Everratic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Smash Into Pieces - Valhalla [Benji-G Remix]]

This is really enjoyable!

Benji-G responds:

Thank you Everratic!

[Voice of the Fallen (NGVGMC)]

Although you misunderstood the assignment, I think you successfully made a lot of useful video game music! Many of these sections can be extended into full video game tracks and fit the intended setting quite well. I like how you musically linked the sections together, creating a continuous experience through diverse scenes and settings.

As someone who enjoys 90s games, I appreciate the use of soundfonts even though they don't sound realistic to modern ears. The one instrument that bothered me is the violin because it sounds more timbrally realistic than everything else so it exacerbates the fakeness of it.

The arrangement is pretty solid throughout. I like that some sections feel sparser and some feel fuller, depending on the intended mood of the setting. In the 1:17 section, the melody is nice, but I think you could let that voice rest more between melodic phrases and use another instrument for counterlines. The drumming is pretty good, but it can benefit from more fill transitions, and the snare in the battle section feels too loud.

Thanks for participating!

Interloping responds:

Im just glad you liked it, really. I spent minimal time on this because the holiday season for me is always a busy/stressful one. I would have loved to do more tweaking when it was relevant, but I have only been able to open FL studio as of the last few days

The hardest part was making a sound for the sewers, or making the two battle tracks sound different from one-another somehow while using the same progression

All of the drums are mapped out by hand, so Im glad you like them. I use a standard DAC kit from one of the soundfonts I use

[Taken | Voice Of The Fallen]

This is a nice cinematic depiction of the scene! I feel the motif and general vibe captures the feeling of hope well. The setting of the story is mostly gloomy, but the scene where Corvin is empowered by the spirits gives hope to the oppressed, and it's great how you focused on that feeling.

I like how clean the mix is, and the brightness of the drums and strings. You did a good job with the sound design and atmosphere too!

At 2:42, it sounds like there's supposed to be a huge climax, but the momentum suddenly stops because the arrangement lacks bass, the dynamics are flat, and the drum rhythm is relaxed and doing its own thing. It feels like an interlude in the battle section, but the execution of it doesn't really work for me. In this kind of situation, the orchestra could benefit from dynamic swells, going from soft to loud, some movement in the texture, like woodwind or harp runs, and percussion that accents the swells.

I like the outro. It reinforced that hopeful vibe and has a satisfying ending :)

Overall, I think you did a good job conceptualizing the track and there's a lot to like with the atmosphere and sound design. The orchestration can be improved, but this is a good start considering it's new to you. Keep it up!

[like the blade you fell upon / efflorescence]

This is beautiful! I'm impressed by how well the composition carries the weight of the cutscene. The instrumentation is simple yet brilliant. The gritty low strings gives it an Elden Ring vibe, the setting of which inspired this story. The high octave violin legato with the piano adds a magical infusion to the sound palette. I like the use of reverb throughout.

Areas to improve:
- I feel the track is figuratively missing a conductor to adjust the dynamics and tempo to maximize the expressiveness. It's important to try to mimic this affect in virtual mockups to the extent possible.
- I like and appreciate the minimal nature of the composition, but sometimes it feels a little too bare, especially in the :52 section. If there were real strings, it might sound fine, but sometimes midi mockups benefit from a little extra sound design to mask the virtual qualities.

[The tale of Sir Corvin]

You captured the weight of the scene and battle well. I like how the themes convey a sense of uncertainty and danger. The section at :42 is so beautiful and sparkly. I think the piano being the sole instrument has some interesting effects: the world feels more spiritual, and it feels like we’re following Corvin’s perception of events rather than seeing the scene from an outside perspective.

I think you could have been more adventurous with the battle section, but I do like the darkness of it, which contrasts nicely with the :42 section.

The first melody seems like it could possibly be Corvin’s theme, and the melody at 2:08 seems like it could possibly be a main theme for the entire soundtrack. Nice job if that was the intention! The introduction of the last theme made me wish the track was a minute longer :)

The piano sounds a little muffled to me. If I had to guess, it’s likely from the low-mids of the close mic. Otherwise, the mix sounds pleasant and polished, with a clean low end!

Thanks for choosing my challenge!

Solacitude responds:

I'm glad by the way you perceived this piece, since I was imagining the whole scene in "first person" during the composition process, which fits with your description.

I changed my mind a couple times during the 2 months period, ended up having to complete the piece in the last couple days, I had many ideas that I was not yet comfortable enough playing to put in the final version, which would probably enhance especially variations of the battle section.

Maybe I should continue to work on it and include some of these ideas. And extend the last theme, which was one of the first inspirations I had for a theme, that I didn't expand on as much as I could have, but felt it was fitting well for an ending that opens the door for a main theme out of the scene related to the challenge. I'm happy you feel like it could be the main theme for the entire soundtrack since it's how I perceive it as well! :D
(I might add 1 or 2 minutes with this theme's variation, I'll let you know if I do and update this piece! )

The piano is a new VST that came with a keyboard I got recently. It has no control over individual mics, but I love the sound of it! I've updated the mix since my first upload, I use a parallel compression and I think at first I was not compressing the low end enough, it was affecting low/mid clarity at some points especially when hitting low notes harder. I'll try more/different approaches to fine tune this VST to make sure it sounds as good as it can!

It was interesting working on a piece with specific imagery in mind, not something I'm used to, I'm glad you appreciate my work! Thanks for hosting this challenge, and for the review!

[Windy]

NGADM Round 3 Review

The composition is heartfelt and beautiful. It feels like it’s stream-of-consciousness style, taking the listener on a journey through one’s thoughts and struggles. I admire your ability to compose for piano in a way that deeply resonates with human emotions; it’s not an easy feat. It also seems that you’re not afraid to show yourself through your music, which makes it much more interesting to listen to. The composition style reminds me of great composers like Chopin and Liszt while being distinct enough to be recognized as your work.

You did an excellent job at varying the themes and creating distinct sections. I do think you can go even further with utilizing the full piano register and timbral and dynamic ranges; sometimes it helps to slightly exaggerate shifts in texture and tone. The composition feels a little too tonally consistent over the five-minute duration for my taste.

I have a comment on the mix, but it’s a bit tricky because I don’t know what your mic set up is and how you already EQd them, so take this with a grain of salt. I sense that one of the closer mics might have a bit too much frequency content between 350 to 1k, and a slight cut might help the reverb and higher register notes shine more. But otherwise, the mix is really solid! I particularly enjoy the soft-blur texture of some of the lower dynamic left-hand arpeggios.

It's remarkable how far you’ve come after some setbacks and how much you’ve improved in a short time! Good luck with the rest of the contest!

Solacitude responds:

Most parts included in the final mix come from moments that I happened to be recording while reaching a kind of meditative state of mind. It's how I manage to create the most authentic mindful musical expressions that I can. It's not always what is wanted, but most of the times when I'm "in the zone" I tend to play in a romantic style. I also think the more I manage to connect to the subconscious, the more the music produced can connect with people listening. I'm really glad when it does! I know that I'm far from Chopin and Liszt level, but they are composers that I really like and they sure have an influence on how I play. Romantic music influenced my style a lot. I'm quite flattered that this piece reminds you of them!

It was in my thoughts that 5 minutes of C# might be too much, but then also thought that the chromatic elements would compensate, creating a little disturbance in the perceived root, and alternating between C#min natural to harmonic, and quick pass through C#Maj. I recorded some variations with more than accidental key changes as well as higher register that I didn't keep in the final mix. I was feeling like I was losing consistency, the darker vibe, so I kept them out. Maybe in a future version, adding a "Takeoff" chapter so the wind is put to good use instead of just blowing out things, we could fly gracefully into it! Would also maybe make it sound more like an actual rhapsody. :)

I get what you say for the mix. I didn't update yet, but I've cut a bit in this range on the close mic, and added a bit of lower freq, making some tests. It was the first upload with this piano sound so I'm very glad you appreciate the mix quality! It was making me a tiny bit anxious haha!

Getting to the round of 4, and the appreciation of what I create, it's way beyond my expectations! I was getting into these contests pretty much to get feedbacks and improve where I can, not thinking about the podium at all. It was not in my thoughts all along, but now that we're there! I own nothing that is proposed in the prize pool, so I'm quite happy about that!! Added to all the positives that already came out of it. It's convincing my inner voice more and more, that distributing my music is worth it! This inner voice can be stubborn, perfectionist, doubtful. It feels good when it gets tamed a little bit.

It's been quite an adventure since the beginning! I'm very glad of the results so far! You also helped a lot with your tips to get back on the boat! Thank you again!! :D

[Joy Ride [NGADM Round 3]]

NGADM Round 3 Review

This sounds so nostalgic and blissful. The composition is sublime. The melodies, solos, counterlines, and bass lines are fantastic. I can sense a lot of passion written into each line. I like how the drums contribute to the composition rather than simply being a rhythmic bed. The track is very unique despite some resemblance to video game styles, and once again, you crafted a distinctive, memorable melody.

The structure is solid, and there’s a lot of excellent variation in instrumentation and melody, with some solos and melodic breaks. I do however feel that the track can get tiring after a few listens because of how centered it seems around a single theme. As far as I can tell, there isn’t a distinctive B theme to provide some contrast and break from the A theme. I believe a solid B theme that explores some different territory would make the track more engaging and replayable.

I know you’ve expressed some concern about your mixing in the past. I believe you made a lot of good decisions in this mix on an individual track level, but one problem I found is overall frequency buildup between 400hz to 1khz and some resonances around 2khz. By cutting or compressing these areas, and affecting the track’s tonal balance, some important elements of the mix, like the drums, should feel more prominent, like in the example I shared on Discord. I suggest using multiband compression on the bass to stabilize it, and a subtle instance on the master or drum bus to control the high end spikes from elements like cymbals. I also found a slight cut on the master around 150hz to improve clarity in the low end; you can use a narrow band to not affect the snare at 200hz.

It's always a delight to listen to your music. Good luck in the remaining rounds!

trixelbit responds:

Thank you so much for the indepth and technical feedback! Honestly they have been incredibly helpful in my growth this competition and as a music maker in general.

You catch so many things I would have missed even after a 100 listens. That ear for detail really is impressive!

I can't wait to revisit these tracks and apply your feedback as well as try implementing it this round as well!

As always, thank you for the feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed this work!

[Love Once Lost in a Dream]

NGADM Round 3 Review

The intro effectively sets a dreamlike scene. It sounds like there’s a cluster of adjacent notes on the strings, but, perhaps due to the high register, it doesn’t feel dissonant. It’s suspenseful yet calming. The piano phrases convey a mix of emotions, which reflects the idea of a hazy memory. When the piano’s lower register enters at :49, it feels very satisfying. I like how the next section transitions the composition into a more melodic and harmonic state. The buildup into the climax is remarkably well done. I’m impressed by the composition’s storytelling and accurate reflection of the description.

The mix is outstanding. It feels warm and rich but not too muddy. I love the reverb on the strings. I just have three minor points of feedback. I think the piano could benefit from automation on the mic positions and/or EQ so it doesn’t feel so close after the intro. I like the intimate sound in the beginning, but during the climax, it feels a little disconnected from the room the other instruments are sitting in. Second, I think the climax could use a little more bass presence, or perhaps a more consistent bass presence. I recall you mentioning this, so I think you’re clear on what to do. Finally, I think the bass drum in the intro could benefit from more release/reverb to better fit the dreamlike atmosphere.

I think the dynamic automation of the violins in the 2:48 section could use some work to better follow the expression and direction of the melodic line. It feels too static to me.

This is an overall excellent submission that again showcases your ability to follow through on a rich story. I can imagine this working quite well in a short film or cutscene. Keep up the amazing work!

[Dread {Pt.1}]

This is amazing! Now that I completed a campaign I can appreciate it more :D

AceMantra responds:

I'm happy you found a new appreciation for it! There's something just awesome about finishing a campaign. Maybe bittersweet, too, but still fun!

[Escape From Ragavan's Castle]

This reminds me of video games I played as a child, including Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart DS. The busier parts of the track sound like they could fit in a racing game. The composition is lively and energetic with multiple catchy melodies. The instrumentation gives it a hint of an eastern flavor while also sounding somewhat whimsical. I like the synth sound design as well. The modulation at 1:49 provides a burst of fresh energy, preventing the track from feeling stale. You did a good job varying the sections to keep the composition engaging without having too much contrast, which could feel disorienting with this style. The transitions are all smooth and pleasant.

Although I like the intro, I’m not sure if the full 34 seconds is necessary. It works well on the first listen, but as I repeat the track, I feel like it’s so different in intensity that I just want to return to the “meat” of the track. I think this may be because of my association with video game soundtracks.

The mix sounds like it’s lacking some bass and low mids. I think strengthening the low end of the kick and bass and giving them higher relative volume levels can help the track feel fuller and more grounded. It’s important to ensure they don’t clash at the same frequency. The kick can possibly be boosted between 60-80hz and the bass can be boosted between 100-150hz, and you can make cuts in these ranges on the other channel to improve separation. When the bass has enough bass frequencies, you can use multiband compression or dynamic EQ to prevent the fundamental frequencies from shifting too much as the bass line rises. It’s important to have a stable bass to keep the mix feeling full. You can potentially boost some highs on the percussion while reducing highs on some of the melodic instruments, particularly the one at :52, which feels brittle.

I enjoyed this a lot! Improving the mix and tonal balance can take this to the next level!