ZuwerWS's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[TheBroox2000 & Itz_Gamepoint - Creation of a Black Hole (NGMC 2025 Entry)]

I really dislike the chime-like instrument that's playing in the high octaves and how it sounds. Overall aside from it not sounding really like a race not like space, I think this would fit more a waterfall even, and the either too loud chimes in the background or them just being too loud, this doesn't sound terrible. I'd reccomend watching more for the limiter, as even though I definitely see how you used it intentionally here, I think you overdo it on some stuff like right before the beat drop around the 2nd minute mark. It could work but I think it would work better if you tried to still include the limiter, but lower in volume the instruments there to make it sound less crushed. I'd reccomend using a less jumpy snare if you're not modulating the volume of other instruments by much, I think you might have done some in this piece, but it's hard to figure out if it's the limiter as a whole doing the job or you doing it on your own, eitherway some modulation of volume for the other tracks while the snare is present definitely is hearable so I think that's worth something. Overall this is still progress in the right direction, however I'd maybe try to speed it up if you're trying to go for a race vibe, and also add some more soft sounding synths for the space vibe. I can hear it at times like at the 4th minute mark, but at least for me the really high pitched chimes sound terrible, which is most of the reason behind why I gave it a lower. If you were to compare it with your first track for NGMC, you can definitely hear progress though, so don't let the score downplay the progress you've made in this rather short amount of time.

[Chocnoon x TheStacked - Aldebaran (DCLXXXI) [NGMC2025 Round 5]]

The intro is I feel like way too loud. Not the entirety, more like literally the first beat of it, it made me almost jump up due to it's sheer volume. I absolutely do not understand the description, which is neither a plus nor a minus for the song itself I just am flabbergasted by the sight of all of the random words. The sliding synth that plays really high for almost the entirety of the song feels really irritating at least for me. It doesn't sound like it fits or adds anything, and it's kind of painful to be fair. And it keeps on going for most of the song, with next to no changes. I'm sorry but I cannot listen to this. The beat itself seems to be decent, nothing groundbreaking, and the sections without the really high synth seem to be too well flattened, like if everything mashed into this one white noise, nothing really peaks or sounds off, but I think that's kind of the issue here. Once again I can not get too much into this piece because of the sliding notes. If not for them I think this piece would be at the worst mid, but once again it's just painful to listen to.

Whooo-Supporter responds:

I could understand why the intro could be loud to some people. Everything else is intentional.

[[NGMC 2025] - Uhhh me and what's his name again uhhh yeah me and Andy driwing through a city fr fr]

I overall like the mix, although I have some issues with it. Like the main lead is I think a bit too loud, and it seems to clash with the really fast instrument that's playing arpeggiated notes of chords. I'd maybe reccomend looking at how the snare drum would sound with a reverb or attack in the section near 0:45, to give it even more of a wobbly feeling that I think could play well with the rest of the instruments. The main instrument in the 1:15 section I really like and it has some really cool harmonies to it, although it does seem to be hindered in sound by a limiter a bit too much. At 1:35-1:40 it seems like the bass drum has way too much of an effect on the other instruments, like I can almost hear there being a sixteen note in there, but due to the bass drum it's almost unhearable. I think that actually might be a case for the entirety of the song, but it's definitely the most clear there. I have to say I like the overall progression the melodies go through in this piece, and the chords build the desolate atmosphere wonderfully. The section around the third minute mark is also great, even with me not liking the mix there, which mainly comes from the bass drum occupying too much of the space, and the bass itself feeling not as punchy as I think it should in this genre. The SFX in that section are also such a great addition that I wouldn't have though about including myself, they have a really strong impact on the theming in a good way. The strong on the onbeat section also feels like a great way to end things off, although I think a bit longer of an outro, maybe some reverb put on one of the already presented melodies repeating right at the end would make the ending feel even more satisfying, for such a powerful tune. Overall, even though I personally do not like the mix here, the progression from one segment to another, the transitions, the attention to detail with the sfx and the chord progressions make up for what is in my book a really strong 8/10, or maybe even a 9/10 for a person that would like the mix. Good job.

[GTGP2]

This was the first song I've listened to from this GP nearly 3 weeks ago, and I kind of really like it in a way. After the GP3 submission you made, I can definitely hear stuff I didn't before in the mix, like the muddiness at parts, and the audio leveling issues, like with the hit hats being way too loud and repetitive, like every single bar the pattern is almost the same and it's the most loud thing out of the whole thing. The bass seems to get really loud at times without any real reason, like at 0:58 or 1:30. There also seems to be too much of a delay put on the synthier instruments. Having said that, I once again have to say I somehow like the energy this one has.

CasualBreather responds:

Thanks a lot! We were really more cautious about that in this one so it's a pleasure getting it notified!! Thanks for your detailed review and rating!!

[crispy x 3manon - New Orleans Circuit]

The strings that play the chords are way too loud, I would suggest turning them down in volume, and then make the piano louder. I also would recommend either adding reverb to the piano or making it louder while taking a look at the frequencies it plays, as it does seem to have some ugly points. I think that the first section is a bit too repetitive, even with the drums changing up the pace once bar 4 and 8 hits. I'd maybe recommend adding some bells at points to spice it up, or have the piano move to a different octave, although I'm not sure how that'd affect the other instruments. The transition to the next section I feel like works really well at changing up the pace, and what comes after feels satisfying, like if the in-between drum part found it's way. I really like the next part, I'd maybe only add some sort of string instrument in the higher octaves to give it even more of an other wordly vibe, that the chords and chord progression already give off. I genuinly don't know what has happened at the 1:10 mark with the mix, but it definitely doesn't fit with what the piece has gotten to establish to this point. I'd maybe think of changing the saxophone sample to something else, maybe there could be staccato strings every beat or every once in a while playing the chords from 1:08, which would make the transition to the faster part even more impactful, and maybe also change at least a part of the piano to some kind of electronic guitar. All that due to me feeling like the really impactful drums, which sound great don't get me wrong, just don't fit with the more carefree melodies and sounds of the other instruments. I definitely like the slower ending, it feels satisfying, although maybe a bit too long for the overall length of the song. But still as a whole, the melodies, chords and the structure I'm keen on.

crispybatteryacid responds:

Thanks for the detailed review once again, Zuwer! I agree with a lot of your points, I really rushed the ending cuz I had no time lol. I'll keep your ideas in mind for later tracks.

[Chocnoon x TheStacked - Traffic Traversing (DCLXXVI) [NGMC2025 Round 4]]

I kind of like the slower start this one goes for, but at the same time, it feels like all of the instruments are mashed together into one place there, with no deep basses or sopranos, and instead with only instruments in the middle range. The drum beat is really energetic and gives this one a pump, I like it. I definitely appreciate the inclusion of some instruments in the higher ranges, although I think the one included at 0:55 has a bit too much of a watery vibe to it, maybe too big of an attack or reverb put on it, but there's definitely something there I'd recommend looking into. The change to the main part while sudden, is nice, I also like it. The main part suffers from the instrument introduced at 0:55, once again due to it's sound. like at 1:20-1:21 1:23-1:24, you can just hear it get loud for a split second until it's back to it's natural volume. The melodies are all really nice, chords while rather basic do a great job at introducing the urban atmosphere. I think though that the main issue, at least before 1:28 could be the audio leveling of each of the tracks, or some stuff going that could be solved with some not in depth moves in an EQ plugin. The audio leveling also doesn't seem to be awful or anything, just a few things I'd make an inch louder and some I'd make an inch more quiet. Like the bass, when the main melody starts I believe should be lowered in volume, to counter the new instruments that have arrived and you definitely want to put the pressure on in that segment. Overall the bridge sounds rather good, other than a few things I'd change with the audio leveling. Like at 1:50 I'd recommend seeing how the main instrument at that time would sound a few Decibels more quiet, while the drums being a bit louder to give off that punch of a new section arriving. Also the chord playing synths I'd recommend making a bit more quiet. What I think would be a cool move would be introducing some sort of effect on the lead that would make it more counteract with the rest of the instruments. The bridge is rather basic in it's overall structure, you have the slow, the mid, and the fast parts that feel really similar. What I think could spice up that structure is creating in the later parts some parts where the melody that's being played by the lead be interrupted, like at 2:20, making the main lead halt, and then have some cool motion in the bass or in the drums. I think that'd do wonders. Before the 3rd minute mark I think there are once again too many instruments playing at the same time. I like the outro, I'd just lower in volume the instrument at around 3:10, or put some attack and reverb on it. I feel like this comment has become just me complaining about the tiniest of issues i have with the mix, but I think it shouldn't go unstated that I still somewhat like this piece. The structure, while it can get repetitive, is decent. The same goes for the melodies.

[Burning City]

Alright so first things first, I find the mash up of styles at the start to be really intriguing. I definitely dig the more metal vibe this piece goes for at times, and the chip-tune segments counter well, which makes an overall solid balance. I think the bass might be a way too loud when compared to the other instruments in the chip-tune segment, but I can also understand that being the instrument you specifically want to highlight. It doesn't sound that bad though tbf. I don't know what really goes on at around 0:55-1:20, but I think there might be too many instruments mashing together, which is I think the most clear at 1:06 and 1:18. Overall I like the progression, and the bridge at 1:50 is really well done, although it feels like it build's up to something that just doesn't come, I think some sort of solo after the first part of the bridge would do wonders, and I'd also maybe cut down the bridge in length a bit if there were to be a solo. Then after it could come the slower part, and the outro-esque metal segment. I definitely think that around 2:35 there's something wrong with the mix. It sounds fluidy, in not a good way, like if some of the higher/mid frequencies were cut off, or if there was something more supposed to be there but just wasn't. Overall while I think this is a great foundation for a really great piece, and there still are things I really like about it, I feel like it doesn't deliver on other aspects that make me unable to rate it any higher.

[TheBroox2000 & Itz_Gamepoint - Red City (NGMC 2025 Entry)]

I would recommend lowering in volume the sample that's used at first as the fade, and then as part of the instrumentation, because it interrupts the rest of the instrument way too much. Overall it feels like there is something actually decent and nice buried under the fade sfx, and I also like the chords you used and the melodies you created. I'd maybe recommend toning a bit in volume the instruments that play every offbeat from 1:06 onwards, but I'm not sure if that would sound any better, maybe just making some of them louder and some more quiet would work. I also like the little piano solo, and the part right after it is almost good, but once again I feel like the whole is dragged down by the volume of some of the samples. It's deffinitely a different sample there from the first fade, but I'm not sure how to describe it so I'm just going to have to hope you understand which sample I'm talking about. I also would reccomend toning down in volume the piano at 2:30, because it seems like it's getting cut off by a limiter or / and a compressor. Even with the big mixing issues, I think I like it the most out of all of your submissions so far, definitely a step forward.

[Bombastishch]

I kind of really like how all over the place it is, and the melodies themselves seem to be really good. I'm keen on the sudden tempo changes, and how it incorporates different genres of music into one piece, but I feel like the mixing and panning could be better. A good example of what I mean would be at 0:30, where the instruments playing on the left ear are really loud, while the ones playing on the right ear are much more quiet. I don't think it sounds bad when isolating the right and left ear, it sounds much better then, but when put together, it sort of clashes. I like the experimental vibe though, although it definitely doesn't give off a racing vibe.

[Traca]

I have no idea what ESFM means but I find the potato man design to be funny. I like the karate potato man and I want to see more of him. First thing I noticed when listening to this is that there seems to be too much reverb on stuff, especially the Mandolin-esque instrument at the start. I definitely would appreciate if there was more variation in the volume of the different sections, as it feels like the main portion should be way louder than the intro. I overall like the progression and the melody. During the 0:40 part it feels like there's way too much focus put on one ear with not much going on in the other, which I think could be resolved by adding a variation of an already existing instrument. And with that, I somehow still really like this track, it sounds really funky, and minimalistic. I like that. 1:00 section also is such a banger in it's own way.

DaxCamdaxian responds:

The character in the background is known as "The Pantry Lady." It's part of a comic I'm developing with some friends. I'm glad you like the design :)

It took us longer to mix it than to compose it really, low frequencies help generate a sense of tension, but they take up too much of the space. Higher frequencies can work to generate textures, but they don't give depth

We managed to create an atmosphere that sounded gritty but I found a big problem, the main instrument sounded muffled because it was on a frequency that mixed with the synth pads that were in the background, I had to juggle to be able to lift that instrument and give it more power and even so it continues to sound a little below other instruments like the one that sounds at the beginning, I am sure that with more experience and with a slightly more advanced program I could do better things with the atmospheres