Spadezer's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Survival of the Hungriest]

This is pretty epic stuff. It's sounds just like music heard from a movie (sounds like you have some pretty fancy software going on). I want to do a nice review for you but I don't want to bring this down at all.

One thing I can say about the mixing is that the brass sound like they're a notch too quiet. At 01:33, I had to switch back from the submissions tab I was on and come back to this. From this point on, it was so epic I couldn't turn away. The only problem so far is that it seems like the mixing is focused on the strings too much. The power is still there so the mixing isn't hurting the piece at all, but it's something I still notice. Gosh, the last section is so emotional. I hope the couple won... otherwise you've made a really sad listener.

Above all, I would give you a 9.3... maybe a 9.5... I don't know. The themes really told a story fairly well and it had me sucked in the entire time. I loved it.

Respect
-Spadezer-

EvilRaccoon responds:

Thanks for the review Spadezer! :) I've been mixing a lot recently and it's a fair juggle. I agree the strings are a bit too frontal. They tend to be brought forward more by the woodwinds which seemed to enhance their frequencies, so it's something I'm taking a look at as they should all sit in a mix and not have one be dominating the other. I've probably over done it with pulling them back, usually my mix is brass heavy but this helps to confirm what I thought. So thanks for that, it helps a lot to have another set of ears confirm my thoughts.

As for the ending, it's entirely up to yourself. I did have an idea, but the element of it was there was loss of a loved one, but ultimately survival overall.

Thanks again for your comments, they are greatly appreciated. :)

[Distant Memories]

The only thing I have to say is thanks. This was much appreciated.

-Spadezer-

DanJohansen responds:

My pleasure Spadezer, appreciate your feedback a lot man.

[Sleepy World]

I need to say, this is a nifty track but I feel like something needs to be said about the mixing in general. I feel like the low end is too hot. It sounds like the kick and the bass instruments are clipping and washing out the track. I suggest using a multiband compressor and playing around with the sound levels of the instruments past that point. You also mentioned in the description that you're not comfortable with the mixing in the guitars. I feel like they're simply to loud. Not too much, but just too loud and too noticeable.

That's all of the bashing that I have though. It sounds pretty cool otherwise. I love the atmosphere when you had the percussion stuff at 00:15.

Beautiful work otherwise.
-Spadezer-

Azhthar responds:

Thx a lot! Glad you like it. It´s good that you speak about the problem with the bass because in the last time I had to mix with headphones which simply had no bass... So I guess in nearly all of my recent mixes there is to much bass... I´ll try to fix it because actually I got new mixing headphones 1 hour ago ;) Hope I have enough time to fix everything...

[On The Glass Edge]

Good solid Metal

Oh wow, the arpeggios at 02:42 is so clean!

I keep looking problems with the piece and I can't find them. All of the problems I have with this song is more of personal tastes, and even then there are barely any problems with this piece. And don't think I don't like metal. I'd have this track next to my Disturbed and Amon Amarth music.

The only thing I can think that I'd really want to change in this piece is I'd like to hear more bass guitar. Minor mixing issue. I really like the chorus that you have here (01:12-01:37 and 02:14-02:38).

The only thing I have to say is that everything sounds really tight and clean, and it's got some wicked themes carrying through the piece. I bet this would be sweet with vocals too.

Be awesome, be more awesome, and repeat.
-Spadezer-

PirateCrab responds:

Thanks for the detailed review dude! I would push more bass guitar, but the low end is overpowering for the majority of speakers I've listened to it on and forces the mix into a muddy mess. Let's see if I can rework it tonight!

Most definitely will be on repeat, expect more no matter what! :)

[The Abyss]

Darn you!

This made me think of a very specific scene in Sleeping Beauty. It sincerely creeped me out as a kid. Like at 01:21-01:38. As a matter of fact, my mind starting playing the music from that scene once the track was over.

If this makes sense, I almost hate how good it is. However, that goes to show that I think you did a pretty decent job. You just about creeped me out with the music. Well done.

DamienFleisch responds:

Creepy is good, that was the goal :D

[Deflect]

I don't know how to feel about this since you're my direct competition, so I'm defaulting to a 4.5 star. With all of that aside, I can still give some sort of feedback.

Love the sound at 00:28. It really creates a cool atmosphere and it feels really full. You've done a good job picking the synths the fit right in the piece. What you have is really tight and nothing is too powerful aside from what Sequenced already noted. It sounds like you've really spent some good time thinking about how everything collaborates.

Like I said, love the atmosphere, and it's well put together. As a whole, the themes are simple but you have a lot of details that you've layered underneath the themes. Although while the dynamics in the synths are flat, the song still has some dynamic work.

Really convenient that your piece just happens to show up right after mine....
Best of luck and let the best man win.

Now to work furiously at my piece.
-Spadezer-

garlagan responds:

Hey Spadezer!
Thanks for the review. Just listened to your track and I think it's amazing. You've got a pretty unique sound which is insanely cool.
PM me when you're done working on your piece so I can give you some feedback.

[Can Your Cow Do This?]

Heh, I can imagine a cow on stage with shades and Skrillex hairdo.

I agree with johnfn though. It seems too simple and there's areas of the track that leave me filling like it's empty. The sounds you have are amazing. I wish I could make the synths you're using, and they have such flavor. When the composition is full, it gives an amazing feeling. It's content that I'd be willing to listen to on repeat for hours.

OMG that bass synth at 02:46 is so sick! It's amazing.

Overall it feels slightly repetitive, leaves something to be desired, but there's such good awesomeness when it happens. My suggestion is that it needs another pad or something to eat up some of the empty space. For example, 01:51. The chord progression is powerful, but with how it's structured, it needs either a pad in the background or a melody that coats the top like thin frosting.

I sure would love to know what you're doing for these synths. I'd be happy to know if it's not something that requires $500 software.

Keep being awesome, you're doing good work.
-Spadezer-

introstalge responds:

Thanks for the feedback. I agree with you on sounding a bit empty. I will use some more pads in my next tracks. As for the synths, they're all Massive patches. There isn't too much processing in post either. A few Fruity Blood Overdrives, EQ and occasionally Vocodex, that's pretty much it.

Check out Barely Alive and Virtual Riot on Youtube. They have some tutorials which explain how to make these sorts of basses. They've helped me a tonne! The most important thing to get right is filter automation. Once you have that figured out, you can use pretty much any combination of wavetables and still end up with something nice.

[Swing For A Special Lady]

Here's a review for ya.

The first thing I can think of is the guitar playing. The recording is clean and I'm in awe when it comes to some of the solos. It doesn't matter how fast you're playing you make sure every note is clean and tight. Pure show of skill and experience.
The vocals: I'm not a fan of the lyrics. They are humorous, but not my taste. I do like the background chatter. They could potentially make good comic relief in something and I like it when you're actually singing. It's good to hear what you sound like. and I like what I hear, especially when you sing "Well I close my eyes.." That section's pretty sweet.

Is it just me or are you missing the last group of lyrics?

All in all a good solid track. And from me I think this would deserve a 8.0 out of 10. And I hope Tim's mom either feels flattered or she never hears this

Be awesome, be more awesome, and repeat.
-Spadezer-

Ceevro responds:

Hehe. The whole 'Tim's Mom' thing is directed at a coworker. Counter-prank. He felt it would be hilarious to sign me up as a member of every religion that would take membership online, resulting in me being inundated with literature arriving at my office.

The pranks have been ongoing, and they're generally pretty funny. And thus, I felt that dissing his mom was the natural next-step. I had planned to keep the theme for as far as I could go in the contest...my next song was going to be a soulful rock ballad...

[All Gone (WiP)]

I'm like "wow this song is repetitive." Then after returning to the tab this is on I realize that it's looped. I like it. It's fun and I kind of needed this since I had a car crash today so more props to ya. The chord progression is good and you make a really good atmosphere with the synths you're using and how you control them.
I think it could use a little more bass as I'm listening to it right now.
Now I got to listen to something before this plays in my head for the rest of the day.

Be awesome, be more awesome, and repeat.
-Spadezer-

D-Chain responds:

Thanks spadezer! i needed this. badly.