ZuwerWS's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Cool Beans]

I like how you used the orchestra hit here, as I almost never can get a good place to put it in even though I like the sound it makes. I'm not quite sure though if you meant to make the saw (or at least that's what I presume is making that sound around 1:16) sound so out of scale when compared to the rest of the melody, it sounds kind of out of place, but if it was on purpose I think I get what you were trying to go for. I also don't know if this was meant to be yet another demo, because if so then yeah it's interesting. There's definitely a lot more effort put into the project overall here than in the last one you sent, so it feels kind of wrong to give it a lower score even though this you put more time in. I still like the overall progression, with how there's basically three different versions of the same theme that all get different ways to get to them, that is an interesting idea to flesh out, into a full out thing. Regarding the mixing I feel like the hit hat might be too loud when compared to the rest of the drums, and the bass definitely is way to loud. Overall I'd say this is alright, but with some weird mixing choices. I once again don't know if it's a demo or anything like that, and I wouldn't want to make you feel like I'm gonna criticise you for ever single thing that you're gonna do. If it is a demo then cool, you're definitely making progress in the program, and this is pretty fun composition wise, but if it's supposed to be a full fleshed song then I already wrote out everything I had of note.

MauveDash responds:

Its not really much of a demo, its more like a rejected experiment that I chose to put online.

Mostly just due to the issues stated above, I personally think this is very bad but to see you found it interesting and a slight improvement with the program is nice!

[Nebulous Hellkite]

The mixing and overall sound is absolutely great, and I really like how you used the different time signatures here, I definitely heard some 7/8, 4/4 and 3/8. The drums give off a really intense vibe, with all the different sound effects that go along with them like the whistles and the really fast snares. I love how the flute like sounding instrument that get's introduced around 2:28 sounds. The melody itself also is very cool, and the key changes definitely add onto the vibe you were going for. The structure here is amazing, with how each part feels so distinct, like with the electric guitar that's proceeded by a more quiet one. It all fits together nicely, and the inclusion of the main theme (kind of acting like the chorus) multiple times was a good idea in my book. There's nothing I dislike here, great job.

edit: I also like the little poem that's included in the description, it adds character to the whole thing and is interesting at that, making you ask question like "who is dawn and why does she hurt people" (kind of a joke example but I couldn't find a better way of representing what my thoughts were)

[ROBOT DAY 2024 COLLAB ALBUM]

Listened to the whole thing while on a train, really cool stuff, although I for sure will have to fix up on some parts of my compositions in terms of the mix and the transitions. I think the first one is perfect the way it is, other than it being really quiet for some reason. I don't know why or how but even though I always have my compositions while near, below the 0dB limit so it doesn't peak, it always ends up sounding much more quiet. Other than that, yeah some fixes will be needed for Like Never Before, and I liked most of the songs here

Aalasteir responds:

All cool! Awesome you would like to make your music.

[Sample Slicer Test]

Out of curiosity, what were you using? I tried composing in that program quite a decent amount of times before, and I never personally found it, but knowing what my attempts looked like, you seem to have gotten it a lot more than I did. It's nothing extreme, but as a test / demo, it's quite fun. I won't get into details since this is supposed to be just a test, but I still had fun with the drum pattern you made, and it sounds like you did too.

MauveDash responds:

I was using SlicerT, which is NOT in the stable releases yet :(

Great fun!

[Less is More (Cambio)]

The beginning is quite interesting, but the effects added onto each instrument clash. One of the piano thingies (can't quite dysect which one it is) is really low quality sounding, and I think I get what you meant by adding it, but It does not fit the rest of the instruments, and creates an unpleasent mix. I like how you mixed the strings / winds into the mix, and their panning, I think that adds a bit of flavour to the overall thing. There's definitely a lot of stuff going on here, but not everything mixes well together, a lot of stuff just comes and goes, I'd maybe suggest experimenting with extending some of the sections, and then adding a melody onto it, like the one from 0:24 to 0:30, because that was one of my favourite parts of the whole thing. Personally, I'd extend it to possibly 1:15, maybe keeping what's normally after it, maybe not depending on how it'd sound and add an ocarina, flute or a whistle as the main melody there, I think that'd add a lot of character to this piece. I also quite like the part 1:00-1:12 and how the two pianos interact with each other. The part that's right after it has drums that are way too loud when compared to what came before, and the crash at 1:23 is really weird, it kind of sounds like lightning. I'd also turn down the volume of the drums in the next part, and look into the piano's, because some of the notes (f.e. 1:51-1:52) there definitely stand out more than the rest. I quite like the slow ending. Overall it's not bad, it's quite alright, but there's definitely a lot I'd go over, I'd recommend maybe reordering some sections, toning down certain instruments in volume, and extending the track so it doesn't feel like the many ideas you had are clustered each into 10 second sections. Hope you found this useful, if not, let me know what I might have gotten wrong, or where I was too pushy, I haven't written a review in a long time, and since then my approach to music and what to think of each piece of it has changed a lot

DaxCamdaxian responds:

I like your ideas to expand the piece, this particular piece is mixed in a very unconventional way, I compressed and arranged the frequencies to give it a colder feeling and to give a concrete spatial image, I prioritized certain sounds in the mix and that's why you can hear some disparity especially in specific moments, the only thing I can say about it is that I love how this track turned out and that I have found that people who focus more on the mix of the piece enjoy it less

[Waffles]

The strings give off a definitely interesting opening. I feel like at least a start the drums have too much of a reverb, it clashes a bit with the rest of the instruments. Perchance I'd recommend to turn the reverb up quickly when the opening ends. I quite like the melody, but the snares are making it a bit hard to decipher, I'd turn down those a bit if possible, because at least to me it sounds like they took all the focus when there's other stuff to show as well. I'd maybe turn the strings down a bit as well, because when everything is at the same volume it doesn't sound that good. I really love the effects on the guitar and the synth that accompanies it, I think that section is really good, aside for the string volume once again. I like the tempo down for the repetition of the main theme, this time being played on a different instrument. The arpeggios in the background are an interesting choice, that I'd also maybe tone down a bit, or at least change the instrument, because there's already a lot of stuff going on. Overall there's quite some stuff I liked here, but the overall mixing needs a lot of work on it for me to call it overall good. You nailed the middle part and the ending, but the in between sections are a bit too busy, and the clash between them I think could be sorted out by perchance adding a 4 bar long transition, kind of like a pre-chorus, if you wouldn't want to change much in the busy sections.

MauveDash responds:

Noted: The drums were indeed too loud!

I definitely should have given this the treatment I gave the one track you rated 5 stars (What're You Looking at, PUNK?!). But that would have left it in a near-final state for at least a month lol

[The Ocean Man Collab]

Listened to the whole thing, really nice songs.

[blessed stars]

Came in for the Back 2 Back, came out with what's a very fun song.

[Unfinished 2022 Track (Title: Lost)]

With some good effort put into the mixing, and some changes in the instruments, I think what's already here would be suffice for an ambient track for a game, If I had to give any concrete examples of how I could see the final version sounding, I'd say either something more electronic, like how it is in Subnautica, or something more orchestral, like in the works of Gareth Cork (Ori / ARK). Of course I know myself that each artists compositions are gonna be in a different style, and that it's an oldie, I just noted out what I thought it sounds like and could sound like if I were to imagine hearing it somewhere.

MauveDash responds:

It was indeed meant for a game (I didn't mention that since it never came out)

Agreed on the mixing, my mixing was quite bad back then, and this being effectively a demo didn't help. Might have gone the electric route if I kept on working on it, as I learned in 2023 just how much orchestral was the weak point of LMMS

[Our Sky is Forever]

This is gonna be kind of out off topic, but the last month really expanded my horizons when it comes to different kinds of music, in both good and bad ways, which I explained in my comment on that futuristic inspired track (Yes, this also reminds me of that cat wood game, I'm genuinely curious if you ever played that one) . I love the piano at the beginning of the piece, the melody is quite beautiful. I think the saw is a bit too harsh sounding, and a more softer one would be more appropriate here. The main melody, and it's structure is great. It reminds me of those pre-credits cutscenes when the characters get back to their starting point. I really like how the main motif is used, and the flute is also a great addition. I'd say there could be put more effort on the mixing and audio leveling, but it's nothing that'd make the experience unenjoyable, just turn down the volume of the saw by a Db or two near the middle, and change the sound of the saw a bit, stuff like that. Overall, a very good track, even with it's problems.

DaxCamdaxian responds:

It's great that you were able to listen to some new music, the game of cat wood you say? I haven't heard of it

I hadn't realized it but is true, the saw sounds perhaps too strident for the melody, i will check that and the mix as well, thanks again