ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM - Ichor Valley]

Official AIM Review!

Nice work crafting a desolate sounding 'scape. Reminds me of some of the more unsettling Dark Souls tracks, particularly of a scaly/scaleless nature. Texture at 1:15 is especially eargasmic. Would have been nice to have some lyrics to understand what is being said, and if it relates to our dragon story at all, or if you simply chose those phonemes because they sounded appropriate.

I appreciate the panning play after from the perspective that you're trying to draw out those choir lines without them getting stale. May have been panned a little too hard though. Those basses sound fantastic though. I'm actually curious as to your library/VST, as I have a few vocal Kontakt libraries.

I agree with TL that this piece feels somewhat incomplete, neither progressing, nor regressing. I will say, fantastic use of horns and atonal elements. Overall, kept my attention right on the razor edge. Though I probably ought to get my head checked. I found it (and all those queasy string textures) soothing, hahahaha.

Thanks for turning out to this year's competition!

SmokeAvery responds:

Hey thanks alot for the review! These contest are what makes me better each year

[AIM - out of order]

Strong use of SFX and ... what almost sounds like a computerized barbershop quartet. Compositionally, this piece is quite a journey -- from insular forcibly sanitary, possibly insane computer land to freedom in our dream and later escape into the outside world.

It's not often I hear such a diverse piece, 2:10 section rivaling what I've heard from major studios. I'd probably recommend a different clarinet synth such as Synful Orchestra. It handles runs and swift articulations much more naturally in my experience. You can also hand-tool jerkier, computery articulations out by hand if you prefer with key and breath samples.

2:38 transition was extremely abrupt. Would have liked some SFX leading up to that.

Jesus, though. You've crammed so many styles in here, with such quality, it almost reads to my ears like one of those promo/demo reels. For technical skill alone, this piece comes as close as any I think I've ever encountered to a perfect score. 9.9/10. Would be a perfect 10 for somewhat smoother transitions.

I would really appreciate a sort of walkthrough or howto video on your creative process, even if it's just a podcast with pictures. Lots of artists like myself on NG are curious creatures. Inspiring work.

Thanks for turning out to this year's AIM competition!

Miyolophone responds:

Thank you so much, ADR3-N! I'm really happy that the piece was such a success in your eyes.

Transitions were the hardest part and I know I didn't nail all of them so I appreciate the feedback on those. The solution is probably to not put every genre in one song (the prospect of using this as a demo reel did not escape me while I was making it haha). And thank you for the tips on the clarinet, I'll look into it!

I think a how-to/podcast on my creative process would be kind of a mess but I would certainly consider it if people were interested. Maybe on a less ridiculous and hard-to-explain track though :P

[A.I.M 2018 - Kingdom.]

Official AIM Review!

I find myself agreeing a lot with what has already been stated in TL's previous review. Although, I did like the slow sweeping intro, the piece as a whole is suuuuuper 'verbed up, kinda muddy as a result.

00:50 sounds like a few tracks may have been mixed too loudly and are distorting.

You've got a nice sound palette but on your chorus, drums are buried under not just your bass but your background synths.

However safe your chord progression may be, I do feel like you've used it to your advantage. Structure of the song is good, and your transitions are fairly solid. I would have liked a slight variation on your second bridge. It almost sounded like a copy-pasta. Overall, it sounds like you've grasped the basics of good song-writing. For sure take some time to look at some mixing/mastering tutorials for your favorite genres, tips and tricks with your favorite synths, and you'll have the secret sauce to spice things up for your upcoming albums.

Thanks for turning out to this year's AIM competition!

[AIM - across the water]

Official AIM Review!

Creative intro with that FX play, coming into an interesting riff at 00:11. Love your progression. Wish track as a whole were more compressed to more clearly hear those little nuances.

Forgive my lack of useful comment, as I'm simply experiencing the piece. Got a horrible headache, so I'm not sure if your bass is just a bit too loud or if that's my head pounding. It's a tribute to your composition that I'm not really bothered.

Will say I wish your drums came up a bit stronger in the mix. You may try something like tape saturation for a little more compression/color.

You've got some really interesting textures going on here with your fx, not to mention great hooks back to the art. A great touch was the grass and car door SFX. Really does feel like driving up, having a photoshoot, and heading back to the car.

Great piece!

[endK - Cotton Glade]

Official AIM Review!

Man, super cheery cotton-candy progression. Imaginative textures.

00:58 is where things finally gel together cohesively, largely on part of your bass. I really feel like the flowery keys and other leads aren't meshing exceptionally well with your D&B drums. However, points for taking an adventurous approach to the piece as a whole. Your modulation on your leads throughout is wonderful.

Piece is well written but feels pretty top heavy to me. Perhaps a bit too much reverb on some of your synths. 00:35 onward is where I really start feeling the thin -- perhaps too open -- quality of the piece. It diminishes some on a second listen. Those background string swells could do with being brought out a lot more on bigger sections and perhaps voiced differently. I'm really missing low mids throughout the whole piece!

2:57, brass seems to be farting in and out on that attack. Outro was totally unexpected. I was ready for a second run of the chorus. Last minute key change? Second listen I was a little more prepared.

Overall, pretty solid piece. Thanks again for turning out to this year's AIM!

endKmusic responds:

Hey!
Thanks for one more in-depth review!
This one was full of build-ups and intros to main sections, and in those build-ups there was lack of bass, but it was intentional. I could've lowered the highs however, brought up the mids / low mids in those parts or somehow managed to mix it more properly.
Certainly not my best work, but the image looked 'airy'. It does sound open - as you said, I kinda went for that, but the realization certainly could've been better.
Thanks for both of the reviews, I totally get what you're saying and I'm grateful for the advices.
Much thanks once more! :)

[AIM - Hurricane]

Official AIM Review!

This feels very 70's jam band-y. Lots of different phrases. Very hard to follow what's going on due to the seemingly improvised nature of the entire piece as a whole. 1:46 was your strongest section.

2:25 was also pretty interesting and I was hoping that progression would go on a bit longer before devolving completely by 2:49.

3:00 was also a nice section.

Essentially, this piece sounds like several different compositions stitched together. Can't really tell what's happening and thus can't give good critique.

I will say the bass was up far too high in the mix, drums were hiding behind your piano, except for your toms. Do like the FX on your piano. Gave a nice texture to the piece. If I had to say this piece needed anything, definitely a little more instrumentation. Between drums, piano, and bass, there's just not a lot of options you have musically to convey your ideas. Even if it's just adding a lead, rhythm guitar, or some strings for some riffs, unless you're writing a solo instrument piece, probably best to give yourself a little more room to play.

Thanks for turning out to this year's competition!

rockossss responds:

Thanks for the review. Lot of advice here to look into. Would have loved to add a mellotron section, but technical issues got in my way. Better add vocals and mellotron in a new version. Remixing too, thanks again.

[AIM - Electric Nectar]

Official AIM Review!

Sweet riff in that intro. Hats are WAY too loud though. About 2 dB at least.

Feels like sweet southern heat on top of robots.

Only real detractor, mix is kinda muddy and feels a bit over FX'ed, especially reverb/delay. Lots of boxy low mids. Got some pretty sick solo sections in here I can't really say much about. Actually, I wish I had more to say. Drawing blanks from vibing a little too hard, haha.

Would have been stronger without that fade out. Could have gradually subtracted elements all the way down to our intro guitars, ended on the last note of that phrase, and had a little tail end reverb and I'd be happy.

Otherwise, slick piece!

VortexVisionz responds:

Thanks for the review! I definitely agree with everything.. I probably should’ve worked on the sound production a bit more, but then again I only made the song in a few hours lol

[AIM - Foreseeing Melody]

Official AIM Review!

Other judges have mentioned, so I won't make a huge deal out of it, but mix on this is hasty enough that it's clipping. Probably could have been avoided by just clipping a limiter on the master if you're really pressed for time -- although I try not to recommend this as it's like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. Clipping is almost always a sign of huge underlying problems in your mixing process, not that one or two things is too loud. Before mastering, actually, you'll probably want between 3 and 6 dB of headroom.

Protip, if your mix sounds great with the volume turned down to say, 3-15%, it's gonna sound good as a rule. Try that little trick when you find yourself getting too ear strained.

Also, my sympathies with constant mood swings and RL getting in the way of your music. Wish you all the best, man.

Onto the composition.

Reverse intro is actually kind of interesting, as is the ducking bass. Piece is actually composed fairly well. Were it not clipping so badly, I'd have given an extra star. The section at 46 secs is probably the level where I would have my mix sit before mastering. Lately I mix all my pieces turned down to about this volume.

It's a shame time got in the way of mixing this properly. I'm actually really enjoying what you've done here. Wonderful chords and chord voicings. Thanks for turning out for this year's competition!

[AIM - From The Sands]

Official AIM2018 Review!

Super quiet intro (compared to the rest of our track). Enjoyed the dark, dead, sinister, mysterious atmosphere you crafted in the hollows between those somewhat distant hits, complete with that dissonant stab. I like that rather than using the dissonance to draw us away from the spooky i chord or even defining it with a third, you move us toward i.

SFX and transition was done tastefully into our riff at 00:11. I would have preferred our percussion was just a bit louder. The melody overwhelms it a little. Also sounds a bit boxy in those low mids. You might touch on them with a multiband compressor if you want to keep the low mids strong but under control. Sibilance is fine as there is really nothing else in this range.

By 00:21 the mix is starting to sound a little cluttered and mid heavy, with snare coming out a bit too hard and dry in the mix. Might apply tape saturation to it. Hats are super sibilant and are hiding in your mix a bit. Recommend either a lower sample or a bit more compression on them.

At 00:51 we seem to be approaching the limits of how much bass/sub the track can handle without distorting. I would hi-pass your bass up to about 20-30 Hz if you're going to sustain it just as a hard rule, especially with any FX such as reverb. You'll want to check it out on a spectrum analyzer (fabfilter has this built into its plugins such as EQ and multiband compressors but there are many freeware analyzers as well and ReaEQ is just as good).

Transition at 00:55 starts out strong then devolves into 1:04 with that unsupported back-beat snare. I'd have liked a little switch-up, maybe some other percussion instruments like chimes, crashes, china cymbals, or even toms to make that bit a little more natural.

Swooshy transition probably should have lasted a bit longer into the string build to give those 16th notes some more energy. They're very lonely out there.

Now, to our drop. 01:15, this drop is face-meltingly in loud, in our face, and if I had my volume all the way up I would be tempted to turn it down right about here; kinda wish the rest of the track were this loud and compressed just so I'd be prepared. It's very well written, and I like what you've done rhythmically in particular. Those over the top loud drums, snare included, fit perfectly in with the soundscape. Good choice.

What I don't like is the sibilance. It's so fizzy I actually did have to turn it down to better enjoy it. Sounds like your leads and growls were mixed too loud, so much that going back into our opening riff at 2:19 is almost an anachronism by comparison. Sounds like your sub may have been overly loud and thus everything else was mixed loud to compensate.

That said, you've done a great job keeping a consistent theme -- and by 3:00, we're ready for another face-melting drop. I actually like this one better, drumstep fan myself. Extra half-star for combining two styles in the same piece cohesively.

Your structure is strong here, consistent with the genre, and you show great knowledge of texture and rhythm. Tribal elements complement the art well. Nice work!

Thanks for turning out to this year's AIM!

[AIM - Nostalgia goggles]

Oh snap! Super nostalgic from the first note.

My only real complaint other than a few mix issues is that pesky crash cymbal. It sounds just too tinny for some reason.

I've really got to complement your arrangement here. Aside from some elements of the mix pumping out between sections, a lot more headroom than is probably necessary, and drums hiding in the mix a bit, this song is everything I could ask for in a peppy videogame themed rock track. Fits the art to a T.

Onto criticisms, I can't tell if the bass is too loud or the guitar and drums are hiding. Snare drum could probably use some tape saturation to give it some stage presence. Right now, it's kinda flat. Kick sounds like it needs a little bit of mid and a low cut right around 38 hz. I also can't hear your hats very well closed. I didn't even notice them on first listen.

Chorus also gets super loud compared to the rest of this song, almost to the point of overwhelming your leads -- which is crazy since videogame leads are very hard to cover up with rock instrumentation. This section actually is what has me suspecting the bass is a bit too loud. Guitars are kind of inaudible at points until chorus, especially on those soft chugs. Recommend compressing them with something like GComp2.

2:09 transition lives up to your username. Fantastic writing throughout. Also rare to hear a bass solo.

Really enjoyed this piece. Thanks for turning out to this year's competition!

8-bitheroes responds:

Thanks for taking the time to give a solid review! You made some pretty good points. The reason the chorus is louder is because i automated the level on it to give it a bit more energy in contrast to the verse sections, however i may of overcooked it a little. Which crash do you mean... im using two different crashes so it may just be a case of swapping one out. When you listen to something so much you just accept it as normal lol.