ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Snikio - Sound of Death (AIM 2024)]

INTERESTING string sound in the intro. It sounds somehow organic AND electronic at the same time.

I must admit I'm a tough customer as far as this genre goes, since I also produce trap hip-hop. That 808 is modulated VERY well, however, it's just not hitting as hard as you need it to, potentially because it's too far down in the mix relative to the snare and melodic/non-percussion rhythm instruments. I would turn it up and clip the crap out of that 808, as it doesn't sound like the sample is bad, just a bit flabby in the mix!

Your cinematic elements would 100% melt my face, IF that bass issue were fixed! They are well written and orchestrated, pun intended ;) It's just that the 808 is the foundation of any track and in this case it seems to be lacking a bit of gas. If you can't hear what I'm talking about, let me know what kind of monitors or headphones you're working with. I'd be interested to see if I can replicate what you're hearing.

Now, looking at your waveform, I see it is decently fat, but in this genre, it could probably be fatter. What you want out of this particular genre is an 808 that sounds STUPIDLY loud and clipped, followed by the snare and potentially hi-hat in terms of loudness. The pillowy kick should be subtle, in order not to make the 808 seem smaller than it really is. Lead instruments and other rhythm instruments play second fiddle to 808 and perc in almost every instance.

I also would have widened, chorused, and potentially made an ensemble out of your string lead. It sounds a bit centered and thin on the drop.

Beyond that, great sound design and really interesting to my ears!

7.6/10

Snikio responds:

wow!! thank you for your thoughtful and detailed review.

This is the first time I've ventured into this genre haha. I listened to it on as many different types of speakers as possible and mixed it to what I thought was optimal. But I think my understanding of the genre is not quite there yet. I will take your words to heart and keep them in mind when creating tracks in the future.

I've rarely received such constructive reviews before, so thank you very much. I know how much harder it is to write a review than it looks.

[ADR3-N / 2 / 17 / A200]

@Cyberdevil, actually, it's not on @Aalasteir, it's on me! I ended up house sitting on the days I was supposed to be doing recording in post and TOTALLY FORGOT!

If Aalasteir doesn't mind hastily appending it somewhere inside here with a disclaimer, and you don't mind hearing something I recorded in haste through an AI model of my own voice, it may YET be fixed! Pending a response on that because it's been like 10 minutes since I sent the file *blush*

But anyway, the reason for my 5, aside from the screw up with those questions -- accidents happen! -- it was extremely fun to talk this time around. As before, you came prepared (Aalasteir), and your editing is again very, very natural considering the many side-bars taken and lots that aren't on the record!

SteveMaddenFootball responds:

You are super nice! I'm very grateful that you have patience with me.

I acknowledge that I could have done a better job of being better prepared, which would have prevented me from missing your questions, @Nebulate @Cyberdevil super sorry!

@ADR3-N I'm grateful for your help. Stay awesome!

[Szad - Hot16 (Czyszy rmx)]

The vocal mix *could* be a little better -- fuller and a bit more present. I don't speak polish yet, but the vocal has that special attraction Russian used to have for me, before I spoke it. Dope beat reminds me of the early 2000s. <3

Czyszy responds:

Unfortunately, I only had a fully mixed .mp3 acapella to work with. Szad himself had become pretty unhinged at some point and after going apeshit with conspiracy theories, he eventually removed all of his social media. Oh, and then he went to jail for kidnapping.

[Nya]

Барабаны в интро такие классные. Мне нравятся.

Кроме баланса в миксе, критики у меня нет. Мне кажется что кик и малый барабан играют громче чем требуется в данном жанре. Советую их уменьшить значительно -- или по крайне мере делать громче пэды/keys (дай мне пожалуйста слово для keys, спс за ранее, просто забыла) чтобы они соответствовали к громкости основных ритмических элементов))

Сайдчейн придумали именно потому что надо было обмануть мозг, чтобы он воспринимал кик громче чем на самом деле есть в треке. Без него, конфликты между бассом и киком заставляют нас либо применить эквалайзер, либо писать линию басс чтобы не звучал он одновременно с киком, либо делать кик невероятно и даже безумно громким. Используя сайдчейн, мы избавимся от этих проблем и можем значительно уменьшить громкость кика, и кстати малого барабана. В этом хитрость сайдчейна, кик тище чем раньше, но звучит он мощнее.

Басс пожалуйста делай погромче. Мониторы у меня гудят на низких частотах, но басс не казался особо заметным.

Но кроме всего этого, трек просто класс!

G2961 responds:

О, спасибо за отзыв! Я очень ценю это!
(да просто можешь писать keys как "клавишные")

Да я чё-то этого всего не слышал, у меня просто ужасные наушники, к сожалению. Большое спасибо за замечание!

[Website Stuff]

Learn to code, they said
It'll be fun, they said

Me, 5 minutes and a nice headache later:
this song

This song reminds me of the Shoes jam from the mid 00's YT glory days, and in a good way.

OPFX responds:

That has to be the best compliment I've ever received.

[Paradigm (feat Burn7) - Instrumental]

Came here to drop 5. Stayed for arrangement and lyrics. I was hoping to hear them!

I think the mix could use some revisiting to bring out the rhythm guitars on the sides more, perhaps take some verb off those kicks and toms. Essentially carving out space for bass to exist in the center channel relatively unmolested. I wonder if what could be causing some of the flat feel could be monitors or cans which don't translate that sub noise, and at the same time over accentuate highs. There's something called RealPhones I recently learned about which you can grab to effectively mix on headphones, but it's paid.

3:19 where the mix is less condensed, it sounds more ideal -- the compressor is really clamping down on the mix as a result of those thick bass frequencies. Cutting some verb wet and bringing the kick down will help. You can actually use sidechain to make sure the transient cuts through without harming too much of anything, and adjust it for each individual track so that it isn't very noticeable, then trim down the kick to a more manageable for the compressor volume.

Sorry if I'm writing a book and it seems to be all critique! Just know that I have no other negative comments about anything else. I very much enjoyed it!

FarFromSundown responds:

I always love the critic and feedback! I really do need to get better at sidechain for the exact reason you're describing. I just moved and am still trying to figure out the best Cost effective way to do vocals without disrupting my neighbors (now that I have them lol). But this is the first track to get vox on it when I do!
Thanks for the feedback!

[BASCUTI - TOKYO 606 (AIM 2024)]

Writing and style wise, this gets a perfect ten from me, because I adore this genre. The mix could use some refining, clearing out the white noise so to speak. Some surgical EQ on the rhythm guitar to cut down on 250 hz and below, as well as a bit in the upper range. You can achieve quite a good bit of clarity with notching.

Also, sidechain is a good option for basically every instrument.

I have a hard time hearing your kick and snare over the other instruments. They should be loudest in the mix. Kick also could use some shortening of the body (can be done with free plugin Pancz) and a bit more transient emphasis. Snare same, minus shortening the body of the note. I actually would like more sibilance on the kick and snare, and potentially to bring out the hihats and crashes in the stereo field, wider, more varied left and right.

Otherwise, great work!

BASCUTI responds:

Thanks for the feedback! always open to mixing advice.

[SPIDERTANK]

Love listening to tracks like this. It's like a cross between acid techno, midtempo, and the old, slower jungle era of dnb. Also, it was a complete shock to hear that marching snare in a different context!

I love your synth design. I might turn the bass down a bit actually, as it's blowing out in the mids upon master compression, but otherwise, great. Alternatively, you could pump up the drums a lot harder with something like a clipper. I use Cymatics Diablo for that now, but in the past I used free plugs like KSHMR Essentials Kick. Pancz also works for a NY style compression.

KI1 responds:

Yay thank you, I'm glad my lax approach to genre comes across as somewhat coherent :) I love percussion loops. As someone with a terrible sense of rhythm they really help move me along.

Really great feedback, thank you. Mixing & mastering has always been an absent spot for me which I've only started to care about in recent years (turns out cranking a compressor on the master channel with nothing else don't work too good, who knew?). Thanks for the suggestions, I'll get them on my shopping list.

[SOULKILLER]

Just writing here to say I've been an OG fan, since 2009, and I'm so happy to hear from you again! All these years I'd wondered where you went, where you were. Used to write fairly often.

My how time changes us. I can still hear your style, morphed and changed through the time. I myself am an amen break junkie. It never gets old. My only complaint is the stereo spread on the kick and snare has washed them out a bit, but that's just one of my modern stylistic preferences.

Congrats on the FP!

KI1 responds:

If not - 'THE' OG fan! I think I'll stop being such a baby and actually stick around NG now haha.

Thank you for the very nice review, any of your thoughts are much appreciated. Very true re: stereo spread. I'm still fairly under-practiced using real drum loops and anything with them. In this case I think it was a matter of 'stick on some FL Stereo Shaper, compress the shit out of it and call it a day.'

Thanks! A childhood dream of mine for sure.

Until next time

[ADR3-N / 10 / A200]

As hard as it is to listen to myself talk this was a great experience! I can't believe we had 4 hours of content I assume after cutting. Wow.

The linked lists at the bottom are huge bonus for folks who love to deep dive. Basically perfect autistic/adhd entertainment! I'll have to make time to listen to more of these as they come out!

SteveMaddenFootball responds:

The community is better because you are a part of it. You help so much with people's music, questions and various problems, it's great to see when people are thankful. It is tough to deal with when people are being rude, and you deserve a tremendous amount of respect for your passion to care about the well-being of the creative environment that Newgrounds has been building. You make Newgrounds better!

You've been a part of building a positive creative environment for musicians to thrive in and learn about creating music. You are extremely skilled and have an immense amount of knowledge to share. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your experiences and talking about how you feel. There are a lot of bullshit and challenging scenarios in life that are tough to deal with, you are very strong. You deserve respect.

Thank you so much for being you.