ZuwerWS's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[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

[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

[Thundering Pride]

I really like how the piece starts, the first 23 seconds or so. I think the mixing and audio mixing is really bad here, the ratio between the volume of the other instruments and the drums is really off the walls. I'd definitely work on that, lowering all the melody instruments down in volume. I do quite like the idea behind the track, and the structure itself seems rather fine, but I have to repeat, the volume is way to high for me to say it's good. There is potential in here, and I hope you get to sit around it and work on the mixing, because the idea you had was real neat. I don't mean to down put you or anything, and I hope I didn't say anything wrong, If I did let me know.

ButterBees responds:

Nah. That's pretty fair, all things considered. In all honesty, the only reason I don't notice a volume problem is both that I tend to keep an inconsistent track on the overall volume and I have a high tolerance for volume and don't notice how much it's changed over time.

I'll make the changes necessary, and try to re-upload a more refined version later on, as well as keeping this in mind for the future. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Naitnoum Dwin]

I like the idea of this one, although I have some issues. I'd definitely bring the volume of the main instrument a bit, because it really sticks out and not in a good way. I'd also maybe gives some more breaks in the melody, maybe repeat some parts once or twice, because the non stop progression gets kind of tiring after a while, although I could see that stop being a problem after re listening to it a couple of times. Overall I'd say it's okay

DaxCamdaxian responds:

I will definitely make a new version of this track, I think this version works better in the context of the Snailiad mod, I would like to expand the atmospheres and arrangements even more!

[AIM - Lunar Heights]

I think the different instruments interact really nicely with each other. Over the last month I've been really diving into the indie game soundtracks, which is why I didn't comment or compose anything in the last month or so (which makes me kind of angry, because I had so many ideas that went to trash because of that). I don't know if intentional, but the style of the composition reminds me of something like "Night in The Woods" or "Oneshot". The chords themselves also are really nice, and If I had to work on something a bit more, it'd maybe to bit a bit more going in the background, but that's probably just a stylistic / preference choice, because those also was one of the problems I had with these two OST's, though I don't mind a quaint track at all. It's also structured pretty well, and the mixing and production is on the spot from what I could hear. Very nice, and though I liked it, not my kind of thing.

DaxCamdaxian responds:

There is always the possibility of expanding the atmospheres a little more for a new version in the future, the way I worked the bases of each instrument was thinking specially in two things, to give a feeling of amplitude to the theme that could capture a city among the clouds and to mix the futuristic with the naturaI, I understand that this kind of style may not be for everyone, thanks for the comment fella

[35 Minute Doodle]

Okay so I'm really sorry for leaving a review only now, but I just couldn't bring myself around it. I really like the chords the piano plays, and the sound effects that surround them. Overall the track feels very mysterious, and I really like it, don't have much more to note. Gives off that Lo-Fi vibe.

MauveDash responds:

That's alright! Surprised you're continuing to leave reviews :D

I genuinely forgot I made this track

[Through The Heart Of The Dungeon]

I like how the piano melody slowly distorts at parts to signify that there will be change for a darker tone, that's a really nice touch. I also like the key changes and how the piece is structured, the chime melody works really well with the effects on what sounds like a saw / seen. I'd maybe work a bit more on the 0:36-0:51 part, because it does seem that the instruments are too close to each other in terms of audio leveling, and the while I can tell this was intended for, the melody does seem to go a bit too far away from the chords at times. The main part of "Corruption" has been done with great attention to detail and I don't think there's much wrong with it. I like how you used the tempo changes. The second part also starts out good, but if you wouldn't want to change how the melody sounds whatsoever of either of these, I'd maybe recommend to add a bigger pause in between the two, maybe 2 or 3 seconds more. I'm keen on the snares, they remind me of what you'd hear in a march. The melody in the second part is also great, and I like how fast it is. The transition between the piano solo and the rest of "Determine Our Nation" I feel like is also too fast, and it does break the pace a bit in how the whole thing sounds. The rest is also good. Overall I really liked it

Scareev responds:

Oh yesss, thanks for the feedback as always! For sure there were some details i wish i could change later, since majority of my musics depends on this old laptop, on which is very messy about the usage of RAM memory, but anyways, thanks for listening!!!

[The Fracture Is Open]

I'm curious what you mean by the animation, but I also quite love how it sounds. It also focuses on the piano as an instrument, and at the very least, what I do have to say is that I like this one much better than the more Lo-Fi one. It's probably the mixing and better structure. I also really like how the chords play out with the melody. Pretty solid

Scareev responds:

Thanks!!! This song has some themes i made for my animation, but i never really released it for real

[Las caras de Alicia (Demo)]

Sounds very shanty like. I don't know what to say besides that, since I'm not really knowledgeable on guitar solos. What I like is using the whole thing besides the strings, and adding the little taps into the melody, you don't always see that. I also can't say too much about the lyrics, since I'm not Italian. It does sound a bit like a demo to something to me at bits, but as it is it's quite heartwarming and charming.

DaxCamdaxian responds:

Mama mia! is not Italian is spanish ✌️😎

Thanks for listening to this one, this song was made in one day and with only 4 strings on my guitar