MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Burning Heart [Hardcore]]

Super fast motherboard action? Catchy melody!

heh, I personally loved the super fast techno synths. For some reason I kept thinking of a computer motherboard going all insane on my arse while it was going on. Like an epic battle between me and Windows.

"I shall INSTALL MACINTOSH!!"
"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!!!" *spastic and really fast techno elements*
"DAMN YOU I PROCLAIM!" *shuts off, end of song*

but seriously though, the melodic line behind the really fast techno, was brilliant. I wish you had made that more easily audible, and the quick element the more supportive role.

I really didn't like that fast techno at first, now I can't get enough of it XD. It's like audio crack D:

How dare you sir! *le gasp*

The instruments work well together, that fierce bass line works really well. All in all, a very fast, very jam packed piece. Unless you have years of percussional training I suppose, it's quite great!

mechanoid-9 responds:

Haha that makes me laugh... I wasn't planning to make it this computery, but it also came out nice this way I guess. I'm always happy to cause addiction too >:D I really appreciate your positive opinion, endless thanks!

[Sad PianoTheme (Updated)]

Very moving, well played, a bit too short.

as you said, simple, sad, emotional... hmm, truly moving. I really like how the piano speaks here, those low cello chords adds wonders to the overall effect.

When you introduce progressive left hands to the right hand melody, that was when the song really started to shine. It's a shame, that it is so short. Truly, you should make an extended mix.

That delay you had on the piano helped a lot, the reverb was of course, a plus as well.

My only complaint would stem at 0:16 when that cluster of notes suddenly appeared. It makes sense for the cluster to play later on, and maybe it is inevitable to make that first cluster not sound awkward, but those are my thoughts.

It reminds me of the ancient game Sanitarium. I don't know if you played it, but it had this one piano theme in it, that consumed my soul for many months.

Welcome to the portal! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Nameless12345 responds:

Thanks for the review! (I hope I am not starting to sound like a robot... >_>)

I experimented with a different sound for the background, where the deep chords are added in later to create more of a emotional "swelling". I hope that it isn't less effective than the consistent deep strings I had before.

I removed the cluster, and now it sounds better, thanks for the input. The simplicity in the first half delivers a unique, sympathetic sadness, which works well in contrast with the powerful effect delivered by the second half.

Many months? I wonder how much work it would take to make a song that powerful... I'll be sure to listen to it. :)

Thank you, again! You're support is appreciated!

[émotion hearth]

Very well played, very emotional!

A very well played piece. Is this you playing live (through a midi keyboard?)?

The song was quite emotional, very dramatic. I closed my eyes and just listened to it, really helped me relax.

I didn't quite like 2:15, seemed like a jumble of notes being hit to change direction, though it wasn't that bad, didn't ruin the flow in my opinion, unexpected, but understandable.

All in all you play very well... welcome to the portal :)! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[Just Begun]

Excellent vocals, sweet, gentle vibe.

First review :D!

That mic is REALLY giving you some awesome vibes. That autotune which I assume you used, really REALLY helps hit that sweet spot.

The lyrics of this piece are also quite interesting. I can't quite remember all the lyrics, so if you could tell me them in the response that would be swell.

My favorite part is 2:11 where your voice doubles up very slightly and then jumps into that extra reverbed *was there extra reverb there* high octave.

Though I do love the effects on your voice, you know what would have really been sweet here. If you had a quiet segment, with very quiet instruments, and your voice, pure without effects, or minimal effects, sing then. The contrast would have been... brilliant.

Orchestration wise, the song flows pleasently, no hitches, or at least, nothing that jumped out at me. You as the creator probably have like this one spot you don't like. Not a problem for me at this point.

Oh well, sing and get better, because there is potential here, and when you become a millionaire, i'll know where you live :D!

Keep up the good fight Dan, and keep em coming!

MilkMan-Dan responds:

Sure thing buddy. No need to get into too much detail here, so heres those lyrics and thanx for the speedy review :).

Look at the mirror
As you run to the fields
where it's greener
Do you feel safer

Open your eyes
Let the sense of emotion
Consume you
As you tumble Down

One small mistake
and your whole world changes
to what could have been

Relive that moment
Until the pain is gone
But remember
The battle has only just begun

Here you will find
Where you once felt
The certainty of reason
A measure of treason

Young were your words
In the arms of another
It Cannot replace
The moment of fate
When you thought you didn't love her

*Return to Chorus

[Academic]

repetitive, good practice piece.

I would tear you a new one Sketch, but truth is this song isn't THAT bad. Repetitive, yes, but it progressess somewhat decently, and I see you've learned how to use some of the Syntrus channels, and patterns.

For the percussion, consider using the Reverb effect to make them sound more realistic. Of course, don't go nuts with it.

In case you don't know, you can bring up the effects window by pressing f9, and then clicking on one of the down pointing arrows, you should be able to find a "Fruity Reverb" effect. Click on that, and you should have reverb on all your tracks.

You can specify which channels you want to have reverb by setting effect ports, but i'll give you that another day if you'd like me to.

Keep practicing, who knows how far you'll go :D. Welcome to the portal! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[=Radical Insanity=]

Good vibe, good melodic flow, sweet segments!

I see you're still learning, and you've got a good start here, so well done! The melody work in this song is pretty damn sweet. Swift, energetic, well gated, and upbeat.

The transitions here are a bit abrupt, without a buildup, such quick transitions can be bad for the song's entertainment value.

I see you already know how to use automations, good stuff, that kind of build up would have been helpful to use when you jumped into that quiet segment.

Also I think the bitrate of this song was far too high, try to export in 128 kb/s. The standard for most sites, you will get almost identical quality, for nearly half the size.

Also have you considered maybe adding more reverb? I think this song would sound really really epic with some extra reverb, since you don't have that many instruments going on.

You might want to consider having a pad, or some low synths playing in the background at that percussion introduction. Would help fill in the silence!

Though all in all, great work! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming! Welcome to the portal!

shade45 responds:

Haha holy crap thanks a lot for the huge review. I'll totally take all those things into consideration and maybe remaster this song and put up another version. Thanks!

[Talk to me and Sing with me]

Great vibe, soothing voice and song.

Hmm... such a gentle, soothing piece. The lyrics are something I find myself losing myself to.

The melody is repetitive, but I find myself considering this a good thing. Familiarity is often an element misused in music, but not so in this.

The voice is clear, and the reverb you've applied to it, is not thick enough to muddle it, well done in finding that line.

A very clean recording of that guitar. What mic are you using for this?

Your voice sounds quite older then a 17 year old, yet at some parts, it DOES sound like a younger singer. Your accent is what I believe leads me to believe that you were older then what your profile says.

Also, my belated regards to your late MP3 player, I get attached to my stuff too, perhaps too much so...

In any regards, excellent work! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[Deus Ex Makeena]

Awesome use of the phrase, great vibe!

For a simple test this song rocks so hard D:

At first I thought it was going to vary, that you'd make them sing different things, but once the song started rolling, I really didn't care that it didn't, the familiar phrase picked up more power with each repeat.

Melodically I LOVE what you did from 1:09 onward. Again repetetive melody, but once again I am not at all bothered, and then the reintroduction of that sweet sweet phrase. You've accompanied this dark sounding phrase with such energy.

Incredible work, I hope Symphonic Choirs serves you well! Keep up the good fight!

Ludzix responds:

I didn't make any other phrases because running SC in FL Studio requires 3 applications open at the same time and recording output right from the speakers :( That's why I had stamina reserves (lol) only for that one :)

[Mixen Mercury]

Good solid vibe, energetic!

I'm all about the epic energies, and this delivers quite nicely! I like the filters you had at around 0:47. Or is that a flanger? I'm quite new to the electronic genre *mostly orchestral*, so forgive me if I say something that doesn't click.

The song does indeed tend to go nowhere, and to the guy below me, it DOES loop, perfectly I might add. I don't really know what you're talking about. In that regard it does exactly what it should, a steady stream of energy.

I listened to this through bass oriented headphones, a speaker system, and then some average headphones. The average headphones didn't deliver that well, the heavy bass distorts them. The bass headphones, and system rocked though, nicely done.

I'd like to invite you to check my work something, keep up the good fight!

[Mirrored Dimension]

Great vibe, smooth flowing, a tad repetetive

I really liked the melody work on this piece, the synths worked very very well. For some reason the beginning piano melody sounded like the Pirates of the Carribean melody. In fact the core of the song seems to resonate this vibe.

Then again, a lot of things sounds like Pirates to me lately. When I shake my saltshaker, I see an entire ocean of boats and the such D:

Some nice thick hits, though I would have liked to have more power behind them. I realize from an equalizing standpoint, thats gonna be hell. It sounds like the Hit 3, or 4 from FL. Am I right?

Try to go into the piano roll and play it a few notes lower, it would have a thicker, longer bang, which I think would have benefited the song.

There is no dispute of the flow of the song, that seems to work quite well. All in all, a great track, the piano melody gets a tad repetetive but nothing major. Good stuff, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

XMalick responds:

Thanks dude. I really appreciate the constructive feedback. Seems like you're a vet in the music field. I've gotten much better at equalizing and just composing in general i think, seeing as I made this song almost three years ago. But I'm making a newgrounds comback with ALL NEW TRACKS. Make no mistake, dude. X Malick is back.