MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[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.

[[)rZ-The Horizon]

Impressive

It reminds me of Dan's Ode to Angels. Isn't that a great piece? I love Dan's music, it inspires me too only too often, he is truly skilled in touching, soft pieces. I've given up on trying to compete with him in that field, i'm going all the way to epic fighting sorrow ;).

Anyways, onto YOUR piece.

That timpini and strings that come in later in the song, were very overpowering, I would very carefully look over that segment. I realize you want to give the piece some insane power, but volume isn't the way to do it, perhaps focus more on the chords in the background, and highlight the melody with that.

Love the bells though, gotta love that :D!

Again near the end, you have alot of overpowering going on, even moreso then the first time.

That strange clavo? melody you have going on after that segment was totally unexpected. I wonder if perhaps it was done in the best of tastes. I thought it was pretty well done, but be careful of those transitions, you did that once in the middle as well, and though it was a good segment, throwing something that has a different core then the rest of the song is like cutting an apple and orange in half, then putting half apple and half orange together, and pass it off as a whole fruit.

The piano progression, though constant, was what I think made this song. It was the constant variable, the foundation to the piece.

Anyways, another great piece DrZonka, I would just watch out for overpowerment from now on, imma drop the 5/5 bomb on your face this time, but next time I won't be as forgiving ;). I know you can do better and so I will be harsher to try and give you as many ideas as possible. Keep them coming!

DrZonka responds:

I do admit this is a very high intensity song and I overdid it a little at the end but I used electric strings that I thought would lead in well with the electric piano used in the intermission between the theme and the finale and at the end of the finale. However volume wasn't a thought for me. I recorded on a low volume which might affect how other speaker on other computers may have made it louder, idk. To be honest on my computer it sounds balanced, but meh, this is what reviews are for buddy, I'll keep volume in mind from now on! Thanks- [)rZ- ps for listeners, listen to it on a lower volume than you normally would, I might try and put out a fixed version in a few days.

[Dragonic Fury]

100th review!!!

Hey RaustBlackDragon.

I'm using my 100th review for you, better appreciate >:D!

Anyways, ONTO THE SONG!

The beginning is the same as the other song, however I think there is some quality changes from the first. As well i'm not really hearing these reverbed snares Zen is talking about, but Zen is usually right about what he says, so I don't know.

There is a good deal of noble power to the piece, I forgot about this piece, i'm glad I came back to listen to it, it's quite neat. I've been listening to it while I played some neat strategy game, and it really suits the mood, especially those pizz strings.

Good level of dynamics as well.

The timpini does a good job driving the epic home! This is a good piece, i'm sorry i'm a tad tired so no suggestions come to mind, it's just great like this.

Check out some of my new stuff sometime Raust, I think you may enjoy them ^^. Dropping the 5 bomb on your face.

RaustBlackDragon responds:

M-M-M-MAESTRO! YOU'RE BACK! REJOICE! ONE OF THE THREE CLASSICAL GENERALS HAS RETURNED TO US!!!

(Exaggeration)

Great to have you back maestro. I just realized it was you. I'm going to check out your new songs in a little while. have you seen strategem yet? It's one of my latest songs. i also have one that's stuck on my ipod that I made at summer camp that i'm going to try to put onto my computer. until then, welcome back, Maestro S... er... MaestroRage

[mawkeetus-- Syimphoni]

Neat

neat timpini work! Timpini works excellently for a nice epic drive, i'm sure you agree ;).

Anyways lets talk abit about the song.

The melody flows nicely, you have a lot of neat segments, there were some parts where notes clashed, but you remind me alot of me when I first started so I'm not going to hold that against you.

The strings are pretty neat.

My only qaulm with the piece is the crashes, they sound pretty lousy with the song, because I feel you have them too frequently, and they sound fake enough to confuse them with hi hat.

The song is also fairly washed out sounding, I would suggest some equalizing, bring up the higher frequencies for a sharper sound, especially for those strings. If this doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it, equalizing is a major pain, and takes many many hours to perfect, I only recently started, so for now, just focus on honing your skill with melodies and structures over technical stuff like that.

Is that a cello I hear in the background chords? You did well with those chords, they provide a good foundation for the song, but on another note they overpower the strings. I think this may be because you have the strings and cello playing in the same octave. Try to lower the cellos an octave, see what happens.

Thats all I can think of for now, really good work ChiRoN. Check out some of my work sometime, i'd appreciate your feedback.

BMC-Audio responds:

wow! that was a lot of advice. all i have to say to this is thanks. thanks for the critisism and time. most peeopple just listen to it and dont bother to critique it. ill be sure to review yours too.

[Seizmic Trance (Dance Version)]

Neat

Hey XDragonslayerX.

This is a pretty neat song, but I felt that it didn't have enough energy to it. I think you should have some other synths playing the lead melody as well to mix up the sounds. I feel as it stands, your bass and percussional aspects are overpowering the main melody lead.

I think a nice ripping saw synth with some high pitched gated synth (like what you have now, but one octave higher), and then one octave lower, to really get some power infused in there.

On top of all that, I also feel a pad would come in handy, to fill up the "empty" feel i'm getting.

I also think your kick could be a little more banging, perhaps reverb?

Anyways, all in all, it IS a pretty damn fine song, I hear an insane level of potential in it, so i'll drop the 5 bomb on your face. Keep them coming, you can get there if you keep trying.

I'd like you to check out some of my stuff sometime ^^.

XDragonslayerX responds:

Thanks, once I get the full version of fruity I'll try to fix this if I can remake it correctly. =)

[Fantasy Aux]

Getting better

hmmm, pretty neat. I see you've let the claps simmer down.

Is that a reverbed boom I hear? It does sound pretty intimidating.

The percussional aspects are pretty neat, laid down, solid, and does the job effectively. That bass synth and later on that saw like synth begin to form a neat sound.

Some ideas.

Pads. I think you should use a pad under those synths, right now the song feels a tad empty, you know like theres a man in a giant room, all by himself.

Other then that, I hear improvement, so keep them coming!

PHOENIXtrunks responds:

thank you for the great review! I TOTALLY get what you're saying...I knew something was missing...a pad is just what I need...hmmm...thanks! I'll use one for my remix (or at least try and see if it works)!