ADR3-N's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[From Ash To Alabaster]

This is a monster track. Honestly, the only thing holding it back is your vocal equipment, and that's not hard to fix -- I can hear a little rattle going on. Really impressed you took the initial theme, crafted a tight narrative, and weaved a pretty hook. Jabun really took that to the next level, by the way.

You've got a great accent for hiphop and a nice, almost asymmetrical stream-of-thought flow that makes your poetry run like conversation. Does it come natural?

Cyberdevil responds:

Hmm haven't noticed the rattle myself, good ears! I think my breathing technique needs some practice too, but otherwise you're right, not optimal studio equipment yet. He did take it up a notch, agreed!

Thanks. When inspiration really flows it does sometimes, I think this was one of those, but often it take s bit of practice; polish to get it right. Appreciate the feedback! Guess I'd better really focus on quality recording stuff!

[Newgrounds TankBuster (2:32)]

Intro sounds like a videogame, so when the kicks came in I was confused for a second.

For some reason, this kinda sounds a little aimless to me with the formant octave bass. Then again I just don't like this trend of the-lead-and-the-bass-are-the-same-note choruses that bled from big room house to other genres of EDM.

That kick is a bit too loud and subby. Sounds boxy on the rest of the beat. Recommend hi-passing out some of the 20-50 hz or using a multiband compressor on it to get a fuller sound. It's lacking any hi mid punch to it, so it kinda feels like headbutting something unintentionally.

Also, your cymbal samples are... really flat and gross sounding, no offense. They sound like stock mixcraft cymbals. I know you used FL and Ableton, ofc.

Imo, hats could use some panning and variation. Snare is laying flat in the mix with too much low end on it, and your fills need panning to stick out.

Cymbals need to come way up in the beginning.

Overall none of your synths sound ugly, but those harmonies need to come up in the mix. Actually, the bass/lead could probably do with coming down a db or two.

It sounds like most of this mix's punch came out of the master channel with hard compression and sausage fattening, just judging by how the kick loses presence later in the track. If you want to compress hard and keep the kick all-in, side-chain a little harder.

I also was disturbed by the abrupt outro and overall felt the track was pretty dry, just sitting right there, flat. Part of that is listening on ATH m40x's, which are flat studio monitors. You might want to invest in a pair. They don't make everything sound hideous, but they reveal a lot of things your average sound system or pair of casual listening headphones plaster bandaids over.

Overall, good work, and a nice creative endeavor. :)

bdog705 responds:

now this is a review and i thank you very much for writing such an in depth one, it helps in many more ways than you think
thanks for the other reviews too, very well structured and worded, thanks!

[Week 23 2017 (Acapella)]

I'm hearing these weekly verses and being quite rightly reminded of how sub-par my own lyrical skills are. Nice work :)

Cyberdevil responds:

Well you know what they say about practice. :) I know I have a long way to go too but... one week at a time! Thanks for listening!

[Week 27 2017 (Acapella)]

It's rare I hear a dry track that's listenable. I'm having a hard time picking out an overarching meaning, but the flow is good enough my brain just stops working. Nice work.

Cyberdevil responds:

It's an ode to the summer I suppose, self-reflection and travel melancholy all intermeshed... though does get a bit more random towards the end. :) Many thanks!

[Downtown Beatdown (METALCORE)]

Sounds like the mix is clipping in a lot of places. Guitar tone is nice though, and I really appreciate you listing your software. Podfarm is now on my list of things to find.

As for your bass, I can barely hear it. Sounds like just the guitar doubled and down an octave.

Your drum samples sound good, but the mix itself sounds so bass heavy and mid-stomped, it's hard to enjoy them. The cymbals are very weak in the mix, sound all the same velocity, and the kick is hiding underneath your bass. A low cut will probably help you out there.

Siren is also way down in the mix. So are your synths. Let them soar above but not sublimate the rest of the mix. Balance is the key.

Cymbals I feel need to come up, and your toms are panned a little strange for me.

Somewhere there is a mastering tutorial I found useful... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amN1EmZv4Uo&list=PLi8lPSZQQxxZEvqcLWu-XNh2D4E1tNl35&index=4

I think this is the one. ReaEQ is probably the best plugin I've ever used for EQing out unecessary frequencies before compression, FX, and mastering.

DHansen90 responds:

Thanks for all the tips! Im actually going to try some things and reupload if you wouldnt mind hearing it! UPDATE: New mix and master

[endK - Twist the Beast]

Oh, videogamey dnb! Not bad. Could use just a bit more bass, and I really feel like a lot of the track is sitting in the right channel. That's an interesting choice.

Also getting what feels like clipping occasionally.

You've been really adventurous with your panning and transitions, which makes this track pretty interesting to listen to without being tedious, and that's an achievement.

Song structure is also inventive, and I like that.

However it eventually does get to that point where I feel it's too long and a bit samey, with a lot of the same rhythms and melody. Call and response but no real overarching solo. As is, I feel like it's still a strong piece, but far from perfect. Extra half-star for unique approach. Did not like the single outro stinger. I felt it needed a little breakdown or buildup prior.

endKmusic responds:

Hey!
Must say that I agree with majority of the stuff you said here.
Although part that may feel like clipping are just fx I guess. Maybe could've leveled them more appropriatelly.
Thanks for panning/transition compliments, that's always one of the main things I'm going for.
In the second part there is the same bassline for a long time, yes. It changes at some points.
However, even with that, I think I wrapped it up nicely.
Was thinking about solo part but yeah, somehow I wasn't up to realizing that and instead, I did some acoustic breaks and stuff.
Long story short - the structure certainly is different and for sure there are 'consequences'. But it has good stuff too, I guess. :)
Thanks for the detailed review, really appreciate it. <3

[Dont Snitch you B*tch]

This is hilarious in addition to being well-produced. Needs a little more on the vocal up front tho. Also cuts off randomly. Minus half star for that.

DJmadalrian responds:

I think I need to add some more high freqs back into the vocals. Also yea I made it cut off to be a joke. Not very funny though lol.

[Harmonies 101]

Ya got me with those trills. Hot diggity. I wouldn't really say this is metalcore quite. Sounding quite a bit like some old bands I really used to dig.

Drums need to come way up in the mix. Can barely hear your bass also.

It's also really interesting what you did with harmonization even if it's mostly porting around parallel 5ths and octaves. Reminds me of the final boss battle with Redips in Megaman X Command Mission for some reason.

Toward the end I feel like you're falling just a bit out of tune or something, flat on those open strings. Could be hallucinating that though. It's fairly late.

TSRBand responds:

Thanks for the review! Happy you enjoyed it :)

Hopefully the bass and drums are sounding a bit more balanced in my newer mixes, could definitely use a boost here looking back!

[Silver]

I need more of that snare!

Reminds me of 80's rock with indie vocals. Could use reverb/a light delay, and chorus on that lead vocal, unless you'd prefer to run with the same chain and just deliver it a little stronger/intense.

There was a little distortion on the first solo section, clipping.

Otherwise, freaking awesome.

MistyE responds:

The 80s comparison is interesting; definitely new to me for this track. I appreciate the specific suggestions as well; thanks for the review!