ZuwerWS's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Shai Hulud (ft. Arponax)]

I really like the contrast between the loud and the quiet parts, and how well they progress from one to another. The vibe of the desert is maintained really well, and I must say I also once again like how heavy you went on the race elements with the engine sounds. I also am really keen on the more ethnic sounding instruments like around the mid part. I'm not so sure about the triplet part though, it feels kind of out of place when compared to the other parts, it doesn't resolve at anything nor does it feel like a solid continuation to what came before. The guitar solo at the end is good I like it. Overall it feels like you guys wanted to cram as much as possible, but to me at least it ended up being more of 30 second A section follow by 30 second B section by a 30 second C section and so on. I think having a bit more variation in length, and having this track be around 5 minutes long with even repeating patterns would result in a much more fluid listening experience. The mixing is really nice, it just feels like this had potential for much more.

[[NGMC 2025] X3ll3n - Ashes in the Gearbox (w/ Snikio)]

I think the entrance is alright, it isn't amazing, but it does the job of a intro and setting the mood well. I also like the slow build up, although maybe it's a bit too slow for a song of this length, by the time it's over, almost a third of the song has passed. This section also seems to be really well mixed. My issues begin when we get to the section after first drop, where everything feels like it's too loud, especially the thing that isn't the bass nor the melody nor the drums. I have tried to pinpoint what exactly might be causing the dissonance for a few minutes, but I have no idea what instrument it might be, so sorry about that, there's just something in the background that causes it. One thing I can pin down though, is that I feel like the bass drum has too much of an impact on the other instruments, like if they were going way too down in volume at times when they shouldn't. I think pretty similar issues affect the fast part after the second drop, but there it's even more clear due to there being more instruments there. The transition between those two sections however also seems to be mixed well and I really like it. I think I'm not that big of a fan of how the progression is here. There is way too much buildup, as over 2 thirds of the song is buildup, while the fast sections last only a couple of bars and don't feel like they get the time to flourish, however this might be just more of a me thing rather than a serious problem, as this is not the first time you went for this style of progression. Overall I have to say I like it, especially for the slower parts.

[ArikXu & angre839212: Arid n Barren Chase]

I overall like the beat, but at least from what I can pick up the guitar seems to clash with different instruments in some aspects. Whenever it plays any notes it seems like the voice samples just get covered under it, while not necessarily dissapearing. I don't know how better I could word it, so sorry for the confusion if there is one. Other than that this is pretty alright, it get's both the desert and the race vibe pretty well I feel like, and once again I like the overall beat and the progression

[[NGMC2025] Jerboa Jam]

I think my favourite thing about this one is the chord progression, it's all over the place, yet it works. I also like how one of the snares sounds like that undertale encounter snare. Overall there's a nice progression to this one, and while I think the strings (the chord instruments here) are a bit too loud at times, the rest seems to be mixed well. I like it, it gives off both a desert and a race vibe

[Tales of the West]

I must applaud you for taking a different approach with the desert theme, making it the american wild west themed instead. I love the combination of the all of the different themes you went for, it truly creates a unique listening experience, and I dig the cinematic vibe. And also I love how you included the lick, it was such an unexpected inclusion but also such a welcome one, the mixing also is amazing. You truly got me stunned, there Isn't a single thing I could pick at and say that I think it could be better. Even the race theme, is here really present, even though not the kind of race you'd expect from what has come beforehands.

Everratic responds:

Thanks for the wonderful review!

[Amarna [NGMC 2025]]

I really love the entrance, it reminds me of something Gareth Coker would do in his tracks, and he's one of my favourite composers. The mixing in the first part is great, with maybe some audio leveling that could be changed, like lowering the volume of the strings, and doing some EQ on the main instrument because it seems like it's taking up a bit too much space, but other than that it's great. The structure also is really nice, I especially like the chords and the instrumentation choice. In regards to the second part, I'd maybe isolate the bass drum and use an EQ and some basic attack and release on it, because while the other instruments interact with it about right, what I think could be fixed is the higher frequencies the bass drum also seems to have, which sound off. I also really like the inclusion of all sorts of sfx, although I don't know why birds would be on a sahara, and the fact you use the exact same sample like every four bars also get's really irritating once you notice it, and maybe changing it's length / pitch, or even offset more would help a bit. Overall I like it, there's a lot to like about this one. One last detail I'd like to mention is, I like those little quiet "hey's!" around 1:50.

[Chocnoon & radon - Sahara Spin (DCLXXVI) [NGMC2025 Round 3]]

I think that you might have used the compressor and limiter to too high of a degree. I'd suggest toning it down a beat and having your piece not always as loud as possible, but more dynamic in volume, as for example the beginning sounds really cut off with stuff that feels like should be louder but aren't. the main section feels rather well mixed, although the chorus definitely has too many instruments in the same octave that don't mash well together and thus create a dissonance. One thing that could be done is lowering the synths that play the chords in volume, and keeping up the melody at around the same volume, maybe also having the secondary instruments panned in the main section, so that there's more lee way. I'm not that big of a fan of the attack on the synths at around the second minute mark. Although I like the idea of the more crunchy section, I think you should have went even further with it, as the synths in the background I don't feel like really fit there. Not as far as in the ending, but still add some more variation, for example having the chords sometimes play twice during one bar, I don't think even changing all of the notes would be necessary. Overall while I like the progression, and the main part seems to be the highlight, I think this piece really struggles from the mixing, and especially the beginning from the compressor and/or limiter.

[crispy x Dynamic0 - Fifth Gear Sandstorm]

I love how you guys did the beginning especially with the drums, although I think on the mixing it can get too muddy with the synths, although that's just a tiny nitpick as it's barely noticeable I feel like and the average listener wouldn't notice it. The attention to detail with the engine start sound effects are very welcome and I like their inclusion. I think the sample for the melody clashes in tone with the chords, and later on in frequencies with the hithat's, the job you have done with what sounds to me like a modified steel drum is quite outstanding to me, but I just can't shake of the feeling that something's wrong. I overall am keen on the sound of the trumpet / string instrument (I'm not quite sure what it is, one second it sounds like a trumpet esque instrument, the other it sounds like a modulated viola), and especially the melody it plays, as it definitely helps to keep up the vibe you already set up in the beginning, but I feel like it's too watery and light, when it should be more clearly heard as the main instrument. The same goes for the synth later on, which also could sound great with all of the crazy twists and turns it's melody goes through, but there's just something about it's volume and it's tone that feels off, like it's barely hearable at points. at 1:55-2:10 there seem to be many instruments that are in the same octave, and hence there is a dissonance. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't want to change the instrumentation, but maybe I'd look after some programming in an EQ plugin, so that the instrument you really want to pin point is the one that's setting the stage clear? I really like the transition to the more quiet part, and then back again to the loud part, and the instrumentation seems to be amazing, but once again it is burried under all of the clutter that the other instruments make. Overall, at times when the mixing is good, it sounds amazing, but when there's too much going on in one octave at the same time, it starts sounding off.

crispybatteryacid responds:

Thanks for your detailed review!

["𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓾𝓼" (NGCS3)]

I don't know how you did the different font in the title, but along with the really orchestral vibe this song has at points, I think it really adds to the atmosphere. the beginning set's up the dessert atmosphere well, with it making you feel like it's getting really hot. The whistles or hums sound like the wind to me. The transition to the main portion while I feel is a bit off, especially at 0:45-0:46 it seems like there could be something more done, it's still really solid. I like the dissonance in the melody. I'd suggest maybe toning down in volume some of the instruments, like at 1:00 or 1:21 some instruments seem to be too loud when compared to the others. I really like how you used the oohs and the different vocal sounds, they definitely help to get the feeling. At around 2:05 I'd suggest changing up slightly the position and volume of the ride cymbal, as it feels like it's just the same sample played every single beat which get's irritating after a short while. I also must say that while I like the idea of the panning on the percussion right before the end, I'd maybe make it less right or left only and no in between, as there were no instruments before in the composition with such heavy panning, which I think leads to an unexpected outcome. The ending with the sfx however, I think is great and sounds great, panning included, maybe I'd only tone down a bit the first wind chime in volume. Overall this is nice, I like it.

[Suhalla's Lamakan]

The intro while melodically alright, it seems to be crammed with something that really shouldn't even be there, and that goes for the rest of the song as well. I don't know what exactly might be causing it, but the composition seems to have something terrible going with the mix, with the wateriness of all of the sounds. I think there's not that much with the melodies themselves, but just something about the sounds and the vocals made it really unpleasant for me to listen to it. The audio leveling also seems off, like this random loud drum around 2:18, and the guitar around 2:30 being way louder than it should. Overall while I think it could have been good, something about the mix just ruined it for me, you got it on the theme though.

CasualBreather responds:

Thanks for the feedback, yes it's probably a school case of what not to do mix wise. We will try to never reproduce these kind of mistakes.