ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Downtown Beatdown (METALCORE)]

Sounds like the mix is clipping in a lot of places. Guitar tone is nice though, and I really appreciate you listing your software. Podfarm is now on my list of things to find.

As for your bass, I can barely hear it. Sounds like just the guitar doubled and down an octave.

Your drum samples sound good, but the mix itself sounds so bass heavy and mid-stomped, it's hard to enjoy them. The cymbals are very weak in the mix, sound all the same velocity, and the kick is hiding underneath your bass. A low cut will probably help you out there.

Siren is also way down in the mix. So are your synths. Let them soar above but not sublimate the rest of the mix. Balance is the key.

Cymbals I feel need to come up, and your toms are panned a little strange for me.

Somewhere there is a mastering tutorial I found useful... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amN1EmZv4Uo&list=PLi8lPSZQQxxZEvqcLWu-XNh2D4E1tNl35&index=4

I think this is the one. ReaEQ is probably the best plugin I've ever used for EQing out unecessary frequencies before compression, FX, and mastering.

DHansen90 responds:

Thanks for all the tips! Im actually going to try some things and reupload if you wouldnt mind hearing it! UPDATE: New mix and master

[endK - Twist the Beast]

Oh, videogamey dnb! Not bad. Could use just a bit more bass, and I really feel like a lot of the track is sitting in the right channel. That's an interesting choice.

Also getting what feels like clipping occasionally.

You've been really adventurous with your panning and transitions, which makes this track pretty interesting to listen to without being tedious, and that's an achievement.

Song structure is also inventive, and I like that.

However it eventually does get to that point where I feel it's too long and a bit samey, with a lot of the same rhythms and melody. Call and response but no real overarching solo. As is, I feel like it's still a strong piece, but far from perfect. Extra half-star for unique approach. Did not like the single outro stinger. I felt it needed a little breakdown or buildup prior.

endKmusic responds:

Hey!
Must say that I agree with majority of the stuff you said here.
Although part that may feel like clipping are just fx I guess. Maybe could've leveled them more appropriatelly.
Thanks for panning/transition compliments, that's always one of the main things I'm going for.
In the second part there is the same bassline for a long time, yes. It changes at some points.
However, even with that, I think I wrapped it up nicely.
Was thinking about solo part but yeah, somehow I wasn't up to realizing that and instead, I did some acoustic breaks and stuff.
Long story short - the structure certainly is different and for sure there are 'consequences'. But it has good stuff too, I guess. :)
Thanks for the detailed review, really appreciate it. <3

[Its Time]

I was expecting trap from the description, but this is appropriate. I'm not liking the super slow attacks on those strings but otherwise I can deal. Also feels like it needs less volume on those high strings, more on those cellos. The perc is very, very loud to me. I'm not sure if this has been mastered already, and it sounds good, just feels like it's laying there. I'm anticipating something, but the mission hasn't started yet, and this is just kinda the prologue before things get serious. Feel me?

Also don't like your chord progression at 2:00. Lots of parallel 5th and octave it feels like. A little dissonance.

Addition of the piano is the strongest point of the song for me, but it feels like you could have brought out more high and stomped mids to make a better footprint in the track's sound structure.

In short, like it, don't love it. I could see this in cinema but it would sort of be the backdrop for me.

SmokeAvery responds:

Thank you for your input! I'm going to use that knowledge

[Dont Snitch you B*tch]

This is hilarious in addition to being well-produced. Needs a little more on the vocal up front tho. Also cuts off randomly. Minus half star for that.

DJmadalrian responds:

I think I need to add some more high freqs back into the vocals. Also yea I made it cut off to be a joke. Not very funny though lol.

[Harmonies 101]

Ya got me with those trills. Hot diggity. I wouldn't really say this is metalcore quite. Sounding quite a bit like some old bands I really used to dig.

Drums need to come way up in the mix. Can barely hear your bass also.

It's also really interesting what you did with harmonization even if it's mostly porting around parallel 5ths and octaves. Reminds me of the final boss battle with Redips in Megaman X Command Mission for some reason.

Toward the end I feel like you're falling just a bit out of tune or something, flat on those open strings. Could be hallucinating that though. It's fairly late.

TSRBand responds:

Thanks for the review! Happy you enjoyed it :)

Hopefully the bass and drums are sounding a bit more balanced in my newer mixes, could definitely use a boost here looking back!

[Silver]

I need more of that snare!

Reminds me of 80's rock with indie vocals. Could use reverb/a light delay, and chorus on that lead vocal, unless you'd prefer to run with the same chain and just deliver it a little stronger/intense.

There was a little distortion on the first solo section, clipping.

Otherwise, freaking awesome.

MistyE responds:

The 80s comparison is interesting; definitely new to me for this track. I appreciate the specific suggestions as well; thanks for the review!

[Love Song No. 3]

A little pitchy on the vocals, but that's way better than oodles of auto-tune. This isn't my favorite genre of music, but your mixing has vastly improved, and your song-writing has always been good. I'm still yearning for a little thicker, more widely panned drum sound, but hey.

That clean electric that comes in with straight 8ths is a little flat. Solo is also wayyyy too short for my tastes and comes in too strong on top of the buried drums. I was ready for more though. Overall, I think you could have stretched that last bit out with the solo, lead into a bridge, then finished strong with a chorus. Would be a project if you ever decided to transition into a heavier, rock-y section for the finale.

MistyE responds:

Structure and mixing are definitely things I struggle with, so I really appreciate the in-depth feedback here. Thanks!

[AU Reviews Theme]

That's a pretty sick channel intro! Mixing on the vocals could be stronger, but the idea is quick and cohesive, not to mention catchy.

MistyE responds:

Thanks!

[Back at the Lighthouse (2015 Demo)]

Oh, I remember this. Reminds me of Wonderwall -- probably the style of delivery and the relative chord progression. Good for a demo, but the mixing and vocal delivery are your weakest point. If singing out in that range is hard for you, I'd just capo the guitars, and port any electronic instruments into the right key. Vocals need harder compression. Track as a whole could use less reverb. I'd like the guitar doubletracked in the left and right with a chorus, the drums panned a little better, bass centered.

MistyE responds:

Thanks! I've definitely improved on the mixing aspect of things, I hope. I totally get what you mean about the reverb, and my vocals would sound better if I transposed it up several keys.

Oh and the Wonderwall thing - Oasis is among one of my favorite bands and they've got several songs with those types of progressions, so it's definitely something I picked up from them.

[Back On Track - Dance Remix [Geometry Dash]]

Okay, it could just be that I'm sick of hearing this song after spending forever removing stolen versions of it from the AP, but this remix didn't really excite me very much. To be fair the original melody isn't particularly very evocative, and everyone uses this chord progression at least once.

The song itself feels very quickly produced. The piano especially, and the sort of uniform 100% velocity, it feels like. Plus the leads are octaved and never seem to do anything interesting together. Lead is also way too loud for my taste, and this could have used a lot more bass.

Just not a fan favorite for me. No hate pls >.>

PancakePocket responds:

Don’t worry! I like criticism because it makes me a better musician! Thanks for the help!