Music-story's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[{Kavi} Pacifica]

Review

Hi Kawika,

What does Pacifica mean? I don't want to turn up the bass. Its you who should raise the bass for me when you mix a song. Here is what I thought.

The intro is okay. Not something amazing considering the bass and lead are playing the same pattern. I do like the bass sound though. Maybe use a better lead instrument next time. Especially at 42 seconds. That's a generic sample right there.

Not a bad transition at 56 seconds. Good job with the panning vox fx.

56 seconds again I think the bass works well here. The drums are good. Just that generic lead really destroys the experience. Some mean bass and some cheesy happy hardcore lead just doesn't mesh well for me.

Some of your fx sounds are actually quite neat. Kudos on making them. I also like the instrument at 2:33 seconds. However, again that fuzzy lead and generic sample ruins the moment. You should have used that 2:33 instrument more in this song.

So the song pretty much repeats until the end. No need to repeat myself again.

Overall, I feel this song isn't fully complete. Some instruments sound like you spent a good deal of time on. Some just feel like you got lazy and took the easy route to finish this song at a faster rate. The patterns of your fuzzy instrument is like 1/8 notes over and over again. There is essentially no change to this 1/8 pattern. Try to come up with more complicated patterns or you could always mix 1/8 stuff with quarter notes, half notes, 1/16, or anything else to get me a bit more surprised thus excited. Your song ain't that bad, but there definitely is room for improvement. Your on the right track though. Keep it up. 5/5 and 9/10 review

Bye for now

DjKavi responds:

Pacifica= a generic tropical name. Usually names dont really have to mean anything except give the right message. What i ment by turn up the bass is a figure of speach.

I do agree that this piece can use some work, i think that way with all of my musics.

I really do appreciate your review, its criticism like this is what actually causes improvements.

Kavi

[Midnight Illusion (DP&KP)]

Umm review

You already got enough indepth reviews already. I'll probably just repeat stuff you already know. Plus this song is pretty old now. You are most likely much better now. Anyway, you wanted a review for this one so I'll give.

Intro drums sound clear. Like the hi hats playing. Your cymbal splash may need some more. Try some sidechain on it? Possibly some modulations as the cymbal decays?

0:19-0:27 sounds like a very weak transition to the climax. Your fx is way overpowered by the kick. Not that I don't like the kick....just make that fx louder.

0:28 I don't mind the bass pattern. Its the bass instrument that is lacking. It has a lot of sub or a high sine level to it, but it isn't clear sounding. You might need to raise the more higher frequencies like 300-400hz.

1:07 but more obviously at 1:37 I am not a fan of these kinds of instruments that sound so eurodance like. Noise is good if used in the right way. You and your collaborator made this song not for the euro dance fans but for the more emotional deeper feeling you would get at more popular clubs or trance events. This euro dance type instrument just destroys that more mainstream club feel. In my opinion these noisy instruments should only be used as a background instrument in these types of songs. As for happy hardcore, sure why not use these noise instruments as the lead.

Kudos on your "midnight" low cutoff instrument. Something I would hear in professional trance songs.

Big exciting transition coming. The anticipations for the climax is high and then 2:33.....???? Where is the climax? Okay, sure you had the right idea. In the earlier sections of your songs you had the instruments pretty much separate from eachother, and at 2:33 you bring them all together. Nice job on that. However, even with them all together, it just doesn't get me excited. I'm not like jumping up and down like what you would see in any climax for many trance songs. You have to help me here on this one. I don't know if you made this song for the listener to relax to or if you wanted to make this song to get the listener in adrenaline mood. If the former than I can't really complain about the climax, but if the latter there needs to be some changes made.

3:28 is it just me or does the song just cut off and change to some piano part? More gradual transition might be better here. Now here is where that noise instrument really shows its problems. Piano, noisy instrument, choir pad, midnight instrument.....it just sounds so messy. Strip out that noisy instrument and things would be way more clearer. Sorry, this part just got on my nerves because of that white noise.

4:33 okay I'm digging the drums better here. Sounds better than the first climax at 2:33. Maybe cause now you have a extra instrument (the piano) to bring more fill to the song. You also dampened that noisy instrument (thank goodness) so it didn't ruin the experience.

So the song pretty much repeats. Yes, typical of trance and not something I dock marks off of. I do like more diverse music though.

Overall, you obviously can see my frustration in that white noise instrument. Yes, you can use it in these kinds of trance songs but there is a very fine line as to when that kind of instrument can just ruin a song or make it better. I probably am just saying stuff that the past reviewers have already said. Your definitely on the right track here. Your production skills are at a good level right now. Just be wary about the instruments you use and as a bonus try for more diverse music.

5/5 and 9/10.

Bye for now

[-Never Forget (OM)]

Review

Hmm, I knew a song like this would make it to the top 5. Arpeggiated trance....obviously most people like it on here, however it is so over used thus unoriginal. Not that hard to make with a arpeggiator. However, its near christmas so I'm more in a happy mood today. I won't be harsh on the arpeggios.

Around 30 seconds I'm not a fan off. Your lead is copying what the bass is doing on every upbeat. The only difference is that your lead is actually changing notes. This is your typical electronic dance stuff here. Again, not very original.

Off topic...cool, I just noticed what NG did with the video player. Extra features = better.

1:50 okay something different here. Great job on those digital sounds. However, the pattern used does not get me all excited. You need to stop using that boring bass on every upbeat. Come up with something other than quarter notes and 1/8 notes.

Okay, sure a long ending. That's just your style. I like to finish a song with a climax...just me so not taking any marks off for your long ending.

Overall, your song screams unoriginal. Yes, arpeggios sound cool, the upbeat dance bass pattern can get people feeling the vibes, but in the end its all been done before. Generally, I don't mind the bass on the upbeat because that's the bread and butter in dance music, but your lead is essentially copying what the bass is doing. It needs to play something different so I don't get distracted from the repetitiveness.
However, I give you kudos for making the digital instrument sound good. Just need to make some more unique patterns rather than it just playing arpeggios again.

5/5 and 9/10 review. Have a great christmas holidays
Bye for now

[Silent Night Cover]

Review

Hi Hania,

I thought this was going to be a typical silent night song. Then the song goes minor. Switch noticed it, I did too. Unfortunately, I thought it took away the mellow tone. Why so loud at 54 seconds? The piano just sounds off tune here. I suppose some new idea, but not the best idea.

Maybe its just me, but I feel your trying too hard to sing good. It could be your mic because I hear some fuzziness to your voice. This applies to mostly all your songs. Those professionals got really expensive sound equipment so maybe that's why they sound so good. Actually I bet that's it. They don't sound very good without the help of good equipment. Exceptions go to those broadway singers who sound almost angelic even without a mic. Anyway, I think you should get a duet going....not with your voice layered on top of well your voice again.

Good job on making the piano sound clear.

Just one question to ask you. Are you able to make your voice make some tremelo effect like what you here in those opera singers? That would bring a even bigger emotional factor to your songs.

Despite all I said, don't even for a moment think your voice is not good. Again it is great on NG. Out of NG your voice is still good and your almost at that professional level. I can't sing so I can not even imagine how hard it was to get your voice to the current level it is. What I will do though is root for you as you go for that professional voice. Best of luck

5/5 and 9/10 review
Bye for now

[Submergence - Unity]

Review

Thanks for letting me know about your new stuff. Makes my life easier so I don't have to keep looking at your account. Continue pm me about your new songs and I'll continue checking them out.

Here is what I thought:
Beginning of the song, sorry I didn't like that lead pattern. It sounds almost exactly like a folk or child song I heard back when I was a kid. I don't remember the original song which bugs me since it is a popular song. However, the octaves alternating instrument wasn't so bad. I think it would have sounded much better with delay on it.

Nice build up to 1:03. I like the patterns used and the octave playing instrument now seems to work better in this section. I would have liked the bass to be slightly more distorted, but its good enough.

Like always, I don't take marks off for repetitiveness in trance so this is just to make you aware. I felt the 1:03 to 3 just felt dragged out. Plus the transition really only transitions into the same thing to 4:00. You could at least add some more instruments or drums on top.

Overall, some parts stood out, but some parts seemed lacking too. I know its tough to make a song from 0:00 to the very end sound exciting, but who said making good music is easy. I have a feeling you wanted some beautiful trance at 3:03. Your going to need a lot more reverb on that lead instrument (the one playing one note from time to time) The ending portion of the song is strange. The song should have started with that part and jump straight into the main beat. However, this is just a opinion.

Keep it up. 5/5 and 9//10
Bye for now

Submergence responds:

Really appreciate you reviewing our mixes. They have been a valuable resource for our productions. Thanks!

_submergence

[~ElpH~System Virus]

Review

Hi Elph,

Interesting song you have here. Sounds weird with the phaser or phaser type of effect you used in this song....weird can be good at times. I think what heavytank meant is more dynamic sounding instruments. Everything feels muffled as if you raised all the eq bands rather than specifically select one range. I know its the easy way to bring fill to your songs, but easy doesn't always mean better.

As for the composition, you got some nice panning going on. The effects are quite nice. Filter modulations are decent. You know what you should do with your explosion fx sounds? Sidechain them. It sounds way more better when you do that instead of just fading or decaying them out. Also try to have your patterns move around more instead of having them stay on one note. Eg. C chords and patterns transition to A chords and patterns, to F, G etc.

As for your series of songs on this type of music, go for it. It has that weird feeling that makes it different from your typical song. Just work more on the dynamics of your instruments, add some sidechaining not just tremelo or panning. And just a personal opinion add some more distortion. I love distorted instruments.

Keep it up. 5/5 and 9/10
Bye for now

Elph responds:

Mmk, ill take all of you suggestions into consideration when i do my new song.
Thanks. :)

[Walk On The Ceiling 2]

Review

I think I responded to one of your reviews (the Yurei song) where I told you some steps to improve. Check that review response out.

Supposed to sound like fart noise? Well then I guess your song is good. :) Not sure where your title name came from.

You mentioned about volume differences. I think if you use the "normalize" feature in any audio editor program you can balance out the too loud and too quiet instruments. I do all that within my music program saving me the time of using any editor program (eg. audacity, soundtrack pro). Audacity is pretty poor at normalizing so a better way is to use "EQUALIZERS" and "SPREADERS". I like to use a 8 band EQ and simply mess around with all the bands until something clear comes out. Every instrument you have (even drums) should have a eq on it. No exceptions because EQ is the best sound shaping tool in electronic music programs.

A spreader will essentially control where your instruments sound the loudest in your headphones. For eg, you can make one instrument play louder in the far left of the speaker while another is more louder in the middle left of your speakers. This is different from panning because the instrument signal is not 100% transferring to where ever you want the instrument to pan. The instrument is still playing through the whole range of the speakers (just like as if you had no panning) but has more loud areas in specific areas of your speaker. It really helps organize your instruments thus more clarity. Your trying to get all the instruments playing loudly in one area of the speakers thus damping the "less louder" instruments.

Try using those two plugins I said....and experiment alot with them. There are other helpful plugins to use to help make your music sound a bit more better, but take things one at a time.

5/5 and sure 9/10 for the farting noises.
Bye for now

SuperKirbyMaster responds:

- I hope you listened to the whole song and not just the farting noises throughout the beginning...
- Yes, I read your response to my review of Yurei, and it's easier said than done.
- Now I have a few things to say: I will try implementing an equalizer with a spreader, and not just panning. BUT, I have this 1 major problem. You, whenever you make music, you just go with whatever you feel like doing, then make some changes, because you know how to completely manipulate your program, logic pro 8, correct? Well I cannot work with such ease, because I am still trying to figure out how most of my program works. This is why my music is very limited to presets and other things. I cannot even properly use a free filter, or any kind of filter for that matter, by using it with transitions. I have to have it either on or off. I don't even know all the terms used for such production of music. I am still a lowly beginner. I know, I know, you'll say to go watch some tutorials. But those are very time-consuming. And not all of them are GOOD tutorials. Maybe you know a few good ones?
- I noticed in your reply that you said you used a regular keyboard. Logic Pro 8 allows for such implementation? I myself use everything that's already there, and I don't use any samples or import anything. Very limited, I know.

- Well, I hope you understand my situation.
P.S. Besides the usual "be a harsh judge on your own work", "look at a professional's work" and "be motivated", is there any other general tips I could use? (Besides me looking up tutorials on how to actually use my program)

~Thanks for the review, your help is appreciated.~
-SKM

[The End of Our Journey]

Well, video game reviews aren't my forte, but..

Don't expect any intricate review here. I'm not a video game genre fan here. Anyway, I only played one game with banjo tooie so your remix doesn't sound familiar to me. I like the happy vibes. At least it isn't some cheesy happy hardcore fuzzy instruments blaring out.

Well, can't give you much for originality for obvious reasons. A question about this remix though. Do you produce this from scratch using your ears only or do you get some outline draft of all the notes and just put it in your music program and change the instruments? I never remixed a song so I don't know how you remixers do it. If you did it by ear I give you props.

Technically, I like how you panned the bass to the left and put the rest of the instruments on the right speaker. Everything sounds really clear. The bass does not give this annoying feedback and any unwanted noise. Perhaps you used a noise gate?

Not surprisingly, I don't have much to say about this song. It makes me feel happy. Maybe some background ambient sounds (eg. birds, seawaves,etc) could make this song more happy. I've heard some video game songs on NG and a lot of them seem to be some sped of version of the original. I like how you kept your song simple. It actually doesn't have those moments where you "use one finger and mash as fast as you can at the keyboard". Good job, I assume you have a good background in piano or some other instrument.

5/5 and 9/10 review. (Remixes never get a 10 from me. Just my standards)

Bye for now

itsameyayo responds:

Haha, it's not a remix. I was simply inspired by the style of music. And if it was a remix, I do it by ear, though I don't always get the chords right that way.

As far as the panning, thank you! It's actually a bass sample from the classical writing program called "Finale," so it was a fairly good sample as it was. I just made sure that the volume was balanced otherwise.

I agree with the sound effect comment. I think a nature soundscape would be perfect for this piece.

Thank you :)

-ImperfectDisciple

[Submergence - Elixir]

So, no one reviewed this song yet got top 5?

Seriously, people on NG need to review songs more. Is evolution recordings a professional label?

I didn't find your backing digital like sounds to be amazing. The bass sounds much better. I'll let you off for that bass pattern. Overused in my opinion.

58 seconds the digital sounds really take a toll. Can you lower the upper frequencies a bit on them? At a louder volume they hurt my ears. Easy fix.

1:00 a pretty good transition. Nice job.

1:12 I'm not a big fan of that horn like instrument playing that rhythm. And those digital high freq. instruments come back in. :(

2:10 kudos on bringing everything together. Gives me this space voyage kind of feel. Nice fx sounds. They seemed to be sidechained or have deep tremelo to them. I always like that.

Well, yes the boom sub fx to transition to the fade out. Pretty good, not saying its something new though..

I would have liked this song much more if those high frequencies were not killing my ears! There is not much diversity going on, but this is trance so expected. Not putting any drop in your score, but it would be nice to see a song with a tad bit more diversity.

Keep making music. 5/5 and 9/10 review

Bye for now

Submergence responds:

Appreciate your review! Very helpful information. We'll keep this is mind when putting together our next tune. If you want you can listen to our first song, "New Beginning" for now.

_submergence

[[RM] - Night Time WIP2]

Reinventing music?

Hi Randomizer,

Unfortunately I don't think this is reinventing music at all. I'm sure everyone has heard that typical happy hardcore bass beat on the up beat (Sometimes I get confused with downbeat and upbeat...get them in opposite terms, but you know what I mean about the bass).

Your digital panning leads don't seem to be sounding unique. I can almost say they sound generic. The basic drum loop is not something very technical. However, I'll give you credit for that wood block hit sound. Sounds like a instrument more than a percussional instrument though.

55 seconds in comes the generic fuzz instrument. I'm not sure about this. I guess this song is only a WIP...2. I suppose the final version will be a lot better.

Lastly, I have feeling you decided to use one finger when making your piano composition. It doesn't sound like a great deal of effort was put in to making a intriguing piano composition.

Overall, I congratulate you on the top 5. Someone or some people must be really trying to lower your song. I'll do the opposite by giving you a 5/5 vote and 8/10 review. GL with the final project.

Bye for now

Randomizor responds:

Thanks for an awesome review!