Step's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Dive In (NGADM '15)]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

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OK so first off I adore the atmosphere here. It's spacey, trippy, upbeat, and just a total blast to listen to. Most of your synth choices (barring some questionable ones like 1:52's lead synth) synergise wonderfully with each other. The drums are present but not overwhelming, and the pads are sidechained nicely. I also have to commend you on the the sound design earcandy you treat us to at the very end. It might have been debatable to end an upbeat track like this on such an ambient note, but I personally support that stylistic choice.

I feel like you could have had more memorable melodies to tie the track together. You spent a lot of the time relying on cool chords and sound effects to create an atmosphere, but in the end we aren't left with much to remember this song by. At 1:52 we are given one of the few prominent melodies this song has to offer, but unfortunately it isn't all that profound or memorable either. Additionally, I agree with the other reviewers below me that, firstly, the intro is a bit lame in that it jumps right into the track without a proper introduction, and secondly, that the transition at 0:29 is pretty abrupt and off-putting.

There is some stuff to iron out, but otherwise it was a pleasure to listen to some more of Birdinator's standard-issue oddly likeable eccentricity. Thanks for taking part in the NGADM again this year!

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SCORE: 7.5/10

Birdinator99 responds:

Look Step, I'm responding and it's Februaryyyyyyyyyyy

1:52 is an organ, unless you mean the creepy synth in the background. I don't mind questionable, as long as it's not offensive, haha. Glad you like the sidechaining.

Interesting that you support the ending. In retrospect it really just comes out of nowhere (much like most of this song), so your comment encourages me to keep experimenting with weird parts like that. The very strangely designed synth is not of my own creation, I'm afraid. It's what helped shape the mood of the ending, though -- I really wanted to use it in some way.

Valid points on melodies and the intro. They are the weak parts of the track for sure, but I will defend 0:29 to the death, haha. I STILL think that shit's cool. I know, right?

Thanks for taking a look at this, Step, and for continuing to host and organize awesome events like NGADM. Cheers!

[A Droplet of Imagination (Original)]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

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It is such a shame to see you go. You were one of the top scoring losers in the contest, and if you weren't in a group with such high overall scores you may very well have made it to the second round, so you could treat us with another gorgeous piece of music like this one is. There's a certain sense of maturity in this piece that makes it captivating, enjoyable and unforgettable. You have a masterful sense of melody.

Honestly, my main issue with this is something that may have already been implied; you played it too safe! For a piece with just two main instruments and a whole four minutes worth of content, I was hoping to hear significant changes in texture, mood, etc, or perhaps modulations, tasteful use of dissonance, or changes in tempo/rhythm. Even the ending was a bit of a cop-out, I felt, with an arpeggio into a simple tonic major chord. You wanted to reflect a journey/process with this track, but I felt like you didn't explore enough places for that.

Anyhow, this is still an emotional masterpiece. I love what you did with it, and while I personally feel like you played it a bit too safe, that isn't necessarily a wrong thing anyway. Brilliant work, and if we do another contest next year I hope to see you then!

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SCORE: 8.9/10

Jabicho responds:

Hi Step!

Thanks man, your words mean a lot! specially your praising for my sense of melody , thanks! :D
Oh yes, I'll work in making cool changes in my pieces so that they have a nice flow and variety in them :D
Yeees, please let me know when you make another contest! I'll be checking the forum from time to time too XD

[Velcro]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

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I have been itching to review this one. God, you really outdid yourself. I liked your other music but admittedly never regarded it as music that could win a whole contest. On 24th August, 2015, the day I listened to this track for the first time, you, my friend, blew me away, and I'm happy to say that you totally changed that mindset of mine. This is one of the strongest tracks of this round and it's a damn shame you didn't make it through, but I'm going to leave a nice, juicy, long review to make up for it, and explain exactly what I loved and didn't quite like. Here we go.

So, what I absolutely must commend you on is your brilliant creativity. This is boldly unique, catchy and chock full of really neat ideas that find a cosy place in the listener's head and stick right there for weeks to come (can confirm). There are so many cool things here, and I certainly can't even begin to list them all.

My definite favourite, and a crowd favourite as it would seem, is 1:29's switch to triplet time. And man, you don't even instantly play your main hook, despite making such a drastic rhythmic change. That's a temptation I would've probably fallen for, but nope, you play it cool and throw in a sweet synth solo. THEN, at 1:52, after teasing us for about half a minute, you finally treat us to your primary tune, adapted to your newfound triplet tempo of course, and it sounds so good. Brilliant!

Then you decide to explore half time, playing your hook in yet another new rhythmic setting and with some likeable synth noodling. That's another clear sign of solid musicianship and great ideas. Finally, at the end, you bring us back to 1:52's pace, but adding more synths and melodies on top of everything to emphasise the climactic nature of the ending, and wrapping everything up with a nice bow (or velcro, even).

I could spend all day praising this track, but I think explaining why I gave you a 9 and not a 10 will be of more use than you. So, basically, while I love your composition and ideas, your sounds and overall sound design... eh, they could use some work. Some of the synths are really cheesy, especially the ones in the intro (which REALLY didn't give me a good impression of the track at the start). You have some really cool lead synths with an enjoyable VGM style to them, though, so it's not all bad. Plus, crystal clear mixing with punchy drums and decent levelling!

So really, what deducted a point was some of the sounds you used. Oh, and I also feel like you could've had a stronger, more hyped-up buildup to the last part, but that's a small thing. Otherwise, this is incredulously catchy, fun, and universally likeable. Thanks for such a killer track, and you absolutely must keep it up!

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SCORE: 9.0/10

LunacyEcho responds:

=> 24th August, 2015 =>

Memorable first date? :D

=> nice, juicy, long review =>

You're right about that o.o Thanks so much!

=> you don't even instantly play your main hook =>

I guess my mind went 'I've just played the main melody, why would I play it again so soon?' :P Variation and maintaining interest was definitely a big part of my decision-making in this song!

=> primary tune, adapted to triplet tempo =>

I really wish I could say that I wrote the hook in triplet time first, since it sounds so much better than the one in non-triplet time, but it sort of all evolved from that first melody at 0:31. Glad you liked the tripleted version of it!

=> likeable synth noodling =>

Thanks, Step. Now I'm hungry.

=> (or velcro, even) =>

;)

=> sounds and overall sound design =>

You and johnfn are just two peas in a pod, aren't you? Cheesiness is my bread and butter! But yeah, sound design is something I definitely need to work on. Interestingly, I also got some critical feedback on the opening bells, which I really should've changed. I arrogantly kept them in, and I guess I paid the price. :P

=> stronger, more hyped-up buildup =>

I really regret not going for that now! I remember thinking that I ought to add something to make it even more climactic, but it was so packed with synths already that I didn't want to disturb the mixing! :D (also, it was like 3 am and I had to submit it during school the next day so that was basically the last time I would have to do any actual work on it)

Thanks so much for the entire review! And thanks a lot for letting me be a part of the NGADM. It's certainly taught me a ton about how to write better music, from the reviews of my song and from everyone else's music too! If there's anything you ever need for the NGADM, I'm ready and willing to help out. :D

[Anticipate]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

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Since I was already pretty familiar with your music before you even auditioned, for round 1 I was hoping to get some funk-electro hybrid from you, so you can imagine my surprise when I got a... funk-electro hybrid, haha. Not that I'm complaining; you're really good at that style and I really like it. This is very funky and fun to listen to, with interesting synth choices and some sweet production value.

But man, there are so many places this track could've gone to. It's monotonous and really didn't go very far beyond the main ideas and groove that you establish during the first quarter of the track. Even the break halfway through is just the intro with a few more sounds tacked on. I would've killed for a lead synth solo, some new sounds, or even some crazy stuff like a switch to swing tempo or a new time signature.

So yeah, in my opinion you played it too safe for this track, which is a shame because you've got so much good stuff going on here! Regardless of that opinion, this is still a ton of fun to listen to and a solid submission overall. Good work.

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SCORE: 8.2/10

[Pluto]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

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Now here's an interesting track. Sure, I do have some qualms with your mixing and sound choices, but there's a certain spacey and unique characteristic to this track's overall sound that makes it a pretty unforgettable listening experience. That's a very precious thing to have in a track, and something which I certainly commend you for. I enjoyed listening to the atmosphere you crafted and the lovely chord progression.

Unfortunately, your mix leaves a lot to improve on. It sounds cluttered, and by the time the drums come in my ears don't know what to focus on. I also feel like the buildup to the "drop" (for lack of a better word, but I hate using that word lol) could have been more exciting. A generic dance-music-style snare roll buildup does not do it justice. One more composition-related point I want to make is that this could have done with a more clear, definable melody.

Finally, on a smaller note, the song is way too quiet. I took a peep at the waveform and saw 8 decibels of headroom on an otherwise fairly compressed waveform, and I'm just left wondering why that's the case haha. Normalising it would've taken all of a second and you'd have a louder and more eye-catching (ear-catching?) track straight away.

While this isn't a perfect track by any means, I feel like it's one of the most unique in this round, and I still enjoyed it. Bravo, and I hope to hear more of your music in the future!

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SCORE: 7.0/10

Pandasticality responds:

i agree with ur points, i did this song in a hurry :x i should have started it sooner, thank you for the review Step
- Pandasticality

[~Echo~ Redemption (NGADM R1)]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

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Oh geez, the melodies are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Like stunkel said below me, you really hit all the right notes in the composition department. Memorable, well-composed, and incredibly captivating, with solid chord progressions to boot! 3:42's piano solo has to be what really sells your compositional prowess. With such a soft section, you really expressed a lot of emotional power and meaning.

Production is usually something I have little problems with when listening to your music, but I've got to say that this time round that isn't the case. First off, I feel like the mix isn't nearly as bright as it could be. I was really hoping to hear some nice high end fizz by 1:45, but I was left disappointed. Some of the sounds you used didn't quite fit with everything, and some sections are decidedly empty and lacking in power. This is why I feel like the strongest points of your track are the quieter ones, because over there you showcase your raw composing talent without the bells and whistles of a thick, well-produced mix, which of course takes more time and dedication than the 2 weeks of an NGADM round provides.

Anyway, you still get a high score from me for wowing me with such beautiful melodic content. Keep up the wow factor for Round 2!

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SCORE: 9.2/10

[Oblivious]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

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I feel like this song got off to a great start. The filtered drums, interplay between the fizzy and smooth synth, and the generally good atmosphere, led me to believe I was in for a treat. Your commendably intricate drum work also gave me an impression of good production value and experience in this genre.

So why the low score? Unfortunately, this track goes nowhere. The same small melodic idea that was used at the start is recycled throughout the whole track, during its ups and downs, exciting parts and soft parts, and by the time the track ends, we're left feeling like we made no progress. The structure also feels rather senseless and the pitchy sound that comes in first at 0:38 feels very out of place.

This has some good qualities, and I feel like you as a musician have LOADS of potential, but personally, this submission doesn't quite do it for me. Thanks for taking part!

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SCORE: 6.1/10

[Euphoria {Dj-Abbic}]

Heya. Just dropping by to say that I am absolutely blown away by how much you've improved since the last time I heard your music. Like, holy crap. You always had solid composition so not much has changed in that department, but now you actually have the production value and sound design to do it justice!

This is really *really* great. 9.9/10... -0.1 for the terrible and overused song name. Good luck in the NGADM, and I hope you make it through the auditions.

DjAbbic responds:

Haha thanks, I'm flattered. The song name reflects a bit of what I was actually feeling when I made it, and to this day I feel like it really was one of the best names for this (most of my song names are just random words).

This is probably one of those outlier songs (I'm sure you know what I mean), but I hope that for the sake of this contest, I'll be able to outdo it.

Thanks for the review! So glad to hear you liked it :)