ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Deep Serenity]

Your sub is distorting a bit in the trap half. Other than that, both styles are great for you. I suggest the techno style for "verses" and trap for "choruses" of your songs. This gives a sense of progression and depth. And if you were going to produce hip-hop, it'd be a great start. Great loop here. Very catchy.

DJmadalrian responds:

Thanks!

[Programming in Sound]

I like the arp in the beginning, as well as the slow kick coming in. However, the hats are a little grating at first. The bass takes some getting used to, as I generally listen to punchier synths. Overall, the song is catchy, but I can't identify a particular theme, so it would be difficult to dance to. I could, however, see it as maybe a level theme. Good work!

cadence1 responds:

Very informative comment. Thanks a lot, I really appreciate!

[I Love You All]

Not a bad song, but definitely not my favorite of your works. It's catchy, but the mix is a little grating.

[Silence the lamb]

10/10 for Silence of the Lambs sample. Yes. It'd hit it.

EdKempeper responds:

Haha, thank you !!

[DavZ Razorblades The Only One Remake]

Hmm, I like how this sounds starting out. Though it's a remake, you seem to have your mind made up from the beginning where you're going with this. The synths are simple yet effective, and the melodies are set out clearly. Personally, I'd prefer more hat, but that's just me.

The main theme at 1:20-ish seems to be missing something, but I can't put my finger on what. It's catchy and enjoyable to listen to, but not sure if I'd categorize it as Dance. Distorted synth around 3:20 feels a little over done, and after that, the whole track is silence. 3+ minutes of nothing. Please tell me my ears are lying. Trim it if not!

DavZRazorblades responds:

The silence is not intentional, it must be an error. Thanks for the contribution though! Now I know what to work on!

[DavZ Razorblades / Flight]

Starting off, this is one of the most common progressions of the EDM genre, the ever building 4 chord staple, so to speak. This one doesn't sound bad, but the opening synth is a little generic. Maybe mod it a little or change up your oscillators. These sounds were more prevalent in the 80's. The synth around 1:10 sounds a little more mature.

Overall, the track so far is lacking a little bit of punch. The volume and breadth of frequencies just isn't there. Instead here are the staples of house in rhythm, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I like the transition around 2:20. It's very mellow and catchy. Could've used a lot more punch before it.

2:50, we're back to the generic arping synth. There is also a total lack of hi-hat here. On the positive side, although there's little punch, there is also little to NO distortion, which is good! Your melody is catchy. I just think it could use a bit more volume, a beefier kick and snare, maybe a little side chaining.

The synth around 3:50 sticks out in a not so good way. Could use more modding/FX. Also, the return of the main theme at 4:34 sounds like a loop gone slightly off. Completely caught me off guard. Fade is nice though.

I sense you may be pretty new to producing, but don't give up. There are good things happening if you're getting this far on your own. Don't get discouraged, and don't ever stop trying. Things will get better in time, and you'll have more samples and better DAWs to work with. If you have any questions, I'd be glad to help.

Thanks for the request!

[Globe]

Doesn't sound bad at all, opening up, however I think there is some distortion going on. Tame those frequencies. 00:30 sounds a little dry, and the bass doesn't really fit with the melody for a bit after that. All things being said, the main hook of the song itself is quite catchy, just work on your transitions. Around 1:40 was the most jarring transition of all with that slippery overlaid synth.

There's also a total lack of hats and crashes. Very minimal track. I was surprised when a snare came in at 2:40. There's also not really enough cohesive movement throughout to call it progressive. When you're going for progressive, think of things building on top of one another and transitioning, not really changing altogether much. You can keep the same hook and change it up without it being progressive.

Overall, it's not unlistenable at all. Hone your producing a bit and you'll have a good sound going for you.

Keep it up!

[Chompy]

Ooh, this is very nice. Kudos for getting orchestral brass/string synths to cooperate for a jazz piece. Your percussion writing is very strong and drives the piece well. High end on the strings sticks out a tad bit when things get heavy, but that's to be expected. Bass sounds a tad out of tune on the high end, but that could be because of volume. It's only in certain spots. Doesn't really detract from the song.

Loop is a bit jagged, but barely. Excellent work, especially mixing on the live instruments!

Step responds:

Gonna have to agree with you on the high-end complaints. I abuse high-end haha. And there is definitely something wonky with that bass. My bass samples suck :(.

Thanks for the review, man!

[If Only Tomorrow]

The violin lead sounded nice, if not a little too thin for the piece. Perhaps adding some reverb and taking some high end off would make it blend better.

Otherwise, your chord progressions are beautiful and appropriate. When the string section comes in at 2:20-ish, watch your high end. It sounds like your lead is a bit too far ahead of the harmony. Maybe reverb lightly and push it somewhat into the middle of the ensemble. Those higher frequencies will stick out on their own.

Your piano synth is perfect for the piece, and it comes off as thoughtfully melancholy. Emotional expression is top notch.

Thanks for the review request!

[Onwards]

Sounds like a lot of cinematic pieces I've heard before, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Try experimenting with different chord structures. Other than that, you've made fantastic use of your synths, and they sound very nice together. I can't imagine how much time it must have taken to write.

Transitions are quite nice, though chord changes are very predictable in the main theme. Overall, however, the piece accomplishes what it sets out to do. Production wise, watch your high end. What sounds like a trumpet or horn rings in my ears a little bit on both of my speaker systems, as well as studio headphones. Otherwise, good work. Your use of timpani was what initially grabbed me. Nice!

Thanks for the request!