CFox's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[A Space Adventure (Demo)]

Nice energy, some mixing issues

I really like the energy in this- very evocative with some nice colors from the orchestra. On a mixing note, I'm hearing alot of distortion, especially whenever there's a bass drum hit- it sounds like you need to bring the levels in your mix way down so that there's room for the transients to do their thing without them clipping or getting over-compressed. I'd much rather turn up the volume to hear crisp, clear epicness than not have to turn up the volume but get something distorted and more flattened out. Would love to hear this with a distortion-free mix!

OrphenFire responds:

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah I didn't really take time to master this, or even really musically conclude it. It was just a demo for the guys making the game to see what they thought of the specific theme I came up with. Thanks for the review, and don't forget to review the real version when it's uploaded (:

[Last Hero]

Nice performance

I think the strongest part of this piece is your playing- you slowed down at just the right moments and sped up/got louder at the right moments as well. You must have a good ear for phrasing. I also like how you develop the theme but still keep bringing it back in its original form, all the way to the end- it makes the piece feel very complete and well rounded. On a mixing note, you're getting some distortion- if you're not using a limiter now, I'd recommend it.
And I like the profile picture, hehe :)

Sheodon responds:

Thank you. Your comment is really, really appreciated, gave me self-confidence. I'm also really glad you enjoyed both the music and my playing. Even if I'm not the fastest player, I try to compesing it with emotion. I compose and play music with heart.
I like your picture too. :)

[Sci-Fi Main Title]

Great!

You really got the feel right, especially with the very ST harmonies. It could us a little more oomph in the middle when the theme plays, but I think you did the best you could with the instruments you had. Maybe if you made some of the notes shorter it would make the attacks sound more biting, if that's what you're after. Great to see someone else posting ST stuff here!

SilentTakedown responds:

Yeah, I've had a lot of problems mixing this because there are many many instruments playing. Nonetheless I learned something again from writing this. Thanks for reviewing!

[Music Box Waltz]

Nice start, sets the mood!

Very Elfman! I like how you let the music slowly build and develop instead of slapping it in our faces from the start, the pacing really helps set the mood! Just when it was starting to get going though, it stopped- I'd love to hear it expand into something much bigger, it doesn't have to be loud and epic but something longer would be really cool. This much just sounds like the intro, the "once upon a time" to a longer story... it could really be 6, 7, 8 minutes or maybe more if you let it keep developing and pulling us into this world you set up for us. But a great start!

On a technical note, you use great sounds, I think the violin melody would sound great if it was more flowing and connected (especially at 1:09), I know some sample libraries sound really choppy when they play violin melodies, one way to overcome this is in Logic try to fiddle (no pun intended) with the note lengths so that they overlap just a bit, long enough so that one note sort of 'melts' into the next instead of sounding 'stop-go-stop-go'.. also adjusting the attack so that notes don't stick out.. with strings especially it's rally hard to make it sound convincing and not 'synth-y', the key I think is to pay close attention to the phrasing.. which notes are smooth, which are disconnected, to simulate the bow going down and breaking slightly as it changes direction to go back up, and down again.

Overall very nice, hopefully the feedback is of use!

Rampant responds:

Gaaaaaah wall of text! Hehehe.

I would love to do a longer version of this -- but I was entering it into one of the NAC's and I was running out of time lol But I never have the time to go back and extend it... if I have some free time over the summer, I'll probably make a longer version.

As for the technical stuff, some of it is supposed to be a bit staccato and disjointed. Other than that, there's not really a whole lot I can do in Finale to 'fiddle' the note lengths.

I've actually started reading a book on orchestration so that I can get better at good part writing for strings, brass, and woodwinds.

Thanks a lot for the feedback :)
- James

[_-={Thirst for Blood}=-_]

Good layering

You gave each layer of the orchestra its own distinct role which helped make it sound more full, not the sort of 'blocky' writing some are tempted to do when using orchestra sounds but working off a keyboard. I really like the undulating/churning strings around :22ish. The trumpet sounds are pretty piercing, and they're really loud in the mix which doesn't help, perhaps use more reverb on the brass, or try using an equalizer to get rid of that tinny sort of mid-range sound? Overall pretty effective to my ear though, good job!

MaestroRage responds:

I need to get a better set of speakers. For me, the trumpets are just perfect, though I came to understand later, that on some headphones, especially those which were treble oriented, that the trumpet sounded like a tin whistle in somebodies ear at max... ouch, the image alone hurts.

I will try this out, perhaps the mid range could use some tweaking. Thank you for the review, i'm glad you liked it!

[Fallen Angels]

Nice sense of movement

The string and choral sounds really mix well! I really like how the strings move not all in 'blocks' but against one another, creating a bit of counterpoint, and yet the basses/celli have a very steady pace to them. The fact that you're not recycling the same set of 2 or 3 chords over and over really helps I think, that it keeps moving to new sonorities really helps that sense of movement and keeps the steady bass motion sound grounded but fresh.
The way it moves reminds me a bit of Samuel Barber's 'Adagio for Strings,' if you have not heard it I highly highly recommend giving it a listen. If you've seen Platoon, they use it in that movie.

popraz responds:

Thank you for the review. Big fan of both Platoon and Barber's "Adagio for Strings".

[Psilocine - Forest Theme]

Nice start

Very calming, the instrument choice I think really worked. In terms of instruments to add, since it's a forest theme I think harp or marimba would be a great choice, I'm not sure what those sound like on your synth though. Or for a sustained sound, maybe something that imitates a chorus, a sort of airy/placid/wistful color. What you have now I think works despite not developing much because it's not too long, it would be fine as it is just as a short piece to set a mood, or if you wanted something longer/more immersive, this would make a good 'intro' or 'A' section. To my ear I don't think you necessarily have to add instruments ontop of what's already there, just change the colors/textures in the section of music that would follow this. Hope that helps!

Psilocine responds:

Hey mate,

thanks for the review. I've got some busy weeks @ work so i'll try to look into this later. I think marimba would be a good idea didn't think of it yet =D.

Anyhow, i'll send you a PM when it's finished.

Greets,

Stephen

[Spirit of the Universe]

Very immersive

I love the sounds you used, how it drifts from one very open and atmospheric timbre to the next, with the plodding percussion tying it all together. The muffled sound of the chanting is a nice touch, makes the whole thing sound very surreal, as if in some ancient place where voices from the past echo in the back of your mind. Perhaps you might consider panning the strings to the center? They really take the focus of attention toward the end as they don't have as much reverb so they sound much closer, it seems like they shouldn't be so far right.
Just a thought, it may be contrary to what you were after, but maybe at the end have it die back down to the calm , open/distant texture from the beginning, to sort of round it out? Especially for a song this length, just to sort of remind us of how it all started.

popraz responds:

Thank you for the feedback. You have a point about the strings toward the end. For the time being I thought of leaving them like that, but maybe I should center them.