ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Wonder Of Heavens]

I don't really know how to critique jazz despite having played in a jazz ensemble, but let me just say that I sincerely enjoyed this. There are some minor critiques -- mix related, as I think you've actually done an excellent job with articulations this time around. Woah.

I think the brass is actually a bit too loud to be sustained by the rest of the composition, and the low mids have been sucked out it seems from the piece. A more balanced, centered low brass section would fill this out. A bit more centered kick and snare would help as well. Strings also could be pushed a bit further into the back with the exception of 1st/2nd violin

I find I wanted this piece to go on forever. It's spicy

FJOB responds:

Thank you for the constructive criticism of the composition, I will take into account all the points you have specified to improve it soon

[Rediscovery (NGADM '23 R3)]

This is a great composition. I feel like the slow strings in the intro could use a bit more attention to their articulations as they swell in. It gets better at 50 or so seconds. Volume leveling could use a bit more sensitive touch prior to that swell also.

Still, for rushed work, this is a masterpiece.

I would like less work on the ascending 1:28 cello/violin. I think it's violin. It's sticking out just a bit hard in the right channel. When panning like that it's hard to keep a solid balanced sound.

The forte section at 2:53 sounds pretty balanced by comparison. I would like just a bit more clarity of moving parts there, perhaps move french horn into the left channel a bit more, and reduce low mid reverb resonance.

I also think the small piano outro could have been cut and replaced with a final stinger of either the piano in octaves or the entire ensemble.

[Lordant - Rain Elegy]

Lovely cinematic piece with very tasteful composition. I think my only gripes are that one, it's fairly short, some of the dynamic contrast is just slightly too loud here, or not loud enough there. At 1:20 I was sincerely hoping for a further development of the themes at 37 seconds, or a big blasting chorus. It really felt as if that was where we were going.

at 1:01, I felt there could have been a more dramatic swell into this moment, as well as dynamic contrast after, to follow into the build at 1:28

Overall, lovely composition, just wanted more punch! I always have the greatest expectations from you. Keep on doing what you do!

Lordant responds:

Thank you! The compositional aspects were a bit rushed, and I'm personally not totally satisfied with them, but I'm glad you liked the piece overall :)

[A New Discovery]

I'm loving this. Only a very few complaints. I would love to hear actually just a tad less sub throughout and more bright mids on guitar and bass. There is also a really, really high pitched squeal that I think is intentional, but could be reduced in volume.

As far as chord progression, the harmonic minor section works fantastically. Here I think that rhythm guitar needs to come out some more. Throughout, crashes and china could come down by as much as .4 dB, or be treated with an EQ to reduce just a bit of the mids and supra treble frequencies.

2:25 there is that sparkly chime with the high resonant squeal I was talking about.

Some of my mixing critique may be related to the level of compression used over or under emphasizing certain frequencies.

The gated chucka SFX in the outro/breakdown I think could use doubling, a bit more lo-mid, or perhaps even some stereo play. Overall though I think you've done a beautiful contemporary metal track. It djents!

BeyondOurEyes responds:

Greatly appreciate the love and feedback as always man! I've still got some tweaking I wanted to do on this one so I'll keep all this in mind when I revisit! \m/

[New World Order]

This reminds me of the good old days on NG. I think there could be more melodies sprinkled throughout, pads, and so forth. However, this is definitely a track to revisit at some point. Those drum fills you peppered in really keep the track going.

Also, the bass could use centering from 320 hz and below. It sounds quite wide in the stereo field and a bit pushed back by FX.

Other than that, nice work! You're quite a variety pack of styles. Kudos

WolfSystemStudio responds:

Yeah, it was a bit of a labour of love this one. Not really my bag usually but I like to try and branch out.

I kind of went for a Payday 2 sorta soundtrack since thats my only point of reference.

[Jazzy Intro]

I think the trumpets might be a bit too cluttered, but this does sound pretty cool! The writing is not bad at all -- just recommend some other instruments besides trumpets to hide those synthy articulations (or different types of trumpets represented, with different FX)

and by that I don't mean swap all of them out, just some!

WolfSystemStudio responds:

Yeah, the trumpets are difficult to get sounding right. Yet to find a half decent sounding brass sound.

I keep going back and giving it a tweak but it never sounds right haha

[Miracle]

Great vocal mix. I think performance could be more enthusiastic in some sections, a bit more technically wonky technique if that makes sense. Study various singers' techniques.

The lyrics of this are hilarious and onpoint. Being addicted to being online and videogames, you have painted it perfectly, how it affects your life trajectory. You're depressed and will likely never know love. Never allowed to mature! Not all gamers go through this, and you may find a lady who loves you and them, but it's rare for most, especially the basement dwelling stereotypes that made this song so relatable.

The overall mix and master is pretty clear with the exception there is a bit much sub on the bass and I think it could use emphasis on the high mids. Snare could also use to be brought out just a bit, potentially have an under snare or clap at times.

[Common Area]

The mix on this is somewhat inconsistent, but I like the melodic ideas you're presenting here. It's also refreshing to hear an audible sub sine. But I do think that it could have some elements of excitement applied to it such as distortion, saturation. I think the thing that is doing this track the least favors is the obvious synth instruments used. In general, if it's a synth guitar or other noticable synth instrument, replacing it with a synthy SYNTH is almost always the better option for your listener. But aside from that this is really groovy!

[Stuck with me]

I think vocal mix leaves a bit to be desired for the lead -- it's quiet in relation to the rest of the track, and for intelligibility it needs not to be hidden. Given a wetter treatment and bumped up in the mix it would fix any of my other gripes, such as the BG vocals being louder than the lead. Great composition overall!