Realmguys's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Fuaimeanna na Farraige]

NAC Judge
Fuaimeanna na Farraige: 9.5
This song reminds me of the online gaming MIDI songs that played on games such as Ultima Online, Everquest, etc. You really captured the classical and medieval sound in this. It really illustrates a fantastic world that this music would be playing in. That being said, the quality of your samples was somewhat lacking in overall quality, which is maybe why they remind me of old school MIDI files. The composition was spectacular however. Great job on this and it definitely speaks to an Irish/Celtic origin!

Wurfel-Waffles responds:

I was still using Soundfont at this time. SF is a bit better than MIDI samples with more dynamic. I only use Edirol Orchestra for flutes.

reVISIT doesn't have good playback engine. I was using tracker too.

Thanks a lot Judge Realmguys.

[I like 'em large.]

NAC Judge
I like 'em large.: 7.5
This was like a modern day approach to classical irish folk comedy. Good lyrics and witty choice of versing. The poor mic did deter from the song a tad. The vocal harmonizing was a nice touch. I liked your light hearted approach to the contest and enjoyed the much needed laugh.

SonicWombat responds:

Thanks for the review!
I realize that my mic had some deteration, but I think I just need to experiment with mic gain, and stuff.
I'm new to this song recording business, but I'm getting there.

[- An Margadh Maidin -]

NAC Judge
- An Margadh Maidin -: 8.0
This song has a very intense jig quality to it. The quality of sounds used is questionable. This definitely sounds like a MIDI rip purely because of the cheesey sounds. The composition of the tune itself is quite good. This would sound very amazing with real instrumentation. About 2/3 of the way through the piece, it did start to get a bit repetitive. Excellent work staying within the contest criteria!

silencefreedom responds:

I figure out you might not be the first one to say it sounds like a rip. My professor said the same thing. Problems are because this is the work of a scrambled egg of melodies and poor choices of instruments.

No sir. I'm not the kind of composer who rip things. I'm too cautious not to violate any law because I'm a certificated composer.

Thank you for the comment a lot.

[Op.21 Teideal Bacach]

Op.21 Teideal Bacach: 7.0
This tune did not utilize very quality samples. This greatly detered from what could have been a really cool tune. I think the composition was very cool and would have sounding amazing on real instruments. The trouble with this error in music making, is that you don't give your creation any justice because it sounds like a MIDI song on Oregon Trail video game circa 1989. Your score suffered from the samples used, but the tune was very nice itself. Good job sticking to the contest criteria, this sounded very Irish.

Jiimaan responds:

hey!

using real instruments was indeed the plan, but shit happens,
and I was forced to submit it the way is now...

...and I'm not rich enough to get myself nice samples, so that's how it sounds...

I'm glad to read that you liked the composition, though...it's somewhat reassuring to know that it wasn't all crap...

anways, thanks for the review...

jiimaan

[Fuck It I'm Back]

NICE!

It has been many years since I have talked with you. This is a sick beat. I think the instrumentation is very good. The piano and string levels are a little low, I think it would be more powerful with some added volume. Overall a very good song though. Glad you are still writing. Hope you are well, later man.
-Tyler

RevenTheLegacy responds:

WOW...it's been years since I spoke with you thanks for your critique honestly.
take it easy bro and thanks again for the critique and the review.
hope all is well and have been.

[Flying Spider Colony <(FTA)>]

NAC Judge

Flying Spider Colony <(FTA)>
Christopher Shaird (FaeryTaleAdventurer)
I was surprised at the initial quality of some of the sounds used in this piece. Some of the instruments later used however, seemed as if they were of lesser quality and it began to distract me when listening. This sounded as though it were a score to an actual clip of video footage. I could almost envision what was happening along to this music. Many different emotions were played out and illustrated. It definitely had some creepy moments to it, mischief and evil were in the air. Nice bank of sounds and your understanding of music theory shows. Excellent work and good job fitting this month's easy contest criteria. 9.0

FaeryTaleAdventurer responds:

Thanks for the review, Realmguys!

Thanks for noticing the quality at the beginning. Even before I mixed and mastered I actually felt like I was at the helm of a live orchestra. Unfortunately there is perhaps an instrument or two that I kind of want to kick myself for not using instead. I thought about using individual tracks for the plucking, but got lazy about that and instead used a string ensemble pluck, which was perhaps actually lower quality, I didn't even bother to confirm.

I kid you not I "envisioned" waking up to a spider like Itsy for some time, with some music like this, but the flying spider idea, came up just this year, while I was cleaning the pool one day, I kid you not!

I have never scored music for a live video, but in the past, I guess I attribute this kind of work to the fact that I did a lot of AMVs on Youtube, ranging from music synching to pictures, and growing up watching a lot of cartoons.

If I was originally completing this song without hearing about te contest, it most likely would have been a lot less scary.

Don't know a lot about music theory, but I guess I do tend to surprise myself through ear training or piano playing. An honest mix of John Williams, Danny Elfman, and the composers of loads of those classic WB cartoons I watched in the 90s, and many more!

Again, thanks for your review!

-FTA

[Moonlit Shore]

NAC Judge

Moonlit Shore
Grant Jones (OpenLight)
Eeeek, that piano was all FORTE! There should be some expression to piano, not all played at full hammer. It sounded like someone was hitting the notes with a sledge. The melody was very creepy and would have sounded better with a varying intensity and expression. Your choice of lead for the melody was strange too. It sounded like something from the original Zelda, very low quality and with a distracting vibrato that made me cringe. The break beat drums sounded entirely out of place too without having a bass line or understandable rhythm going on. This was a strange and creepy piece but the instrumentation and dynamics just threw me way off. 6.0

OpenLight responds:

Late response, I apologize. But the forte piano was intentional haha. Calm piano would be less "insane" sounding, which was the feeling I was going for. The high vibrato instrument was intentional as well. I understand how it may not have been your cup of tea, but it was all intended. Thanks for the review though! I guess my music just isn't for everyone on Newgrounds.

[In Fm]

NAC Judge

In Fm
The-iMortal
Nice pipe organ! It meshes in with your heavier sounding phrasing right away with ease. It is like Castlevania meets dubstep! This definitely illustrates a creepy sounding melody that changes up quite a bit and doesn't bore me at all. My only complaint would be that I feel like some phrases, or possibly an additional phrase could have used more instruments. It would have been cool to hear strings or electric guitar meshed in there somewhere. It feels a little naked at times. Yet the silence is effective too in adding to the creepy sound. Good job on this one, you stuck to the simple criteria very well! 8.5

The-iMortal responds:

Thanks for the review!

[HallowGlitch]

NAC Judge

HallowGlitch
Dan Adams (EoD696)
The beginning of this song sounds very compressed. Then the rest of the song comes along and it is also compressed at the same level. Why leave out so much frequency? There is no high or low, all middle range EQ. Aside from sounding like this was playing on my 1985 walkman headphones, it did sound a bit creepy, and the fast tempo made me feel as though the song was trying to illustrate some kind of chase or running feeling. I liked the choice of instruments, but was always hoping for a more full sound. Why oh why was there no bass or treble?? 6.5

EoD696 responds:

You're awfully mean...but lets see what I can do about that despite your meanness...

[JEBBAL - Dead Logic]

NAC Judge

JEBBAL - Dead Logic
Joey Vitale (JebbaL)
I like the 8bit-esque low qual blips at the beginning, especially with the effects used, and melody played, it sounded crystal clear. Tasty grinding bass too! Then the abrupt transition to double time rattling beat, you keep the listener guessing. Going from dry effects to wet in the same phrase is so unique, a listener can experience two emotions within the same melodical phrase, amazing. This has an intense action implication and all the elements used are so different, yet they mesh into an ingenious song. What is neat about this song is hard to explain, and put my finger on, yet it is very fun to listen to. This will be used for some great action scenes I'm sure. My only gripe, is the vibrato used in the pad at 2:45, I think it would be cooler with a cleaner, straight laced pad at this particular point. Great job sticking to the contest criteria!! 9.5

Jebbal responds:

Hahaha yeah, after hearing a few of my songs you're bound to realize that I like the sound of classic synths with modern FX :) The bass was actually created somewhat by accident. I was having some fun with the 3xOsc, trying to create a funky sounding lead. Then I pitched it way down and decided it would work as a decent grindy/wobbly bass haha.

I'm really glad that my efforts to follow the contest criteria didn't go unnoticed, I really tried hard to keep the variation up for the sake of gameplay, but I didn't want it to sound ridiculous and lose it's flow. The "fun factor" is also something I was going for. I think the constant progression of the song contributes to that.

I actually agree about the vibrato. Not only 2:45, but I think 2:11 could have done with a smoother pad as well. I'm thinking about going in and changing that; we'll see!

Thanks for the review!

P.S. I remember working with you on the light aura collab long ago hahah