Random-storykeeper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[[•] AIM - Digital Blackout]

I like the mood and the overall sense of progression. What's with the click at the beginning of the track? :P

I'm very curious: what orchestral elements did you use, exactly? I thought you meant orchestral instruments, but I didn't really hear a lot of that.

The trance vibe works well for the most part. I think the choice of chords and instrumentation fits the mood I get from the artwork and the progression is fine.

I notice that in the few instances where there seems to be a melody, like at 1:04, for example, it feels like it should be using the pentatonic scale, but there's very clearly moments where non-pentatonic notes are present. Perhaps it wasn't your intention to use the pentatonic scale, but to me, the non-pentatonic notes felt really out of place in the melody that otherwise would have fit to the mood and soundscape comfortably.

Honestly, I felt like it could have used a bit more bass. Personally, the instrumentation felt too light and thin. But that's just me. Overall, I think you took the right approach for this theme and I thought the structure was great, as well as the melody (for the most part). Good entry!

EldritchAutopsy responds:

Thanx for the review!
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-The clicking at the start I actually have no idea where it came from, in the FL file it doesnt play that but somehow that ended up in the export. I wanted to fix it but the deadline was just around the corner so I didnt have time to get it out otherwise risk editing past when the entry was due.

-For the orchestral elements, theres stuff like sitars, violas, violins, cellos, basses and pianos about in the track, but I used them more to boost elements of the electronic instruments instead such as using the violins to add bass or the pianos following the lead synths to make a chorus of sounds.

-For the notes in the melodies, I never really thought of using any kind of scale, as I haven't really studied up on them enough, but knowing had I done that it could've fit better Im definitely gonna look into that and study up on it properly

Just again, thanks for taking the time to listen and review my track, I appreciate all the feedback and it really helps!

[AIM - SuperNova]

This piece has the right amount of energy, not too much to be overly aggressive about it, but there's also this sense of tranquil beauty that seems perfectly evocative of an outer space scene. I can just feel the heat resonating off this sound design and there's a big "above and beyond" atmosphere that I really like.

The part that I wasn't so hot about (no pun intended - okay maybe pun intended :P) was around the beginning section. At the 1:30 mark, I felt like keeping that bass was almost too protruding, but I do see that it leads into the 1:56 section really well. Perhaps if they were a bit more in the background.

I actually think the piece gets so much better as it goes along. Like the section at 2:21 where everything gets quieter and starts rising up. The arps are lovely here, and the counterpoint with that off-beat instrument that almost sounds like it has vocal qualities works so well, especially when the rest of the accompaniment starts kicking back in.

Despite not really being into the first...quarter of the piece(?), I truly enjoyed the rest of it, and overall felt it captured just the right amount of energy necessary for this instance you were trying to convey.

Teckmo-X responds:

Thank you for reviewing my piece Random!

My music always has some sort of space theme to it, like a feeling similar to it. I honestly didn't know where I was going with this piece but it came out nice. The part at 1:30 is a bit off but I did experiment with other options but my problem was that without some sort of bass it would have felt blend and I was thinking of having some strings or some subtle sounds in the background but that also didn't feel right.

I have been experimenting with other sounds as well and new ways to make music. I do know that there's a long road ahead of me and so I understand there's a lot of things that can be improved.

Thanks again!

[AIM - It Approaches...]

The beginning of this piece is so uncomfortable to listen to - and I mean that in the most positive way possible. I think it really speaks to the subtlety of the creepiness in the artwork. Overall, I like the composition a lot - the slow, foreboding dissonance slots is a good approach to the "impending doom" that's written all over this track.

If I had to nitpick one thing that truly bothers me, I think the creepiness kind of gets subdued by some of the MIDI sounding instruments. Like the piano chords at 2:11 feel like they could have had so much more weight to them if they sounded more acoustic and less MIDI. By the time we get to the 4 minute mark, the soundscape feels like it's just missing a lot of that raw power it had from the beginning.

But I do really like the low bassline when it does that little pitch slide and doesn't quite make it up to the pitch it's sliding up to in tune. I guess not having a lot of instruments did help to bring that out. I enjoyed listening to this, even if it does make me feel like something is coming to get me. :P

Peepers responds:

Thanks for the review!

The beginning was definitely supposed to be grating. Glad it worked.

[AIM - Gestalt]

I think the idea you start off with is very good. It's got this nice, almost slightly sad undertone to it and I like the idea of using that really machine-like harsh sounding synth to evoke the mech aspect. I really enjoyed the sudden addition of the piano at the end, and wish that part had come earlier so I could have gotten more into it.

What I miss from this track is the dynamic range. Everything sounds uniform in terms of loudness and very two-dimensional. I think the repetitive composition itself could be fine on its own if there was more depth to the production so that I would feel more immersed in this environment. If the sound and the way it's produced is interesting, it'll be worth repeating those same ideas throughout, regardless of whether there is a "melody" or not.

The track doesn't seem that aggressive for the art it was inspired by and the description, but I think the overall continuum is quite fun and I'm glad you had fun making the music that you want to make. That's the most important part of all.

As a side note: I love the subtle introduction of the lower ends at 1:35. I think if you made more of those subtle changes throughout, it can change the soundscape in very interesting ways.

TheFantasticZ responds:

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm looking forward to future AIMS.

[Jewel Man (Rockman Remastered)]

I like it when the lead is the electric guitar, especially when it does that slide at 0:35 and 1:17. The balancing feels kind of off, though. The accompanying electric guitar at the beginning of the loop is interesting, but it's super loud to the point where the lead is pushed to the background. The bells also sound slightly out of tune, like there's some odd parallel harmonies that don't quite fit in with the tone of the track. Are you using a Mega Man X soundfont? I have one and it's slightly out of tune with my other soundfonts and instruments, which is kind of annoying.

Anyways love the energy, especially in that aggressive percussion. I feel like replaying it too many times in a row would probably tire me out though, haha.

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Edit: April 6

Okay so I finally listened to your revisions. The guitar could still be brought down a couple more notches, but it is a little better than before.

The harmonies at 0:11 still off in comparison to the original. You play them all as perfect fourths, whereas the actual harmonies are a minor third, a perfect fifth and a perfect fourth. In other words, that lower note in the harmony should be E, D and D, not D, E and D as it sounds like in your version.

RetroCarrot responds:

Not to worry, I'll get on that right away.

Also, yes and no. This IS a Rockman soundfont, but it's from the Power Fighters, not Rockman X.

I've edited this a bit. Will this be better for you?

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4月10日

I'll fix that noisy guitar、but with all due respect、I'm fine with the harmonies as they are。 It's not 100% accurate to the game's original score、but that's the point。 I can't write lyrics for shit、which makes it near impossible for me to make music of my own。 With that said、if I'm doomed to be a cover-artist、I want to do my best to make my version as unique as possible。

[in time // rewind]

Wow, you really know how to repeat an idea to satisfying levels, and catchy ideas at that. Those piano chords are everything. I love how airy the vocals are (lol are those YOUR vocals?) because they balance so well with the bass. The glitchiness works so well, and I quite enjoyed the drum break that happens like halfway through.

I'm blown away with how you're able to get away with repeating things as much as you do in a piece, because this basically is just like, a couple chords cycling throughout yet by the end, it still feels as fresh as when you first start the piece. You just execute it in the catchiest manner, and it's the little details as you go along that make it all the more captivating. I did quite enjoy this. Hope you do well in the NGADM.

johnfn responds:

they actually are mine!

[Root Beer Float]

omg...is it a coincidence that I get vibes from that OHC with the beer pics? Like it's got that jazzy feeling, but this obviously leans more on the sound effects, chiptune. I really liked that piece you did in that OHC488, and I like that this is like a longer drawn out version of that.

I'm not sure if I'm completely sold on the sound effects working for me, but I did enjoy the various instruments playing the melody. It's cool to hear that main repeating melody get broken up and played around with in terms of intensity. And whenever I hear a good sax solo, I'm required, by law, to give at least 4 stars. I love the different timbres and the mix of chiptune and acoustic.

Probably my favourite part was the jazzy interlude that kicks in at 1:58. Yet you combine this with such strange drums that don't really fit in with that part at all? I guess I would have preferred more traditional jazz/acoustic style drums there, especially since they don't really do much; they just sort of pop in for a couple seconds and then stop.

This was a pretty interesting example of developing a melody in ways that wasn't just compositionally, so I'm impressed you kept it engaging throughout. I wish you all the best in this next round of NGADM.

Miyolophone responds:

Thank you for the feedback RSK! I actually didn't have that OHC in mind but now that you mention it, I totally see it :O

[Launcher Octopuld (30th Anniversary Edition)]

HECK YEAH Mega Man X music! Although I must admit that Launch Octopus is one of the Maverick stage themes that I am not that familiar with. My favourite part of the original is definitely the orchestral hits. While your remastering of this seems to make those hits a lot less subdued, you make up for it with really good bass. I LOVE how pronounced it gets at the beginning. I do agree that the guitar, especially towards the end gets too loud, but it sounds pretty accurate to the original piece besides that, instrument-wise.

I'm completely biased, but I'm very happy to hear a Mega Man related piece entered into this compo. :D

RetroCarrot responds:

Spread the word、the new and improved version of the new and improved version of Launcher Octopuld is HERE! ! Also、the new and improved version of the new and improved version of Boomer Kuwanger is on the playlist as well。

[Hypersonic Speed]

For a track about hypersonic speed, it feels really chill and actually more on the slower side. The repetition, however, adds a sense of "slow motion", like this is what "fast" would sound like if it were considerably going at a lower speed.

It seems like the track picks up more after the halfway point, but I do like how it kind of drives in those super laidback vibes in the first half. Those off-beat accents in the continuum keep me engaged, and I like how, at the very end, you have the more higher synths harmonizing with the accented notes in that motif.

Overall, I wasn't crazy about this track when I first heard it, but it grows on me with repeated listens. Like, this definitely goes for atmosphere, and I feel that without a doubt. There's a very dark, futuristic feel, and I love the extended repetition and minimal changes that really add to this idea of "slow motion". I don't think that's really what you were going for, but I think it makes sense for a track with a title like "Hypersonic Speed". :P

I do agree that the lower ends are a bit muddy, but aside from that...I ultimately quite like this for the vibes.

Aelkamal responds:

It's not a track about the concept of "Hypersonic Speed". It is however making a wink to Woody Norris, the inventor of LongRangeAcousticDevice & the overall study on hypersonic sound.
Also you nailed it on the progression of the track.

[Sodium]

You chose a good continuum to loop for the entire piece; it didn't wear out immediately, even when I played through the entire piece several times. Personally, I like the second half of the piece more than the first. It felt like there was more content to it that supported the continuum better.

Overall, I wasn't really crazy about the first drop, particularly because where it seemed like the piece was about to deliver the drop, it ended up just going back to basically repeating the previous section that was used to build up to that drop. I'm all for going against the expectations of how a piece should build up, but simply taking the repetition down an octave didn't really make for the "best" kind of rattling of the expectations. At least there could have been a different instrument playing that, perhaps, or some sidechained synths? The piece as a whole could use more sidechaining (if it was already present, it wasn't obvious), especially once it hits the drops.

I can certainly imagine this composition working as an electronic dance piece, what with the catchy repetition. I love the part at 2:03; the smoother, eighth notes loop works satisfyingly against the punchy continuum from the very beginning and the way the drums kind of intensify at that specific timestamp ties it all together. Consider adding a bit more melodic content in some parts of the piece; I think the loop you have playing throughout really allows the potential for leading in to some crazy solo. Not bad!

Walpang responds:

Thank you! Very helpful!