MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[lullaby-child of gaia (demo)]

Impressive

I would be interested in making v2 with you! I were unable to fully understand the lyrics because that echo effect you had in the background was kinda distorting. For solo voice, especially if you have lyrics, I would suggest only using a deep reverb. That would give the feeling of singing in a great temple or ruin, silently passing through the stone, weaving itself with the fabric, and everything it gingerly touches.

If you like my style, send me a pm, with some ideas of what you would want to be in this piece (instrument wise), lyric wise, and we'll toss ideas back and forth.

I look forward to hearing from you. Another 5 from me. Keep them coming.

heather-lanham responds:

I'd love to do a collab with you!I'll send you the lyrics now. ^_^

[angels care--]

Damn fine

Now that I know it's you singing, I can review the piece fairly better :D.

Again, you've got that trance quality in the piece, it's really really calming, and yet this one sounds warped. Like there's a reversed voice in there as well? Do you have a reversed voice in there? It really sounds freaky, and yet enticing at the same time. If I saw this in a live performance, i'd swear one of the singers were possessed!

For just vocal work this is really well done. I would really expect nothing less though, this is the voice of angels after all. However if you were to add instruments to the piece I think a nice deep cello would accompany the voice excellentely. Perhaps a light flute to sing along.

I would also even so far as to suggest an organ! Now there's a sound I think would dramatically alter the core of this piece. Powerful, trance, darkly possessed (that reverse sound feel), and just damn entertaining!

Anyways, that my two cents, I would like you to check out some of my files sometime. This gets my 5, keep them coming!

heather-lanham responds:

no reversed voices, but I did try for more emotion in this one, more than one emotion I mean, as far as the reviews have said, I hit the nail on the head.

I had to do about ten seperate recordings, including the shutting door, (you can hear the door to the stairwell shut in the end of the piece, but it added such a nice touch, I left bit there.)I'm investing in some nice recording software sooner or later, so I'll be able to add instumental tracks to my vocal ones eventually.

[The Cliffhanger]

Impressive!

I've been listening up on your pieces for a while DrZ, I decided it was time for me to show my support.

By samples, I believe madboss was referring to the quality of the instruments, I realize you play all the notes in through your piano, but you should consider hooking up your keyboard to the computer and get a program like Fruity Studio's, and then get some VST's for some high quality sounds.

Still putting that all aside, I really enjoyed the tense feel you present here with those toms. Especially in the middle with that constant thumping. I could imagine a dark robed and hooded figure slowly walking towards you on a cliff, his robes swaying gently with the wind, dark storms gathering across the skies and so forth.

The "ooh" choir is quite neat! I have difficulty finding a good place to use the "ooh" choir, but you seem to have found a neat home for it.

The spic strings beginning didn't really set a tense atmosphere for me right away, but of course as it went, it fixed itself. I would just work a tad at the beginning, it's just because you have such a driving force in the middle it seems out of place.

Anyways, thats my 2 cents, I really like your stuff, I would like to ask you to listen to a few of my tracks and see if you like them. 5/5 from me DrZ, keep up the good fight!

DrZonka responds:

wow, you know maestro rage...I enjoyed your review not only because it was positive but because you really put some thought into it critiquing me. After I did post that tidbit about my samples thing, I kinda thought about it and kinda came to the same conclusion, but thank-you for clarifying and I just might look into that and find better samples because I'm even getting bored of the same sounding instruments on my keyboard,lol...Anyway thank-you again, I'll check out your music for sure-DrZ

[be free (2004)]

Damn impressive

For an old track this is really really well made.

This is definately a commercial track worthy song. I have absolutely no idea what to add or remove from this piece. 5/5 from me all the way!

Keep up the good fight, I know it's not a very constructive review, but I wanted to show my support regardless.

DeeFourDance responds:

Thanks for your nice review. To say "I like it" or "I don't like it" is most time contructive enough. :)

greetings
Frank

[dj_padman - Madman loose]

Pshaw said Barney

your madman makes me not like crazy people :'(

But really, the insane driving force, how the hell do you come up with this stuff? it's like, your brain sniffs a bag of pebbles, and steps on crack before it begins.

The sudden ending makes me think of a crazy guy suddenly sit still and smile into space... he's so damn crazy...

Anyways, as usual, I really enjoyed the track, unfortunately I have nothing to add or subtract, I loved it this way.

easily a 5/5 froms me padman1, always good to see you submit more stuff then i can review in a day...

Keep em coming!

dj-padman1 responds:

Maestro, long time no see! I haven't been around for a while, but I've got a bit more time on my hands recently.
Some typically wonderful Maestro imagery there as well, much appreciated! Kind of makes me hungry...
I laughed at your visual interpretation of the ending..classic! Well, I needed to rest sometime didn't I? :)
Thanks for the review mate.

[<KZ> Underwater Chills]

Damn fine

I loved the sound effects at the beginning! I also hate pools >:(

So you get a 0 for making me think of the freezing cold pools at life guard duty...

I joke, I jest, I jibe... YOU GET 1 :D

No no, seriously now.

I liked the main lead, high and shrill, like the kind that cuts straight through water. There is good feel to this piece too. I'm going to have to study your DnB songs more, to understand how to makes it better.

This song also loops perfectly, you made me dive into the pool again before I realized that it looped...

>:"(

Unneeded pool time!

Anyways, great stuff, keeps them coming, another 5/5 from me (just sign here on the dotted line)

Kirizzle responds:

lol... jibe.

The song isn't suppose to loop, but the bells are suppose to hypnotize the listener into missing the ending and then listening to the song 5 more times! Muwaha, me so devious ;P

Thanks a bunch for the good review and vote, Maestro!

[<KZ> Drumz N' Choir [Loop]]

Impressive

Hey Kirizzle.

I pressed log out instead of submit, so i'm REWRITING your review, you better be thankful, cuz it was a large review >:'(

Anyways, i'm DnB illeterate, so I hope you'll correct me if I say things that don't make sense.

I think this song could definately be made into a full fledged piece. You could start off with this segment, looping twice, you know, soundeffects to change and add new tastes. Trinkling bells, crunchy noises etc.

After that, I think you could do a very heavy breakdown, really lay on the snare and percussionals thick and juicy. Maybe up the choirs melody, add another octave to the choir to make it more powerful.

A think a heavily reverbed kick used in key points would also make for a good effect, though reverbing it too much will serve to drown the other things out, so watch out.

Now to let my classical mindset take over for a bit.

I can also hear bells in this piece. You know, to truly drive the choir attributes home. A nice deep gong would also be a good soundeffect to use in the piece.

One instrument I CAN'T see in this piece is the Organ. I feel the organ just wouldn't fit here.

I also think some nice low tremelo strings would give the lower end of the song a really nice thick feel. Though doing so could also result in overpowerment of the kicks. Still, try it out, you may find it appealing.

Thats all I have to say thus far Kirizzle, keep up the good fight, the song loops wonderfully, perfect for menu music.

5/5 from me.

Kirizzle responds:

Oh, I hate it when I lose a big file because of a minor slip-up, and then it's frustrating as hell to muster up enough strength and rewrite the whole damn thing. I really appreciate it Maestro.

I really like your advice, bells would go nicely I think, and some glitchy sound FX and perhaps some strings.. yes, this may turn out to be an interesting project. I've been recently thinking about doing a DNB orchestrated piece with some rock or techno elements, like an electric guitar or some synths. I just hope I won't butcher it up O.o

I appreciate the review and the time you took to write it up a second time, it was helpful so thanks a lot :D

[electric wind]

Neat

I really really liked the percussional works here. I felt it was a little unrefined, but that percussional beat shows great promise. The melody was a tad repetitive, but it has a great dark ambiant atmosphere, and the song loops excellently.

Some tips.
Use the compresser effect to keep your song from distorting. If the bars up top start flashing red, then that means your volumes are too high. press f9 to bring up the mixer window, and create the Fruity Compresser effect in one of the boxes.

The Slayer guitar was too overpowering, using it at a lower level will make it more appealing, as well as let that harp like sound more pleasent, since you wouldn't have to strain to hear it.

Still good effort, keep them coming, you'll get there if you keep creating. I'd like you to check out some of my stuff sometime ^^.

blue-eyez responds:

Thanks for the review and especially for the advice. I wanted the guitar to be quite powerful but i couln't get it powerful without drowning out some of the other levels. Now hopefully with your advice i can fix that. I checked out some of your music -it's pretty impressive stuff.

[Canon in D]

Neat

heh, that guitar intro made me think "this isn't classical, it's general rock D:"

Still, the melody flows well, and I really like the subtle image it paints for me.

I would have really liked to hear some more instruments, possibly use fruity loops or something to add more instruments, at least in that sense, you could add strings, make it more classical :P.

Anyways, good stuff, keep them coming.

Trickmixer responds:

yeah, before i submitted it, i was debating which genre it should have gone under. ill try to throw in some cool classical intruments like you suggested. possibly some violen or strings or some sort.
theres more to come! thx for the review

[Until Our Dying Days [Nausia]]

Neat

I read in your other reviews that you did not like VST's. My friend you should change your mind quite quickly, VST's is the best way to get sounds that will take you to everywhere. Check out any of my songs, they're all made with a great mixture of VST's, and i'm not ashamed to say that without them, they would not sound or be nearly as powerful as they are now.

Anyways for this track.
I liked the melody, the moment the "activate" came around the melody kicked in, and I was bobbing my head.

A few suggestions. Arpeggiator? Have you ever considered it? I feel that having the same chords being played by an arpeggiator synth in the background would make for a pretty neat effect.

This is pretty damn impressive for your first song remastered. Great stuff, keep them coming, you will go as far as you want to as long as you keep creating.

Everlasting-Elements responds:

I like some of the VST's...but not really. And yeah I think I should have edited that vocals part in the beggining to fit with the music better.
But dude...I have no idea what an arpeggiator is man...sorry.
Thanks for the comment and i will check out your shit
PS to all people who review! I will only check out your audio if you tell me to. If you don't...I won't bother to look and see if you have any audio submissions. Thank you!