Spadezer's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM - Stomach of The Beast]

For both submissions you have a really good sense for atmosphere. Delicious pieces to dive into. I with the 808 bass was more layered since it's a little dry on its own.

WakerLink responds:

glad you enjoyed the tracks, and yeah, the 808 bass could be a bit more interesting, still not very good at making synth 808 patches so this bass is a bit basic

[AIM - The Unmatched Power of The Sun]

Orchestral rock definitely fits the art and I really like where you started with this. Solid idea but needs some refinement. Easiest thing to fix, not that it's easy but doesn't require anything than your own ears, is the mix. I love drums and the percussion needs to by punchier. The drums have great tone and sound great, but because they're very short sounds you can get away with cranking up the volume of the percussion (although careful with cymbals, they're not as short). Could even throw a compressor on them to bring up the volume a little bit by controlling their peaks too. I'm not fond of the bass sound starting at 1:25 section. It sounds cheap in comparison to how you've got your other instruments and especially on its own. You could probably get away with it if you layered it with some other bass synths or if you wrote it so that it wasn't just static quarter notes and half notes. Most people would say "you need to buy better plugins man" which fancy sounding plugins will always help the sound sure, but you can also find ways to make you cheap plugins sound good. There's tutorials on youtube that you could probably find to help understand what sounds your plugins and VSTs best fit. It's getting an understanding of what makes your tools work best and where they're weak. To make an analogy, it's understanding how to use your hammer for nails and not your shovel. Sure you can use a shovel for nails, but it's better for other purposes.

Again I love what you've attempted with this. 0:33 has a great beginning idea you could use, but rhythmically outside of the melody there isn't much that's as interesting. The counter melody you brought in at 0:59 is something you could really develop in other instruments/phrases/or what have you. Like for example at 1:56, instead of just bringing in the lead guitar the way you did, I would have reintroduced the counter melody again with more subtle instruments and rephrased it in a different rhythm or something to make is sound different but the listener will still find it familiar.

Again really enjoyed it, and both the song and you have solid potential.

WakerLink responds:

holy crap that's a big one
yeah, the mix could be better here and there, still just learning how to properly mix metal/rock tracks because that's not my usual genre
about the bass at 1:25, the more I listen to it, the higher the desire to replace it with some sort of a reese bass increases, I fully agree with you on this one
however about the melody at 0:33, it was supposed to be just rhythmic flavor and that's it, but I do agree that I probably could have done some rearrangements of already existing melodies in the second part
anyway, thank you so much for such detailed feedback, appreciate it

[AIM 2021: Nobody & Stranger]

Oh this is cool. I would have not picked banjos and used them like this but they work so well. I think they're a little too much (either too loud or they ring out too much) but they still fit really well.

Bitbeak responds:

It's was a little experiment trying to get them to sit right in the mix, but I really loved how they ended up playing on the off beat. Thanks so much for the review, dood!

[To My Love]

Ah yeah this is nice. Lovely

AceMantra responds:

Hey! Thanks for dropping by!

[the otherworldly judge]

Really cool atmosphere and ambience. I'm guessing this is the phrygian scale being used here but it has a ominous feel but sounds really cool.

Troisnyx responds:

It is the Phrygian scale, yeah. ☺️ Glad you like it!

[Insomnolence]

Oh sick you're back! I dig this style pretty and like what I'm hearing. Bass is rich and there's a lot of textures in the synths

SkyeWint responds:

Sure am! I hope. Plan to upload more soonish!

I did actually upload two tracks today too, though the other is completely different. :)

[-Pirate Fox-]

Official '20 NGADM finals review

I'm surprised by the large amount of castle crashers vibe. I don't expect to think that's what you were going for, but it really had a sense of nostalgia for coming across that way. It has that lighthearted dance feel, and it has a great selection of sound choices used to create the full atmosphere. I definitely got the cartoony feel of a pirate like adventure, and there's some imagery of, again, a castle crashers style pirate level that I really would enjoy clubbing some baddies to. In terms of the writing though it did feel a little stagnant (also fade out lol really). Especially in the bassline. I liked the rhythm, but I would have liked to have seen a little more variation. I wonder how much I would have paid attention to the chord progression too if you'd focus on changing up the bass a little bit, but I also notice that the chord progression stays about the same (barring some key changes). As I pay attention to the melodies, there are tons of scotch snaps everywhere lol. The melodies themselves aren't good earworms since they move kinda fast, so instead of having a motiff or theme in the composition, there's more of an emphasis on keeping the feel similar with the style each melody has and what instruments are involved with it. 2:17 is a nice breakup with what you have going on here, which is great since it's a refreshing break, but I'm also dissapointed because I feel like you could have done more with that. Like I would have loved to have heard a melody developed in that section and drum breakdown before going back to the normal groove (by the way, the guitar gives me an Infected Mushroom feel there). Which on the topic of structure that also circles back to the bassline thing, the energy feels flat throughout the whole thing. It makes it come across with the sense of little progression. This is also maybe why the 2:17 feels extra special too.

What I think you did a lot better on though is the instruments and sounds you used. I question the drums a bit because they're surrounded by so many "real" instruments lol (aside from the VGM synths). The strings are super lighthearted and lush, there's a crazy cool amount of electronic stuff that really meshes with everything you got here, but the drums sound like older cheap dance drums lol. I don't hate them though, because I feel like they add to the nostalgia "Castle Crushers" feel like retro Newgrounds. I don't know if that's what you were going for, but for the benefit of the doubt, I'll run with that. However, I love picking out all the stuff you have in this. Like how you mesh the harpsichord with VGM sounds, the distorted guitar with the "squishy" bass, the marimba duetting the violins (or violas???), there's just a lot of cool details. Like the slammed drums at 3:37 is another cool detail I like, as well as the violin runs at 4:07. Just to listen to the sounds and details is an audible treat, and it's really fun to pick them out.

Yeah, really cool. I'm glad to see you here in the final rounds, and I liked what you have.

Preds responds:

Thank you so much for the constructive criticism!

That is exactly what I was aiming for, a cartoony, CC, inspiring, adventure-themed song! Glad that I could transmit it in the end.
Thank you for pointing out the VGM + Orchestral + Breakbeat mashup! Little details that most of the time are not noticed.

And yeah, I think my biggest weakness is still the basslines, and the chord progressions, I think I got used to do the same progressions as WF. I'll work on that!

Thank you again! <3

[61 Wishes]

Official '20 NGADM Finals review

The title on it's own sounds super poetic. And the beginning of the intro is exactly what I expected from you combined with this title. However, the tone it started taking through I couldn't tell what to expect so I'm surprised with anything you do. This hits the right emotions right on the head too with the composition. There are so many details, and there's a good handful of orchestral things that I'm not surprised about, but you have a ton of digital / electronic stuff that's added in that just works. It all just works. All around this is just super epic. Out of all the pieces this one carries the most emotion and just stands out to me the best. I love the super quirky guitar that just sticks out at 0:45. It sounds goofy and dry, but once things start jumping in it works. I love how rhythmic the 3:00 section is. There's a cubic-ton of detail there too that just meshes together so where. Like I was totally surprised that there was something electronic there when it started coming in. The choir is just fantastic. The voices and how everything shouts together make it super climactic and powerful. Ugh there's just so much good writing in this.

I love the production in this too because you have things that are super dry, but they just work. I probably would have messed it up if I were trying to mix this because I'm surprised by how well it works lol. Not to say that everything is dry. You add in just the right texture like on the strings or like when the choir first starts up. I cannot get over how much I like the 3:00 section.

I think this one's my favorite. I love you Albe <3

Albe responds:

Aaaaaaaa tysm for the kind words man!! It makes me really happy that my works could cause an impact this big in people's ears and (hopefully) hearts, it really does. Again, really glad you liked it!!

[The Final Stretch - NGADM 2020 - FINAL]

Official '20 NGADM Finals review

The writing style is so unique but it feels familiar. Maybe it's the synths you're using, maybe it's some of the melodic writing, I'm not sure but I don't hear stuff like this enough. You've also managed to make something that's high energy, but definitely not tiring. The melodies are super complex too but also still fun to listen to, and I find myself struggling what to say because it's really good at multiple levels. One thing I really appreciate is that you don't shy away from messing with the time signatures and bringing across interrupting measures. 3:00 is a great example, and you throw them into the structure like nothing and they flow well. There's a bunch of spots like it too where you kinda have instruments that shout at the end of the phrase without like 3:47, 0:48, 2:38, there's more spots than I could mention that make the composition super complex and I thoroughly enjoy. Also your fantastic use of harmonies that's just everywhere and in everything. It's such a great example of how just about everything is used together to highlight the main idea of the song, and not just harmonies that ride along with the melody. The arpeggiation at 0:35 is littered in so many fitting spots, my favorite being how it gets introduced leading into 3:00 and quickly becomes the main voice of that section. There's also details like the strings at 1:04 that are a slower reprise of the melody that they're directly referencing to. This is a compositional feast lol. The only minor critique is coming from a drummer is that I feel like the drums could have done a few things to help emphasis attacking or shouting chords instead of straight grooves in the main sections. Like 0:50 ish and the 3:00 section.

As for production, I don't think this could be any better. Each sound works together so well to the main mix, and I love the texture each one has. On their own they might not sound like much, but the way you use them feels so fresh and unique. It's also super clean and polished too. Someone could say they sound cheap, but they add to the charm so much, like the drums and the brass for example. I don't think anything else could have worked with what you have. I'm also really glad you stuck with this style for this round because it's what I wanted to hear and man did you deliver. I'd love to be able to make "videogame music" that sounded like this. Yes it's indisputably retro, but doesn't sound archaic or dated.

Love it. Can't get enough of it.

Mackievellian responds:

Great, thank you. This is a lovely critique, man. Makes me feel GOOD. You know, I thought about sitting in the drummers chair while writing them and I'm thinking, a drummer would put a fill here and here, over there. But I missed some spots... Was thinking mainly for the adding attack to the lone brass sections when they're carrying the melody.

Thanks for your time, my man.

[Vessel Full of Dreams]

Official '20 NGADM Finals review

Super open with negative space. Before I get into anything, I feel like there were times that the production balance leaned towards the left ear, but that's the only actual complaint I could make

I love hearing the physical keys. I normally wouldn't but they really add to the atmosphere in this song and can be taken into some metaphorical devices. I don't think I even realized you had other synths and sounds going with the piano at first sense I was listening to the keys themselves so much. What I like about your style in this, is that there's less melody writing, and more using the chord progression to speak for itself. Great example I noticed is when the chimes came in and really emphasized how you're using the harmonies in this again more so than a melody.

In terms of structure, I noticed how the end was lower octaves than the beginning, which made me pay attention to later how you've pulled across the emotions throughout the structure. The first half of the song with the way it's written it comes across a little more hopeful, until the middle section and it's realizations comes through. In which case that's where the meat of the story happens. It somewhat conflicts with the feelings introduced, but not ignored. They develop as they compliment each other leading to a crescendo of sound and instruments. Which that all leads to the end where you have a reprise that's similar to the first but in a more realized and full way. It resolves, but still treads on with the familiar gusto from first. Super neat.

For production / performance, again it's super cool I think you got the sound of the piano action captured in this. What I like about this though is that it's not just a piano solo when it likely could have been. There's small but not insignificant details that really bring forward the emotions that you're trying to bring forward, and they all work together to form what's central to the timestamp. The more I dig into this with each listen, the more I appreciate each element that was brought in, and I can see why you placed them where they are. Each one brings in a new flavor or characteristic that only adds to the piece and never crowds it out. Granted most of the time we're listening to only a few things happening, which btw never felt empty.

Bravo

Phonometrologist responds:

My man, I’m impressed on how well you’re able to hear the meaning between the notes and articulate what’s happening accurately. Great read and thank you for making the time.
Just a couple points that you already mentioned that I also wanted to elaborate on:
I found that for me personally, less melody and more focus on the harmonic progressions will give a more open interpretation of the meaning that the listener can ascribe to. I think melody is more important to music universally speaking as anyone with a voice can carry a tune. But less of that leaves the piece wanting, and I prefer to have my music not to speak too much. Doesn’t mean that melody doesn’t exist in the form of chord positions. Voice leadings in harmony are considered melodies. It’s just not as obvious, and I prefer that the listener would listen for it as opposed to just hearing it.
Finally, I appreciate you recognizing the overall contour of the piano in a descending order. I prefer to view music representing that characteristic in life that all shall experience. That repetitious trait in all music and the inevitable event that happens to all is its ending. How shall we find our resolve? As time speeds up and our life becomes a fog, often the meaning will become realized on the other side of affliction.