ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[It Does Not Die]

Writing wise, this is great!

In terms of drums and guitar synths, I would say you've 100% outgrown the ones you currently have. Today there are free alternatives for drums you can use such as Krimh (free ver), although if you don't have Kontakt and you're willing to work with a multisampler, I released a free metal drum kit or two called Take My Cymbals and Saudade Drums Remastered respectively. I also write a magazine for free production resources every month.

Now back to the song itself, the cymbals are quite loud relative to the mix. The kick and snare, as well as bass, could all come up substantially. The rhythm guitar should be properly double-tracked left and right, and you could do with a better sounding amp on it as well. There are free ones available such as Liver6, Stevie T Amped, and Grindmachine -- the 1.0 and 2.0 should be somewhere lying around on the internet.

Now, to double track that guitar you'll need a different synth instance playing the same or similiar midi. Otherwise it'll sound jank. But the idea is 2 guitars playing the same line, one perhaps humanized/quantized just slightly off -- and each hardpanned one to the left 100% and one to the right 100%.

Regarding bass, it doesn't really matter that much whether you use a synth bass or something free like Ample Metal Ray. What does matter is that it is supporting the guitar part excellently and just a little quieter than them so as not to stick out like a sore thumb. There are some free amps for these as well but they are hard to find in my experience.

Beyond mix, stellar work. This reminds me a lot of the work of @Lashmush in his early years -- an amazing talent at the time only limited by his tech. He was one of my favorite artists years ago (still is), and gave me an appreciation for this kind of sound. I have high hopes for your development in the years to come. Keep it up!

6.7/10

TrandafirTeodora responds:

Thank you very much for the review!
This is my first time trying to mix properly, so the feedback is appreciated!

[Night City Lights]

I was nervous when I heard that N64 WaveRace sounding slap bass, but this is interesting for sure. I think something is going on with your perc. The beat wants to swing, but the perc doesn't sound like it's on board.

If you want to make Vaporwave, I recommend studying Nu Jack Swing or 90s pop R&B production. Will make a big difference.

This beat sounds a bit cluttered to me, and at points that brass synth is going out of key. Recommend simplifying the arrangement a bit and refining the volume levels of each instrument such that the kick and snare stick out appropriately.

I do like your transitions and choice of vocal sample :)

6.5/10

Lunar48 responds:

Thanks you for your recommendations :3333333333333

[othersider]

I would bring your drums up substantially in this mix. With them almost inaudible, it doesn't help the driving nature of the piece!

Besides that, writing isn't too bad. Particularly, the olskool trumpet sound is nice. The guitar in the right channel can get a but muddy when combined with other elements in the same key range near or in the same channel.

6.2/10

ciralincixx responds:

yooo thanks for the feedback! i hardly have any idea what im doing but this advice makes sense

[Felt Like This]

I wish the vocal loop stood out more in the track prior to 52 seconds. It sounds thin against the thicc funk!

In terms of mix balance, things get murky around 1:29 with the bass and rhythm elements being spread across both channels, and the guitars overall about 1 to 2 dB too loud. Part of this sensation is the kick and snare being too far down in the mix, the turntable scratches being too loud, and so on.

Writing and rhythm wise, off the charts funky, no complaints. 100% grooving

Mix wise, could use a touch-up. Particularly at 1:24 you can see it on the waveform, things are starting to soft/hard clip due to volumetric overload.

I would mono the bass, bring it up. Take other elements in the same key-range and bring them down a bit. That and the drums is 90% of the mix issues in one.

Besides that, smashing track. Love it :)

8.4

Joe-Mega responds:

Ah man, I super appreciate the advice.

[AIM 2024 - The Spirit Fisher]

I'm not going to lie, I hate the shikka-shikka-clap-shikka motif almost universally, but you've got such a clean mix, I don't mind it too much. The transitions here are WILD, unexpected, and once again very clean. Nice varied track. I do wish on your first drop you had a bit more bass!

Also, very sorry to hear about your mom. The pain and frustration this disease causes on both sides, the afflicted and the affected, is unpredictable and at times unbearable <3 Sending hugs

9/10

GameBoyFireworks responds:

Thank you so much for your kind words all around. I appreciate your critique as well. Thank you!! <3

[Warp]

There's a LOT of what sounds like CHROMA plugin or a similar colorizing technique on your side pads. I'm not sure I like THAT much backing synths -- they're covering up your other elements. The track itself also seems off balance in terms of meter, leaning more into the avant-garde side of EDM into IDM. I want to stress I love the overall idea and insanity, but perhaps back off on the gating and odd meters to keep the groove going. Save it for transitions ;)

At 3:11 I'd like to hear a sub backing up that reese!

Same at 3:24, a bass drop and sub line would really slam this piece home.

In terms of sound design and unique approach, full points. Mix and production could use revisiting for cleanliness and balance. Particularly the colorized chords on the sides sound a bit centered and boxy in the mids, and the lack of sub elements on the final drop really hurts the listening experience.

Besides that, really interesting track. I enjoyed it!

6.4/10

whymsical responds:

thanks for the feedback!

[Votum]

I swear I've heard this acapella somewhere in Nat James' drops over on Looperman. They're usually ready-made as far as mix, but your treatment of them here is good. Second acapella is a bit unintelligible for me, but also some of that is demanded by the genre.

As far as the beat the balance of sub relative to bass and rhythm elements could be a bit better,, but beyond that, nice smooth compression, nothing jumps out too overly hard. Nice work!

8.5/10

Auphinity responds:

Thanks! Thats really Nat James' acapella. I bought it so ALL RIGHT RESERVED lol

[Relinquished Runaway]

Oh I hated that fakeout at 22 sec! I was so ready for the bass to drop T_T

For mid-tempo, this bass is gorgeous, but somehow the mix isn't punching as hard as I know we want it to. I think it has to do with the bass paradoxically being too loud in the mix prior to compression, and the kick and snare being likewise quiet. I do this to myself so often, I assume it has to be the case here. Side-chain also could be heavier.

In terms of production, sound design is great, and so is sample choice -- modulation as well. Great variation.

Mix is where the most improvement could be made, and master similarly. The overall impression of the track to my ears is a bit low-mid heavy, with a slight vacuum in the high mids and sub range. At the very end, I hear some reverb on that bass, which could very well be responsible for some muddiness and over-presence in the low-mids.

Besides all that though, great work!

NGADM score: 7.4. NG score: 8

SoTshu responds:

thanks for the review!

i'll be honest, mixing and mastering ain't really my strong suit, so thats why its lackluster. i just dont spend as much time on it as i probably need to, i just stop at the point where it just sounds good enough.

you nailed the problem with the bass, im actually dumbfounded at how you even got that. ill probably do a remaster of this track and update it at a later date.

also the reeverb on the bass comes up only on the last part, so its not an issue in the other parts of the song

again, thanks for stopping by!
cheers!

[Frustration]

I hate this drum kit, or rather both if you used two -- but your playing and ideas overall are great. Guitar tone and articulations are also good.

The drum kit sounds like a machine gun, using the same exact articulation and cymbals. I suggest swapping it out entirely. The snare sounds fine at 1:40 however.

I don't have a lot of critique aside from that, beyond that the drum kit could be passable IF you were to massively turn up the snare during the choruses, and slightly turn up the kick. I would also take your key instruments and make double tracks using similar patches on the opposite side for extra power.

Also, as a Christian, I do feel totally overwhelmed! Every day being reminded, this world is not for me. It's a constant struggle, being in the world and trying not to be of it!

NGADM score: 6.5, NG score: 8

Arponax responds:

I guess the snare and kick could be piercing the mix more yeah.

I not sure but doesnt a standard drum kit have like 2 crashes?

tbh im not sure how i could change the articulation of the drums to fit in the chorus better...it always sounded alright to me but im not a drummer ofc XD but could be some breaks between different parts of choruses but my choice was to make them simple, i dunno why...it felt right at the moment.

when it comes to multi tracking the instruments, guitar is double tracked in the first half of the choruses but the guitar in part at 0:57 is single track. tbh i went along with it because it made that part stand out in terms of just how it sounded, the guitar felt more dull and mono.

Im mostly making these songs purely by how i feel at the moment of making them so any mistakes or "lazy choices" are there because i felt like it XD i dunno if that makes sense but ey :D

With that being said ill try to pay more attention to drums from now on, ive been focusing on getting a more solid guitar tone lately that i maybe forgot to have more living drums in my songs.

Also as it is okay to feel overwhelmed...tho its important to realise that youre not alone, both with the fact that other people might feel the same but the God himself is with you the whole time.
I wanted this song to be like a medium to just put these feels in...and the psalm in description to be like a reminder of what we crave when feeling lost(recommend reading it, its awesome). (but ofc everyone experiences music a bit differently and takes from it whats most important for them).

Anyway im glad for the feedback....ill try to take the most out of it for my future projects.