ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[And Falling]

5/4 -- initially it sounds like 4/4 with some pauses for effect. I'll have to try this some time.

Your chord changes are great. I could do without so much reverb, especially with that low rumble -- would prefer a straight low timpani roll. Too much verb sounds really dirty. Notice by 1:45 how the low rumble is almost distorting in the mix, pumping in and out? It sounds like improperly managed side chain, and the melody/accompaniment is having problems sticking out through the noise?

Turn your reverb wet signal down and increase low cut. It sounds wonderful all the way up on solo instruments, but so dirty on big sections. I'm getting a hardcore tin-can feel.

I also notice throughout your big section there is constant distortion every few seconds. This tells me the track has been mixed too loud before any mastering FX were applied -- if they were applied. I can't tell due to the severe crackling.

It's a shame. This is a great piece otherwise!

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

SplatterDash responds:

Hey thanks for reviewing and judging my NGADM piece! This actually reminded me I have yet to reply to Tainted's review on a different song of mine so it makes this all the more needed lol

I think you're the first person to mention anything about the reverb at the beginning. I've heard about the original chords in this being a bit wonky when this was on Chips Compo (which was fixed here), but I never got the reverb being too much. Still, I can see how a timpani roll - or maybe even a single hit - could do better in the long run than the reverb.

I listened again to 1:45, and I'm gonna say it now and get it out of the way: this is only the second time I actually did reverb in something, the first being Running Back, so I am pretty much a complete noob to the process. In the piece I did go 5 dB below the regular volume during bass kicks and bring it back up to original... but that meant "everything" and not "everything BUT the melody" (I felt it was off to do it like that when I did it in Running Back). So that's most likely why the melody never came out during then, it was because the melody went down with the other parts and I was a complete dummy with sidechaining lol

I went back and checked the reverb, and I found out that the reverb I was using came with the instrument, and it's just a dial that goes from 0 to 127 (ableton lite is like baseline on that stuff lol). But it honestly taught me something, that using audio effects instead of instrument effects can help out quite a bit.

I've never noticed distortion on the big section - I don't even hear crackling or anything. I think it may be the drums that you're hearing, but I don't hear any crackling or clipping on my end, and nor did the other people who saw this on Chips Compo. In truth, I did apply some mastering volume, but I don't know if that may be the issue here. I could be completely wrong, and nobody has told me except for you, but yeah, I don't hear clipping or crackling on my end, and it may just simply be drums going.

Thank you again for the review! I'm hoping that I move on, but seeing the competition I don't think I have much of a chance. Still, thank you for reviewing this and other fellow NGUAC entries :D

[Partially Surdo]

Interesting intro. Your piano seems to be distorting in the left channel. Possibly mixed too loudly. Louder sections are distorting in both channels. Unsure why it's tremeloed.

0:55 section has a great progression, but sub frequencies are too loud.

Actually sounds like the entirety of the track has been mixed too loud, especially the sub, and the bass is overdriving excessively.

1:55 guitar needs to be double-tracked 100% left and right.

Guitar solo is great, but there's so much sub noise, the track seems cluttered. A large part of the problem seems to be reverb or chorus on your bass, perhaps artificial stereo expanding. I would take all of your reverbs, turn down the wet signal, and increase low cut to about 300-500 Hz, depending on the instrument. I feel a heavy tin-can vibe.

By 3:03 your piano is distorting noticably.

I recommend taking a moment to look at some mixing tutorials for your chosen genres, metal, d&b, and trance respectively, as well as Ben Levin's "How to Hear Compression."

Were the mix problems in this piece fixed, I'd give a solid 5. Compositionally, this is gold. I have no further comments. Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

spectronoid97 responds:

Thanks so much for the feedback!

I still have to train my ear to this type of problems, but when you mentioned it, I did really notice them. Definetely going to take a look at these recommendations you made and I hope to improve my mixing skills. Thanks a lot! :D

[Kirefyx - Season 6 (NGUAC entry)]

Great writing with this piece, but your synths, velocity, and modulation are squashing whatever musicality you could have had with that intro. I will note there are plenty of free harps, strings, etc. in the free Kontakt library thread in the audio forum. Do go check it out.

Velocity wise, at 1:03, do you hear how each note on that harp/koto sounds exactly the same, machine gun? Try to vary the velocity of your notes on most everything, but especially instruments that are supposed to sound any degree of real.

0:49, this may be the most interesting instrument I've heard used for a drop. I'm not liking those high plinky notes. As a music producer, that's the sound I try to avoid. That said, these orchestral runs are taking me back to better days, haha.

I don't like your ride cymbal. It sounds like an old china being used in the place of a ride. Velocity is also the same on each hit. Protip, you could probably use a quarter-note ping-pong delay panned to the left to make that sound way cooler.

I also notice you have a ton of reverb on your keys and low strings. I would caution against that. Solo'ed, that sounds fine, but in an ensemble, the reverb is always there, tossing tin-can sounding mud on your mix, getting in the way of compression and other master FX. Using reverb is fine, but whenever you do use it, try to keep a relatively short release time, a high low cut value, and a fairly low wet value. I'm a fan of only using it on certain send tracks when I can get away with it, rather than putting it on each individual instrument.

1:25, this is an example of reverb rumble clouding your mix. Another at 1:32 and 1:40... and 1:48.

I would definitely take a look at some tutorials for your DAW on mixing/mastering. I can't quite tell by the waveform, but this track looks relatively uncompressed, like very little side-chain is used, and I think your growl may not even have a sub underneath it... Wait, I hear it -- it's just up high. That, or it's low strings. I actually would cut or sidechain those from my drops.

Anyway, you've got the basic structure of your track down, and I can see you've been progressing. Tackle this and you'll be on your way to producing professionally. It shouldn't take too long. :)

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

Kirefyx responds:

Thanks for the constructive criticism. I don't think I can do side chaining with my software.

[blue, like the sky]

Cheerful little tune with lots of jazzy influence, sounds like. Maybe even gospel chords. Progression works well, and levels are all where they sound like they should be.

My one gripe may be a bit of almost artificial sounding stereo-widening/reverb. I would probably cut the wets down on most FX by 10% or so. That, and one of your samples sounds eerily like a metronome. Only part that took me out of the moment. This almost reminds me of a Perfume instrumental with how poppy and sweet it is.

This piece is just plain pleasant to listen to. I'm surprised you managed it without proper monitors or headphones. Maybe you should leave 'em. :P

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

icantpronouncethis responds:

Thank you for your critique. It took me a great deal of effort just to get the mix to the way it is. Had to listen to the song in many different sources; car, ipod, earphones, headphones, etc. I was going for a clock ticking sample in the beginning but ended up changing my mind. It does sound like a metronome a bit too much. Maybe I should've lower the pitch or something. I'll take a note of what you wrote and apply in on my next track. Thank you again for dropping by.

[Somewhere In The Future]

Made with one plugin? This beautiful? Instant 5.

AvizuraNG responds:

Thank you =)

[Something New (Original Mix)]

Interesting opening here. Mix seems a little sparse and over-reverbed though. If you ever notice the tin-can sound going on, turn down your reverb wet signals, decrease release time a bit, and cut low frequencies.

Structure of this song is fine, so I'll reserve my critique for mix issues.

Your leads and pads are far too loud for your mix to sustain. Standard big room snare is not even cutting through the mix by comparison, and your samples are drowned out on bigger sections. This signals to me a compression issue.

Protip, before you apply FX to the master channel, make sure your track peaks no higher than about -6 dB. Mastering services almost universally recommend this because it allows you the freedom to shape the end result as you please without sacrificing clarity. If your mix sounds good here, it will sound good at any volume, and most importantly BETTER when properly mastered. Bar none, I've found this to be the one technique that will force you to mix your songs better.

Beyond that, I would cut feedbacks and wet signals on most of your FX. Most of the space in a mix, contrary to popular belief, does not come from 'verbed up synths. It's from your percussion. Side-chain also is not going to sound good on super muddy tracks.

Notice how muddy and overdriven 1:15 drop sounds in comparison to the rest of the track. This is because it is compressed so hard, the leads and pads are mixed too loud, so that even the hi-hats are almost inaudible. Your pads also have an insane high fizz on them. Cut those frequencies. They are as loud as your swoosh transition noises.

Other than that, smooth big room. I'd just love to hear that clean offbeat bass on your drops clearly!

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

dukebartje responds:

Thank you for the feedback! Mixing and mastering is not my strong suit. I need a lot of work on that. The feedback really helps me improve.

Thank you!

[The Darkest Wish]

Initially, I was thrown off by the synth intro. Arrangement is good here though, so I will just reserve my comments for the mix.

Your rhythm guitars and synths are too loud for the drums to sustain throughout the track. You can try compressing the drums more, but I would definitely bump the guitars down a dB or two. Compression wise, it looks like this mix is about as tight as it can be squeezed without getting muddy.

I would also try applying a tape saturator to fatten that snare up. It's sagging a bit. Kick sounds good.

Also, left channel rhythm guitar is a bit quieter than the right. Bass is also a bit muddy. I can't tell if this is low end on the guitars getting in the way of bass frequencies, or just not being quite compressed enough. I'd like to hear a little more of that crunchy string rattle too.

With metal, it's very important to clean up your frequencies on guitars/other instruments to get them out of the way of the bass. I generally low cut my guitars around 250 hz, kick around 50, bass at 27, just to keep compression clean of low hum. It's especially bad with anything analog, even with noise filters. You may check out some tutorials from Chernobyl Studios -- don't want to take up your time rambling on.

Overall, slammin' track. Reminds me of a cross between Metallica, Megadeth, and a few heavier old bands I used to listen to back in the day. Solid sense of groove, great pacing, sweet solos.

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

MisledSatellite responds:

Thanks for the review and thanks for the advices on the mix. I will use them while working on final piece for NGUAC)

[Candlehead]

Interesting SFX. Reminds me of the church by my grandparent's house.

Sounds like this is D&B at first, then, I'm not sure. However, I do know I like the directions you're going. At 1:27, we're back solidly in the realm of D&B. I think the scratching/glitch FX may be a bit too loud for the mix to sustain.

Structurally, I'm not entirely sure what's going on, what awaits beyond each corner. Generally, I'm pleasantly surprised by each new development, but I do wish your drops lasted longer. I'm not sure if you have chorus/reverb on your bass, but if you do, I would reduce the wet signal.

I'd also increase the volume/compression on your percussion. It's hiding in your mix.

Overall, enjoyed the piece. Could probably do with a good master. At its loudest, it isn't quite making full use of the soundspace. Try it on one of those generic internet mastering sites and hear the difference, or maybe take a peek at some mastering tutorials for your DAW. It'll take you to the next level.

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

dct2204 responds:

Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed most of it, i'll definitely try those out.

[Strange Taste]

Interesting approach to songwriting -- forcing yourself to get out of your comfort zone. I think it was a good choice not to compress the drums much this time around. They're already sitting right where they need to in the mix, perhaps even a bit louder than they really need to be. Dynamically, everything is sitting right about where it should. Occasionally the sudden fade-outs in volume do bother me, though.

1:20, I'm not really liking the lead you've chosen. It's a bit thin before 1:45. Same with 1:52. I'd like a stronger sustain and perhaps vibrato.

Great modulations through this piece, though structure feels a bit off. 2:08 I was very perplexed that things seemed to be over already. I would apply some FX, transition noise -- w/e just to keep things going.

2:44, we've got a good driving beat. Bass and leads are a bit loud for the drums to sustain. Here I would have pumped up the compression a bit just to get them standing out again.

3:19, leads still sound too loud. Bass is starting to sound really gridlocked and synthy. I'm curious as to what synth you're using. Previously, it sounded pretty natural with those earlier portamento long tones.

Overall, piece is quite a journey. Perhaps not as polished as it could be, but great for time constraint. Lots of cute little runs and a pleasant unpredictability for the most part that delivers on its promises. Loved it.

Thanks for coming out to NGUAC!

ColinMuir responds:

Hey thanks for the review man :D