Ragekaje's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[21 Days of VGM - Day 1: Give It Everything You've Got (Final Boss Theme)]

Woah! Totally rocks!

Those guitars have such a strong progressive rhythm and they work really well with the leads playing those arpeggios! The drums compliment nicely, but could use some fills to liven it up here and there.

The composition is good, but it feels like just a start. You've got a nice progression of chords being arpeggiated and you transition them very smoothly into the whole metal band instrumentation. However, I feel like the whole song is just an A section. You have a great start to a song, but my ears were hungry for it to go somewhere. If its a song, have the lead guitars switch to playing a melody that is singable/hummable. Something that contrasts nicely will really help differentiate the section from the first. For example, maybe the rhythms are doing something similar to the part at 1:01, but you have a guitar playing a melody that consists of longer, more drawn out notes. (and maybe a lick of two or three quick notes in between the longer notes) If you lean towards more of a backing track for a game, I would lean more towards giving the composition some space in terms of melody. Have the leads drop what they're doing and just let the rhythm instruments drive the song for a few measures. Going down to just the rhythm guitars, bass, and drums can really push that intense feeling of motion and urgency while leaving room for the lead guitars to come back in later with a hummable/singable melody.

In terms of mix, the guitars are blended fairly nicely. I can hear what both the rhythms and leads are doing pretty clearly, but they both overpower the drums and bass a bit. I can hardly hear a kick drum at all (and I'm playing the music on a set of Harbinger PA speakers) and the snare is only a little louder than that. I recommend searching through the audio spectrum on your guitars to find a little more breathing room for the drums. (solo your guitar and turn it way down, go into your EQ plugin and make a strong boost in a small but not tiny frequency range, and slowly slide it back and forth while listening to the guitar to find where you can cut the guitar to make room in the mix) Primarily, I think the kick needs a boost in the high range so we can really hear the attack.

I like the tone of all the instruments you have! Lead guitars are nice and juicy, rhythms are thick and clear, synths are smooth! Again, the drums are lacking in this department too, but I understand the difficulty of using midi drums from a VST. It's difficult, but doable. I have a track that I'm fairly proud of titled "Okay" that used a VST kit if you want an example.

In short, I think you're onto something totally freaking awesome! Write some more sections, beef up those drums, and put together a badass track and send it to me so I can listen! :D Keep up the awesome work!

JoobieDoobieDoo responds:

That's a lot of feedback. It's great the song inspired so many words from you. I can 100% see your perspective, in how the composition seems a little bit samey. Keep in mind, this whole project was done in one day, in one single sitting for the 21 Days Of VGM challenge. Cramming this much in one day, you're bound to have some things that could maybe be improved. There is actually a B-Section though. The section that comes out from the drop out to just portamento lead and pads, is an entirely different set of chords and arpeggios. Though, your perspective that it is also samey is one I can understand, it IS similar in tone. The Groove drives more of an 8th note feel though. Where as the rest of the loop is more syncopation around the quarter note pulse.

The mix, I'm there with ya. This was forced to be done in a day. What are ya gonna do haha I could've sidechained the R Guitars to the kick too. I could've dealt with some of the harshness of the leads. I could've sidechained R Guitars to snare. I could've added some subs to the kick. I could've saturated the master more and compressed the mix more, than added some of the transients back with a some high mids-highs eq. Time was unfortunately not a privilege I had with this one. So a lot got left behind. It was all just "GO GO GO". That being said, I stand by the loop. I think with the two quieter sections and B-Section, there is enough movement in the piece to function without compositional changes.

Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you. And I'm glad you care enough to try and assist fellow musicians and offer your opinion and tips. You rock!

[Avizura - Break The Silence]

Dang! Very awesome!

Piano hook is great, mix is in great balance, and the song overall is pretty freakin' cool!

I like the melody that plays throughout the majority of the song, it is relatively simple, but each repetition changes a little bit. I wish it was a little bit more hummable/singable because as I walked away from my computer after a listen, the rhythm was stuck in my head more than the melody. The guitar voicing is sooooo cool! I need to know what you used. It's very reminiscent of the Megaman X instrumentation, especially when it plays the melody at the end.

However, I think the song could benefit from changing up the B section a bit more. The melody is too close to the A section that I couldn't hear much a difference my first few listens through. The guitar stuff is freaking awesome, but my ears were itching for a different melody. The problem with the melodies being so similar is that it made the loud parts feel like they were just one big section, rather than several different sections that were all loud. My ears felt like the quiet parts were just as long as the loud parts (even though they weren't) just because the amount of melodic content was the same.

Mix is great! I think the piano is at a perfect volume because it is almost as loud as the rest of the song, but it doesn't FEEL like it is just as loud. The drums and bass are strong, but leave plenty of space for the melodies to shine through.

I like the section with the swing, but it feels abrupt getting there and doesn't hold a lot of story implication to me. I found myself wondering why the swing was there except just to vary up the song. To me, a swing makes the song feel more loose and makes me want to dance. So, be aware of the "story" being told with your songs as you're writing them. (or arranging them)

All in all, fantastic work! I've listened to it probably ten times by now because it gets me pumped! Keep up the great work! :D

AvizuraNG responds:

Thanks for the long and well worded review!

The guitar is just 1 sample, which I think came from an old AMG sample CD or maybe it was the Universe Of Sounds library from the E-MU Emulator 2 (idk, I have a bunch of sample CDs ripped to my HDD). And then I just fed it through an amp simulator. The mutes are created using the filter on the NN-XT. I've used an envelope to shape the filter's movement and the velocity controls how much the filter opens up.

I think you're right about the B section, I still use a lot of the standard DnB conventions when creating tracks (very often it's just the exact same piece of music after the breakdown with an added outro for djs).

[Somewhere In The Future]

Wow! Definitely and awesome tune!

It sounds like a throwback to some of the early Sonic games; very reminiscent of the Sega Genesis.

I'm loving the funky rhythms and the cool melodies. Right off the bat, you introduce the catchy melody, show off that funky baseline, and keep the percussion pumping! I was hooked as soon as the song kicked in! My only complaint about the melodies is that I have a hard time predicting where they're going. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but melodies that are hard to predict often aren't as catchy as predictable ones, even though they have more for repeat listeners to discover. Its a delicate balance that I struggle with as well.

The shift at 1:11 is really cool! I love how that tempo changes so naturally and the tone shifts to a more serious and intense feeling. Having that same melody play slightly different really spices up the song! Are you playing in a different scale at that point? I don't have a great ear, but it sounds like there are some more accidentals in that section that make it more serious, almost like going from a major scale to a minor.

The end is cool and flows nicely, but it confuses me a little bit. It doesn't match up too well with the song as a whole. However, it may lead very nicely into whatever track comes next if it were played in an album. It just kind of sounds like we're moving into another section that is very different, and then the song ends. It kind of jumped out at me.

Overall, I am VERY impressed that you made this all with one plugin! (I'm not familiar with that plugin. Is it a synthesizer plugin, or an mix-based plugin, or something else entirely?) Keep up the awesome work! I love challenges like that where we limit our available tools and then have to compensate with extra creativity! :D
'Tis Awesome!

AvizuraNG responds:

Hey thanks a lot Ragekaje! That kind of vibe was exactly what I was going for. I'm glad you liked it.

And yes, I agree. Some of the melodies (at the beginning) were literally shoehorned in at the last minute, I should have fixed that before uploading it, but I didn't bother ^^; - I think it's easy to hear which ones were rushed and which ones were not.

I also had a kind of personal goal to go crazy and put as many different styles and time signatures .. etc (just basically all we had learned at that point) in a 2-minute track (the track was only allowed to be around 2 minutes).

TAL Noisemaker is a great plugin, it's free and very easy to use. I think I'll upload the soundbanks I've made some time, so people can use them in their own projects.

Thanks for the review! I will keep the criticism in mind for future projects.

[Neon garbage]

Pretty cool!

I like how you took simple phrases that each instrument plays and combined them in a way that is interesting and flows from one section to another.

In terms of composition, the song wants to go somewhere, but kind of stays still. There's a long buildup without an epic conclusion. With music, we're pretty much always telling some kind of story. So, keep in mind that you'll want to hook the listener, and then take them somewhere. Tell them the story you want to tell!

I really like your B section at 0:55, it has a subtle, yet hum-able melody. This is the piece I gravitate towards because it has a melody I can relate to. The first section is just setting the scene. Because the B section has the juicy bit, I would recommend trying to get to that section as fast as possible. My suggestion: 4 measures of drums, then bring all the other instruments in on measure 5 and have them play until measure 8, then jump right to that sweet B section at measure 9. (or measure 10 if measure 9 is a rest) After that, go wherever you want with it, as long as you take the listener somewhere new and interesting. Maybe you do the A section again and use it to build up into an even bigger B section that has the melody playing in two octaves with a bit of harmony for an epic conclusion. Or, perhaps you introduce a C section that has an entirely new tone, like you're trying to tell the listener something impactful. The canvas is yours!

All in all, its catchy, but feels unfinished. Keep plugging away at it! Try something. Don't be afraid to experiment. Be brave! You have talent!
Its not garbage, its a start! :) Let me know when you flesh out the idea! I'd love to hear it!

a-BomBa responds:

Thanks for the feedback... condescending as it was.

[Ofekdr85 - Journey]

Interesting!

With my best guess, I would call it chill-classical... but I'm really not sure. I find that some of my own stuff falls into that awkward space between several musical genres, but I think that's what makes them unique!

It is a little bit repetitive, so I would almost say it could fit as a loop in a game. All it needs is just one more section that carried a different variation on the melody, rhythm, or instrumentation. It needs a section that sounds like a turn of events, or like something has definitely changed. With music, we are telling story, sometimes without words. We try convey imagery and emotion through audio alone. In this instance, there isn't much that strays from where we started, so it doesn't feel like the listener was taken anywhere. Typically, we want to start somewhere, go somewhere else, and then either return home to where we started, or leave the listener in a new place entirely. Therefore, I think this tune could benefit from a section that feels drastically different from the rest, while maintaining just enough similarity that it feels like it belongs in the same song.

I do like the variations on the melody as the song progresses; they slowly evolve into something a little darker and more solemn. This prepares the listener for that turn of events that I mentioned.

The strings in the background combined with the drums, give it a spacious, chill vibe. (somewhat reminds me of Metroid) However, the piano clashes with this vibe as it drives the melody a little too often. If you were to have the piano play a little less often so that its more like a spice that's sprinkled on, it would add to that sense of ambiance. This will make it feel like there is more space, like things are slightly more barren. In contrast, if you wanted to lean into the melody, I would suggest picking a point in the song, upping the complexity of the underlying chords, switch up the melody a bit, and add to the busyness of the drums to really intensify things for that one section.

The mix is good, but a bit quiet. I can hear all the instruments playing, but overall the volume level is really low. There's no need to blast it out of the speakers, but definitely turn up the overall volume of the mix so it has a similar level to other similar tracks.

Good job, though! Keep making more music and keep experimenting and learning! I want to hear what you come up with next! :)

ofekdr85 responds:

Thank you very much! I will try next time to make more changes in my tracks, and will try to not mix instruments that don't go well together.

[Android Funk]

Very Cool!
Kicks off to an awesome start right away! For me, its reminiscent of some of the boss battle music from Castle Crashers, as well as Pokemon, and even some MegaMan mixed in there as well.

The mix is pretty good! There are many voices (instruments) playing at any given time and it is always a challenge to make them shine through the sonic spectrum where their sweet spots are. I am having a little trouble making out things in the mid-range between the bass and the lead melody, though. Also, I would recommend boosting the overall volume of the quiet section at 3:05. I have found that listening to my tracks with some white noise in the room (i.e. a fan or an a/c unit) helps me discover when my track has too drastic of a volume change. We don't want our listener's to think our song faded out when its not over yet!

In terms of composition, (and maybe this is about the mix, too) the melody that plays during the first section tends to get drowned out. I think its an awesome melody that drives that section perfectly with the rhythms that you have going on. My advice is to boost that baby! I wanna hear that melody like a vocal for a pop song, I want that stuff ringing back and forth in my head when I'm trying to sleep at night! Hahaha! Seriously, though, boosting that melody would really help to keep me humming that tune when I leave my computer. If it feels to repetitive, you could try an octave jump to keep the sound fresh while still pumping out that melody.

Overall, I think its awesome! It certainly sounds better than anything I have ever done, so take my advice with a grain of salt! :P

I'm interested to know what software you used, sound sets, synths, plugins, etc.

Poosac responds:

I used fl studio and I made all of my presets in Massive except for the main motive thingy and for the last melody, for those 2 I used the plugin Sakura and for sounds ... I really dunno I have libraries full of different sounds.

thanks for your awesome review ~3~

[Entities Of The Earth]

Very cool!

That was a very clever and interesting use of acoustic guitars! They carried the same intensity that overdriven electric guitars usually have. The drums were powerful, tight, and though they were simple, they did a great job supporting the complex rhythms that dominate the piece. The bass was strong and full of energy, filling in all the gaps, and brought those chorus-like sections to life.

My only complaints are how scooped out the guitars are and how similar the early sections are. The acoustic melodies are often overshadowed by the highs of the strumming. The same goes for the electric solo around 3:00. I think they just need a little boost somewhere in the mid-range where the frequencies of their notes lie. As for the section similarities, its hard to pick apart the first few sections because all of the instruments are firing on all cylinders all the time. Consider having the drums drop out for one measure while the guitars finesse their way through an awesome lick, or maybe vice-versa. The drums could steal the spotlight for a measure to take the song back into a different section.

The low-key section near 2:40 is really cool! I like how the drums drive the rhythm while the guitars just come and go to highlight certain beats, then come in pushing these awesome tones!

I still think the track is way too awesome to let a couple of complaints get in the way! This is a really cool progressive rock track! Awesome job! Keep up the fantastic work!

[Concept and Morality]

Interesting!

I like the sound of the synths you used. There's a nice balance in the mix, each part comes in clearly, and there are no harsh tones.

If this is just a demo, like a prototype, I am interested to see how you manage to use the new instrumentation to smooth out the transitions. Guitars and drums will definitely give this a completely different feeling. The transition at 0:39 is very abrupt and jarring. This could be fixed with clever instrumentation, though. Plus, the loop from the end to the beginning is abrupt as well. While it matches in intensity, the rhythms supporting the melodies are strikingly different. That said, I really like the growing intensity throughout the entirety of the song.

Are you planning on using acoustic guitars, clean electric guitars, overdriven guitars, some combination of those? I am very curious.

Even though it is a rough sketch for a loop with great melodies and supportive rhythms, but I would recommend working on the transitions. Looping music needs to have smooth transitions, otherwise it is constantly slapping the listener to get their attention. However, that all depends on what the music is made for.

Great demo! Keep at it! I want to hear the final product and how you envisioned it!

ConceptSama responds:

im actually creating a full song and im gonna play the song live with my guitar i play electric guitar thats how i came up with the ideas i played them first then put them into the computer. im no drum expert but i used a basic beat to keep time in the changed time signature
i just loop it when its not finished
and i shall work on la transitions thats some thing i have trouble programing into a computer
thank you i really appreciate all the feedback

[Waiting for a miracle]

Jammin'!

I am not hugely familiar with this genre, specifically, but I have listened to my fair share of electronica. Your mix is fantastic! The bass is blasting out my speaker and the percussion is smacking me in the face, all without losing any clarity in your synths! I listened closely a couple times and here is what I noticed:

My main concern is a composition issue. Your track is dominated by a major scale and this upbeat tone. I was expecting a shift into a minor key at some point. Somewhere towards the end of the softer section at 1:00 would have been a great place for it. If there was a sadder melody playing in the section before the snare build, (maybe around 1:30) it would make that crescendo at 2:10 feel even more powerful! The lack of a tonal shift also presents us with a storytelling dilemma. Your song tells a story of waiting for this miracle in the most upbeat fashion, never losing hope, never faltering. I would relate more to the song if the melodies started to sound sadder, as if they were about to give up. One sad melody would make the happier ones sound even more joyous!

Another thing that sits a little off with me is the piano (possibly a different instrument) that starts at 0:37. The short sustain on the piano clashes with the kick and snare that are still driving that awesome beat. I recommend replacing it with a different instrument for the section at 0:37 and also at 3:24. Make sure the replacement is more intense than the piano, but less so than the synths that drive the song. However, I would leave the piano in at the section at 1:00 because it fits the tone that section.

Regardless of my complaints, I am still jamming out as I type. This is a fantastic piece, keep up the awesome work!

Demonic-Overmind responds:

Thanks a lot for the review.

Actually, I suck at writing melodies with specific mood, but I'm practicing to get it right. The minor key-shifting would've been awesome, I didn't think of it :P

Those bells, I don't think they're actually clashing because I EQ'd them properly. but yes, I did over-compress this track while mastering so they're sounding like that(maybe).

[A village's call to arms]

This evokes some imagery!

I really like your composition, instrumentation, and the mix. It definitely conveys the scene you were picturing. I could easily imagine a village going about its normal routine and then someone spots armed forces over the hill in the distance. They alert the village, and the men proceed to take up arms. This song could easily be placed in a short cinematic telling that story. There are many awesome things you did to paint that picture, but there were a few things that work against that goal.

Your choice of instruments really helps convey the humble scenery in the village. The small number of instruments help paint the settlement as a tight-knit community, rather than a bustling city. The slow addition of percussion and horns builds the song from a calm, simple day to a tense situation. I do, however, have complaints about the composition.

The fight seems very abrupt. The tension conveyed in the battle seems to leave quicker than it came. After all, if the song is about the battle, the battle should be the majority of the track. (instead, because the battle is only 1/5 of the song, it feels like the song is about the village that experiences raids on a daily basis) I recommend having a few measures of great intensity or very low energy during the fight. This would help paint the battle as brutal and chaotic, or sorrowful and dark, respectively. As for the transitions, there is a nice flow between each section of the song, except for the transition between "C" and "A." (between the battle and the resolution) With the transition happening as fast as it does, this paints the picture of a town immediately going back to its business after fending off raiders. There should be a measure or two of near-silence, perhaps just one stringed instrument playing the main melody at half-time and with a bit more sadness. Then, slowly bring the instruments back to the main theme, but with a certain sorrow, as if the village had lost some of its people.

Do not be mistaken. This song is great! I really enjoyed it! It stirred my memories of Final Fantasy 7 and other fantasy RPG's. Keep up the great work and never give up!

EagleGuard responds:

Hi there Ragekaje,

Thank you very much for writing that in-depth review! Fully agree with you on all points of criticism, and it's definitely something I will keep in mind for future compositions. Musical form can still be a bit tricky for me at times, but adding some more sections would probably have benefitted the song, I agree.

Thanks again for taking your time to write such a expansive review, and I'm glad you liked the piece overall!