TheBellmaker's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[ZIG - By My Side Tonight]

Nice beat

Despite having only one lead playing at a time for most of the song, I think you still have apretty nice tune going on here. I can see how this is the work of several different versions.

Some things I want to point out

-Tempo: I feel that this song is too fast to be a House song. House is usually around 128 bpm, and this is definitely faster, even faster than trance which is around 140 bpm. Thus, I feel that either this should be placed in a different genre (I think video game would be most appropriate) or you should slow it down if you really are aiming to write a House song.

-Variation: You definitely need to vary the bassline if you are going to use it for the entire song. Varying the percussion was a nice touch, but the repetitive bassline kind of overshadows it. Introducing a new melody at :40 was a smart choice. But as far as I can hear, there are only 3 distinct leads playing 3 distinct melodies.

-Instruments: Judging by your instruments, I'm guessing that you don't have access to multilayer synths? Well, that's not the real problem. What I think could have made this track better is adding more subordinate instruments that back up the main bassline, or even stack on top of it. Throughout the entire song, you usually only have one lead playing, which leaves this empty space throughout the sound spectrum.

Overall, I think this is a good start, but you could have definitely added a lot to this track to make it sound more interesting and varied.

Good work!

xxxZigZagxxx responds:

Thanks for your very helpful criticisms!

I agree, the tempo is quite quick for a house song. I'm quite new to this house thing, just experimenting with sounds I like/dislike. The bassline can get repetitive, I agree. I haven't layered the synths, and you've shown me that that's a good idea. I'll take your advice on the next song I make. :)

I agree there is a lot of empty space in the spectrum, and I'll try to fill that up next time. Thanks for your kind criticism! :)

ZigZag

[Snake's Service Announcement]

I am fully inspired

I do agree, the track does fit the voice. I like your wit and humour in the announcement, and to be honest, I feel that kids would be inspired because of you.

I think you could have added to the announcement. Now, I am not saying that simply because of the soundtrack :P, but perhaps you could have been more specific, like referencing specific things you should learn in school. Hehe, something like "Do you have any idea how I managed to take down the final boss in Metal Gear solid 3? I used the Pythagorean Theorem..." If time is a constraint for this track, then I think you did everything you could in 48 seconds.

Overall, loved it, but I think you could have extended it.

SirKillington responds:

Yeah, I just felt it should be quick, like an after school special kinda feel to it. I was thinking of doing more of them, sorta make a series. I wanted to make it longer, but I kinda like the shock value of it being short because it causes you to want to listen to more, it beckons you to want to hear what he says. I just didn't want to beat a dead horse by continued examples. I really appreciate the music you lent me, and I thank you for the review good sir :D

[SF-She's a Solar Flare]

Good work!

I think it could use more melodies though. %uFF34he supporting instruments are done very well, it gives me that feeling of being in space. Maybe something high and tingly, to remind me of the stars would help...

The piano was good though.

I didn't hear any bass? I think bass is absolutely necessary for an electronic song. I thought I heard something missing.

[(Day1) Evolution]

I really like this version :D

I'd say it was a big improvement over the first version. So much more energy, and a lot more variation. It kept me much more interested and "awake" than before. Everything flows very smoothly. I especially like 1:30 where it starts to get a little mysterious sounding. Just two suggestions

1:00 (or within a second of) The background dance lead hits a note that sounds very dissonant with the rest of the song. %uFF34he rest of the pattern for the dance lead, just that last part.

1:31 when you introduce that weird sfx, I think it could be processed/filtered a little more to give it a dance feel. Right now, it sounds a bit raw. Maybe some reveerb would also help it as well.

Very good improvement, I must say!

RandomDanceOfHappy responds:

about 1:00 i dont hear anything being off but the lfo a tiney bitand to fix that will be kinda hard -.- ill see what i can do tho!. im more or so use to makeing hardcore sonds where being off makes it sound better
im re working the mastering atm after that imma try filtering the part after 1;31 better
this song is vary high energy for me intending this to be vary slow lol

[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!!

[(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 ,