skyood's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[(S10) Arrival]

What it does, it does well.

What it is is pretty good. Bass sounds super deep and still clear, which is all you can ask for from bass sounds. But I can't help but like surely you can add something other than just bass and drums. For example, some simple synth chords in there could really add variety and depth, while still keeping the focus on the bass (which I guess ties together your human theme, which I think is a fantastic idea). Get some more elements in there so that you can fiddle with more than just the drum pattern for variety. It needs variety. Did I mention variety? It could work great for a while if the levels were short enough and you were rotating songs for the various levels. But I've been listening to it while I write this review ... and it could use some variety. :)

But, like I said, what you do have going on is done well. 7/10 for being well done this far, but I think you gotta go a little further. I'd be happy to give you some simple chord ideas if you'd like.

shroomz10 responds:

Thanks for the input, these submissions have thus far been my only attempts ever at making music beyond acoustically recorded drums, so it's great to hear some criticism. I'm aware of the repetitiveness I keep doing, I found a bassline that wasn't horrible and seem to have taken it to heart a little too much.

But more importantly: I definitely agree that more could (and SHOULD) be added to it...What are some chords that you would suggest for this? I'm totally open and all ears for any help, suggestions, and constructive criticism I get :)

[Three Pirates Battle Loops]

Curious

I'm very curious to know what the design problem was? Seems to me that each section could loop on itself (hard to loop it manually so I guess I can't say for sure), but the sections flow well enough into each other.

Seems like a "simple" solution is to write a big splashy ending and call it a song. Great stuff.

[L.E.A.F - PSA film competition]

Excellent.

Period. I usually have things to nitpick at to help you improve ... but this is just good. You did an excellent job of capturing the feel of the various moments in the film with the instrumentation/tone color, tempo, and pacing (if that makes any sense). I'm very impressed.

[Dusk [HIX]]

...

I like this as a theme to a larger piece, but not quite as a finished product. If I had to say why, I think it's because all that's at the low end is those broken chords, so it makes the whole thing feel ... sparse. I have a suspicion you know what I mean and that's why you have the delay in there.

That being said, I love it as the beginning of something bigger. As a matter of fact, I wish I had thought of it, as it feels like the framework of something epic and awesome. Good job.

HellhoundIX responds:

Thank you, your reviews are very useful. And by all means, if you think you can build something epic and awesome using this go right ahead. I would feel proud having inspired such a great musician as yourself

[MoonlightSonata(QouthTheRaven)]

Don't know quite what I think ...

I'm torn, basically because I don't find the Moonlight Sonata to particularly fit the dark mood of The Raven. The sonata, to me at least, is more quiet than ominous, although the difference between the two moods is subtle. In fact, I feel like the differences are small enough that you could tweak the sonata a bit more and make it fit the poem better.

Basically, what you did is good (good use of the voice effects, the choir that you added adds to the effect, etc etc), but I think you can go though a bit more effort and improve the result substantially.

[{425} Rockies]

Beautiful and inspiring

I very much liked the music. Simple but beautiful, could be a sad/inspiring movie score.

What I'm less excited about is the actual sound/patch/whateveryoucallit of the strings (the higher ones throughout, the lower (tremolo?) strings layered toward the end are fine). To me they sound harsh against this otherwise simple, sweet song. Specifically I think it's the computer "chorus" type effect ... as in it might sound better with "one" violin/viola instead of a "string section" electronically, even though I bet a small group of strings would sound fine if it were actually recorded live. You know, using those 4 violinists and top-of-the-line recording equipment that we all have laying around in our garage.

Keep it up.

Michael425 responds:

Glad you liked it. I agree that the strings can sound a bit muffled a points. I should look into a better sounding orchestra VST. Funny thing is I have a cello and some recording equipment, but no violins... guess I'm out of luck.

Thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate it.

~{425}~

[Promesse [HIX]]

Good stuff

I like it.

My 2 cents, which I intend as constructive input ... otherwise why post here, right? ...
I don't know what you're using, but it would really add a lot with a sustain pedal. Really tie all those broken chords/arpeggios together, maybe feel more melodic and less ploddy. Also, I'm not sure I like the "dangling" ending in the melody line. But, that's a very subjective thing, I'm sure you meant it to be hanging out there all unresolved and that's fine. In the context of this site, that ending as the background to a flash animation type dealy with an unsatisfying or surprise ending would fit perfectly.

Overall, good stuff. Keep cranking it out.

HellhoundIX responds:

You're completely right. The notes do sound better sustained, and I admit I kind of rushed the ending. Maybe I'll get to fix it someday... Anyways, thanks a lot for your honest review, it's spot on

[Mellow Nylon Fingerpicking]

"Simple" and elegant

I like it.

The strange thing is that when you listen to it a bunch in a loop, you forget where the start is. It doesn't feel like it should start on the G. Try starting on the Cadd9 (:27) and see how that sounds to you. To me if feels like the more natural beginning of the progression.

Great stuff. Add a melody and a chorus (or make this the chorus and add a verse) and you have yourself a nice little singer/songwriter bit. :)

[Vita Nuova [HIX]]

My hyperspecific nit-pick ...

I overall like this little piece ... brings to mind many forest/village type game background music.

My hyperspecific nit-pick is that the 4th chord in the progression to me feels for some reason like it doesn't quite fit, movement-wise. My ear goes all "la la la we're off in this directio... waitaminuteithoughtweweregoingsomewhe re." But that's just my opinion and my ear. *shrug*

Otherwise very nice, good instrumentation ... good stuff.

HellhoundIX responds:

I guess the chord thing is just a matter of taste, but I'll keep it in mind when working with progressions in the future. Thanks for taking the time to review

[Sunrise [Orchestral]]

Good start ...

Rated it a 4 just to counterbalance the almost certain zeroes for no good reason ...

Honestly it's tough to give much feedback, because essentially what you've done is enough to prove that yes, you definitely know what you're doing. But you haven't shown much more than that with this particular piece. It's just not going anywhere with this amount of repetition, but like you said, it's just something you banged out real quick so I'm sure you know this.