NicholasCabraja's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Fènghuáng]

The beginning really make me droopy, haha. I like the nice shakers, it brought I nice pace of movement. When the drums came I felt it went slightly away from the ambient vibe I was feeling before. Now I'm not as droopy. ;)

I like your approach on the ambient direction, while mixing in a electronic kick. For something that is used in dance, EDM etc. This sets the tone. I would have however, turned the kick down a little, only because it goes for so long and i get a little fatigued.

All in all Nice job!

a23spyro responds:

Thank you very much! This is the first time I got a review on one of my tracks. For this particular track, I was trying to go for music that you would hear in a lounge or something that has a consistent beat to it to make you feel like as if you were underwater. It would be nice music to put you to sleep, that's for sure. I remembered a previous track that I made http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/632019 and all I did was re-played the notes that were near the end to create this track!

Thanks again!

[Space Grove]

I like how you can use the kick in rapid intervals, and yet for such a bassy kick, its very controlled. Well done. I like the main riff, its very car relaxing. ;)

A creative choice I would done the middle section would add maybe a little for effects (delays or weird subtle modulation) but this track still is very good.
I really like the weird zaps that swoop in randomly and alien-ish plucks, around 1:50 those gestures to me give that nice "space" vibe

saucybird responds:

thank you nic :) that's actually exactly what i was going for hahah. no no i encourage people to hear anything and creatively stimulate themselves to make something even better. but yes yes that's def the vibe i was going for, especially when it came to details :) i'm glad people do notice

[Lucid Lights]

Very good rhythm and bead going on. I like the synths and how they all sort of work together. Very good use of dynamics and delay effects. Good balances too. Good job!

I could really see this in a indie game, especially with the intro and ending progression. I also love that weird synth screechy sound in the background that come around at :57.

EliteFerrex responds:

Glad you enjoyed it! That "screechy sound" is actually just a high-pitched saw, timed with the other synth, but I thought it achieved a nice overall effect.

[Genéve Complex]

I like how there is no definitive part in this song, being only a 1:30 sec long. Your drums have a nice rhythm to it. I like the smooth variations. The Intro before the drums come in, had some nice subtle effects.
Those reverse gestures are good too. Im curious as to what they are?
Your woodwinds and brass and strings are mixed nicely, and panned slightly in an orchestral way. How much layering of instruments did you do?

Only nit pick is the dryness of the drums or just the drums overall. I maybe would have made them a little more distant in the mix or a tad more punchier? but hey, they sound good and fit for this piece!

Nice Job!

PianoFortress responds:

Thanks for the review, much appreciated! It's simply the drums being reversed for 2 beats. Layering wise...I have French Horns doubled by Tromboes, Violas as the mid-meat while Violins be the icing on top(with doubling on climax point) on far left. Switched by solo Violin for end part to mix things a bit. Other than that, double full choir for basic chords and panned on right side a subtle boys choir for high notes. Bell-Synth in beginning + end (actually througout the piece). Whatelse...Flutes for more high note enhancing, Celli and Basses for the lows.

[Overcome]

Well, isn't this the cheesiest of cheesy. The Intro i was like "oh my what is this?" Then the lead synth with a delay comes in and I'm like "ok..I know where this is heading." haha
I like those synth chord jabs, it felt wide, and really complimented the lead.

At 1:48 you threw in a nice gesture. Was that the same lead altered differently?

at 2:40 till the end when it picks up was really nice and my fav part. as well as the lo fi intro
this will surely be stuck in my head every time I listen to it. Well done cheesy man. :)

johnfn responds:

Heh, I think 1:48 was the same synth with a bandpass. Bandpasses 4 LIFE.

I'm glad you liked it :> it is somewhat cheesy, but who cares??

[A Droplet of Imagination (Original)]

You were right. The headphones did make this sound amazing. Such a journey this piece takes me. The piano sounds amazing. I love it's melody. Very good use of panning.
I am a fan of your strings and that flute? That plays at certain parts. It gives off this ethnic sound.

I wish I had more to say. But I'm lost in words. I feel so soothed listening to it. Very well done and a definite download :)

Jabicho responds:

Thanks man! this means a lot :) I'm very happy that you liked it, and for your words, I can't thank you enough for that.
Oh that one is a tenor sax, but I changed it a little to sound a bit different XD I'm happy you like it too :D

[What Song is This?]

Lucid.....fuck you....that was amazing :')

...I mean shitty... Or both.....oh fuck it, I'll download it.

Also I can't tell you the song name. Not even Shazam can identify it. Guess that proves how amazing it really is....I mean shitty ;)

P.s. Add more reverb and cut out some of that low end...also the high end...across the whole spectrum lol.. But in all honesty.. It was pretty awesome. Only because I can't play piano. :)

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Hahha, thanks dude XD

Yeah, I guess that the reason every one asks the name of this song in the youtube comments is because nobody knows what song this is :D

Yeah, I think I spent like 1-2 minutes on the mixing. This is pretty intentionally one of my worst ever uploads, to make sure I don't get too serious ;)

And hey! I listened to your new track pretty much the same second you uploaded it (which is why it immediately amounted to a 5 star rating, hehhe), but I put of the review until today, as I've been very busy. Expect it pretty soon (I still have a few things to do at first).

[Far Away Lands]

Yet another amazing piece man. I can always tell that take your time with your music. You have such amazing dynamics. and yet it still sounds even and loud. I love how you keep your low end swelling in and out. Was there anything in this piece that was challenging for you in terms of making fit within the mix or EQing?
I also love your Snare where is it from?

Well done!

Stadler responds:

Thanks a ton, man! It was a rushed song (2 week deadline for the NGADM tournament) so I copied a lot of the mix settings from my previous track, "Dreams of War". It was a pretty good setup imo so I tweaked the EQs here and there to fit this new song. Setting it up originally took months to do though. I'm learning more and more about the power of reverbs, delays, EQs, mic placements, instrument panning, etc.

A majority of this track used EastWest Quantum Leap Orchestra Gold, and some of the drums were Superior Drummer 2.0. EastWest have the best VST orchestras I've ever heard, which is where the snare is from too. I believe it was the "3 Snares" in the percussion section.

I appreciate the support; it's always nice to read comments like this!

[Costa Concordia]

Whoa. That was intense. Great use of these samples. The 2:30 mark reminds me a bit of Elders Scrolls - Skyrim atmosphere track. It's a shame tho that it just cuts. (Unless you plan on carrying that track with another song which would be awesome!) at :20 I don't know what sound that is but it gives off the impression of a siren from a dock or warship. That alone sells the suspense mark, and the little harp plucks that sit underneath..very nice. I like harps..

There does however, (for what I am hearing in my headphones) seems to be a frequency build up around the mid range at 1:30 that made me go "ouch"
It's that brass sound. It seems to really poke through and I personally would have gained that down. Not that this isn't badly mixed, in fact its very well mixed & a very good production. Faved it. :)

Phonometrologist responds:

I appreciate the kind review as I find myself undeserving of it. I'll have to check out the Elders Scrolls- Skyrim track because I'm not that familiar and you got me curious.
The horn like instruments in the beginning do remind me of sirens as well as I was trying to go for a boat in distress. However, that particular part at twenty seconds is actually the LLVln_ArcoVib_A5_mf sample played at a very low A note. The vibrato played slowly gives it that siren affect. So this whole project was really just experimenting with these samples to find the right timbre.
As far as the piercing frequency, it could be a particular headphone's or stereo's frequency response pattern that really spotlights that moment. Or it could be my poor hearing. I'm a bit below average ever since I was a child when it comes to hearing.
Thank you for listening and giving the time in telling me your sentiments about it!

[Descent Into Erebus]

Very well executed, I like the call and response at the end & the little string jabs. I very much got caught in your intro - a Legend of Zelda vibe and then darkness comes towards the middle piece, but The Hero of Time overcomes it! haha.

Your levels are very good. The flute sounds amazing, its an instrument that can kind of be hard to control since its in the our most sensitive frequency range. I may would brought the brass up a db more at :26 (Those staccato notes)
Overall though its very clean, and nothing clashes. Well done!

samulis responds:

Thanks Nick!

I'm particularly proud of the flute (and the harp!); I don't get to use my own samples in my work as much as I'd like to. Just be happy I didn't decide to use piccolo, eh? XD