S3C's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Ambient Evening]

Beautiful

It's really amazing how such a small piece of music can pack so much emotion. I must have listened to this 20 times or so already and I haven't yet gotten tired of it. Some beautiful playing with nice dynamic control, I feel an overall sense of relief with an underlying tone of sadness. Can't reallly put in words, but you really constructed the chords well to generate some emotion. I also like the bassline and rhodes in the second half, and the addition of the subtle strings really helps to highlight the moods.

For advice, well I think many directions can be built from this little excerpt you have here. Maybe rest your right hand for a while, let the left hand arpeggios roll by for a few bars solo, and then bring a new lead melody on a different instrument like a soothing woodwind such as an oboe. Then you can use the higher registers on the piano to play chords every four bars or something. I would certainly make the strings more apparent and louder, and possibly thicken them up by spreading out the voices and building sustained chords to work as the background layer. Some ambience such as rainfall may help with the scenery, if that's what your going for. Maybe even a slow beat on some drums like hand or ethnic percussion would sound good in here, but it could possibly ruin the mood that you established in the beginning. Just a few suggestions, depends on where you want to go with this. I do believe this has the potential to be a very powerful piece, so keep up the good work and keep me posted if you release a new one! Thanks for sharing with us.

BlazingDragon responds:

This piece holds a lot of sentimental value for me, so I really appreciate the thorough review and advice! I like a lot of your ideas, and especially agree about the strings. I think I will bring in some deep strings with open chord voicings and run a woodwind through some FX on the computer for a melody. (Like lots of reverb and such :P) I've also thought about some ethnic percussion like an Indian hand drum, but I do think it may destroy the mood if executed poorly.

Thanks again for the advice and review. I'll keep you posted on any new developments with this song. :D
~BlazingDragon

[The Prison Break]

MUCH better

this sounds way better than your last version. The composition alone in your first version was just another trance song to me, and even though the basis stays the same in the track (from what I can remember, did you add in a part or two?), its interesting to show how much a difference tweaking the sounds and mixing it up with more spice can improve your track. In retrospect, if a listener was to hear your preset song and this one in comparison they would see how crappy (or basic) you make those stock samples and synths sound ;)

I like the intro with the visual FX and manipulation of sounds. Piano melody is pretty catchy, fits in the trance genre like a glove. Kick is nice and punching, good use of automation/reverse effects throughout. Saw leads and backing sounds were designed and mixed adequately. I like the beat in the interlude. really like that synth too around 2:02.

I guess my only qualm is the track lacks a climax. It keeps building up, and then going down into a lull. Something as simple as adding hi-hats and maybe harmonizing with the main melodical theme may help you achieve that anticipated section. ending was a bit abrupt too, but i'm sure you know that. Right now, it sounds mostly like one long extended intro, which isnt entirely bad if this is just in its demo stages.

keep up the good work, a real nice professional song in here

DjZombAid responds:

Well i have now deleted the original song =]. Yer i did add and modify parts. True true.. that's why i decided to delete it =P.

Thanks, it's the first time i've used that many at one time. My best piano melody by fair i believe. Yeah the kick i actually modified it a lot more then i usually do in my other songs.. i guess it payed off =]. I'm actually quite a big fan of the reverse clap, don't ask me why lol. Thankyou [=.

Well 1:35 onwards was meant to be the climax but i guess it wasn't obvious enough? Yes i'm planning on fixing the ending and climax and extending the song at some point in the future.

Thankyou =].

-Aidan.

Also i appreciate your long reviews.

[Karco - Unleashed]

Hell yea son

Amazing track Karco. This was all made usingNexus? I might have to purchase it.

Ima try a chronological review for the first time:

00:00-00:11

Not a bad start. I thought the bass was weak, but the drums and sort of lowered quality and basic sounds are great in the intro

Samples sound nice too, I like your snare/clap/hybrid thingy

00:11-00:23

Cool catchy melody, I like how it has a playful feel, good for an upbeat type of game. The buildup was nice, but pretty standard. Might be nice if you retriggered the kick or threw some more samples around but really I can't say much

00:23-1:11

Did you change the bass in here? because it meshes real well now,good progressive build throughout and it really flows along smoothly. The fade in snare roll to the next section was well executed

Arpchips are real cool too, I think it would sound nice if you put a delay effect on it in the second half (but maybe that would muddle up the mix idk) and maybe a noticeable panning LFO during the end would be cool to mess with too, :P

1:12-1;35

I LOVE that pad. Its got a nice, deep dreamy texture to it. Did you automate the treble in the transition? These are always my favorite parts to tracks like this when the ambience gets to come in and just let you relax for a moment.

1:36-2:23

Everything sounds so good layered good together, lots of emotions flowing and it would work quite well at a dance club. That new melody is also very catchy too

2:24-3:12

Ahh, you brought back the same melody from the intro. It's an interesting transition from the last more deeper melody that played previously. Interesiting!

I've also noticed that you're very good at placing your crashes :D

3:12 - FIN.

Good ending, flows quite well with the intro. since its for a game, why not make it loop?

Good clarity, good composition. I'm more of a classical and miscellaneous type of a guy, but I've just realized that making stuff like this is quite difficult because you have to be significantly good at arranging stuff which I've never been too good at. so respect.

Awesome track Karco :D

Karco responds:

It WAS all Nexus... it's definitely worth it. ;) I also used a synth or two out of the Dance Vol. 1 and Store N' Forward expansions for this song, namely, the bass and lead.

I'll try a chronologic response. :D

0:00 - 0:11 - The lowered quality/basic sounds were the aim of that section. ;) There was also a highpass filter on the bass, which explains why you thought the bass changed later on.

0:11 - 0:23 - Not too much to say here, glad you like that little melody though. :P

0:23 - 1:11 - Yep, removed the highpass, which made it a whole bunch bassier. :D And, eh, a delay wouldn't work too well - it definitely would have muddied up the mix. ;D A panning LFO could have happened, though... I don't usually pan stuff around but I can imagine that.

1:12 - 1:35 - That pad's nothing but your average sawpad. XD I didn't automate the treble, I used a lowpass filter, and gradually removed it in the second half of that insanely short breakdown. :P

1:36 - 2:23 - Glad you like the melody, it's just a standard one to me, I put it together pretty quickly. XD Personally I prefer the harmony around it - the bassline, the arp/pad playing chords, etc., as a lot more effort went there. As for everything sounding good? I blame Maximus, which I experimented with a bit in this song. :D

2:24 - 3:12 - The melody from before definitely sounds different considering it's in different musical context. ;) And yeah, the crashes were one of the better features in this song. :D

3:12 - FIN - That was the point of that ending - I can loop it back to the start if need be. ;D

Yep, they're about equally difficult, it's all about knowing what to choose and when, and how to use it. It's not necessarily difficult to make a trance song... it IS difficult to make a good one, though. :P

Thanks for the long review, glad you liked it! :D

[The Long Road]

mmm better

This is better then that reversed loop you also posted in the advertisement thread.

everything gels decently in here, but it just never picked up off the ground. You did a good job of starting with a basic rhythm, adding a synth, and the snare. Continue with adding in a kick, then the hi-hats, and a lead melody that really stands out.

Experiment with the mixer too and search around for tutorials on the web.

5/10 for being incomplete

Its a long road, but as long you keep experimenting and improving, your skills will improve

[Untitled (Demo Loop)]

Hidden Memories

You should name this track hidden memories.

suggestions to improve?

well 'tis a good song starter to get an atmosphere going, but theres really nothing to it. I'd bring in some thick reverb swirling pads, a simple but emotional piano melody, then maybe some glitched percussion but thats more of an advanced level haha.

well, not much to say here...

keep trying and good luck :)

[|~Rock Hop~|]

coolness

good choice of piano progressions and interesting old school err..doesnt sound too much like hip hop from what I know, but it was still a nice backing track.

some decent rock licks in here. Glad you included some bending to really bring the sound of the guitar out. Also, some more hammerons/pullofs would be wise to utilize in this guitar soloing as well. I would also extend the scale to more lower note to add more diversity to your soloing.

your overall guitar tone sounds a bit weak. I'd put some reverb and a slight delay effect on it. or maybe you need a sharper or EQ or a different pickup setting, because I cant hear your articulations to well. I would keep the instruments playing throughout, because when its by itself it doesnt sound too nice (and there's a noticeable offkey harmonic sound when you bend too)

7/10 because the drums and piano are premade loops ;) keep jamming dude

Jesus-Owns-X responds:

Yeah i understand thank for the review.

[Zero Level]

Real smooth

Gotta love that filtering on that warbly bass thing. Love how everything flows in here, its got a real smooth "put your sunglasses on and chill" feel. Lead melodies are real nice, beat is nothing amazing but fits the song well.

I think some EQing could make some sounds sharper in here, and I believe the drums should be brought out a little more, a bit of more boom in the bass and possibly some slight 'verb on the clap.

No real flaws in here, great cathcy track you got here syntrus.

Syntrus responds:

Thx for stopping by!

[The Last of Company]

Good track

i had a long review written for this and when I was about finished my browser crashed :(

anyways, real well put together track.

I like how you opened up with the real war samples- I was actually looking for some myself for my track "crimson snow" couldnt find much-mind telling me where you got them?

The strings do a real good job of portraying the saddness and sorrow of war, while the brass parts invoke a good sense of hope and honor that soldiers take for their country.

I like how you sequenced everything together, starting out with the strings and progressively building up, with a nice string interlude. I thought the cello note from 3:29-3:38 was long, and that section could use a bit more spice so it doesnt sound so minimal. Real nice emotional solo flute when it comes back. Some of the higher notes do very slightly clip, so you may want to compress/limit that stuff a bit.

Good percussive themes, I'm glad you brought it back in the second half or the track would have left a bit unclimatically. Timpanis are used in effective places, crashes to compliment the transitioning parts, while the snares play a suitable marching rhythm-I thought the intro could use more timpani or another lower drum action.

some trombones might work well in here too :)

Good track, good visuals, good use of orchestration to build an exceptional battle theme. Well done envee.

[Kung Fu Hustle RemiX]

nice stuff

good job sampling the track. I like the trumpets and timpani roll transition into the main beat.

The groove flows really well, very nice beat to back the main instruments which sound nice and crisp, would be real easy to lay a rap over too. Nice simple but fitting bassline too.

The track doesnt change tho really, so it wouldnt hurt to lay down a sliding whistle synth or some piano melodies over the top to just break the repetion, like someone below suggested. Another beat would be nice too, or if you continued it and added in more progressions like shakers and some open hi hats.

nice song tho, good sampling!

StealthNice responds:

hey thanks man.. yea i could have put more variation into it but at the time i liked it for what it was. thanks for the input tho.

[Beyond the Vision]

its great for being a 2nd attempt!

Really great production. Also, I wish I knew about filters and automation around my beginner(not that you sound like one) stages, I didnt know until a couple weeks ago and I've been doing this for about two years.

=The Good=
-The flow and sequencing is superb, very well organized
-Marvelous piano playing, great melodies...it reminds me a bit of a dimrain47 song (which most would consider good)
-Good usage of filters and automation in transitions
-Good backing progressions
-Lots of emotions packed in here
-Reall cool bassysnth
-Both the intro and conclusion were great....i like how you started with the filtering in and ended with the sliding down

=The Bad=
-There's some minor clipping in parts (sounds like the snare fuzzes a bit)-compression/limiters/soft clippers will solve this
-Piano could use some reverb (depth) and dynamics (realistic control)
-you need better drum samples...or atleast EQ and/or layer your samples more so they dont sound like the n00bish default ones. traditionally, reverb on the snare, more midbass on the kick (i can hardly hear it) and pan your hi-hats
-the snare 32nd rhythm in the beginning transition could use a bit more varied dynamics so it doesnt sound like a generic roll

Ideas: 8.5/10 Diversity: 8/10 Clarity: 7.5/10 Overall: 8/10

Great work mate, you've got a great future ahead of you if you can produce this for just starting!

Irishdragon92789 responds:

wow, thanks a lot. dimrain was my inspiration for creating my own music for newgrounds, so to be compared to him is probably one of the greatest compliments you could have given me haha. Thanks for giving me this in depth review, really appreciate taking time out of your day to critique my work. remind me to give your stuff the same amount of care haha