ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Exultant 2]

Like the olskool synths in the beginning. I think maybe you could apply some LFO modulations to them to sound a bit more lively. The melodies are nice and dour, everything seems to flow well into your build.

One thing, your drums sound like FL stock or something, and they struggle to peek through the shoegaze reverb. I would cut below 250 hz on your reverb wet signal if you absolutely must keep it, maybe even employ something like a side chain with the degree of bleeding.

To do that, I'm not sure what program you have. I have mixcraft. I apply a simple EQ over top of whatever tracks I want to side chain, and then use an audio controller to duck the volume. It takes less CPU than using some of my compressors, I've found, and achieves the same result I'd get from manually ducking. I'd use the snare and kick respectively as signals there.

Your writing and arpeggios really shines, despite the boxy low reverb bleeding. You're quite talented as a composer.

For drums, there are lots of free online drum kits and samples. If you'd like a few, I can go digging through my library for recommendations. Saudade snare and a sampler that supports multiple files works nicely. Dark Kick is a staple of mine. I occasionally use crash VSTi, although it has no round robins. Cymballistic is a nicer, if hard to understand cymbal vst, with many options. I haven't got a favorite for toms. You could probably rip them from MuseScore and use a sfz player like Plogue's sforzando. Somewhere I have a tutorial I made for that in my news posts, where I did it with Muse Score drumline.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, KSHMR Essentials Kick is a free all in one processor I recommend using on your percussion. You can apply saturation, stereo widening, and transient shaping so your sounds cut through, all in one, as well as add mid or sub to your liking. It allows you to see the waveform right there in box. There's a paid version that has more options, but the free version is fun to use on just about any single instrument.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the piece. It's well written and progressed, with clear themes. I think some more force could be derived if there were a clear bassline, rather than the low saw that sort of sat there in the mix. I think you're onto something though. It's only up from here. PM me if you'd like recommendations for synths, collab, etc :)

HowtoAvenge101 responds:

I used garageband to make this, and i also didn't know what the fuck i was doing mixing-wise back then. i really REALLY appreciate the essay though, thank you very much. i appreciate the recommendations, i'll install those now.

[The Bandolero]

Nice to see a piece with a latin feel. Seems like it might be mixed a bit too loud, some clipping, but the piece itself feels very nostalgic, right up until we get downright cyberpunky. Congrats on the front page!

TekNoTaku responds:

Thank you for your honest review. I am still on my baby steps, but this is the type of advice I need to sharpen my skills. Your work is awesome, and when I get advice from good artists it makes me feel better because I understand that you do it to help. Thank's again my friend and I will try to improve as I keep practicing and learning.

[Untitled Beats II]

Not bad for a start. There's a definite sense of rhythm and it varies. I'm not sure what comment to make other than at the same time, all the instruments seem to come in relatively all at once and leave one by one. If you were interested in writing music like this, I would recommend studying how cadences are made for drumline and applying some of that skill to your original beats.

Also, never, ever ask to be scouted, especially for GD. You will likely be banned just on the suspicion that you are stealing music or trying to abuse the site.

BrandonMusic responds:

yeah, i probably should ask to be scouted. robtop doesnt allow new creators anymore anyway so probs mot gonna get in

[Major Dance Moves]

Holy shit that first chord. This is nice. I gotta know where did you get that sample/instrument!

[Nightfall]

DnB was definitely unexpected. Got some nice lines, all flowing together and structured pretty well. I think if you're going to use what sounds like stock instruments for your drums, I would do some wild ass processing with them -- for instance I really like playing with distortion, pitch shift, ring mods or bit rate changes.

There are lots of free synths out there like 99sounds drum machine and aggressive drums which would also help out here.

The square bass is a nice sound but also doesn't offer a lot in the way of changing tonality, which is what dnb is ... now known for. Try some fx and modulate different parameters of them to say, the kick or snare, so that the audio output of those moves some knobby knobs. I'm not sure what DAW you use or what those would be called in it, but you get the idea.

Good work :)

b1n4ry1 responds:

Thanks, by the way, i use FL Studio

[Ground Zero]

Nice chord progression in the beginning, and lo-pass play

By 33 seconds I'd have expected a bit more dramatic of a transition into the intro than doubling the melody. I used to listen to a guy by the name of Kush on YT. A rule he had for transitions was either add two things, or take two things away :)

Cool piece. Cheers

b1n4ry1 responds:

Thanks, I'll consider your advice!

[Cybernetic Carpentry]

Interesting concepts, a lot of them repeating. I think some study of song structure, contemporary meaning, and a lot of the all over the place feeling of this composition could be tamed into a more comprehensible and enjoyable structure. You have a lot of nice sounding ideas. Just sounds like it isn't quite sure where it wants to go :)

Signals Music Studios is a good place to start

Winkwing responds:

Many thanks! I plan to be working on more stuff sooner or later, so there might be a sudden wave of posts from me.

Also, RIP the VS Joy mod, got completely abandoned after like 2 songs were made for it.