Business Details
19 Years
experience
Professional Music Production Services in Chicago
Transient Sound is a premier Chicago-based recording studio founded in 2007 by industry veterans Steven Gillis and Vijay Tellis-Nayak, combining over 60 years of collective experience in music production, engineering, and performance. Our team of award-winning producers, engineers, and musicians specializes in creating tailored recording experiences for artists across genres including jazz, rock, hip hop, and gospel. With state-of-the-art control rooms equipped with vintage and modern gear, we provide a versatile environment for recording, mixing, and mastering.Our commitment to artistic collaboration and technical excellence has earned us partnerships with Grammy-winning artists and a reputation as a trusted creative hub. We prioritize client strengths through personalized production plans while maintaining Chicago's premier acoustic spaces for music creation.
Services
Music Production
Recording Sessions
Mixing & Mastering
Studio Rentals
Session Musician Coordination
Details
- Year established: 2007
Highlights and features
- We combine 60+ years of music industry expertise across production, engineering, and performance
- Our tailored production plans leverage each artist's unique creative strengths
- Two acoustically optimized control rooms with hybrid analog-digital capabilities
- Team includes Grammy-nominated engineers and producers with genre-spanning experience
- Clients range from emerging artists to internationally renowned Grammy-winning performers
Services
Music Production
Our comprehensive music production services combine creative direction with technical expertise. We develop customized production strategies tailored to each artist's vision while maintaining sonic excellence through our hybrid analog-digital workflow. Clients benefit from our industry connections and decades of experience across multiple genres.
Recording Sessions
Professional recording sessions in acoustically optimized spaces featuring vintage and modern equipment. Our engineers capture pristine audio using industry-standard microphones and preamps while maintaining a comfortable environment for artistic expression. Sessions include access to our extensive instrument collection.
Mixing & Mastering
Precision mixing and mastering services using high-end outboard gear and digital tools. We ensure optimal sonic balance and commercial readiness while preserving artistic intent. Our engineers have worked on Grammy-nominated projects across diverse musical styles.
Studio Rentals
Rent our state-of-the-art control rooms equipped with SSL, API, and Neve consoles. Both spaces feature premium monitoring systems and extensive microphone collections. Available for hourly or daily sessions with optional engineer support.
Session Musician Coordination
Access to Chicago's top session musicians across all genres. We coordinate professional performers for recording sessions, including string sections, horn players, and rhythm section specialists. Our network includes Grammy-winning instrumentalists and touring professionals.
People
Vijay Tellis-Nayak
Owner, Producer, Engineer, Keyboardist
Award-winning keyboardist and engineer with 20+ years of experience. Specializes in jazz and acoustic recording. Holds degrees from Northwestern University. Has worked with Grammy-winning artists and toured internationally.
Steven Gillis
Owner, Producer, Engineer, Drummer
Veteran producer and drummer with extensive studio experience. Co-founder of Transient Sound. Expertise in hybrid analog-digital production workflows and session coordination.
Brennan Mitrolka
Producer, Engineer
Experienced producer and engineer specializing in modern production techniques. Handles mixing and mastering projects across multiple genres including rock and electronic music.
Jack Deubner
Engineer, Producer
Skilled engineer with expertise in both tracking and post-production. Manages studio operations and client sessions while contributing to production projects.
Jim Siwek
Owner
Studio owner with extensive industry connections. Focuses on business development and maintaining equipment standards across both control rooms.
Questions
What music genres do you specialize in?
We work with all genres including jazz, rock, hip hop, gospel, R&B, and experimental music. Our engineers have experience across the full musical spectrum.
Can I bring my own instruments?
Yes, we encourage artists to bring personal instruments. We also provide premium drums, keyboards, and amplifiers for use during sessions.
Do you offer engineer services?
Our team includes full-time engineers available for session support. Rates vary based on experience level and session requirements.
What equipment is available?
We have SSL, API, and Neve consoles with extensive outboard gear collections. Both control rooms feature premium monitoring systems and vintage microphone selections.
How to book studio time?
Contact us via email or phone to discuss availability. We recommend booking sessions at least two weeks in advance for weekend slots.
Is parking available?
Street parking is available near our Chicago studio. We recommend arriving 15 minutes early to secure a spot during peak hours.
Reviews (5)
Future
Jan 22, 2021
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Very weird. Tried getting a beat remade for a remix and told me it was plagiarism so they didnt do it. Wouldnt recommend.
Kalyan Johnny Bongo Pathak
Dec 05, 2019
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Cool vibe, great gear, amazing staff and the end results speak for themselves. I've done many sessions there including my own album and I highly recommend this transient Studio. One of the best in Chicago and in the country.
Robin Lukas
Dec 19, 2017
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I have recorded Three Full Length CD's and One Promotional Video at Transient Sound. They have Super Cool Toys and the Room is Vibe-y. The Engineers, while technically adept, are all musicians with great taste who create only honest CD's you can be proud of. I Highly recommend Transient Sound for your next project.
Brendan O'Connell
Sep 14, 2017
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What can I say about Vijay, Steve and the whole team at Transient? These guys are consummate professionals--immensely talented musicians, engineers and producers. They do it all behind the board and their instruments and so it incredibly well. My band The Right Now has done two full albums with TS and we couldn't be happier with the results. Vijay and Steve worked overtime to make sure that we were satisfied with mixes and never made me feel like I was asking too much. They are true artists and easy to work with. We've also done a handful of overdubs with them and enjoyed those experiences too
Dave Bills
Sep 11, 2017
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Steven and Vijay are simply the best. It's rare to find a combination of both technical prowess and musical chops in one set of people, but Transient has this in spades. We recorded our EP with them in 2015 and were thrilled with the results. They may have actually made us sound better than we really are. If you're a band looking for a collaborator as well as a studio, I cannot recommend them enough. They have the gear and the know-how to make your recording shine. Go see them immediately.
