MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Drown in the fountain of youth]

Neat

Well lets begin the review shall we?

Lets start off with the beats. You're percussional beats are pretty good, very solid, laid down and keeps the song in pace.

You've got two guitars working in this song, one is a more cleaner version, and one is very distorted. For future reference, I would very carefully consider that distortion guitar. That cleaner one you have soloing, and then accompanied with other similar guitars worked well.

That really distorted guitar sounds real, and maybe that is why it doesn't work that well. When you have synthesized sounds with a real instrument the synths will sound MUCH cleaner, as well the synths were probably either produced artificially or recorded in a studio with much more gear then the average person. So your recording of your guitar in short will sound extremely low quality compared to the synths.

How to solve this? Many people used DKFH VST (Drummer Kit From Hell), which is a percussional program with really high samples geared towards metal tracks. As well as try not to mix in synth guitars with real ones, as the two will generally not mix that well.

Other then that the song itself is solid, it's merely the presentation that could use some work. Keep experimenting, you'll get there if you keep pushing. Keep them coming!

Stealth-Emergence responds:

Wow man awesome! thanks for your review! erm well all the guitars on this were real, I think one problem i've got is that the chords just sound really bad whenever i come to record however i seem to adjust the nobs, and the solo's seem to come out a bit cleaner, I'm working on this now! struggling a little to keep the distortion from pulling the quality down

Thanks again for your review, and man your tunes were awesome!

Peace Out!

Stealth

[i2 - In a Crowd, But Alone]

Very nice!

if I didn't know the below reviewer was some kind of aquintance I would have said some pretty bad things >:(... you monster, don't even joke.

So lets begin with the piece shall we!?

The chord start set the mood effectively right away, a sadness comes flowing gently through the windows, the curtains hiding the darkness outside, the moonlight filtering through the ragged and torn curtains. How can you hide anything with just bones?

The string stabs in the background, though not evident play a good role in the song, well done.

Anyways, after the reverse cymbol, you bring in that piano, that soft, gentle piano. That constant spiccato string in the background worked well yet again.

After that segment you bring back those cellos. Good for you. The piano progression in the background now accompanying the string stabs and getting louder, that was a good effect.

The timpini works wasn't breathtaking, but it was effective in its means.

Now for some suggestions.

Oboe my good sir, an oboe I feel would have nailed the feeling of sadness furthar.

Perhaps a descending string chords, to show the quick scurrying of people walking. The piano chord portrays this image as well, but I don't think as effactively as a string progression would have.

Now lets get REALLY metaphorical, I can also imagine bells being used in this song. The sound of salvation, and of complete abandonement, all in one furious strike. Not many people would get that point though, i'm just speaking story telling wise ;).

The song loops pretty well.

All in all, really enjoyable song i2abbitz, really liked it. Here's a 5 bomb for you and yours. Keep them coming!

[With You]

Impressive

first off, I don't know if the guy below me will ever read this, but what the hell are you listening to a song with the description "A MELLOW GUITAR SONG" and then expect it to be metal.

Anyways, some real criticism.

The guitar melody was awesome, simple, soft, sweet, short, and subdued (alot of S...)

I would have said add more instruments to it, but by itself this song is pretty awesome to. Have you considered reverb? I know I heard some in there, but I felt a heavier dose, with a slight echo would have made it more... peaceful?

Anyways, I really liked it, 5 bomb for you! Keep them coming, you've really got some talent behind you.

ShadowJim responds:

Thank you.

To tell you the truth, I actually wrote the melody when my high e-string was broken. Was oddly inspiring experiment.

It was one of the first songs I did in Guitar Pro, and I really was never satisfied with the sound I got, either. I considered making another version (different guitar? different program?), but I'm hoping someday I'll be able to actually play and record it on my own classical guitar. Don't have the talent, now, alas.

Arigatou gozaimasu! *bows*

[Opus for Violincello]

Damn impressive

This is now also one of my new favs. Truly everything just speaks wonderfully to each other. I hear this kind of song in a great garden.

I gotta say at the ending I felt the song was really starting to pick up! I was in a state of complete bliss and then you had to ruin my fun and ruin it!

There was a small segment here that made me think of star wars, heh, not your fault, i'm just crazy like that.

Out of curiousity which instrument did you start off with to compose the quartet? If I were to guess I would say the middle octaved violin, the high pitched violin, then the plucked strings, followed by the cello.

Here comes the end again... damn... it ended.

The song loops very very well. I was in denial the first time the song ended and so I was hoping you had some kind of break, but it was not meant to be :'(.

I have no advice in making it better, only a 5 bomb, and a props to you. Keep them coming!

ShadowJim responds:

I'm glad I'm not crazy. I thought it sounded like Star Wars, too! lol. Couldn't be helped; that's just how the song came out.

Actually, I started with the pizzicato viola. I almost always start with the acompaniment, oddly enough. Then I added the cello, then high violin. I wasn't sure if I would add another instrument, but I knew I needed a bass at that on chord (sometimes a song just talks to you, such as this one).

I do have an idea or two for lengthening the piece, but I'm afraid I'm a slow composer. I hope to, though.

Thanks a lot for the review and kind words, MeastroRage!

[Khuskan - Prelude in Pi]

My first 10 across the boards...

You sir have single handidly made me want to do more math! I will START PAYING ATTENTION IN CALCULAS!!!

Then i'll compose a song of an even functions derivative!!!!

Still, how you managed to pull that out of your ass so soon makes me green with so much envy I look like the giant guy on the pea cans!

As for your statement saying there are other songs that deserve a 5, this is true, but this I believe should be up on the top, AND SO I SHALL MAKE THIS SO WITH A 5 BOMB!

Thanks for your vote, MaestroRage! You voted 5 for Khuskan - Prelude in Pi, keeping its score at 5.00.

Too awesome for my ears, I need to learn the piano so I can play this.

Khuskan responds:

Well the idea itself wasn't too tricky - I was going to base notes to Pi, but then I realised that, although artistic, it wouldn't be at all MUSICALLY interesting, so I set out on phrases.

Maths is systematic, logical and not open to conjecture, so I used a harsh d minor key to give it a sort of evil, yet slightly mellow when slow, bite.

I only truely composed 10 parts (11 if you count the one which I accidently made because I thought I had 9 and isn't included in the track). The most of the time was spent arranging it to Pi, which took me ages to get right. I'd go through arranging it, only to run it through with the numbers and to come back with some weird mix. Fortunatly, this is left in the hands of the performer so as a composer I don't have to dirty my hands with the direct layout :D

If you ever do learn piano, the score can be found here:

wehatetheworld.com/prelude score.pdf

Just cut and paste that, including the space between 'prelude' and 'score' and it should load (or replace it with a %20, your choice)

[Apocalypse On The Horizon 2]

Neat!

Hey stealth, wanted to drop by and see what was up.

The song has a very driving force to it, it's almost bordering on jazz and rock to me. A strange mix thats for sure.

It's been said enough times by everybody, the guitar is a little too distorted, and though it's not a triangle it sounds like some fiercely abused plucked guitar that sounds off.

I like the brass, thats the part that made me think of jazz.

Regardless the song was enjoyable to listen to, my only qualm would be those plucked strings, and the level of distortion on the guitar, otherwise this is excellent stuff!

I'd like you to check out some of my pieces sometime stealth, Keep them coming stealth, I hear alot of potential in you!

Stealth-Emergence responds:

Thank You! I know man there are some major issues going on with my sound quality, and believe me I am trying really hard at the moment to get to the root of these issues, as for the plucked thing which you refer to, yeah i know what the issue is there, it's an instrument i used on my synth, which lingered a little too long, and due to the sound that particlar instrument i chose makes, it can make that irritating triangle type noise, One day I shall re-do this track though, at the moment I'm just making new tunes, but one day my man it will happen, and we shall all rejoice lol yay! :)

Thanks for your review! Much appreciated! I'll come by and check out some of your stuff A.S.A.P.

Peace Out Man!

Stealth

[ChiRoN- Silver Serenade]

Neat

Hmm, the song is quite neat, i'll give it that. Here a few suggestions.

That cello beginning chord progression was well planned, progressions like that are perfect for building a solid foundation, and since you used cello it gives you more freedom to use other higher pitched instruments.

The melody was a tad unstable in my opinion, and by this I mean it was a bit unpredictable. When the cello section just cut out, that made me think this.

Otherwise the violin melody is quite stable, it has a pretty happy feeling to it. Like lazy clouds floating by.

For your first classical I must say i'm impressed. It's better then my first (which I will never share with you btw >_>), so yes kudo's! I give you a 5/5 to show my support. Keep them coming ChiRoN, you'll get there if you keep pushing!

BMC-Audio responds:

thanks for the sweet review! i still love your music, and i just made a new classical, so i hope it does as good if not better than this one.

[Thumping Pain]

Impressive

Another great.

You did over compress things, but perhaps in this instance it worked out for the better? Did you have to compress because of the thumping bass? Would it worked if you filtered out the low end of the bass? I know it would have removed some of the kick, but it would also remove that bulky frequency eating monster effect. Damn bass and kicks with their frequency abusing ways...

Anyways, the song reminds me of a bitter sweet feeling, you know, walking down a dark alley, holding your chest to cover up the bullet wound. The bullet wound didn't come free though, having killed the enemy with your bare hands gives a man that primitive raw feeling. That electric guitar again, it's so damn well done. Is that real?!

You've already stated the one error in this song in your description so no point in restating it! The song loops pretty well too, so good points + 1.

Keep them coming Beegeezee, another 5 bomb for you.

[On The Other Side Final Mix]

Damn fine...

Hello Beegeezee.

I wanted to come on over here and show my support.

You've got some pretty damn excellent tracks up here, so really you've already reached an excellent level in my opinion.

The scratching at the beginning was very well done! How did you do it? I've been trying to get some music like this done, you know, get my horizons all expandored up and all that good stuff, and so i'm going to have to listen to your pieces and try to decipher them.

My first question above all this is, where did you get these samples and what program are you using?

I really liked the guitar work, it sounds so dynamic and real, the drum work is excellent, the song itself flows very well.

My only qualm with this piece is why you put it in misc. That nearly gaurantees that nobody is going to listen to it. I would think general rock or ambiant would have worked perfectly for the piece!

Anyways, i'm sorry I don't have constructive criticism for you, i'm just beginning to learn this genre. So hats off to you, here's my 5 bomb! Keep them coming!

[i2 - Clouds of Endorphins]

Damn fine...

i didn't get a very happy vibe from this piece, it's incredibly peaceful, but a remorseful sadness is infused with the piece itself.

When it did end though, quite abruptly, my soul DIED man >:(! I was like, "Man, I could listen to this for hours, I wonder where he's going to take this!" and then it ended and my soul crumbled away... away I say.

The gentle strings, and constant flute progression is what pretty much made the song. The cello? chords in the background were well used to emphasize the flute and light string. I'm quite impressed i2abbitz, quite impressed indeed!

here's a 5 bomb from me i2abbitz ^^. Keep them coming, there wasn't too much to criticize here, but it was really great for what you have here.