ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM - Grandeur]

Official AIM2018 Review!

Very nice, almost cinematic intro here. I find myself wanting just a bit less reverb on what sounds like a harp synth, a bit more on those pikes. Maybe some panning and delay. Very nice fantasy vibe throughout.

The distortion on some synths is a nice touch.

I keep wanting that hi-passed drum break to come in around 19khz and not somewhere in the 20's before panning down. Overall, just a great sound going on here. Around 1:45, I very quickly missed that break. Maybe a short fill would have been better.

Very smooth production here. Still a bit reverb heavy. Around 2:29 the break is a bit ham handed and in your face for the accompaniment. This is remedied with a hi-pass sweep.

3:07 break sounds almost completely out of character in relation to the rest of the tune. Probably could have done better with a less throaty synth. Transition out of that is a beautiful variation on our main theme. All is forgiven, haha.

This may be the sweetest sounding DnB I've heard in a while. Very nice work! Thanks for turning out to this year's competition!

[AIM - Something Evil In The Forest]

Official AIM2018 Review!

Loving the atmospheric sound effects. Tasteful reverb -- occasionally sounds like a bit of clipping in your mix but that may be SFX or unchained sub 20 Hz noise. Do rein some of that in.

I'm definitely feeling the dark forest vibe of the artwork chosen.

Could have probably used a little more low end on your kick and some other hits, but as a whole, this piece really does convey the angst of a terrified mother, fighting against impossible odds to get her son back. You've done a masterful job here maintaining that atmosphere consistently. Very engaging piece.

Use of SFX at the end is perfect. My only complaint would be occasional muddy distorted sound throughout, which may be a thematic statement. Thanks for turning out to this year's competition!

FateModified responds:

Thanks for the review! I noticed what sounded like clipping too during the pad at the beginning that sounds kind of like a low dragon's growl. If that's what you're hearing as clipping, it actually was an effect built into that preset which I used in Absynth. I wasn't sure I liked the 'clipping' effect so much but I really liked the way it sounded like a dragon growling quietly, and I couldn't figure how to get rid of that effect so I just went with it. I think that pad preset might be the source of the "muddy distorted sound" you mentioned. I really need to learn to use these synthesizers better to create my own perfect sounds, but I'm a long way off from that I'm afraid due to the limited amount of time I have available to learn the complex process of synthesis.

I did have a bit of trouble with the kick. I really wanted the "breathing" kick effect which I created with some delayed reverb, but I found that to get the effect right I also had to use a certain kick with a certain sound, and so maybe I sacrificed the sound of the kick itself a bit in order to get the effect just right.

Thank you for saying I've done a "masterful job," and for calling this a "very engaging piece." I put a lot of work into it and so I'm glad it turned out as well as you and others say it has. :)

[Sinister Joy (Contest Entry)]

Official AIM2018 Review!

Interesting trick with the lo-pass filter in the intro. I probably would have preferred it with hard compression. From the waveform, I can see you use this effect as a transition frequently.

Most of my other comments could be best summed up with a copy-paste of TL's review. Beyond that, I feel like the kick is really hiding in your drop.

Also not really feeling the dubstep vibe. Sounds more like some 90's club I used to listen to. May fit better into techno. Dubstep generally has a slow two-step vibe, not a fast 4 on the floor feel.

3:30 is probably the strongest point of your song. It's clean, showcases that groove you've built up, and just sounds good. Even so, I find myself wanting more oomph out of your drums. They're buried down in the mix.

Buildup at 1:30 was about 4-8 bars too long for my tastes, as well as suuuuuper quiet. It opens up at 2:03, but I feel the following section could be excised without really hurting your track. As is, it's pretty long and the theme doesn't change much.

Still, you've got some strong rhythmic writing, and I can feel that throughout. Definitely a catchy groove. Enjoyed the piece. Thanks for turning out for this year's AIM!

[Repurposed Souls - A.I.M. 2018]

Official AIM2018 Review!

I'm definitely feeling waves lapping up against our boat, watching the sunset, flames of the oil rig in the distance.

Only thing killing my enjoyment of this mix is the super loud hi-hats in comparison to the rest of the mix. Got a lot of muddy reverb elsewhere as well, a high fizz that persists from the intro. I would recommend a tighter EQ, hi-cut, lo-cut, etc. Cut and compress, cut and compress, shape EQ, etc. Chernobyl Studios on YT does some wonderful guitar/drum/master mixing tutorials, which I feel this piece would have benefited from immensely. I almost feel like I'm listening in a tin can on the waves at points.

Didn't like the abrupt stop, record-yank break in the middle either. It kinda just confused me. Second listen, I'm used to it, but first I was like wut. It's a very jarring end to that earlier cadence.

Kick and snare could probably come up in the mix just a little, or be compressed somewhat. Drum track as a whole was nice and pensive until those quarter crashes, which I understand we metal heads are soooo fond of.

Also feel like bass needed more distortion, could have come up in the mix a bit. Lead is almost screaming over everything.

Composition itself is very laid back, appropriate to the piece, and makes great use of delay. Reverb wet signal is a bit too high and is covering up your articulations.

Other than that, sweet, laid back jam. Fits right in with the art you selected. Quality is passable. Could have used some mastering and polish on the mix, but I liked it nonetheless. Thanks for turning out to this year's competition!

[AIM-The Creepy Doll]

Official AIM2018 Review!

Can't tell if it's just me, or if your key synth in the intro has a really low 100 Hz or so hum on each attack. It gradually grows as sections get bigger. Sounds like reverb needs serious lo-cut.

As we progress, I find I really like the section up to the ritard. Changing up your instrumentation was a big leap of faith here, but I find it works, even though your synths ring pretty seriously outdated to my ear. I'm hearing what almost sounds like distortion in your low strings with each stab.

Arrangement definitely works. Technical aspects seem to be most of what's killing this piece. I'm actually surprised that East West sounds so machine gun. I may have to look into it myself. Meantime I'd recommend Synful Orchestra if you can score a copy. Much more natural.

Sounds also like a lot of reverb is clouding your mix. I'd say it could use some mastering compression too, but I'm aware cinematic doesn't always make much use of this, and film scores can be much more subtle.

Enjoyed this piece. Lack of variation aside, theme was clear, creepy, pounded home, and really matched your choice of artwork well. Nice work!

Thanks for turning out to the competition!

[AIM - distance]

Official AIM2018 Review!

Trying not to be overly vague or brief here. Let me just jump right in.

Your vocal mixing/recording is getting much better. Super proud of you. Still feel like you do yourself a disservice not singing out in the beginning, but in a way, it gives you a bit more room to grow later on.

I will say right off, the free-verse-ish lyrical writing is extremely well done -- better than Disney could have done it, imo, and if not for some mixing and compression issues, this would have been very close to a flat 5 for me, for that reason alone. If I could hear a bit of sniffling as you were singing that first bit, the airy-breathy sound you were going for would have really enhanced tone.

Compositionally, awesome work. Only a few complaints of muddy mix, some elements sticking out a bit too far in the soundscape, others being all about the same volume and thus hard to hear. Perhaps too much reverb tail as well. Chord progression is solid and totally fits the mood. Instrumentation is clearly well thought out and does the job. I would have liked a little more volume on the piano to more properly accompany your vocals.

2nd refrain is where you come into your own -- and those backup vocals sound GREAT, complemented by that theremin. Seriously, nice sound. More of it please.

The rest of the track flows like hot butter. Only wish it were a bit more compressed, but I understand you may be approaching this similar to mixing classical music, which must have a lot of dynamic contrast. Still, I'd like that high point of the song, full steam ahead to the outro, to approach somewhere around at least -1 dB headroom. You had some very powerful sections that would have benefited seriously from just a bit more volume, if not some moderate compression.

Anyway, super glad you turned out for this year's competition. You've both come a long way -- getting better every day!

[endK - Automaton Squad]

Official AIM2018 Review!

This is my second time attempting to write this -- got nuked by Windows update -- but man, this track really is a journey!

First thing I want to get out of the way, I'm not hearing the pacing issues TL is evidently hearing. On the contrary, I hear solid writing for the most part, variation of themes, great modulation on your leads, and flowing melody. However, I also hear is a little rockiness in the mix.

Particularly, that opening saw lead is pretty flat, even for a nostalgic 90's house/techno sound. The naked saw sections throughout are my least favorite part of the piece.

The bass also seems panned slightly to the left. This may be a compression issue if other elements of the track are panned to the right. Bass could also use a bit more presence.

The track overall is a bit sibilant, hi-hats being a particular offender. They seem to sit just on top of the track, and I can't tell if there's too much reverb or they were processed before being mixed in.

I would also probably ditch those ride samples in favor of a swooshy reversed cymbal or something in that vein -- or at least had some subtler samples for repeat hits. However, your FX are otherwise handled well, and this could just be my personal dislike of canned rides. You may have had a little more luck chopping and sampling jazz drum breaks. Definitely could have used a true crash every now and then.

2:23 was a bit naked for my tastes. Break was a bit jarring from the usual solid presentation.

I will say I would have liked to hear harmonies in the lead synth parsed out to a different instrument. That synth is so in your face, two notes at the same time, in the same octave, is just a little hot. A softer lead panned a bit alongside that would have been super. You flirted with the idea earlier in the piece with what sounded like a parallel motion (+7 semitone) double track at 1:17, which worked pretty nicely with that organ-y pike on one hand and a fantasia-esque sound on the left. Organ was about .5 dB too loud for my taste, but it worked.

That about rounds up my critique. The track almost has too many melodic elements for me to analyze effectively, especially since my previous thoughts have gone poof, so let me just stop and say that I am super impressed with your presentation this year. You've come a really long way since I first heard you in NGADM, learned a lot, and really brought the whoop-ass. Keep up the good work!

endKmusic responds:

Damn those updates! >: (
Had almost identical experience few months ago.
Anyways, totally get what you're sayin' with leads, should've fattened them up for sure, defintely would sound more 'juicy'.
I also think that I could've controlled reverb / delay much better as I'm listening to it once more.
Don't think there's panning issues on bass, since everything underneath 200hz is mono and centered up.
Maybe I should've raised a volume a bit higher, don't know what was the thought process at the time I was producing it, but I certainly did want to justify all the frequencies throughout the song.
2:23 (feel like you're reading my mind all the time, LOL) was kinda rushed I admit that, but wasn't that bad so I decided to go with it. Didn't want to implement more (new) transitions, since the song is already all over the place at that point. Just wanted to go back main part once again.
To sum up, I totally agree with almost everything you said and thanks for pointing that out.
Thanks for the compliments too. :)
Gladly takin' these advices for the upcoming stuff.
<3

[AIM - T-Rex Handshake]

Official AIM2018 Review!

This may be one of the finest EDM tracks I've heard on Newgrounds. Clear writing with varied rhythms, a nice harmonic minor groove, and crazy runs. My only complaint would be a little muddiness in the mix itself, what sounds like a bit much reverb on your hats, and a bit of a flat sound. Of course, I'm listening on really flat monitor headphones, so that may contribute to the raw 'verb sound.

1:18 is a nice build, but it's a perfect example of that very fizzy, muddiness I'm talking about. Also would have loved to hear a little more nuance to those attacks on your orchestral synths. Felt that the section was also seriously mid-heavy. Would have liked the bass to sweep in before we hit the next section.

Our drop of course is a real A and B call-response type thriller, which I appreciated massively, and this is followed shortly after by a sub-heavy build into -- SURPRISE, square wave retro fun. That was a treat. I do wish the sub were taken a bit down during that build at 2:37, simply because it sticks out heavily with the relatively un-sausage-fattened state of the track.

What follows is a bit of a B-side take on our original theme, building back into our chorus for a final push.

4:34 break was just a bit too naked for my tastes.

Throughout, I find myself wishing for just a bit more oomph on your strings. Compress those suckers harder, multiband compressor, preferably.

Use of SFX was sparing throughout. I found myself wishing for a few more T-rex noises just to drive the point home, as what I pictured throughout was less a guy frantically running from a T-rex -- more a high speed car chase, which may or may not have involved a T-rex. This is not a serious detraction from my listening experience -- song is jammin', has a definite thematic statement to make, utilizes cadences excellently, and demonstrates monstrous talent -- but this IS an art inspired music competition, so it's worth mentioning.

Also, this may just be my taste, but I feel the song as a whole is a little under-compressed.

Nevertheless, great track. Definitely going in my favorites. Thanks for turning out this year to AIM!

ActualElf responds:

Thank you for a kind and so thoroughly thought out review!

I agree with all of the points you raised, I saw a lot of these flaws in the track as it progressed but due to my current workflow and set up I had to accept the flaws to move forward and find enjoyment more in the compositional aspect.

Luckily I began piecing together my new pc tonight and hopefully it spells the end of my CPU struggle. My usual workflow consists of having to print ideas to audio as soon as I write them, which contributes towards the muddy mix. The orchestral elements especially, having reverb printed as it saved some processing power but too complex an arrangement to warrant going back and redoing it all in midi to make them slightly dryer.

The fizzy muddiness is probably mostly from making too many rising effects to try and pull as much momentum into the next section as I can, I'm working to improve at achieving high momentum and anticipation without having to resort to extreme soundwalls and I'll keep chipping away at it.

The reverb on the drums I didn't actually take note of until you pointed it out, which drives home even more the fact that I don't pay enough attention to the actual musical decision making when it comes to matters like this. I have a tendency to just place some on to help the drums share a space with the other elements so it wouldn't surprise me if I'd ended up going to far and not realising.

I thought about the amount of dinosaur samples a few times but settled on having it be a few times and keep its novelty rather than be riddled with more and risk becoming too gimmicky.

I massively appreciate both the kind words and especially the criticism, I'll have a closer eye on these points in future.

Thanks for the time you spent listening and reviewing ADR3-N, hope you and the other judges had a blast running the contest this year <3