ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[00FF 63]

I'm not sure what's going on here in your intro. Not really liking that glitchy synth with the slow attack. Intro also takes a long way to get anywhere. I could have dealt with a slow low-pass play into the main drive at about 1:00 in.

There's a lot of noise in the way of your bass, keeping me from hearing the attacks and releases cleanly. It could even be reverb. Try cleaning up the EQ of your other elements to get them out of the way in terms of frequency range. You would be surprised that even leads can sometimes get some sub frequencies going, and the more elements your track has, or the more notes are going on, especially with effects like reverb, the more they pile up, resulting in a muddy mix.

Track seems like multiple elements have been mixed too loud and/or compressed. I can't tell really due to the distortion on multiple instruments. Protip, before you apply FX to the master channel, make sure your track peaks no higher than about -6 dB. If your mix sounds good here, it's ready to be mastered. It's hard to squeeze a track under -6 dB when you're used to mixing everything all the way up, but it's worth it.

I'm just not really able to enjoy this track, partly due to, as Kwing mentioned, there doesn't seem to have been much variation or risk taking going on except those really weird key stabs we hear in the beginning. I don't know how to stress how much I didn't like them, and every time they came up I was distracted from the good elements of your track, which I could harmonically understand, versus those stabs, which I could not.

No offense, just not my style. There were some points of the track I did very much like, just not where you involved material from your intro.

geonb responds:

hi ADR3-N thank you for the tips. I have no good mastering tools right now. Just low budget. I also thank you for the advice to mix the track to -6 dB. Do you think tracks should be completely uncompressed or little compressed? I also heard the opposite of that. Next time I will post my tracks completely unmastered just put them in like they are. I belive others can master them much better. If you are interested to listen to the track unmastered tell me and I'll post it as 00FF 63b best geonb
but meanwhile eat this https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/816260 (It's a song that is more likethe issues you responded isn't it ;)

[Fortuna]

Interesting intro with the piano. The sub frequencies on reverb from the key attack is starting to build up in the background and give me that head-swimmy feeling though. Recommend hi-passing your reverbs to somewhere around 400 Hz

0:36, that sidechained piano is distorting, a sure sign of being mixed too loud.

Protip, before you apply FX to the master channel, make sure your track peaks no higher than about -6 dB. If your mix sounds good here, it is ready to be mastered. It's hard to squeeze a track under this when you're used to mixing everything all the way up, but it's worth it.

1:56, I really like this section despite being really low mid heavy and a bit of soft clipping in your bass.

Points for dynamic contrast as well, although I am noticing some of the issues Kwing pointed out. I don't quite know where we are going occasionally. I think the section at 3:12 could have been cut. Still noticing clipping, on that timp. 3:48 synth shines though, and we're back to the groove. I'd have kept that drop going for another repeat or 3, then let 4:18 be our outro for a good 8-16 bars.

Piano outro does bring an interesting texture though. 4:52 would have been the perfect, inquisitive little note to end on. When you kept that phrase going, I was soooo disappointed.

I'd have given a 9/10 if not for some questionable structural decisions in this track overall, not to mention clipping. Arrangement and chord voicing is what's keeping me from rating lower than 8. Overall though, I do see a lot of potential right here. Some tutorials on song structure, mixing, and mastering, and you'll be well on your way to being a successful trance artist!

Fynzyme responds:

Thank you for being so in-depth and for the protip! I understand exactly what you're saying and I really appreciate the advice.

[FC - Doomsday Protocol]

I'm going to preface my review with tacit agreement with everything Hippokopter has written, and a couple extra points for dynamic contrast... in a genre that doesn't reward it often.

My only real problem with this mix is a serious lack of bass and low mids on your drops, that is present in your verses perhaps a bit overwhelmingly. It sounds like most of your instrument tracks were mixed too loud -- I can hear some clipping on the louder sections.

You have done a great job with your SFX. Points for that.

I feel like this track could have benefited from mastering compression seriously. Protip tho, before you apply it in future mixes, make sure your track peaks no higher than about -6 dB. Mastering services almost universally recommend this because it allows you the freedom to shape the end result as you please without sacrificing clarity. If your mix still sounds good there, it will sound good at any volume, and most importantly BETTER when properly mastered.

Other than that there were some instances where instruments came in very loud and abrupt, out of nowhere, before disappearing. Kind of disorienting. Happens with a kick sample somewhat before the final drop.

Compositionally though, this would be a masterpiece. It's only the mixing that's dragging you down, so props for that. Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

[Pixel Planet]

Like Kwing mentioned, this is a nice, quiet videogame tune. I actually really like it but for some mix issues.

Minus half a star for some occasional clipping like at 0:18. It sounds like some things are mixed too loudly and your reverb on your keys is way too loud up in the send -- or has too much low mid, contributing to a very muddy sound. I notice this throughout where you use reverb.

That said, your lead writing is good. By 1:14 it sounds like a limiter has been clapped on without concern to mixing the track itself properly, as I still hear clipping occasionally, especially when your lead gets to doing its thang.

I notice throughout your lead is far too up in the mix, drowning out even the drums.

Protip, before you apply any FX to the master channel, make sure the entirety of your track peaks no higher than about -6 dB. Mastering services almost universally recommend this as it allows you the freedom to shape the mix as you desire without sacrificing clarity. If your mix sounds good there, it will sound good at any volume, and most importantly BETTER when properly mastered.

Great work otherwise. Thanks for turning out to NGUAC!

[Relax - JasLand]

The low mids on those keys are kind of headache inducing, but your voice leading (in the key lead) isn't bad. I recommend doing some research into chord inversions, as they will vastly improve your tonality.

Your drop is really short. The song as a whole kind of is, actually.

I think the track is suffering from over-compression. You'll probably want to look up mixing and mastering tutorials for your chosen genre.

Because the song is only about 1:30, I can't give a great score. Wishing there was more I knew to say, and more to hear!

[Home]

Like your chords here but this mix is obscenely lo-mid heavy. It's better once the drums come in, but you're still lacking a lot of the breathy sibilance that gives a track life. Johnfn wrote a tutorial on how to avoid this in electronic genres with a hi-pass/lo-pass/EQ technique. You might PM him for details since it's probably buried in his newsposts. I really need to write a shortcut so I can recommend it to more people.

Also, I'm going to move this to synthwave once this review is posted because that is the genre. :)

I disagree with Kwing that the track is too samey. That's actually genre appropriate. I still recommend some mixing and mastering tutorials due to some inconsistent elements in the track, namely 2:35 or so where we inexplicably have static.

I would also recommend mixing all your tracks so that you're sitting at -6 dB headroom before applying master compression or limiters. If your mix sounds good at this range, it's ready for mastering. If not, try to find out what's going on there; making things louder is not a universal path to making it better.

Minus a half star for abrupt cutoff on your outro.

That said, I see tremendous potential in you as a future synthwave producer. Can't wait to see how you grow in the years to come!

[Be Dancin' (Extended Cut)]

That intro is way louder than the rest of your track. I recommend turning it down some.

You've got some interesting textures here. One thing I notice is that that snare is really loud compared to everything else in the track, at least until the kick comes in. I would recommend turning it and the kick down somewhat. Also watch those boxy low mids.

My other critiques could probably be best summed with what Kwing said. As more elements come into the track, volume starts kind of pumping, and because everything sticks relatively to the same progression, I never really feel any anticipation moving from section to section. A lot of this is the relatively flat drums and lack of overarching melody.

There are also long sections without a bassline, and if you study music theory, you will notice the bass colors the feel of chords more than any other instrument. Going without it leaves people feeling confused. I definitely recommend studying some principles of chord progression, lead writing, and song structure. There are a multitude of tutorials I would recommend, such as those by Signals Music Studio, Ben Levin, etc.

As for mixing and mastering, there are a lot of places where this mix just stabs me in the ear, like 4:45. Watch out for that. Recommend some tutorials in that area too.

That said, there is nothing particularly bad about the writing of this piece. It's a bit samey, but if the volume were somewhat normalized, it'd make a decent theme for like, moping around in your room in a Pokemon game, if you get my meaning. It's not exciting, but it's not distractingly awful or annoying. With some hard work and study, I have no doubt you've got it in you to blow this thing out of the water, so keep at it.

Lemme know if you're interested in any free music production resources, too. There's plenty of 'em to go around!

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

[Fyoriosity - Musicboxmaniacs (G4CE'sz Remix)]

This may be one of the more creative things I've seen done with music box music. Like that portamento bass, although I think the kick is just a tad loud. I can see about where the bass is sitting in the mix, and the kick is peaking way over that. It also sounds like we may have a little too much reverb here.

Watch the volume on those sidechained synths. Way louder than your melody.

I feel like this song may have been just a bit too long, by the time we introduce that porty lead, I'm getting a little bored. Also, it's a little bit too loud.

I'm not liking the glitchy bit at 3:05. It sounds like a computer crashing trying to render the track.

Outro is nice and smooth. Would have liked a cut off right around 3:48.

3:54 elements probably could have been brought on earlier. They almost sound like a completely different song. I like that progression though, so Imma tip ya a download.

[Desire]

I'm not really sure what's going on here. There are a lot of different instruments, pretty loud instruments, that kind of arch over one another. I'm not able to really tell what key we're in, where we're going, etc., so I can't really enjoy it at all.

Also, I did think my PC was about to crash several times. Not very pleasant, since it crashes... all the time IRL.

The rest of my comments would probably follow TaintedLogic's review other than suggesting maybe studying some videos on music writing like those of Ben Levin, which I think would really help you. Your approach to progression is both adventurous and at the same time moderately confused. Taking the time to do a little studying will fix that last part, and you'll be on your way to awesome.

[Adrenaline]

Interesting opening melody. Sort of as Kwing mentioned sounds like a sound showcase.

There are a lot of interesting textures, but transitions are nowhere to be spoken of, so I end up having absolutely no idea what's going on. That said, a lot of interesting sounds, but no overarching melody, no idea when different elements will appear. Sort of leaves a bad taste in my mouth for that reason.

I will say that your growl bass is mixed somewhat too loudly to be sustained by your drum loop.

At 2:51 there's a lot going on and I can't understand what you're trying to show to us. I'm also unsure if this song is composed entirely of loops?