and email back and forth for your convenience." that must be why he hasn't realized that I have had complete access to this facility for months. yes, i'm keeping the keys and access cards hostage for (half of the) deposit, which the owner said he would give me. so you can write me off as vindictive if you want, but the truth is you are paying for a service that doesn't include toilet paper but does have lots of empty promises