ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Walkin The Fauchard]

High ends sound a bit dull, but it's not a bad song at all. Transitions are fresh! May want to sidechain your percussion. It isn't sticking out very much relative to the rest of the song when it's in full swing. Hihats are playing lame duck!

BryceSummer responds:

Thanks for the review & advice :).

[Stutter Light (WIP)]

The stabby lead synth you're using isn't my cup of tea, but otherwise, I like it. The octaves in that lead make it sound pretty cheesy, and it sounds just a bit too loud.

Daydream-Anatomy responds:

Thanks, in the final version I did tone it down a bit, and cut off some of the higher end that was a tad ear splitting. I can't remember if the final version's on here or bandcamp only, pretty sure I put it on here. A lot of people noticed the same problem. Actually I probably could've toned it down a LITTLE tiny more. But it's finalized, but it's better, in mine and most opinions, than the lead in the wip version. (which is almost the same lead , only quieter and with some highend cut off.)

Glad you were able to look past that and the 'cheesy' lead and still like the piece overall, I appreciate the review^^

[Porter Robinson - Natural Light // Remix]

Very interesting chords in the beginning and lo-fi ish sounds. I like that. You aren't quite using the entirety of the sound space here though. Do you have a master limiter on any of your tracks, including the master?

One of your transitions clipped like crazy. Just didn't sound good. Around 1:15-1:16. Other than that, interesting track. Watch for that high and low end clipping especially. Very unique style. Reminds me somewhat of Zomby.

[Porter Robinson - Flicker // Remix]

Really could use a master limiter. The volume is not consistent at all throughout. Vocal samples are interesting, but it really doesn't get anywhere until around 1:30. A lot of people will not be willing to listen quite that long before they hit the skip! Really like the idea of the track though, so plus half a star for that.

Mixing wise, watch your low frequencies. See how they interact, interfere, cancel each other out, or resonate. This is your biggest problem. Watch for redlining on the mixers too. I always masterlimit tracks approaching that upper volume limit. It eliminates unintentional clipping.

You could really benefit from more hi-hats and crashes, maybe some sidechaining. Without it, there seems to be very little flow in the high sound registers, if much at all. Keep at it though!

[AIM - It's Not You, She's Dead]

AIM Judging Review
------------------
I'll keep this short for the sake of leaving you a digestible critique.

Sounds very 80's, not quite unlike something I'd expect to hear from this genre, especially with the arps and gates. Also clearly represents the artistic subject matter, an endless horde of zombies to kill. Props for that. Very relevant.

My main complaint is that, though darkwave typically doesn't have much diversity in its melodic matter, the percussion fell a bit flat. You may want to look at compression, EQ, and reverb there -- perhaps even some panning. The track as a whole could have done with a master limiter on top. It isn't making the most of the soundspace volume wise, sitting around 80% peaks.

Most professional studios abuse master limiters, but the appeal to the human ear cannot be denied -- the louder it is, the more pleasant it is perceived, and compression can create that illusion of loudness. Side-chaining, another form of compression, could be used to great effect to bring out those drums. I feel like they're fighting to come through the lower frequencies a bit. Some of your other arps are suffering in this vein too, and it's hurting your builds. Other than that, the mixing is on point.

Composition wise, there could be a little more variation. It feels like listening to the same track loop prematurely. Fade out is also abrupt. On the flip side, I don't see much you could have done besides dropping in a few drum fills to keep things fresh. Darkwave doesn't really lend itself to compositional insanity.

Keep plugging at that DAW! Definitely enjoyed this one.

[Onion]

Well, some of the sound effects were nice. Other than that, the longer this drug on, the more annoying certain overused sounds became.

LavaRift responds:

Wow I was going for 1 star.

[Patterns (Orchestral Remix)]

I don't know about you, but an electric piano doesn't belong in a classical setting to me. Neither does an electric bass or rock drums. Sounds better, I suppose, than the original, but it still sounds like literally a midi port of the other song. I assume this is exactly what it is until 2:10, at which point it just becomes ridiculous. Can't really call this classical at all.

The whole song is disjunct. There are no transitions. Sort of just lays there.

LavaRift responds:

I know how bad this is. It is very far in my past, and I didn't know what classical meant.

[{DJ-L} NightBlender]

Doesn't really sound like dubstep at all to me, except your drums, which sound like loops. There really is not much progression going on here, just the same stabs over and over. I would press skip on this.

Also, there isn't much of a drop at all. It just sounds like the same off key melody ported into the bass, which also sounds like a Mixcraft preset.

No offense, just isn't my thing. Definitely would send this one back to the drawing board, at least to fix the phrasing, so it doesn't feel like building up to another build up, to a nothing. Also, where are hats? Crashes?

LavaRift responds:

I know

[{DJ-L} Patterns]

It's interesting, I'll give you that. The drums really aren't doing anything for the mix though, as quiet as they are. I've got to say, I really don't like the electric piano. It just just sounds cliche.

I wouldn't classify this dubstep at all. There's no drop, just some computer noises. I suggest studying your genres more.

LavaRift responds:

Thank you for the feedback.

[Stargenx - The Whale]

The louder you sing, the better it sounds. Otherwise, kind of odd. Your arranging is good, but I would definitely redo your vocals. Could use some finer tuned mixing as well. The instrumental could stick out a bit more and I wouldn't complain.

EDIT 4/16/2024: I don't know what crack I was smoking in 2016. There's a lot of reverb, and that's probably what I was complaining about. And to a degree the vocals sound like they're being performed live on stage vs the studio. You know what I'm talking about. That difference in presence. Anyway, I found you again through @LJCoffee's (the guy who scouted me years ago) scout list. Hope you're well!

Stargenx responds:

Thanks for the review! Very understandable!