Zafrece's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[E-1]

I'm uncertain how you came across me. However i will try to review this the best i can. I also answered your msg but was having problems sending it, hopefully it went through.

It's not bad for using the limitations of garage band. But i can't let that waiver my review as a musical piece in total.

Things that need some work:Off the bat i can say it's way too silent, but you already knew that. Sadly i'm uncertain the problem causing it using garage band.
Your mix was muddy, meaning you let all your sounds converge into one channel and play through out the song with out mixing or mastering. That leads me to mixing and mastering, here is a site that was recommended to me that helped me with eqing a bit. EQ-ing http://www.tranceproduction.com/techn ique/equaliza tion2.html
Your transitions often times didn't lead into the next section well, it more or less droped the entire song off and went to the bass for extended periods of time. That is fine when using a bass lead, but you need some ambiance or added sounds to help in establishing a song rather than 2 min bass solo. Some pads or low attack sin/saw sounds can help with that. Even square wave arpeggios could aid in establishing a key or mode to the bass line.

hope that helps in some way

Abombination responds:

Its really hard to mix and master songs in garage band. thats why I have been looking for other tools.

[Who Am I?]

The lead was seemed all over the place at times. However despite taste i enjoyed this song allot. Keep it up m8

[Data Empire]

Amazing piece of work, extremely original song. Great mix and eqing. Nothing more to say than wow.

GameBalance responds:

Yes it's fully original, thank you!

[Reaching into EF]

This is an interesting song, i can't say i've heard much like it. 5/5 nothing more to say.

Teck071 responds:

thank you bro, look up electro freestyle... artists like eXtatic, Sonic Division & B-Boy Tronik, Atomic Project, Electrocore

[By My Friends (I Endure)]

I am not to familiar with the structure of house or the genre in itself for the most part. But i shall try to give my honest opinion all the same.

One thing that stood out more than anything in the negative realm would be the transition mid way through the song. The change was too great with little down time or linking notes or chord progressions aiding in the large shift. (note this is mostly personal preference at this point speaking so my rating it not effected by preference)

More or less that is all i have to say about this song as i am unfamiliar with house. The song over all was catchy. It had good rythm to it. Slightly more complex than your newer songs in terms of song structure, which i like. Your white noise flares are excellent as they have been in the others songs of yours i have seen. Over all nice work, i'm keeping tabs on you =p

[Simple Drive -WIP-]

Gross beat is an amazing plug in. Nice loop.

ThePal responds:

Indeed. Does wonders everytime.

[Moonlight Muses (WIP)]

As some one who also desires and asks for critiques i will do the honors of being honest with you.

Things i did not like - The transition at 1:00 did not flow well into the next segment. Personally i felt like it stopped or halted the feel of the song as a whole. The back ground noise of people talking, although it may have been for a feeling you were trying to convey, with the name of the song i fail to see how it fits the theme. Your drum samples, it seems as if you were using default samples and fls hats if im not mistaken. Try going to "boy in a band. com" and get some of their drum sample packs. They are decent and offer a decent variety to start branching out in different drum sounds. I've seen this several times in the past few weeks, songs at parts seem empty. Such a small thing like a soft pad to aid in holding the chords and filling silence can be over looked. However it offers a powerful effect in the song as a whole.

Things i did like- Your bass was clear and crisp, it had a nice mellow sound that did not stick out nor did it blend in to the back ground too much. it's one of the better sounding basses i have heard in some time. The rythm of the bass also was catchy and kept the pace of the song going. Panning L/R white noise flares, excellent touch and it stood out. On the topic of white noise flares, yours are quite good =p. Good use of the chords cut off filter. Over all rather simplistic song in structure, however it delivered the music well all the same.

I hope no ill feelings are to come from this review. I would not say anything that i did not feel was true, nor would i say something i would not want to hear about my own works.

keep up the good work

Zafrece

ThePal responds:

It's always a great honor to get a detailed review like this! I'll try to reply to this as good as I can.

That transition at 1:00, That've been the biggest issue I've had.
As a musician I've ofcourse showed this to my friends, and 1 of them told me about that transition as well. He said that he simply didn't like it too well, and thought it could improved.

But that's the question, how can I improve it?
That's been bugging me. I can indeed try to blend it over by making the segment of 0:29 - 0:52 longer, but that might make the dilemma of it becoming too repetitive. A problem I've had alittle with my earlier songs.
I simply tried with a breakdown, but that indeed seems alittle early.

The drums are actually original, bought a drumpack on Imageline. But you're right, the hi-hat has some default over it. I will try to change it out, even though I find it quite fitting. I hate the feeling of default, I gotta admit. So that thought is understandable.

A soft pad ain't no bad idea, that has been a success with quite afew of my earlier songs. I will try that as well.

I've been praticing basses and reversed cymbals/noises for quite some time now, so it's a good thing to see it work out. :)

Thanks alot for your thoughtful review, I'll be glad to return the favor!

-ThePal

[*Take U Out*]

Over all awesome singing and song, the vocals seemed to be overpowering the song however. Just my taste.

Poniiboi responds:

Very possible, very possible. I'll look into it for next time.

[Warped]

i have to say i was not fond of the detuned lead in the slightest. Over all the song sounded rather empty at parts, however chill it might be it still felt void of ambiance. I don't mean to be a douche but i enjoyed your previous song much more than this.

Personal opinion/preference- At parts it seemed rather empty of tune or flow, usually when things of that nature happen its from a lack of a specific hertz range or chord backing to aid in establishing a tune. simple 3 note chords with a decent pad or pluck depending on the sound you are going for can aid in this. 1:17 the hat came in slightly stronger than most of the other mix. Your kick was difficult to hear for most of the song. if you make a composite kick that takes up 300 hertz or so, and add another kick with higher mid ranged hertz that can help establish an all around mix for all speakers. Sections seemed slightly hurried at times.

Things i did like- The inverted start up was catchy and lead for a good start for establishing the feel for the song to come.
-Your drums were spot on, often times people place too much emphasis on overdoing drums or under doing them. You seemingly nailed the tempo/feel you were trying to convey hats off).
-White noise flares were clean and crisp. im uncertain of the limitations of the program you are using but with most, a clean crisp noise is bothersome to nail down.
Song progression- Something i have trouble with myself. The over all progression of the song flowed nicely and back into itself for the finishing section. You kept the theme flowing through the song even in down parts.

Again pardon me if i come across as some what of a douche in this review, i realize this is your third song. However i am simply stating my honest opinion and would expect nothing less from any one else in return.

benc98 responds:

Thank you heaps. You're not being a douche in the slightest, everyone has their own respectable opinions. And i appreciate constructive criticism like this just as much as i appreciate compliments. I'm really thankful of you honestely telling me this song's faults and also telling me bits that you like. I will work on the faults that you have listed, particularly the ambience.

Thankyou for the review. I appreciate it a lot