ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Wick3dRabbit & Nekomika - Summer (Original Mix)]

I'm surprised this doesn't have more reviews. It sounds pretty great. My only complaint is the saxophone. I'm spoiled to real instruments, having been around them so long. A little more velocity/creative use of the VST, or maybe even replacing it altogether with a sample, could have been more effective. It's a pretty cohesive mix with a definite theme, without being monotonous. Nice work, both of you!

Wick3dRabbit responds:

Thanks! Actually we used a sample for the saxophone, but maybe it could've been made better. Thanks for the review anyway dude :)

[Free your mind]

Saw in review request thread. First synth threw me off, but it wasn't bad. Piano comes in pretty seamlessly. Trying to sense where this is going. I'd have liked it quite a bit more if I could actually hear the bass a bit more than just sub frequencies at 00:51. It's pretty relaxing but the perc throws me off.

Mixing isn't bad, but the perc sounds like a stock loop.

Phyortek responds:

thanks for the feedback, im still on the fence on whether i should continue work on this piece. Is it done? I dont really know...

[Slithery Sark - Serpentine Maneuver Anthem Remix]

Ahhh, mixcraft stock drum samples. I could name those off for you. Interesting, but sounds really samey throughout. Sort of all one volume level. It almost gets annoying. I'm not familiar with the original, but your synths sound pretty generic. Also, check some of your harmonies. You have notes that aren't in the chord hiding in those quiet stabby little synths.

Overall, this is sort of a meh for me. Just isn't hitting the spot. The drums are hiding in the mix, particularly the kick and snare. Everything else is just flattening them into the ground.

Finnsfolks responds:

Yeah, I can see what you're getting at. This was supposed to be a revamped version of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7a3EqFioc0
I do wish I knew better when it comes to actually making better stuff. If you know of something that could help me, then by all means please PM me and I'll look into it.

[Dreamin]

Piano could use a lot more modulation. Track as a whole could use less wet reverbing. Everything is sort of bleeding together. Writing isn't bad, but instrumentation -- the non 8-bit stuff -- needs some serious help. Also, some of the higher frequencies are giving me a bit of a headache. Could be because the mix is so busy, but on the cleaner parts -- where the reverb isn't so obvious, mysteriously, my head doesn't hurt so much.

You really could use some more high end on your drums. Maybe more hats. And some compression. Just watch your leveling in general, and master compression. The high frequency instruments are really sticking out, and your lower frequencies are getting muddied and cancelled out by each other.

Other than that, pretty nice, harmonic piece. There's just a lot taking away from it, particularly generic non-8-bit synths, lack of hi-hats, too much 'verb, and wonky leveling.

Veenomn responds:

Thanks for the review!

[the yes song]

Honestly, I don't know how anyone could sit through this, let alone download. Half-star for effort, though. Sounds like an MLG parody.

NoveDeht responds:

you are the fuck of the nation

[The Chrono Trigger (Orchestrated)]

This is fantastic, especially the harp. That really brought it for me. Leveling could be a bit better in places though, give it a bit more dynamic range. A bit of distortion at 1:26, and again later. Watch that. Also, could fade out better. It clicks a bit.

SuperTonic64 responds:

Hey EDM364! Thanks so much for the review. :) I definitely agree with some of the points you made, especially about watching for balance, peeking, and clipping. Man, this post-production stuff is hard haha. I may go back and do some adjustments to see if I can improve the balance and quality a little bit more.

Thanks again for the great feedback!
SP

[Crystal]

Oh here come those old disco perc samples! lol. That's a small fondness for me. This is interesting. Sounds like String Thing or M-Theory synth. I see you found dubstep drums. This is kinda nice. Sounds like the intro to an album.

Suggest studying common chord structures and playing with those.

LavaRift responds:

Thank you. I think that this is one of my best tracks. I don't exactly remember the chords I used but it started with C.

[Drop It Hard]

Interesting beginning. Still not dubstep, but I do sort of dig it. Drums could use more prominence in the mix.

That could have been a sick drop, but take a look at most dubstep drum patterns and the bpm, which should be at or near 140, not 120, not 170, etc.

LavaRift responds:

Thank you for the feedback.

[Zelda II Palace Theme (DJ-L Remix)]

Sounds like you ran the leads through a distortion pedal. A bit obnoxious at the beginning. Not awful but not really my thing. Sounds like a midi port. I would suggest toning down that screaming lead. A lot.

LavaRift responds:

Thank You for the feedback. I realized that I forgot to mix/master this once I had exported it.