Animith's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Lamp + LB - Interlude]

Nicely done.

I like the start, it's got a quiet, but epic feel to it. I think the feeling of distance you get with the choir sound is pretty cool, but that it needs to be a touch louder in general just so it's a little easier to pick the notes up.
The drums at 0:50 are pretty cool, I like the subtle change of pace there, as well.
The piano in general is easily the best part of the first half; the melody's pretty melancholy, but you get the odd glimpse of major chords which just lift the mood of the piece up a little, in a pretty awesome way.
The change of timing at 1:24 vaguely confused me the first time, as with no reference other than the piano chords it was a little hard to guess when the next notes were coming. I can't tell whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, I guess you'll have to judge for yourself. :P
1:38, I think the bass could definitely use being turned up a little louder. When the guitar comes in, the feedback at 1:49-1:52 made me think it would come in a lot stronger than it did, so it felt a little anticlimactic. Though that being said, I think the guitar overpowers the piano a little too much. What both parts are playing is certifiably awesome, I hasten to add, but I think it could be a little more equal, level-wise.
The transition at 2:26, while a little abrupt, is pretty cool and ends the piece in a nice way. My one peeve about the end is the final chord of the chimes, I think it's a little heavy handed for an ending; even if you arpeggiated it a little I think it'd be noticeably better. But in general, this is a pretty awesome piece. Definitely think about collaborating more, eh?

-Review Request Club

Lamplighter responds:

Hey, thanks for the review! I'm just speaking for myself right now, hopefully I can represent Lublub as well.

The reason I had the choir turned down is that, along with the rest of the instruments, there was very little else going on other than whole notes. I didn't want to increase the volume of something that I felt was interesting enough to stand out to the ears. I do see your point, though.

At 1:24, I guess that would be confusing, dropping everything except the bare piano chords. That was where Lublub started the breakdown / buildup for the orchestral rock deal, and I felt it was a good idea to leave a change there to keep people on their feet. I guess there could have been some rhythm instruments playing, but I personally have grown too used to that to change.

Then at 1:38... that's something I never thought about. The bass was at that volume so it could have a good deal of space to crescendo into the guitar part, but now that I look back we could have had it turned up, then done a forte-piano there. Good point. Then when the guitar came in... it does cover up the piano, but by the time that part was written, I assumed the listener would think the piano part was old news. Thus not minding it being overshadowed by the guitar, which was what we were set of featuring there.

I also agree about the chimes, I originally had them arpeggiated, but after experimenting I felt that a chord would give an extra punch at the end and never turned down the velocity. It might sound just as good arp-ed, as you said.

Glad you liked the song, though! I've taken away that in the future, I should pay more attention to balancing out tempo changes, and volumes between instruments. I'll try to keep a closer eye on these things the next time we collab. Thanks for the review!

[O.H.35 - Child of Liberty]

Pretty cool

In general, the instruments/pads/synths are nicely put together, there's not many flaws with the sound choices you made which is good, given the kind of ambient feel most of the synths are needed for here. And in general, the transitions and the introductions of each guitar/synth is really smooth. The sound of the synth at 0:13 I wasn't totally sure about, but it resolved itself a few seconds later.

The first minute is really nice and solid; good layering between the lines, nice deep texture going on. Though I think the section from around 0:30-0:50 could maybe have used a bit more synth just to flesh the sound out a bit, as you had a lot of nice warm pads before that. In much the same way, the transition at 0:57 was cool, but I think you could have maybe made a bit more of it than you did. It's fine as it is, but I think there was room there for a bigger climax.

The levels of the percussion at 1:41 feels a little low and I think you probably need a bit more bass at 1:55 (Though that could just be my headphones giving out on me). LOVE the transition and the guitar at 2:08, there's some nice new harmonies and melody added there to give it a little more variation. And again, the harmony change at 3:14 is cool, but I think the synths could have done more in the half-minute preceding that.

I think in general, just maybe look over your levels a little, because the synths seem to quiet in the aforementioned part, the melody seems a little quiet at 3:37, and when the guitar comes in with the melodies at 2:08 and 5:27, while what's being played is awesome, it feels a little distant? Especially seeming as the synths are still pretty much in the foreground at both those places.

As a whole, it's a pretty cool piece. The guitar playing is spot-on, the synths do everything they're supposed to and compliment eachother in a great way, the percussion never gets too heavy, which is often an irritation you get with some AP submissions. I think some of the levels could use a second look, and that maybe it's a touch too long for what's going on, but in general this is pretty solid. 9'd, 5'd.

OH35 responds:

Hey, thanks for the great review! I agree that in some places it could have used a little more tweaking in the volumes. However we were short on time and needed this finished quickly because it was taking hella LOT of time to make. Perhaps we will consider tweaking with volumes a bit more before the release.

There's a lot of room for improvements that we will surely apply in the future tracks we will make. Your feedback was of great help and is truly appreciated. Thanks again!!

[The Fapping Giant]

It's menacing, but quirky.

Can totally see what you mean when you say this could fit in a mischievous cartoon. I like the part in the middle where the brass kind of takes over, but I've got to say the string riff is my favourite part. It seems almost literal, the way the strings (especially the lower ones) kind of have this lumbering pace to them, as if it's an actual giant stomping around everywhere. The little string fills such as the one at 0:22 are also a nice addition.

Short, but sweet, and well done. What more can you ask for?

BudGPStudios responds:

Thanks for the good review, man.

Lol, that's why I decided to title this song about a giant, because the melody sounded like one.

[Land of Kings]

Great instrumentation

Having listened to it all the way through, I'll say a preface: This is really cool. It's got a lot of nice changes in instrumentation, and the development of the melody throughout is in general very well done. Bit by bit, here's some things I wanted to point out:

The silence at 0:16 seems to abrupt. The start before it is nice and majestic and gives you the idea that it was worth clicking onto this song, but the way everything cuts out just for that brief moment, even though everything starts coming back in almost instantly at 0:17, felt a little excessive.
That being said, the next 20 seconds I really enjoyed. Good buildup from the 0:23 mark, the brass melody's nicely done.
I loved the chord change at 0:45 but was a little skeptical of the one at 0:49. But as it and the main themes kept going, it grew on me a lot more. And now I can't get it out of my head. Which is both awesome and mildly irritating as I keep wanting to stop typing so I can hear it again.
The flute at 0:55 has a really nice sound, and again the music goes on for its awesomeness for a long time.
1:18-1:20, the silence again is too much. It almost feels like an extra fadeout has been added into it, and it just seems out of place. It needs...anything else just so it doesn't go from this lovely thick texture to absolutely nothing and back again.
On first hearing of 1:38 where the instruments kind of trail off, I was skeptical, but when everything comes back in at 1:43, it's a really effective change of textures. The percussion, especially, is a nice touch.
The string entrance at 2:08 is wonderfully subtle, as is the brass at 2:17. Can't fault them.
The sole thing that really truly irked me about this piece was the harp glissando at 2:21. Was too loud, felt out of place, felt like you wouldn't have done the piece any harm if you'd taken it out completely. I don't know, I just didn't like it at all. TO be somewhat ranting about it.
I like the slowdown at the end, but again..the final chord seems a little off. Like it needs an extra bit of cadence just to bring the piece to a good halting place.

In all, this is a cool piece. There's a few things that maybe could use a second look, but in general it's verifiably awesome.
And yes, 0-bombers are a ridiculous pain. But judging by this, they're probably just jealous.

Step responds:

Holy crap, man, awesome review! Thanks! You've been extremely helpful!

0:16 and 1:18... I see what you mean. Maybe something to fill up the silence would be some strings playing in the background, or I could just start the buildup earlier.

Glad you liked the melodies, I wasn't too sure about them but it's cool that they have some good response ^^.

Yeah, I really like conga percussion, and I always try and make it as good as possible.

As for the harp glissando, I was extremely unsure about it. It adds a bit of originality to the piece, but as you said it felt completely out of place, so yes, I agree with you entirely on that.

I'll see what I can do about that ending, then ^^.

Anyway, thanks for the awesome review man, you've been so helpful. I think it's safe to say that this is the most helpful review I've ever been given on NG, and I'm glad you took the time to review it in such wonderful depth. Thanks a lot for the review, glad you enjoyed the song!

[{SFS} The Falderian Empire]

Has promise, but it's way too long.

To forewarn, this has a lot of "It's good, but..." in it. But know I'm trying to be constructive in my criticisms. :)

It's got a nice, calm start, nicely harmonised. It gets a little odd at 0:49, I think it needs to get to where its going a little faster, if you know what I mean.
The entrance of the pan pipes at 1:05 feels a little abrupt, like it needs something extra to bring it in with. The entry of the brass at 1:13 however, is very nicely done.
As you mentioned the string samples, I'm going to jump in and say the snare drum irritated me. Snare drums as I view them are meant to be pretty sharp and bright sounding, whereas this one sounded kind of muddy and muffled, as if it had way too much reverb put on it.
I like the brass harmonies at 2:15, but much like the snare they felt a little distant, especially as they were the only thing playing. What's going on at 2:26 sounds cool, but not cool enough to go unchanged for an entire minute. Though in saying that, the recurring melody like the one at 3:17 is a nice touch.
I hear what you mean about the violins. If I were you I'd try and go into the AP forums, I'm sure there's a thread or two about string soundfonts that you could raid. But to be fair, you don't help yourself by having the violins be the only thing playing, and again for a very long length of time.
Which leads me to my main thing about this: It's way too long for what's going on. There's nothing bad harmonically or melodically about it, it's just that you have long sections of one instrument or two doing very similar things, you could cut the brass/violin solos in half and not be very much worse for wear. If you're planning on keeping it this length you need to add more instruments into to, just to give it a bit more colour and variety.
I appreciate this is a WIP, so maybe I'm being a little heavy-handed in the criticism. Make no mistake, I like the essence of this piece, I think it has a lot of promise. But equally, I think you have a way to go before this is totally finished.

samulis responds:

Thanks for the tips. I think I am going to get rid of the violin part and try to smush the song together more. :)

Also, I am going to go back and completely re-work the drums.

[Life of the Butterfly]

Very cool.

I thought the violin at the start might have been too loud, but by the time the cello comes in at 0:07 that thought goes out the window. Really nice harmonies between the two instruments, especially around the 0:14 area. I don't...really know what it is at 0:16-0:18, but it sounds like something has a bit too much reverb, or an instrument isn't pronounced enough. To the point where it's kind of sitting in between "working really well as a kind of ethereal thing" and "muddy sounding". I'd be more precise, but I can't work out why I think it sounds like that. Maybe just take another listen yourself and decide whether it's just me or whether something needs editing a little.
I love the addition of the harp at 0:22, but the start of the violin arpeggio at :28 is too loud. Cool, but too loud for me. Though the run-down between 0:31 and 0:32 is pure awesome.
The kinda refrain after 0:43 is perfect. nice harmonies, nice melodies, nice ambience in general.
The percussion around the 0:58 mark could use turning down a little, simply because the other instruments involved aren't very loud themselves and the percussion kinda cuts into them a little.
The voice accompaniment is AWESOME. Especially at the 1:26 where it takes more of a solo-type feel. The sliding between the notes there (And as well with one of the instruments before) kind of give it a little touch of an eastern vibe, which is a nice surprise.
All in all, I really like it. It's got a good ethereal quality, with enough extra additions to make it the kind of thing you can listen to again and again. Could use a little bit of fine tuning, but apart from that it was well worth listening to. 10'd, 5'd.

Jessismith responds:

Wow! Thanks for the such an in-depth review, Animith! It's not too often I get those. Now, I am not sure exactly what the reverb thing you were talking about could be. I used the same reverb on the master track for the whole piece. Maybe you're thinking of the chime effect? I probably should turn that up, so that's a good observation.
Alright, I should turn down the violin arpeggio. I only turned it up because I couldn't hear it on my bad speakers. Thanks. Yeah, I meant for 43 and after to be a nice ambient segment. Glad it worked out. And yeah, that beat does seem a bit loud after 58....I'll turn it down a notch. Thank you...I suppose my voice is more of the mid-east variety. :) Thanks again for the review, and I'll make sure to work on fine tuning it some more. Cheers!
~Steph

[Stargenx - Ominous]

Ominous indeed.

Nice choice of instruments at the start; the high woodwind and the sparse percussion really help set the tone straight off.
The bells were perhaps a little too sharp or a little too loud. But that's perhaps getting a little nitpicky.
The harp at 0:46 is a nice extra little bit of colour, and they helped keep up the pace for what is a relatively slow piece.
In short, there's too many things I like about this and not enough faults I can point out. The latter being an odd concern, but anyway.
The change in harmony 1:08, and then again at 1:43 is well done; again, setting a very dark mood, if the instrumentation wasn't enough.
And what's a foreboding piece without some choir sounds?! I thought they were a touch too loud at 1:17, but apart from that, they're once again a good addition.
The percussion at the 1:32 mark, where you have the three hits in quick succession, I thought might have been a little excessive. Or at least to have them all at the same noticeable velocity. but that could be just me.
And the ending was good. In all, my only little bone to pick with the instruments was the bells, but apart from that it's a nice solid piece. Does exactly what the title promises. 5'd, 10'd.

Stargenx responds:

Thanks for the interesting and informative review!

[War Is Near (unfinished)]

So...this was awesome.

Seeming as everyone else has said this is fine as it is, I'm going to listen to it as if it's a finished piece.

Nice start; it's simple, but you can tell it's going to build up into something huge.
The staccato cellos (I think?) at 0:23 are nicely done, just giving it that extra edge of pace.
The sudden buildup at 0:45 is again, very well done. Simple but epic melody, nice underlying chords.
The part around 1:10 where it kind of goes to build up into something huge again, before dropping down to almost nothing is possibly my favourite part. Because it builds the anticipation like nothing else.
The ending is abrupt, but fittingly so.

If this is the UNFINISHED version? I'd hate to see what kind of mastery you come up with when you think it's done. I think you're possibly being too critical of your own work; you can't think of what to do because there's nothing else to be done. You could easily leave it as it is. I refer to your average scores to lend a credence to this. Very nicely done.

AudioVision responds:

Well damn now I might leave the thing as is! Thanks for the review!
And yes, staccato cellos.

[The Reason For Living Preview]

Powerful

Nice opening chords. Though I have to agree with Gravey, the arpeggiating strings could probably use some work. Not only does it seem to be highlighting some odd notes, but I think in general it's just a little too loud. Given how their range is generally much higher than everything else playing at the time, it could probably stand to be a little quieter.
Though in saying that, the ones that come in at 0:44 work very well. VERY well. At 1:25 now and I the one fault I can find is with the arpeggiating strings. The piano and brass entries are very nice, very powerful. Especially at the 1:50 mark, where everything kind of culminates.
The build-up is nice and structured, in general it's got a lot of promise. Even if this is a WIP, it almost works as a loop by itself.
It's got the promise of a beautifully majestic air, I'd be really interested to see how this sounds once you're done with it. Nice effort, overall. 7/10, 4/5.

Theledge93 responds:

well, when i get the final product out, i'll definitely let you know my friend.