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) an...

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://ww...

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 engagi...

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...

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 song...

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” Pi...

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, y...

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...

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.

http://w...

Making a Scene Presents - Building a Superfan Funnel: How AI Turns Followers into Paid Supporters

If you’re an indie musician today, you already know the game has changed. It’s no longer enough to just put your music on Spotify and hope someone stumbles across it. The truth is, music discovery happens everywhere—on TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even random memes. But discovery is only the first step. The real challeng...

Making a Scene Presents - Smart Contracts & Royalty Splits: Get Paid Automatically
Why Money Has Tore So Many Bands Apart

You know the story well: a band records a hit, it starts making money, and then tensions emerge. Who wrote which verse? Who deserves how much? Did the producer’s studio time count toward “points”? Did the marketing team’s work deserve a slice? Even when everyone’s intention is good, the old system is full of ambig...

Making a Scene Presents - The Art of Mic Placement: Getting a Pro Sound from a Cheap Mic

Introduction: It’s Not About the Price Tag

Every indie artist knows the struggle: you look at your bank account, then you look at those glossy ads for $3,000 microphones, and your heart sinks. But here’s the truth that doesn’t get advertised enough—you don’t need an expensive microphone to get a professional sound. What you really need is an unde...

Making a Scene Presents an interview with Ra'shad the Blues Kid

Larry McGill, better known as Ra’Shad the Blues Kid, was born on September 30, 1987, in Laurel, Mississippi—the heart of the Piney Woods region. Though no one in his family played music, Ra’Shad grew up surrounded by soul and gospel, planting seeds of inspiration early on. As he says, “The love of music was put in me before I could even play.”

http://www.makingascene.or...

Making a Scene Presents Suno Studio: A Deep Dive into the First True Generative Audio Workstation

The world of music production has always lived on the edge of technology. From the tape machines of the 1950s to the MIDI revolution of the 1980s and the digital audio workstations (DAWs) of the 2000s, each leap forward has reshaped how artists create. Now, in the mid-2020s, we’re entering a new era: the rise of the Generative Audio Wor...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with the Resurrection Blues Band

Born from good times, hard times, and a deep connection to the blues, the Resurrection Blues Band has carved out a reputation as one of the most exciting and versatile acts on the scene today. Their journey, fueled by passion and grit, led them to win the Herald-Palladium Readers’ Choice Award in 2024 for Best Local Entertainment and Best Blues Rock Band—a recogni...

Making a Scene Presents - Microphone Basics: Dynamic vs. Condenser vs. Ribbon and When to Use Each

If you’re an indie musician setting up your first home studio, one of the most confusing things you’ll run into is microphones. Walk into any music store, and you’ll see a wall full of mics—big, small, fat, skinny, cheap, and insanely expensive. The big question is: what’s the difference? And how do you know which mic to grab when you’...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with The Gravel Project

When music is in your soul, nothing can hold it back. That unstoppable drive fuels The Gravel Project, a band built on passion, authenticity, and the joy of sharing music with anyone willing to listen.

Led by founding member, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Andrew Gravel, the band features an all-star lineup: keyboardist Jordan Gravel, drummer Dave Fox, percussionist Eg...