Age/Gender: 25, Male
Location: UK
Job: Game Music Dev NFD
I hate when people just use loops, instead of putting the effort in to make something original. I make my own stuff, check it out. I used to use FL but now use CUBASE
Newgrounds Stats
Whistle Status: Normal
Exp. Points: 210 / 280
Exp. Rank #: 152,615
Voting Pow.: 4.23 votes
BBS Posts: 688 (0.39 per day)
Flash Reviews: 4
Music Reviews: 45
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All Audio Reviews
45 Reviews | 23 w/ Responses
The main thing you notice about this song either the samples or the tune has been exported at a very low quality, as the high end sounds like its underwater.
The samples u have used all seem straight out of FL, and are a touch annoying, but the idea is alright.
The tune doesn't seem to have a direction, it doesn't build up or go anywhere, and is also rather short.
You need to work on your production, and devolp this idea some more, as well as get the levels sorted. Keep it up!
Author's Response:
Yeh I know its my converter, I use lame but it goes through another program and it never reaches 100% so if u cn give me the name of good free convereter that would be great.
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sounds like you just too the track right out the game as aposed to re-crating it yourself...
coulda done something a bit interesting like REMIXING it a bit.. but honestly it does sound like you just cut the track out the game
It wasn't bad but not exactly a NEW EXCITING ORIGIONAL piece of work now was it?
Author's Response:
Well, it didn't have to be a NEW EXCITING ORIGI-O-NAL piecw of work, now, did it?
I have never played the game, but found the score, and replicated it as accurately as possible. If you beleive that I ripped this from the game, then that indicates to me that I did a very good job. So there. XP
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Wow, now i have heard alot of these castle crasher themes, I must say they are all really good, but this one is definitly in the top 3, if not the best.
The only thing that knocks down this tracks score is the fact that its short, too short, and its end seems more than a little abrupt.
Excellent work though
Author's Response:
Thanks!
The thing is about the ending, that it's meant to loop, as heard when playing it on NG instead of downloading. And about the length, that is purely for size reasons, as Tom/Behemoth most likely wouldn't want to use very long songs.
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The kicks powerful, but ur whole drum kit and sounds sound straight out of fruityloops.
Your actual idea is sound, i really dig it, but the levels sound a bit off, synth and high hats too loud, snare sounds possibly a bit too quiet, though that could be cos everything else seemed to loud...
Realy liked the sound of the stringy pads thinking about it.. they had the cleanest sound out of everything
as for the bass... I do like arped bass like that but it needed more low end, the only real BASS coming trhough my speakers wass of fthe kick drum...
Keep it up though, and let me know when you have a new track
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review. I was beginning to think that you might not do it.
I don't think that the FL samples are *quite* as bad as you make them out, but there is something to be said for finding other sounds so my music sounds different from other people. I do have other samples that I have been using for my other songs, which do sound better.
So balance basically you didn't like. I can work on that.
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This is an average track but nothing really stands out in particular. The main synth is okay if a little dry, but could evolve, even some chorus/flanging and a bit of reverb or delay coul dmake it better.
Your drums don't stand out at all.. you definitly need to boost the volume of them and maybe not use FL presets.. also.. wheres the snare? (I like some of the paterns you made though) Effective use of crashes, though possibley a bit too much at the end.
The harmony sounds kinda cool.. you do need some real bass in there, just a simple sine bass giving the track a bit more depth woul dbe cool.
Nice try, keep plugging away at it and I am sure that you will finally get something that stands out of the crowed.
Author's Response:
Thanks for the review.
I agree that I should probably move away from FL presets :P It's just that most SF2 files are 50+ mb and i'm low on internet credit. Heh...
Once I can find some good soundfonts then I'll have another crack at this song and maybe make my own. v Thanks for all the great tips.
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Dug the guitar playing man, had alot of emotion behind it.
The drums coulda had a bit more variation and been more solid, I actually liked the keybored, kinda soothing in its own way.
There is alot of clipping/popping on the track, i think the recording needs to be alot better and you need to sort out your overall production but the tune in itself is pretty cool
Author's Response:
Yeah, I know the drums could have been more varied,
but like I said in the description - it's a drum machine, and I
hate programming those things.
I actually have no idea where the noise interferences came from.
You're right though, a little more mixing and mastering could
have taken care of alot of small annoyances.
Didn't bother though. It wasn't a serious effort
for a great song either way.
Think of it more as something I did cause I was bored.
You make alot of valid points, and I agree
with most of them though, so I appreciate
your review. Thanks.
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The intro drums were very weak and watery... although a nice sound, they do whats needed but sound like Typical FL Drums... your pads sound slightly dischorded, which i actually think fits the piece quiet well.. the next break that drops in i wasn't expecting at all but sounds tight, although makes it a bit less ambient.
The tune builds and develops well, a few of the samples used could have been better but i actually rather enjoyed the tune, so keep up the good work.
Author's Response:
Thank you. You got some good points there
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The kick could definatly be a bit better, have more definition and volume.
There is some background air in the track as well...
the drums in general are too typical FL sounds...
I like the idea you have going on here, very different from the norm, sensicle randomness.. but i think you need to work on pretty much all of the sounds and tighten them up.
I do like the track, but it has a long way to go.
Author's Response:
Yeah, you're right about the percussion. You could look at my comments in the earlier review for a response to that, but you are certainly right, although I don't use fruity loops.
As for the air, I think you are probably referring to the bit of static that comes through on the piano keyboard, which I can't do much about except maybe raise the gate and play around with it. But yeah, even though I'm recording directly with a 3/4output on that, there is some static. I hope it wasn't too noticeable?
I wouldn't call it randomness, but I guess that's because I'm in my head, so I "get it".
As for the sounds, I do spend a ton of time tweaking them, and working them, to get them just right. But I am limited by the fact that it is a very, very old (think 1980's, older than me) keyboard synth that I have to work with, and although I love it, sometimes I just can't get the sounds as 'tight' as they would sound if I had just made them inside the computer. I'll keep working on it though, but there's always going to be slight imperfections when you record something instead of just writing it, but that's sorta what's endearing about the whole idea. No one's perfect, so why should every little buzz sound exactly pristine and like every other buzz? I guess that's just my way of thinking, but you're definitely right, too. Sorry for that ramble.
Thanks for the criticism, it helps alot. Thanks for a very helpful review.
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The drums sound a bit like they are straight out of the FL free samples.. the actual beat is alright, but far too quiet, they need to be brought out a bit more, and maybe better samples used.
The synths are too loud, and have quite a gamey feel about them, but are doing a nice pattern.
You need to bring a warm sine bass into this piece, it would give it much more depth.
I can see what your trying to do, this is actually a very good starting point for a track and withh a bit of work could be awesome
Author's Response:
Taken straight out of FL? I take that as a bit of an insult- I put a damn lot of work into them. Saying they sound like that is quick- You won't hear the drums sound that much better in most commercial pop songs really
For the volume of the drums and synths; your opinion, I wanted them to be just as loud as they are
I don't need to bring a bass there, but I'll do it in the next version. A realistic bass, that is.
A bit of work, too- I've worked on the song for at least a week. Bastard :'(
Anyways, thanks for the crisicism, I see that's what you told you'd give so, alrighty then :)
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I'm not very good at writing classical stuff myself, this definatly has a very moviesq feel to it, paints a picture very good imigry.
The beat is almost like a marching/pre-battle beat though, which isn't very restfull, but suits the piece.
The overall composition sounds quite good, although the instruments do sound a bit like they are from edirol orchestral or something like that... which is perfectly fine, because without spending loads on east west, or hiring a real orchestra this will be the best you get.
This is akin to some of themusic one would find in final fantasy or some mmorpgs, very good, holds alot of promise, and if this is only a test i am eager to hear the final version.
Author's Response:
"Very movie-esque", huh? eh, sounds good!
Does that really sound like a pre-battle beat? Yet it's not a steady beat, and it's pretty calm for a beat.
The instruments come from Garritan Personnal Orchestra.
Hey, you know you're not the first one to say it sounds like a Final Fantasy?
As for a final version, there won't be any, what i could improve is the mastering and that's all i think. It's a test, since i try to write music in a diffrent way. For more details, check my latest news post.
Anyways, thanks for (good) review !
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