Neon-Bard's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Skyline]

NGAUC Review
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First off, my apologies for the EXTREMELY late review -- but, better late than never!

What worked well:
- Great beat -- it kept me moving from start to finish!
- Nice audio details scattered throughout.
- Awesome introduction, sets the pace perfectly.
- Very energetic!

This track definitely had me moving the whole time. My head was bopping the whole 5:04. Love it! The mix is quite good, and as a result, everything is clear and easy to listen to. The general atmosphere that the track gives off is fantastic, I think you implemented it wonderfully.

What to consider:
- Could use more transitions or changes in order to change mood.
- Lack of a direct melody (but still remained catchy despite this)!
- Underwhelming outro.

As others have said, this piece lacks the use of transitions. Transitions are a fantastic way to alter mood, but that being said, dance/trance music is usually 'set in place' to keep people moving without rests or breaks. THAT being said, some form of change would work wonders here, which ties in to my next point: the lack of a true melody. I think that if you worked a nice hook into the track, starting perhaps at 0:30, and built it up to a rising melody -- that would be awesome! Since your general sound design here is good, a melody and harmonic content would really shine.

The ending was, as mentioned above, a little underwhelming. It started to slow down in a really cool way, and I was expecting you to disassemble each instrument accordingly until everything was silent...but it kind of just ended with a few notes.

This was fun to listen to, and I think that if you implemented some more melodic and harmonic content here, things would sound that much better. Keep it up man!

Score: 7.5/10

PolarTrance responds:

The one day I'm like, oh right! I wonder if I've gotten any of the missing reviews yet... and so I had.

Thank you for the review.
I spent most of the song thinking about the mix, more than usual. Since the reviews on my earlier submission to the NGAUC got some points hammered in to me that were about mix/master. So I'm happiest about it being "quite good".

I don't like many of my endings, but I always try like 7 different outros until I find the least bad ending... The time limit is the thing that screwed my head to hurry up and so the ending suffered

I will see about the melody thing, I've found out many times that working on a song that was completed is a pain and usually doesn't end well. I've so far kept a break from music making to get some new ideas.

Transitions I'm not quite sure about, but I will definitely look in to it.

I'm glad to hear that the song wasn't a full bore fest :D

[NGAUC Finals!]

NGAUC Review
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First off, my apologies for the EXTREMELY late review -- but, better late than never!

What worked well:
- Cool effects, well implemented!
- Interesting ideas at play here.
- Nice intro/outro!

What to consider:
- The beat seems off; the kicks/snares/hats have an odd rhythmic vibe.
- 2:52 and onwards (and perhaps just before) clashes with with the rest of the song.
- Subtle, chaotic melody.
- Varied mixing.

The beat, as mentioned above, seems to clash with the rest of the track. As one of the pillars of the song, it makes for an unusual listening experience to hear the melody not correlating with the rhythm. That being said, it certainly does make for an interesting listening experience! The beat at 2:04 - 2:23 would have worked well throughout (with some variations, of course). At 2:52, that chromatic percussion sounds out of tune, the notes don't jive well with the synths.

The melody is a little directionless BUT it doesn't sound bad by any means. The mixing is pretty good here, though there are times where things could use some adjusting. Take what you hear at 1:08 for example, the background synth seems a little overpowering. Some volume adjustments, along with some frequency reduction and equalizing on the low-end would help! The same goes for 2:41 - 3:20.

I think if you worked on the structure of the song a little, and tidied up the mix in certain parts of the song, this would shine that much more! Keep at it! :)

Score: 7.7/10

[Groove M.D.]

NGAUC Review
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First off, my apologies for the EXTREMELY late review -- but, better late than never!

What worked well:
- Super catchy; great melodies!
- Awesome audio detail scattered throughout the track.
- Great mixing (aside from a nit-pick on my part -- see below).
- Excellent use of synths and pads to keep things rolling!

What a catchy track! I don't really like using 'catchy' to describe a song, because it's kind of generic-sounding. That being said, it describes this track perfectly because, well, it IS very catchy. There's not much that I have to say other than that, the track has great amounts of detail and design -- I really dig it!

What to consider:
- Snaps/claps, kicks, and hits stood out due to reverb/general mix.

As mentioned above, there were a few things in the mix that I think could have been altered to fit the song's vibe better. The finger snaps (or claps), kicks, and certain hits stood out just a bit too much with all of that reverb. Honestly, I think it sounds fine (and it is quite clean and crisp), though when you compare it to the other instruments, they certainly stand out.

Wicked stuff! Keep at it!

Score: 9/10

[Ghost Pilot]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Good:
- Cool blend of genres and use of instruments!
- Interesting composition -- things NEVER get stale throughout.
- Lots of great background material (pianos, synths, etc. -- why background? See below!)

I really dig the grim, sometimes chaotic nature of this track. You've added in a lot of detail throughout the piece, and not only that, but there are some great transitions at work here. Actually, speaking of transitions, things tend to change often while listening, so it's like you're hearing the sounds go through a kind of metamorphosis. Really neat!

I would have really liked to hear more breakdowns in this one, because that breakdown at 0:54 was awesome. Oddly enough, I enjoyed the 'quieter' portions of the track, because this is where you can really pay close attention to the different elements that are at play.

What to consider:
- The mix could use some TLC.
- The ending is somewhat uneventful.
- Needs more high-end (frequency) material!

The mix is what drags the song down in terms of overall quality and production value. Things sound heavily distorted throughout; the volume of the guitars, percussion, and bass overwhelm the lighter instruments (such as the piano)! This is terribly disappointing because those lighter sounds and instruments that you incorporated sounded great! By adjusting the volumes on those three aforementioned instruments, and then equalizing said instruments, this track would sound that much better.

The ending was a little uneventful when you compare it to the rest of the track. However, in a way, I suppose it is suitable because it offers a clean, simplistic ending when compared to the body of the track. Last, but not least, you've used a lot of lower to mid-range frequencies in the track -- perhaps adding some bright piano notes and chord progressions that mingle in the higher range would allow for a nice balance throughout the piece.

An interesting piece for sure! It's easy to tell that you worked hard on the composition of this one. With a little more work on the mix, and this could be that much better. Keep at it!

Score: 7.8/10

[Racing the Sun]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Good:
- Excellent high-energy track!
- Cool guitar riffs/solo!
- Nice mix (aside from the buried sounds).
- Mission accomplished; this would sound great in a racing title!

As mentioned above, this is a super high energy track, and I can't say it enough: this would work really well in a racing title. I had to Google 'Race the Sun' to see what you were referring to, and sure enough, this would fit right in. The guitar work here is excellent, as is the overall sound of the drums. Altogether, the mix sounds nice and full (though I'll touch on that a little more below).

What to consider:
- NES sounds, where art thou?
- 'Muddy' mix (as mentioned above).
- No discernible melody.

The biggest issue with this track is the overall mix. It isn't bad by any means, but the instruments don't quite get a space of their own. The bass is fairly muddled, and the NES sounds are hidden behind the guitar and drums. Even certain aspects of the drums are a little buried from time to time. By giving each instrument its own space in the mix (try adjusting frequencies, using panning techniques, etc.), this could really change the sound of the track. Other than that, a solid melody would enable a listener to recall the song. As it currently stands, the track works best as background music (albeit, super energetic and fun to listen to background music).

Great track, would love to hear more like this. Keep it up!

Score: 8/10

[Find the Light]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Good:
- Solid introduction, it truly lays the foundation of the theme and overall feel of the track.
- Wonderful orchestration (the strings, piano and choirs work together beautifully).
- As pointed out already, suitable for lots of things (game, film, TV, etc.)

You have made a really pretty track, it sounds inspirational and it does evoke emotion as well! I like how you introduce each instrument into the track -- you do so in a soft way, that flows nicely with the pacing of the song. I can definitely picture this in a variety of different scenarios: games, films, TV series, you name it! You have definitely accomplished what you set out to do!

What to consider:
- This piece is quite generic.
- The conclusion needs a little more attention.
- The mix is a bit hit-and-miss!

Since this piece would work well in lots of different forms of entertainment and media (which is a good thing), it stands as a fairly generic piece. Very cookie-cutter. As a result, it represents a double-edged sword! The composition could make use of a stronger melody (use that piano) to evoke emotions through more variety! The overall production is great, but the piano becomes lost in the mix when you bring in the percussion, strings and the choir.

The conclusion could be far more grand, I think! Perhaps you could consider utilizing the choir and the strings to build up to a climax and then softly finish with the piano. The possibilities are really endless.

Keep at it, Marterro!

Score: 7.8/10

[IYD - Latin Crap Pasta]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Good:
- Wicked riffs and chord structuring!
- Decent mix.
- Nice solos, and excellent bass grooves.

I love that guitar panning at the beginning, it was a great way to introduce the track -- followed by that super catchy guitar riff. Love it! The overall mix is quite good, and though at times it is a little spotty (1:39 and 3:15), everything is mostly clear. Again, those bass grooves are great!

What to consider:
- The ending didn't quite blend well with the rest of the song.
- The flow of transitions were (generally) all over the place.
- The mixing takes noticeable dips towards the end.

I was a little surprised when the song went into a full Latin-inspired jam! Honestly, it sounds good! However, it really sticks out like a sore thumb when compared to the rest of the track. Certain transitions sounded as if they were too early, or perhaps even not smooth enough. The transitions at 1:13 and then again at 1:39 in particular. I think that if these were smoothed out a little, by lending more time to the mixing and instrumentation to these parts, that they would sound better!

I think this is an interesting track, and while the ending doesn't quite blend well with the majority of the track, I have to commend you on giving it a shot! Also, I can't get that riff out of my head. :)

Score: 7.8/10

[Beat But Breathing]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Good:
- Instruments blend incredibly well!
- Interesting theme, coupled with great guitar work (bass and drums included).
- Cool transitions (though sometimes a bit blurred -- see below).
- Great pacing!

First off, this track would be right at home as a final boss theme in a fantasy or RPG title! It has that flow and intensity to it, you know? Especially when you consider that you begin with that softer introduction, piano playing, strings floating on in the background and then WHAM -- guitar, drums and bass! I like how there are noticeable differences in the different sections of the song, none of the instruments fall into a pitfall of repetition.

What to consider:
- The mix is a little hit-and-miss.
- The strings are missing that sense of realism in some places.

It's already been pointed out, and I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I'll leave a few comments about the mixing. During the introduction, the piano sounds slightly stifled and it sits a little awkwardly in the mix, especially when the strings start playing and the synth portions join in. I think that by adjusting velocity levels of certain piano notes and carefully equalizing each instrument during this section (and others) would allow for a clear(er) mix!

Solid track, well done man!

Score: 8.4/10

[Friction Point]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Good:
- Solid guitar work.
- Nice mixing.
- Super energetic!
- Just plain fun to listen to!

This was great fun to listen to, and I feel energized when the track is playing (especially around the 1:00 mark)! The production quality is great and your guitar work (as always) is awe-inspiring. I like how you incorporate different moods into the track without ever losing any of the intensity that the song begins with.

What to consider:
- The conclusion falls flat!
- No discernible melody; guitar shredding and solos through and through.

I was looking forward to a blast-off ending based on the energy of the song, but it just kind of ends. It's not a bad ending, or even a bad way to wrap up the track, but it somewhat broke the final moments of musical immersion! The melody thing isn't really a big deal, because the piece is fun to sit back and listen to as it is. However, it would have been nice to hear something that would make this track memorable.

Great track, PirateCrab! Keep it up.

Score: 9.2/10

[First Flight]

NGAUC Review
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First off, my apologies for the extremely late review -- but, better late than never!

What worked well:
- Beautiful fantasy-based theme.
- Excellent use of instruments to accentuate the story.
- Excellent composition.
- Wonderful atmosphere.
- Highly imaginative!

What to consider for next time:
- The ideas in this track are crying because they need to be fleshed out more -- you've created something that needs a longer story. I think this could have easily been 4-5 minutes long! I understand what you mean though, time constraints can sometimes hinder the creative process.
- Some of the instruments are hidden in the track (choir, brass, etc.)! Don't be afraid to bring these sounds out in order to let them shine! The choir finally shines at the very end...it would have worked wonders in the body of the song. 0:46 - 1:20 in particular.

This is the kind of song that speaks to me, Ylmir. I can see this working in a number of RPG titles. Keep it up, I'll be keeping an eye out for your track!

Score: 9.6/10

Ylmir responds:

Hey ! No worries about the late review ! Actually, I'm a bit late to reply too. xD
Thanks a lot, it confirms what has been said before (the overall balance of instruments, the length, mainly), and really encourages me. It's been a long time I haven't composed something completely freely (apart from the deadline, of course), and I must say I really needed to.

To be honest, I surprised myself when I came up with my submissions for both the knock-out round and the finals. Trying to tell stories through music has actually been a long-time dream of mine (this is actually one of the reasons that pushed me into music-making), and this made me realize how far I went since I began music. I've seen I am now able to create what I always wanted to create, to suggest locations, events, atmospheres, only through sound. Sure, this is still not perfect, but this contest made me curious about what I could do with more time to work on music, without pressure, without having constraints.

Lately, I also changed my views on music, and decided to leave most of the teams I was working with : it was becoming more and more industrial, and I was gradually losing interest in it - little to no room for creative freedom, deadlines, a need for productivity... I realized it's not something I want. Music is a hobby for me, nothing less, nothing more, and I'm sure I'll be able to love composing as I used to, once I'll be back to this pace of "work". The NGAUC somehow helped me to realize that, to realize I needed a change of scenery, by showing me what I could do. I'm not aiming to be a professional composer anymore. I just want to be happy with what I create, regardless of the time it takes me to write a track or improve myself.

Well... I don't even know how I went writing all that stuff about me, it's not even the right place. I guess replying to reviews at 2 am is maybe not the best idea I had today. Anyway, I'm off to bed now. Oh, and thanks again for your review ! As you probably guessed it, since the NGAUC taught me what I was really looking for into music, I'm looking forward for any future contest on NG from now. :p