TheBellmaker's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Fiwthy HighEnergyDubstep(]

Very Dancy Dubstep

Sorry for the belated review. I like the mix of dubstep and dance elements that you put in this song. However, I still think it could have used more bass, especially since both dance and dubstep depend on bass for energy. Although I do really like the kick you used.

0:53 - I've noticed you like to do this technique a lot. The sort of pulsating low lead. I think it's pretty cool, but you definitely should vary it up if you're going to play it for a while in one song. The filter was good, but it needs something stronger.

Good rhythm, good job!

RandomDanceOfHappy responds:

its fine ^.^ im gunna add more bass :D fer sure since the leads are so high.
0:53 i plan on makeing 4 dif lfo leads to vary threw the tempos so it wont get boreing as it dose XD like ive said i just started this :D
thanks fer ur time!!

[RunRoze (July NAC)]

Postscript from RunRozeEdit

I actually like the version with the MwAHAHAHAH...run vocals. I feel that it provides the necessary transition from the creepy circus to running for dear life. However, I think the laughing part could have been modified a bit more to fit in. Maybe make it a bit softer and add some distortion, and layer it with another distorted lead? I don't know how to make such awesome vocals anyways, but just my thoughts.

Congratulation on your second place too!

MrMusicalLion responds:

Interesting :D Yeah, some people like the run, and others don't. The laugh was a little bit under-edited, I saw that in hindsight.. I might have a quick mess around with this to make it better, before it [possibly] gets front paged in a week or two

Thanks! :)

[White (Piano Improv)]

pianorgasmic

I would very much like to know how you made this song. I'm assuming you recorded it live? If not, I would do anything to get my hands on a piano plugin of that quality *drools*

Oh gosh...9 mins....I think I'll skip around a bit. I'll look at three parts of the song that I think are most worth reviewing.

0:52, when your left hand starts syncopating chords. I think you could have varied the chords themselves to give this part a little more flavor. I don't know if that's just outside your improv abilities, but definitely something to look into. Otherwise, I like the feeling that I get from the light and airy right hand melodies. Good work on this part.

4:13 See, that's what I'm talking about. Excellent variation in both hands in this part.
Although I feel your right hand could have done a little more in this part as well. I feel that a two chord pattern would work her, going up down up down in the right hand and keeping the left hand as is.

8:40 Beautiful close out. I like the arpeggios in the left hand. They give such a calm and relaxing feeling to this part. The right hand is a very good complement as well. I personally like this section of the song the most, because everything just kept flowing and keeping me interested.

Overall, I envy your improv skills anyway.

MrMusicalLion responds:

Reason 5.0
Piano Refill.

Go. Get. Enjoy :P

Twas a piano plugin indeed ^_^ I did play live though. Directly to MIDI, in Reason 5.

My improv skills need sharpening up. Admittedly I've been focusing on learning Acoustic Guitar for a while now, piano has been put away for a bit ^_^ When I start playing an Improv piece, the quality improves gradually over the song, as I start to figure out what worked, what didn't, what I can do, what is impossible to do etc etc so the beginning always tends to start out quite bare compared to the end product ^_^

Thankyou for the reviews, They are great and very helpful too ^_^

[RunRozeEdit]

Thanks for the nightmares....

I haven't listened to RunRoze yet, but I'll just review the piece as in. Why did I choose to listen to this track at night, I do not know...<_<...>_>

I'll start with the intro. This part is definitely my favorite. It definitely gave me the creeps when listening the first time around, and even the second and third. I think the what made it so effective was probably the random voices in the background in combination with the lone melody. Personally, I think the static at 0:33 was a bit loud, masking the creepy scream a little too much.

0:49 - Wait, what happened? I find the lack of a transition here quite disappointing. One moment, I'm watching zombie children eating a corpse's guts, and suddenly, I'm running out of a hotel infested with undead. It was just far to sudden for my liking. Aside from that, I actually enjoy the beat, fitting for a zombie apocalypse. Plenty of distorted and disturbing sounds. I think in this part you could have added some sfx though, maybe a maniacal laugh or something. Like the one at 1:53

2:06 I personally think the voice doesn't go very well with rest of the instruments. The voice is sinister and secret, but the beats are scathing and slicing (alliteration unintended). I think you could have defaulted back to creepy background noises and/or a soft lead to complement its creepiness. I like the lyrics, though, they fit very well with the theme of the song. I like the fade out at around 2:50, it really brings out the creepy voice.

Ending - Freaking. Amazing. Basically gave me as much reason not to go to bed tonight as did the intro. I liked all the noises coming together on this on.

Overall, I don't think I'll sleep well tonight. Good work!

MrMusicalLion responds:

>:]

I will read this review again when I have finished grinning like a maniac
There's something I absolutely love about having the ability to scare people senseless xD

[(MiB!) Elegant Bass]

Feels more dancy to me.

I think this song sounds a lot more like songs in the dance genre than dubstep. This is mainly because the beats are much more regular than in your other dubstep songs. It's more uniform. Also the fact that you included a dance lead also contributes to the feeling. Not that it's a bad thing, but just wanted to let you know. I really enjoy the song nevertheless, it still makes me want to get up an move. Just one suggestion: the song is a bit repetitive, especially after you switch back to the main theme at around 1:50. There is definitely more dubstep type beat pwnage you could have added to spice things up.

RandomDanceOfHappy responds:

yea :D tempos 180 not 140 i started a few others to get a bit better at dub step to get bet better at makeing lfo synths to make more awesome sounds ,

[(MiB!) Stuck in the rain!]

What is dubstep?

lol, just kidding. But I really haven't listened to virtually any dubstep songs. So, if you'll pardon my ignorance, I'll try to touch on the minor stuff. This definitely wants to get me up and dancing. I think the kick could be more powerful in respect to the other instruments. Not the bassy component, the more mid frequency part of the kick could be louder to give it a "sharper" sound. Just a minor adjustment though. That's really all I have to say. Any more, and it'd prove how little I know about dubstep.

RandomDanceOfHappy responds:

the kicks are hard to do for dub step cos i needed it more basey thin the huge bass synth i had so it lost a bit of its mids, im not to fond of dub step i base it of a slow hardstyle with lfo leads and more base, second already fixed the kick :D im to lasy to update the song oh and theres 9 kicks so adjusting one part is kinda anoying to
thanks for noticeing that tho :D

[Messing around on gtr]

Again?

I'll admit, it's better than the Twilight Zone track that I listened to. But I seriously think that if you wish to improve your guitar playing, Newgrounds is definitely not the site to do it on. YouTube is definitely better, because the audience can see you playing. Besides the fact that I don't play guitar, how would I help you improve if I can't see you? I could give you recording tips, like investing in a better microphone. But there's not much I can say to help you. Sorry.

NekoMika responds:

That's alright. I've been practicing for nearly an hour 6 days a week since I put this up. Got a new cord for amp and a mic that does better sound recording. :-)

Thanks for the review.

[Strange City]

Four seconds isn't a lot to review o.0

Even so, I'll try my best to pick it apart. Overall, I don't think the track is bad simply because it is only 4 seconds long. I like the feeling that it gives, that strange vibe. The percussion is decent, give movement to the song. If it was longer, I could see this being a very interesting video game loop/ambient loop. Some pointers:

While the length of a loop *technically* doesn't really matter, 4 seconds is cutting it pretty close. Most good loops I have listened to are around a minute long. This gives them time to develop, rather than be arrested indefinitely in a premature stage.

I think the clap could be filtered a bit more. The kick and the hi-hat sound more low key, and I think the high frequency nature of the clap doesn't fit in with the rest of the song. Maybe even a different clap is needed in this situation.

In the entire song, there is only one non percussion sound, which is the background hum. If you want to continue on the ambient direction, you could add more long noted instruments. Or if you wanted to pursue a more video game type track, you could add a lead or two.

I think you definitely started something awesome, but why then did you stop? So much more could have been done. Keep writing!

NekoMika responds:

Yea I agree with much of what you have said. I think the mistake I made in FL was cutting the loop short rather than wrapping it for a better sound.

Thanks for the review. :-)

[~SW~ Mountain Reserve]

Ah, my bad

Full song, hmmmm...

Everything from my review on the loop still stands, including (unfortunately) the hi hat. It still has too much HF component, and it's also a bit loud.

Around 1:38, the kick is overly interfering with the flute and the other leads. It's causing "hiccups" if you will in the higher frequencies. I don't know if this is intentional, but just letting you know that I think it causes the song to sound discontinuous. Fortunately, the flute fits much better with the other leads than the guitar. Also, from this point on, I felt there was sooooo much room for percussion ownage that was simply left blank.

3:10, the kick continues to interfere

The ending was sufficient, but you and I both know there could have been more to close out this amazing track.

The biggest thing IMO was not the guitar this time, but the overpowering kick. For an ambient song, it's pretty loud, possibly because its frequency is very low and isn't that noticeable until you crank up the volume. I think you could have even done without the kick and replaced it with another percussion line.

Sorry bout the mix up, hope this helps!

SkyeWint responds:

I should probably change my high-hats or EQ them a bit more, they aren't the best, I admit.

As for the kick part, I thought that made it more interesting to have it make the "hiccups", that was intentional. To each their own opinion, though.

You may have wanted percussion ownage, but I was intending this song to be more atmospheric and airy, that's what it was requested to be initially, so... That's what it is.

I know, I know, the end could definitely have been better. But I was mainly wanting the electric guitar "mist" to go, and it felt too empty to just have it fade like that.

Thank you though, it did help.

[~SW~ Mountain Reserve Loop]

Interesting mix

I see what you're trying to do in this song, but despite the fact that you worked very hard to bring together two opposing elements, there is still a bit of awkwardness. The guitar sounds very homey, but the trance leads sound very distant, so it's like two separate songs layered on top of each other.

At 0:20, I literally eargasmed after hearing the electric guitar (?) come in. But it felt so out of place with the first guitar still going and going.

0:38, your choice of percussion instruments is good, *except* the hi hat. It just feels very raw going with the smooth kick and snare.

Other than that, this is a pretty short loop, nothing much else to say. For the main guitar, I suggest you filter/reveerb it much more than normal so that it fits with the other trancey stuff. Work on your percussion instrument *selection*. The patterns are good, but the hi-hat is just...no.

Awesome stuff, keep working!

SkyeWint responds:

Thanks, but this isn't the full track... ^_^` You can find that here: http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/liste n/432717

I fleshed it out. And while the high hat is still there, it's a lot "fuller".