Spadezer's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Condensation]

This is an official NGADM '18 Round 1 Review

Beginning comments: I enjoyed it. I like the theme of the piece and I think it fits your description for the most part too. But on to the breakdown.

Production and Mixing: The beginning is nice, but I'm not fond of the percussion hits in the 0:30 section. I can't tell if the low snare is competing frequencies with something else or if the reverb is feeding in on itself too much. Actually in general I feel like this song is a little too heavy on reverb. I say that because there weren't many points that I felt everything was given their space to breath. Instead it felt more like elements were trying to be heard more than working in the space they naturally fall in. Aside from that, the balancing was decent for the most part, and overall the sound was managed well for the tone of the peace.

Composition and Structure: The plucked synths are combined well with the piano. I like the theme you introduce in the first big section at 0:48 and actually I wish it developed a little bit more before you moved on. I liked it a bit and I felt it was cut off. I you reintroduce it which is good, but I still feel like it didn't have enough room to develop. In general I like the hopeful feel and relaxing nature of the song, and there is okay use of dynamics, although some of their effectiveness was overpowered by the mixing but that doesn't influence the composition. The structure was decent for the song. It's not in a sense a logical song structure, or maybe common is a better word, which I say bravo to. You could have developed it a little better I think, but I'm pretty okay with what you have here actually.

Sound Design: Uh, I don't think rain and thunderstorms are condensation, but I digress (I see the point you're trying to make in the description so it works in that sense). I'm not as fond of the percussion where it's quiet, but you make up for that with the drumset utilized in the louder sections. The synths you picked were smooth and helped center the tone of the piece you were looking for. No big complaints here.

Ending Comments: Really a relaxing piece that I think captures the atmosphere that you were looking for. One nice touch I forgot to mention, I can tell the bass VST you're using isn't a high quality one, but you utilize it in a good manner which doesn't really make it obvious. Otherwise, neat song.

Score:

Total - 7
Production - 1.25
Sound Design - 1.25
Composition - 1.5
Structure - 1.5
Replay - 1.5

ColinMuir responds:

Thank you for your time Spadezer. Dang i wish i had a bass haha.

[Chords Dance]

This is an official NGADM '18 Round 1 Review:

Production and Mixing: No complaints here. Everything is well mixed and blends quite well. The only complaint I could make is that the winds and some of the strings sound a bit dry compared to the brass. Only a minor complaint though.

Composition and Structure: A nice relaxing intro. Gives a nice calm and happy tone for the song. This style takes me back to my band class days, and I'm enjoying this composition. It's mostly full and I love this atmosphere. This is where the song shines I think, because I can tell this is where you focused the most on and it's paid off. I really wish this had more percussion though to fill it out a little more. It feels a little to bare or shallow at spots and I think the percussion could help add a lot of emphasis and depth. Or maybe not have the strings cut off so short as they're doing their arpeggiations. Other than that, great chord structures and good use of different sections. The song developed well and utilized decent dynamics.

Sound Design: You picked the right instruments so not much to say there. I can tell they're not super high quality VST's but it doesn't hurt what you have here. It may become a factor though for later rounds so keep that in mind as you're using them (apologies, the review was written before round 1 ended).

Ending Comments: I enjoyed this and I think you could make this a legit composition with a score (if you already haven't done so). It felt simple and peacefully happy.

Score:

Total - 8.5
Production - 1.5
Sound Design - 1.5
Composition - 1.75
Structure - 2
Replay - 1.75

AzulJazz responds:

Thank you very much!

[Closer]

This is an official NGUAC '18 Tryout Review:

The first thing I notice is just how clean the production is (and that you've left a nice amount of space to click at the beginning of the song in spite of NG's slightly unfavorable format currently). Everything sounds quite crisp and has its own space to breathe. It's a careful use of space within the frequencies. The synths that you've picked I think are great for the tone of the song's theme. The composition has a peaceful and happy feel to it, but it's also slightly melancholy which adds a crapton of emotion to it. I like how this song develops. The main theme is prevalent throughout the whole piece, but I never got tired of it since it sounded fresh each time, but the ending did end a little too abruptly. Maybe even a fading piano hit or two would have made it a much less sudden end. My only big complaint is that the drops are missing some fullness. I feel like it needed something else in the low end to help compliment the bass, or the bass just didn't sound full enough. Just something to add to the initial punch and warmth of the song. Probably all it needed was some additional layering or something an octave up to compliment it.

...Which, speaking of thos drops. I was absolutely sold with those drops. The build ups were good, but the way they add so much emotion to the main theme made me absolutely thrilled. I can't get enough of the sound. They came in so big too, regardless of some of the depth they were missing. It slightly reminded me of Marshmello's Alone, but I loved this so much more. I loved them.

I well enjoyed this piece and I think it was well deserved of the position it got. I'm looking forward to reviewing your next song in the Knockout Round.

Spadezer's Score: 8.25

N1NJA-Official responds:

Thanks so much!

[Shattered Serenity]

Quick note, to help give further insight. The composition I'm enjoying a lot for a piece like this, but I think I can point out what RemileOduen is searching for. The mixing/producing is weak. Everything in general sounds filtered or muffled. It sounds like you've had everything mixed so loudly in the beginning that you're using filters and compressors to quiet things down. If that's the case, you should mix everything to be about -3db before adding any compressors or effects to the main mix, and then use compressors just to keep even small volume peaks in check. This would allow the guitars and especially the drums to have the breath of air they need to really pop.

Again, I really enjoyed this, but it really needs some mixing work to get this popping.

Meatboot responds:

That is very helpful thank you!

[[FGS] Cosmic aberration]

Really good work. I am enjoying this a lot. Your composition is pretty solid, and your sound design is pretty top notch. The biggest issue you have that's really holding your song back from being really great is the mixing and production of this song. Your instruments don't sound like they exist in the same atmosphere with each other. Best example I can give is at 0:48. Everything before that was great, that long intro was perfect. I loved when you even added new sounds before that. The bass, the brass, the drums, all sound great.....except for that harpsichord. It sticks out like a sore thumb with how dry it is. It needed at least some reverb to match what you have going on with the brass and the piano. Another example would be around the 3:30 area. That growl/wobble bass could have benefited from being less dry.
Those two spots aren't the only spots, but I was just using them for examples. Aside from those types of mixing issues, I really enjoyed this. This is great work.

Ramn0 responds:

Thanks for the honest feedback.

Mixing has always been the tough nut to bite through for me :P

[Phantom Sage - Our Lives Past (Zelthyk Remix)]

So I got to say a couple of things. Firstly, I really enjoyed it. This is my type of jam. It's so full and warm and it sounds like a mainstream track. I was impressed.

What I do have to say though, and it's not about the mixing since that point has already been made. What I do need to point out is the composition. I want to make a pie chart of the different notes that lead synth hits, and point to how often you keep pounding that B trying to bash it into my skull. I bet it would take up a good 80% of that chart. I may have exaggerated my point, but I do have a small pet peeve when I hear songs that repeat the same pitch consistently because then my focus is taken away from listening to the song to listening to that note.

But please don't let that take away from how much I enjoyed that. This was great. I liked the sound and it was so warm.

Chliz responds:

Thx! On my next song I'll try mixing up the chords and melodies.

[Mandala]

Wait a minute.........

I've reviewed this before....

Love that sound design though

BiPolarBeat responds:

Have you?

[[EXTENDED] Mountains of Ethnia and Rebuilded Auroras]

I gotta say, I'm really glad you tried the NGUAC with an entry similar to your NGADM. I really enjoyed it, as I am now. One of the best aspects with this is your production quality. Everything is so crisp and clean, but not only that, the composition behind it behind it is really solid too. The only thing I would nitpick on is that while everything sounds so real and present, some of the stuff like your brass VST's I can tell you are trying to enhance their quality a bit by putting a bit too much reverb it sounds like (particularly around 4:36 for example, it may be a string VST too can't quite tell). I think you also made them a little bit too much since they sound like they're crowind the rest of the mix a bit. Ironic that I just criticized the two aspects I think are the best part of the song, but whatever, take it how it is I guess. Lol.

Like I said, I really enjoyed this one and I'm glad you put this in the NGUAC contest too.

AlbeGian responds:

Thank you so much for the review!!
I'm glad you liked and thanks a lot for the feedback

[Dreamworld]

That sounds like Johnfn melodies.

This is pretty great to listen to though.

ethansight responds:

That's... very true and a good thing..?

XD why thank you.

[Elysium]

I think you've peaked

etherealwinds responds:

does that mean i'll never do better? :(