Making a Scene Presents

Making a Scene - Audio Saturation - The What, Why and How to use it in your Mix!

Imagine you have a clean audio recording—say, a vocal track. Saturation is the process of gently overdriving that signal so that subtle distortion or harmonic content is added. The distortion is not harsh like a guitar’s heavy fuzz; it’s softer, more musical, more “warm feeling.” It gives extra harmonics (that is, extra tones above the original tone) and compresses peaks slightly. In early analog days, engineers would push tape machines, tube amplifiers, or transistor circuits beyond their “clean” range. The equipment would “clip” or distort a bit—but in a pleasing way. That effect is what we emulate now digitally.

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Making a Scene Presents - AI in the Recording Studio: Your New Assistant and Teacher, Not Your Replacement

Recording music has never been more accessible. What once required a massive studio full of expensive gear can now be done in a spare bedroom with an affordable DAW, a good mic, and a decent computer. Programs like Studio One (https://www.presonus.com/studioone), Cubase (https://new.steinberg.net/cubase/), Logic Pro (https://www.apple.com/logic-pro/), and BandLab (https://www.bandlab.com/) give indie artists powerful tools for multitrack recording, editing, and mixing—often for a fraction of what a single day in a commercial studio used to cost. But there’s one thing you can’t buy: experience. That deep, intuitive sense of how to balance a mix, shape a vocal, or make a kick drum sit perfectly in the pocket comes from years of trial, error, and critical listening.

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An extensive guide for indie musicians on how to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to significantly improve their direct-to-fan email communication. It argues that email remains the most stable and effective channel for artists to connect with fans and generate revenue, unlike unpredictable social media platforms. The text explains that AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper can help artists transform boring announcements into engaging, personalized messages by assisting with subject lines, drafting content, and setting up complex automation sequences. Furthermore, the source discusses the importance of owning the email channel by using local systems like The Newsletter Plugin for WordPress, paired with reliable deliverability services such as SendGrid, to ensure messages reach the inbox and the fan data remains secure.

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An extensive guide for independent musicians on how to proactively collect all earned royalties, which often remain unclaimed due to the music industry's complex structure. It systematically outlines the different categories of music royalties—including performance, mechanical, and digital radio rights—and details the specific organizations, like The MLC and SoundExchange, where artists must register their work. Crucially, the text emphasizes the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Web3 technologies in automating tracking, recovering lost money, and creating new, decentralized revenue streams through NFTs and direct-to-fan sales. The guide concludes with a comprehensive index listing essential registration websites, distribution platforms, and AI tools necessary for financial self-management.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Euphoria Station

Euphoria Station is a Los Angeles–based progressive rock band whose music blends Americana, rock, and touches of jazz and folk, all tied together with a love for melody and storytelling. At the heart of the band are vocalist Saskia Kraft van Ermel and guitarist Hoyt Binder, who formed the group in 2015 to create music that feels both expansive and deeply personal. Their songs are rooted in the progressive rock tradition of the late ’60s and eclectic ’70s, yet infused with a distinctly American spirit—majestic, soulful, and full of heart.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Sari Schorr

Sari Schorr first burst onto the Blues-Rock scene with her critically acclaimed debut album, A Force of Nature, produced by iconic British Blues pioneer Mike Vernon (David Bowie, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac).  Her most recent collaboration Joyful Sky with Robin Trower soared to #1 on the Billboard Blues chart in the USA.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Andy B.And

Andy B. – short for Andy Bernstein – has been the lead singer and primary songwriter for roots rock band The VooDUDES since 1990. As the group celebrated its silver anniversary, Andy found himself with a notebook full of songs that didn’t quite fit The VooDUDES’ style. Inspired by the growing Americana and soul music movements, he launched a solo project with producer John “JP” Pittas (known for his work with Blues Leaf Records, among others). The result was My Roots Are Showing, released under the name Andy B.AND – meaning “Andy B and whoever he’s playing with.”

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Making a Scene - AI for Mixing Workflow: Automating First Passes

Mixing is the stage where songs finally come alive. It’s where all the pieces—vocals, drums, guitars, keys, bass, and more—start to feel like music instead of a pile of recordings. But let’s be honest: if you’re an indie artist or home studio musician, opening a session with twenty or thirty raw tracks can be intimidating. You hit play, and instead of hearing a band, you hear chaos. Vocals are too loud, the snare is exploding in your face, guitars are lost somewhere in the mud.

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Introduction: Music Was Never Just Entertainment

Music isn’t background noise. It isn’t just party soundtracks, workout playlists, or marketing jingles. At its core, music has always been a weapon, a rallying cry, and a spark for social change. It’s the heartbeat of revolutions, the whisper of resistance, and the shout of freedom. From enslaved people encoding escape routes in spirituals, to punk rockers screaming against conformity, to hip-hop calling out police brutality, music has always spoken for the people when politicians and corporations wouldn’t.

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Making a Scene Presents Slate Digital VSX Headphone System: A Deep Dive Review

I want to start this review with something important: I bought these headphones myself. I didn’t get an endorsement, a discount, or a sponsorship. This review is based on my own money, my own time, and my own ears. That matters because when you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a piece of gear, you need an honest perspective—not marketing fluff.

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