ObsidianSnow's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Return of the Knight]

= Awsome!

I just can't get over how well you utilise your sound effects. That intro is absolutely spectacular... You have me really wanting to use that intro in my flash RPG that's currently in the works...

You have to understand that I listened to the majority of the intro before reading the description. As I was listening to it, I was thinking to myself, "Holy crap... This matches one of the scenes from my RPG's storyline perfectly!" ... then I read you're description - the scene I have in mind was scarily similar to what you were describing.

I hadn't originally intended to add that particular cinematic because I knew it would be a long, tedious ordeal. But now... I'm seriously reconsidering that. If (when) I get it done, I'll let you know. I may even use this intro as a recurring theme throughout the storyline. It's just that perfect.
10/10, 5/5, DL, Favs.

Power to you, SkippyFox!

SkippyFox responds:

haha well the intro was part luck, part passion and a big cup of coffee and slip of inspiration. XD wow 0.0 well if you can get any use of this to your Rpg storyline, hit it! XD you can use it as much as you want haha XD and thanks a lot for this, it means alot to me! ^-^ thanks for the super review too! XD

[Dance of the leaves (DEMO)]

Great!

The balance on this is great - and I love the effects. You've done a great job mastering this.

However, there are two things I would like to suggest. The first involves panning: I really like the effect you've managed to get by swinging the panning back and forth, but it gets to be almost too much when you bring in your violin. You might want to consider decreasing the amount of the swinging panning there - but don't remove it. Just consider lightening it up a bit.

The second thing is something I think could be added - depending on where you feel you want to go next. I get the feeling that you were just coming up on a strong, inspiring section at the end of this demo. If this is the case, you may want to think about making your bass a little stronger (maybe not right away, but with a fade in). So maybe add some double-bass pizzicatos (I think you already have some pizzicatos there, but they sound like cellos... double bass could just be added to double the cello part for that), and potentially have a nice solid, big bass drum beat in the distant background on the bar... some timpani three-note sixtuplet crescendos leading into those beats would definitely give it a nice, almost subsonic push to it... give it that feeling of a strong heartbeat - and it would give you the potential to bring the song into one of those MASSIVE moments where people's hair stands on end, they get shivers, and are utterly blown away.

I'm not joking when I say this has HUGE potential. I really want to hear this when you're done with it. As it stands... wow. I love this piece. On behalf of Newgrounds and the entire global musical community... I salute you.
10/10, 5/5, DL, Favs.

Power to you, Skippy Fox!

SkippyFox responds:

haha the fun thing in my music making is that my theory knowledge of it, is minimal XD i create everything by touch and feeling, while letting my heart just dance around how it feels to create. ^_~ Imagination, feelings...emotions... i just wish to bring them to everyone to feel. ^-^' thank you for your super advices, i need to write them somewhere. X) Ooooooo i'll get this done...as soon as i get my music equipment on my new computer haha XD ... never rush, take a cup of tea and enjoy they morning breeze and take time with giving the soul to the music, thats the way i like it ^_~...even though its extremely slow and lazy way haha XD

Thank you for your super review!! it means a lot to me! ^-^

[Yesteryear [Glitched n Shi]]

Mmmm....

This is tasty. You certainly know how to mess with glitches and effects better than I do. Loops really smoothly, too.

Power to you, Reticence!

[Reasoner- Where Do We Turn]

...Wow.

I actually have to admit something here... This song really helped me out in the last month or two - I was going through some tough times, and this song really spoke to me. It was the only thing I was able to listen to.

So I have a double thank-you for this one, Reasoner. An absolutely astounding song (the "slight pauses as I transition from one part to another" actually make it feel more meaningful, like it's really speaking to you from the heart, not the computer's circuitry...). On top of that, you've helped me to get through one of the hardest times I've ever had. I am truly grateful.

And I think I might just use it in a flash submission in future, too.

10/10, 5/5, DL. 'nuff said.

[Instrumental #4 (Mashup)]

I like.

I absolutely love this one. Everything is so well balanced... this truly is a work of art. I first heard this one on youtube after Xmillsa put it on their massive list of videos. I was looking for music to put into a flash submission right then, not really thinking about any specific part of it when I ran into this... and my jaw dropped. It fits the mood of the introduction cinematic PERFECTLY. To the point that in my mind, I was visualising what it would look like in HD. Even outside of my flash project, I can't stop listening to this song.
Just phenomenal.

[Freedom is a step away]

Well Done!

This is a work of art. I love the patches you've used for everything - it actually sounds like a live orchestra... I have to ask, are you using Reason or another program? I'm just asking because the patches sound familiar, and I use Reason as well. If that's the case, it would be awesome to know where you got the vocal (and chimes - I can't seem to find chimes) patches...

Anyways, there's only one thing that kept me from giving this a ten. Right around the minute and a half mark, things get a bit muddled. Everything seems to just get lost in a sea of indistinction - it makes each individual part sound dulled. I would suggest playing with the equalizer and maybe playing with the panning a bit there, too. I'm not saying you should get rid of anything, just that it needs to be a bit clearer right in the center there.

Other than that, my only issue with it is the quality of the sound - I overlooked that in my rating, however. That's just because I'm aware of how audio files sometimes just do that to you, but if you fixed that, it might greatly benefit the piece.

Awesome job - I might even potentially use this in an upcoming flash submission, if it's cool with you... It may be a 9/10 on the surface, but underneath the little bit of confusion in the middle, this song is a 10/10 at heart.
5/5 and DL. Just great.

madboss responds:

Thanks for the comment! Yes I'm using Reason too - the chymes was actually glockensipel 3.0. The vocal are from a different refill not a default soundbank - I don't know the name correct name right know. If you are willing to know it at all cost send me a PM and I'll write it back.

I know that both the EQ-ing and the panning needs a lot work to do. To be honest I think there's no panning in the track at all... and I know that it's a problem.

Ok, no problem if you are using the track - let me know if you are ready with it!

[Piano Echoes - Mjattie]

... I like.

Once again, excellent work here! The entire piece just flows with itself just as it would if it were an organic entity. I love the effects you've put into this, too. They bring the whole thing to life.

As for the intro, I really disagree on the whole "It's too long" thing. It's not. This is an ambient song, no questions asked. If you listen to any professional artists who make ambient music like this, you would find that the intro here is actually very well timed. There's a certain feel in ambient songs that make them seem to grow just as a plant would. The introduction has to feel that way, too - making it any shorter than it is might twist that whole concept here.

All in all, my opinion here is...
5/5, 10/10, DL. Fantastic.

mjattie responds:

wonderful review, again! Thanks for the compliments.

About the length of the intro, I agree with you. (I like the plant example ;))

[Romantic Impression - Mjattie]

Awesome!

This was just great - This is the kind of stuff I try to write but just can't. For some reason, I just can't seem to get my music to feel as full and rich as you do. Also, it's cool that you did this with reason, which is the same program I use (And yet, even after four years of use, I still don't understand all of the things it does. XP). It seems like most people use FL here on newgrounds, which is a bit annyoying if I want to know how they did something. I wouldn't mind seeing if I could learn anything from you, tho ;) .

As a side note, I'm currently in the process of making a flash game (rpg style), and I wanted to ask if I could potentially use this song in one of the cutscenes (I'm not sure if I can actually put that scene in yet, but I want to). It would be great if you'd let me do that. After all, good music would probably partially make up for my apparent lack of true artistic skill XP . (ok, ok, I'm not THAT bad, but I'm no picasso lol)

Overall, an excellent piece, definitely worth the listen.
10/10, every time.

mjattie responds:

whow thanks.

I think FL is easier to use but reason is more professional. I always encourage people to add their songs to their flashsubmissions, so go ahead! :) even if it isn't THAT good.

And I'm definitely want to help you ;) since I search reason users also XD I use reason for only 1 year now and I don't know very much about it...

Btw I do know much about chords and composing, because I used a simple MIDI program two years before I got reason (cakewalk pro audio 9).

Thanks, and I'm glad you like(d) it. Mjattie