Gario's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sketchbook: Flying Foam]

Pretty piano...

Don't here too much of this sort of thing on here, so it's a refreshing change of pace. You really could have this sort of thing playing in the background all day without every tiring of it.

The performance is pretty good, although it sounds a little stiff in some areas. Remember, it's a piano, so if any area has a static dynamic it's noticeable (in a bad way). You're very good about it overall, but there are a few spots that could be better, in that regard. Yay for nitpicking.

The harmonies are very sweet tasting, especially when there are clusters. The motion could use less root motion, but that's very mellow, due to the arpeggios. The end harmony is especially tasty.

The open sound really suits it, overall. I would like to hear more from you. When you write your next piece, experiment with the lower ends of the piano, since they can produce pretty music, too ;)

Nayls responds:

Thanks a lot, I appreciate the well thought out and insightful feedback. I definitely plan to put some stuff out soon, I just need to replace my computer. D:

I'll definitely post some more song-sketches, but I've got a real composition or two that I'd love to finish and post.

Thanks again for the comment, I'll definitely work on fine-tuning my expression and dynamic control, and try to get something really polished up for everyone to listen to..

[!~Legend~!]

It's alright.

The soundscape it pretty muddy, though. Clean up the mixing and production - that would take this a long way.

The direction is a little odd. It sounds like it meanders around a lot, rather than following a sort of form.

Production and more direction. Otherwise, pretty good.

TheElementalProdigy responds:

Gracias!
Everytime i Listen To It I Find It becomes A Little More Flowy.
But There Was One Part It messed Up On.
its dissapointing...
anyway,
Thanks

[_/I wish you were here\_[edit]]

Not bad at all.

Hey, I like the overall sound of this song - not bad. I will agree, though, that the sidechaining is quite tough to listen to, throughout. Also, your voice is mixed too far behind the mix to really contribute. It'd be great if you mixed it more in the foreground, since it really could contribute to the song, as a whole.

The drums seem a bit too repetitive. Change them up more often, since they tire the ears, as they are.

I love the square wave as much as anyone else, but it seems to clash with the higher quality sounds you've got going, overall. It's not a bad sound, but it doesn't seem right for this mix. Personally, I'd change the sample, but it doesn't detract too much from it, overall.

I really enjoy some of the effects you use on the mastering, and the soundscape is great. The singing is spot on, for the genre, so let's hear some more updates :)

ShootingStar responds:

Oh man - don't know how to respond to that - but really thanks for all the criticism I will definitely look into taking a look at everything you said and posting a new one! Man, now I can't wait to get working on this again! Haha
thanks sooo much!!

ShootingStar

[Song Of Time Remix]

Interesting remix there :)

Mastering is balancing the volumes, like you said, but it's also working with the panning and the EQ so the instruments fill the soundscape better, too (just FYI, there). Actually, from a mastering point of view I can tell you that bringing the highs out would have helped this track quite a bit, and stereo separation would have gone quite a way with it, as well. The flute could have been brought out a bit more in general, too :)

I like the arrangement, though - it keeps me entertained throughout very well. The instrument choice is interesting (in a good way), and the artificial choir is cool (oh yeah, Artificial Choir FTW). This is great for your two weeks of investment - kudos.

mename3isme responds:

Thank you for liking my SHTUFF
yea it was my first time mastering and I actually had some difficulty with just the dynamics, so I'll work on eq's, effects, and stereo eventually.
And HOLY SHIT HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ARTIFICIAL CHOIR OMG WTF ZOMGBIE

[Street FIghter 2: Zangief]

Again... um, muddy.

Yeah, you use too many of the same timbre instruments, so the whole thing blends into one giant sound. Again, the EQ is too bass heavy to actually be able to hear the music behind it, so be careful when you mix these things.

It's also far too quiet.

Majorgeneral responds:

*shrugs* this is an old remix and I just posted it for the hell of it I'm done with this song so I'm not going to fix it thanks for the advice though

[Street Fighter 2: Ken's Stage]

Muddy!

Well, what else can I say? Nothing is clear in the mix, at all. You need to bring the melodies out better and leave the background elements in the background. The EQ is terribly unbalanced (mostly in the 'bass' area), further hiding the music. There are some sour notes in the mix, as well (like the string bass thing at 1:36 - 1:38).

As far as the arrangement, it isn't too bad - but it's hard to hear.

Majorgeneral responds:

thanks...

[Mario and Luigi 3: Final Boss]

Hmm...

I'm going to say this rendition is a bit thin. I don't know the source, but this just doesn't have any depth behind it.

There's too much reverb, and your instruments aren't exactly prime choices, either. Not completely terrible, but certainly nothing special, either.

Majorgeneral responds:

Thanks for the review

[Video Game Menu #2]

Like good ol'...

...Perfect Dark. For the SNES. I liked Perfect Dark and the SNES, so you get points from me for that :)

It's a little bland, but I guess if your writing for a game that isn't too bad.

I think adding crunchy effects would do wonders for a song like this, because it just sounds a little too... clean, as it is. With lo-fi instruments crunchy is totally the way to go.

totojimbob responds:

Thanks for taking the time to write a review, I'll try to throw in some effects in a bit

God is Great
--totojimbob