Step's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[i believe]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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I'm feeling obliged to straight out admit that I missed reviewing your stuff. Not just listening to it, but reviewing it. Your tracks are incredibly fun to dissect for me because as you know I think my sense of composition is really similar to yours! I adore your melodies here, but most of all the way you progress them. The progression here is simply brilliant. Everything works together like clockwork, and your transitions are as smooth as butter. 1:30's little motif is just wonderful and the way you use it in the background 2 minutes later, as you play various other melodies on top of it, is simply priceless. Your foreground melodies are so uplifting and so very johnfn (minus grace notes)! There are other creative little compositional tidbits that may not be groundbreaking but really leave a mark on the listener, like 4:10's "call and response" with the filters, the little glissando shortly thereafter, and the way the track dies down to almost complete silence a few seconds later before making a pretty awesome return.

Some things about your execution/production bug me, but I'll get to those later. For now, the first thing I need to mention is that the sounds you're using are mostly really nice, and the way you use them just sells it to me. I love the super warm filtered sawtooth lead at 0:15 which sounds like you put guitar amp distortion on it! If you did, then that's actually a really clever way to make a mix between rock and electronic without using a single guitar. Moreover, your drums sound really nice, if a bit dry. My only issue is that this gets hugely cluttered in the climax towards the end! It's less of a problem of having too much going on and more of a problem of levelling and EQing the individual elements, so maybe if you had more time then that's what you would've worked on.

Honestly though, this is a gorgeous piece of music. All of my yes!

SCORE: 9.3/10

johnfn responds:

I missed YOU STEP! <3 Thanks for doing such a colossal amount of work for NGADM and maybe next round I'll start more than 2 days before the deadline and have enough time to mix... nah hahah who am I kidding.

[Escape]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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OK yep you've definitely made an amazing improvement. I know how I told LunyAlex that I think his orchestral submission is one of the best this round. Well, this is is another one of the best. Your melodic work is just phenomenal. It's nothing complex but it's captivating, progresses very naturally and sounds just great. Wonderful harmonies at 1:26 and 2:46. The various dynamics in this track also serve to give the track more varied and different-sounding sections, and unlike LunyAlex your approach to dynamic changes was perfect. The swells up to 1:08 and 2:26 are to die for, and the way you drop the intensity down at 1:56 is abrupt but tastefully so. The piano's composition is gorgeous by the way! And those transitions! 2:14 has to be my favourite. The way you rise up to that moment, the introduction of the clarinet, that beautiful piano motif... Honestly, this is great stuff.

Your production is really solid. The EQing is pretty much spot on, and you can hear that at parts where you play orchestral hits like 1:08. Every instrument in the mix has its own space, and the clarity is all there! I quite like how you mixed in the percussion too - the large hits add a lot of power, and the softer percussion is still nice and punchy, although I would've liked a bit more reverb on the drums! Speaking of which, I really like the rhythms you used for your percussion, but I feel like the percussion gets very repetitive. I would have enjoyed a wider variety of hits and percussive sounds, with more drum fills and subtle changes in the beat, to give your track a more intricate background. I'm struggling to find many other faults in this; it's impressive! Good work.

So yeah, pat yourself on the back for making such a radical improvement. Keep up the great work.

SCORE: 9.1/10

papkee responds:

Feels so good knowing that all the work I put into this paid off. While I didn't win I wasn't expecting much being paired with Cadmus and Johnfn, I'm still proud in myself for actually sitting down and being patient enough to make a well-written track.

I still am a huge fan of the piano, and it's a combination of amazing samples and live-entered midi straight from my keyboard. It really is, in my opinion, one of the best things about this track.

Thanks a bunch; as always your reviews are stellar.

[#1 - We Take Over - NGADM]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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5 seconds in and here I am gaping at the TOTAL departure in style from your audition! Colour me surprised. However, don't colour me impressed. I feel like the quality you presented in your audition is far from present in this track, and at the extreme risk of sounding biased, I think you are a lot more proficient at orchestral. I've got quite a few issues with this track but my review space for Round 1 is a bit too limited to address them all, so I'll just mention a few glaring ones. Some transitions are awful. For instance, after a decidedly interesting intro, you transition almost senselessly into a totally different sound. 2:08 is the same story. These abrupt transitions disrupt the flow and simply make the track sound like two or three tracks put together.

On top of that, you have almost nothing interesting that justifies retaining interest in this track. The first half of the track consists of a cliche offbeat bass, blaring gated sawtooth synth, drowned-out lead and repetitive trap-like beat. The second half is a repetitive melody played on a drum beat similar to its former counterpart. There aren't many positive aspects to comment on I'm afraid. On top of that, like your audition, this also lacks dynamics. It feels very samey throughout and simply gets monotonous to listen to. I can hear some interesting melodic stuff, but nothing truly memorable.

I regrettably have to give you a low score for this, but good luck with your future musical endeavours!

SCORE: 4.2/10

FlaggedOnArrival responds:

Great review :) Love it when someone points out my flaws so I can work on them :D Thanks Step, and have a great time judging the remainder of the NGADM. Also: Thanks for the honesty :)

[My Cortana]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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This is one of the most pleasant surprises of the round. I mean, I always thought you were one of the best orchestral composers on the site, but that's the thing - I thought orchestral was all you did. While this is isn't a full step outside of orchestral, it's certainly a very different flavour from what you usually cook up for the NGADM, and I personally loved this approach. The strong point of this track has to, without a doubt, be the composition. I hear the influence of Japanese composition in this track, which is something I definitely can't complain about since I'm a fan of a lot of Japanese composers. The melodies and harmonies were beautiful, and the 7/8 metre coupled with the rock influences give this a fitting and unique prog-rock kind of vibe. Did I forget to mention that the intro and outro are both FANTASTIC?

Now for the production... I'm in two minds. I'll start with the good stuff. The way you used and mixed your strings was great. They sound like they're played in tremolo or something, because they have this rugged texture in the sustained notes which melds spectacularly with the more aggressive guitars and drums. Now for the bad news. The mix is muddy. The only thing which will fix this is a heavy EQing job, because right now a lot of frequencies are clashing nastily. The bass is competely drowned out, and the guitar and drums mercilessly fight each other for a place in the metaphorical spotlight. I'm afraid I'm not a fan of the drum sounds you're using either. Maybe it's just the way you mixed them, but the snare is so fat that it kind of gets obnoxious and the kick almost sounds like it's not there.

I docked a full point for the mixing! If your mix was perfect, I wouldn't hesitate giving this a 10. Great work.

SCORE: 9/10

[Gather The Clans]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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First off, this is, in my opinion, one of the best orchestral/cinematic submissions of this round, because not only is it well-produced and expressive like a lot of other orchestral tracks this round, but it's also highly melodic and memorable. Composition-wise, I have very little issues. The chords are lovely, your melody is excellent and your progression is spot on. What I would consider to be my favourite part of this track would certainly have to be 0:44. It's the kind of section that does wonders to showcase the melody in its purest form, and the fact that it's a break from all the exciting percussive sections is very much welcomed. You also have great samples which you use very well, especially in sections like the intro where the warmth of those strings can really shine.

On the subject of mixing, I'll start by saying that you've pretty much nailed reverberation and levelling. What's supposed to be in the background is mostly in the background and anything that's supposed to be upfront can easily be heard. Having said that, I feel like the mix does get a bit cluttered and stressed during the climactic sections with the heavy percussion. It sounds like you've compressed those sections like you would an electronic track, and in fact the waveform in those sections (particularly the ending section) are almost bricked. I also feel like the dynamic changes could've been more gradual. The track seemingly jumps from one dynamic to another. For example, it opens up too suddenly at 0:32 and the buildup to the 0:58 section was too weak. 2:49 is the only dynamic change which is somewhat properly approached. Making the listener anticipate a dynamic change like that with a proper approach will give it a lot more meaning then just arbitrarily changing from soft to loud or what have you.

I thoroughly enjoyed this track. Great work!

SCORE: 8.8/10

LunyAlex responds:

Thank you very much for the in-depth review and detailed feedback! Every point has been dully noted!
Definitely need to pay closer attention to compression levels and transitions.

Thank you again!

[Quasar]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Your audition won the "Most Aggressive Guitar Sound" award from me, so I was looking forward to what else you can cook up with your beastly guitar tones, and I am more than satisfied with the result. This is fantastic work. It nails such a unique and surprisingly fitting balance between aggressive/gritty and spacey/trippy. This equilibrium is established effectively with the tastefully abrupt transition at 0:14 followed by 0:28's melding of these two different moods, serving as proof of their synergy. Then, when you hit a dramatic climax towards the end with the high string pads and vicious guitar riffs providing ever-increasing tension, I felt both captivated and in awe. Nice work!

While you've got some excellent ideas here, I can't neglect to mention your excellent execution of them. The guitar playing is tight, and the mix is clear and wide. The transitions, while occasionally abrupt, all work well and allow the track to flow smoothly. Your well-executed blend of dubstep and metal is very welcomed too. Ultimately, my main issue with this is that it left me wanting more. You have just 2 minutes of content that reaches its end too quickly. You're in a group with people like Kor-Rune who did double your length with even more variety, so how can I not wish your track had the same amount of content? On top of that, the loop itself is pretty sudden and premature. Hell, I don't even think that there should be a loop in the first place. This track is begging for a satisfying, powerful ending to resolve all the tension you built up at the end.

While it leaves me somewhat unsatisfied and wishing for more, this is one of my favourites of the round. Nicely done!

SCORE: 9/10

[Right On Time]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Kor-Rune... man! This track, to me, serves as a reminder for how much I missed your music. The beautiful atmospheres, the creative chord progressions, the plethora of varied sections, the contrasts, the mood changes. You are such a talanted musician and no matter how many times I tirelessly repeat it, it will never do your musical skill justice. Fantastic work with this track. I can concur with SoundChris that this is one of your better works. It has one of my favourite intros you've done, and the vocal work is absolutely TOP NOTCH. Seriously, some of the best vocals I've heard from you. Of course, in terms of composition you certainly don't fall behind. Complex harmonies and fantastic melodies 4 dayz.

One topic I'd like to talk about would be the mood changes and contrasts. You've got some pretty extreme changes in this track! You call it ADHD, but in a lot of cases I honestly think they work beautifully, especially since they comply with the flow of the lyrics. 1:51's mood change, while very brave, sounds great in my opinion, and I have to give you credit for approaching it in such a suitable manner by ending that section on a weak/unfinished note. 2:21's section has a bunch of mood changes, from bouncy and detached to brooding and legato, and I personally loved the contrast. The only change I didn't like was 0:45 which feels entirely nonsensical and off-putting. While I'm a fan of your intro, because of that transition I'm not a fan of how well it fits with the rest of the track. Mixing was great, if a bit undefined at times.

As always, finding faults in your track remains difficult. Superb work!

SCORE: 9.6/10

[War Piece (instrumental)]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Real instruments... that actually sound GOOD! Massive props. I am extremely fond of your trumpet. It sounds very expressive and swells beautifully at parts like 2:21. You really doused it in a lot of reverb and in a way it kind of washed it out a bit too excessively, but regardless of that, the fact that each note reverberates so much makes it sound very distant and opens up the track, giving it a very large valley-like sense of space. It really helps the atmosphere tons even if it is a bit excessive. Speaking of which, your atmosphere and mood are just splendid. This has a very well-defined, patriotic and majestic kind of vibe and the fact that you're using a real instrument elevates it to a highly authentic and expressive piece.

Now for the bad points I need to mention. I feel like this lacks motion. Apart from the ending with the swells and thick string accompaniment, this track retains a flat dynamic, and sounds somewhat monotonous. The melody is constantly developing and changing, while not being particularly profound, which gives off the impression that this is less of a structured melody and more of an improvisation, even if this may not be the case. I think you did a wonderful job representing the trumpet's expressive capability and creating a delightful ambience, but this lacks the movement and dynamic/melodic complexity I was hoping for, making it ultimately a somewhat unsatisfying listen. It's memorable for what it is, but it could be so much more!

Anyway, I still love what you did with this piece. You created a genuinely moving and emotional track, and for that you deserve credit!

SCORE: 8.2/10

[Here, have some groove]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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Some groove? Why thank you! You shouldn't have! This is such a fun and bold track that I can't imagine anyone on their first listen not smiling or succumbing to the contageous rhythm by tapping their foot at the very least. Speaking of which, I'm going to start by saying that, rhythmically, this is brilliant. You indeed have an excellent grasp of the swing rhythm and every element works together beautifully with the rhythmic backbone - the percussion. The rhythm/groove of the drums is complex, varied and intricate but at the same time easy to follow, which is the mark of good percussion - accents and drum hits in just the right places.

Having said that, calling it just "rhythmic stuff" as you did in the thread doesn't do it nearly enough justice, because even in other aspects of composition this track does not fail to impress. You have a fantastic structure. While I think the primary bassline was a bit overused and some harmonies were weird, you otherwise know exactly when to switch things around with some new grooves and alternate melodies. Loving your intro and how gradually you introduce the track. You set the mood swiftly and slowly build on it until you've fully introduced and established every major element. If I had to suggest anything to improve on in this track, it would definitely be the mix. I can hear the lack of polish you're talking about. The bass is way too heavy, the high hats penetrate the mix a bit too much, other drums are drowned out, and certain sections without the plucked bass sound empty.

But what the heck, you've got a good track with a loveable mood, addictive groove and fun melodies. What's not to like?

SCORE: 8.1/10

Jernemies responds:

Oh thanks, that's a nice bunch of details and nitpicks :)
Points noted. I must admit that I was being a little lazy with the bass, as I didn't know what else would have fit in there without ruining the mood the song has been building up for a good amount of time before that already. The bass is indeed heavy, as there's both the synth and pluck bass playing at the same time in some sections. This is a problem I didn't even think about in the making of this song D: In hindsight, cloning the synth bass, filtering/EQing off the low end and doing a little arranging around for the clone would have done wonders. Would have also made an easy solution to the emptiness problem. Drums aren't that bad until the "fullest" part of the song comes into play, where the problems you mentioned also are the most obvious.

I'm also going to enter NGADM 2015 if it ever gets done, and keep doing this kind of stuff. This isn't the stuff people often put out or are used to hearing, so more the reason to do just that

Glad you like it :)

[No Worries]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review.

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I'm going to assert straight off that this is a hell of a lot of fun to listen to! I think there is definitely something magical and charming about the tracks I've heard from you thus far (your audition and this very track) that make them so insantly likeable and enjoyable. There's so much to commend in your creative and, like your audition, bold ideas, from the surprisingly fitting rhythmic guitar, to the descending pentatonic scale at 2:10 echoed by the piano, to the fun drum solo at 2:54 (and key change thereafter), to the smooth and exciting transitions, and everything between. You also have a great sense of melody, rhythm, and when to repeat motifs just enough to tie the track together without sacrificing variety, and your melodies themselves are fun and have a noticeably catchy hook to them.

Again, like your audition, I feel like you're simply bursting with potential but it's not entirely realised. Your production value leaves room for improvement. For starters, the sounds you use (save for maybe the rhythm guitar and some of the drums) are terrible. They either sound too cheesy and crude/unprocessed like your saw leads and arp (1:21), or too bland like your piano, and kick/clap. This submission is also lacking in the mixing/mastering department. There are occasional problems with clarity, various sounds are too dry, and the whole track could do with some heavier compression to highlight the punch that should be present in this track, especially at moments like 1:15. Apart from all that production-related stuff, I also feel like the track overstays its welcome slightly. After around 3:30 I expected the track to be over but it kept on going and to be honest at that point I felt like you started milking it.

I don't want to lower many points for the production issues. They don't hurt a track with such creative and fun ideas as much as they would to any other normal piece of music. Consider me a fan!

SCORE: 8.4/10