Phonometrologist's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Ever Be]

I think it's time to start doing some live shows. Bring a laptop for your filtering magic of course.
Is that a piano I hear in the very beginning? You fooled me as I would have never guessed this to be done with live audio. What was your mic setup? What is being used for the melody at 3:15? Didn't see you mention lead guitar as that would have been first guess and probably wrong for it. So yeah, this is good. The only thing I would like to hear different is a more bizarre groove with the drums/kick. I just feel this piece is asking for something less conventional sounding as well than that kick that is used.

ZLEAP responds:

I wanted to make something a bit more handmade but without straying too far from my sound. With the help of Studio One, FLStudio and a crappy RadioShack mic, I made it so.

That lead is the same bass guitar just played on the highest strings and ran through a filter that makes it an octave higher than it is naturally. Of course other filters were involved such as reverb, distortion and a flange.

That piano is used throughout the piece. Ive been told it sounds a bit "oriental" when it comes through most.

Fear not, friend. This is just the beginning for Ever Be. I was just entirely too proud of how it turned out in such a short time. And yes, that kick is just a placeholder. It would have no place there if I were to get my hands on a decent mic.

Thanks.

[To the Stars]

I listened to this several times now, and the melody doesn’t get boring for me—very mystifying. I’m really diggin it.
The lead synth you chose, in my opinion, is not the problem as I actually like how it sounds similar to a voice. It just becomes piercing to my ears around 1:35. I think the problem lies in how you mixed it. It’s way up front, and it has a lot of high-end which then causes the piece to lose some of its warmth. If you EQ'd it a bit, perhaps that could solve what others have been saying about it. My ears are enduring it because the melody is so good.

SourJovis responds:

Okay, thanks. Glad atleast someone liked the lead synth. I thought I was the only one. It's very loud compared to the rest. I'll try turning the volume down, and reduce the trebble. Perhaps add more reverb.

[escapism]

The first half is what I enjoyed the most here and I would have liked to hear you develop that a bit more. Just a minute and a half? Awww. I wouldn't have used mundane or depressing to describe it either, but the idea of making something a means for an escape away from what you would describe is interesting to me. Though, I would have liked more of a journey between the two, I still enjoyed it. Since you’re an optimist, how about a month of you experimenting with more darker sounds or being more sorrowful in your compositions?

johnfn responds:

MWA HA now I have done so! Just for you! Actually, I did so like a week or two ago, but whatever. It is actually quite difficult for me to write really dark material. I'm not sure why... it just doesn't vibe very well with my personality or something. Though now that I think about it, I've written some dark stuff in the past. Maybe I'm just making up excuses! haha

Thanks for the review!

[MrO- Rising Flames]

This isn't as bad as some of the reviews made it out to be I thought. This actually gave me a smile, because I find that synth to be very humorous. Why not have some fun in this goofiness?
And those last couple of seconds? It sounds like a parody to me, and with that mindset, it's pretty good as that.

Mrobeymenow responds:

I'm glad you liked more than most. Thanks for viewing the positive for me!

[Sojourn]

Yes you got that classic sound from that century but with a more modern approach as well. I’m afraid that this piece might get overlooked too quickly because of your subtle approach and its gentle quality. I can hear Debussy’s orchestration and at 2:00 those strings are great.
By the end, I just feel complete and full after hearing this. The descending contour just puts me at rest.

DamienFleisch responds:

Thanks :) That's exactly the feel I was going for. I've been a little worried about this piece being overlooked as well but I trust the judges will evaluate it fairly. I'm glad the Debussy came through, I spent a little time with La Mer while I was getting ready to compose this. Funny enough, though, my original intention was to go in a Copland-esque pastoral direction!

[When It's Cold]

You know I like this approach in composition where it takes its time, not to present itself right away, but allows the listener to come into its world if the listener has the patience. Like in anything that deals in beauty, it mustn't be rushed and used for its mere consumption.
As a pianist, I've come to see the subtlety in melody. Not to digress too much, but if you're familiar with Clair De Lune by Debussy, I've come to realize that there are several small melodic lines going on in that piece that share the same measures within each other, and they aren't as apparent always. Melody doesn't have to be overbearing, nor a front in any arrangement of instruments, but there is melody here.
Love the ending by the way with the slight hesitations in the chords.
It's a very reflective, short piece that you got here. Can totally hear how broove might have subconsciously inspired this.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Yeah, I didn't really feel like this composition needed a fast beginning, so I just made a short intro for it, before it really takes off. Then again, this is at no point a very fast or dramatic piece, even if it has its moments in the transitions and such :)

You're right about the melody. I am indeed familiar with Claire De Lune, and I think I know what you mean. This track is of course not comparable with Debussy's composition, but I can see how the melody might work in a similar way at some points. There is definitely a melody here, which I'm quite aware of, but I don't think that I'd personally call this a melodic track :3

I'm glad you liked the ending too! I decided that this song shouldn't just end on a single note after the solo piano part, as I don't think that'd suit the artpiece as well as this ending does. So instead of a somewhat generic ending, I ended the piece with those chords.

It's kinda funny how I recorded the entire piano part before I realized how similar to some of brooves most recent tracks this is. Not necessarily in atmosphere, but I used the piano in a very similar way XD
Anyhow, your piece for this contest is amazing! It's among my favorites of them all. Now I feel bad for not writing a proper review for it, but I simply didn't find anything to improve, and I enjoyed the entire experience! Good luck in the contest!!!

Thanks for your great review :D

[Luo Varjo (A.I.M Contest)]

At 1:30 it got really interesting. I thought this was just going to be ambient straight through, which IS nice, but I like your approach in putting this together. Good pad, but the “dropplet” effect makes me want to go tinkle.
My thoughts are similar to Realfaction about the percussion but I’m not looking too much into the detail when I’m listening to this as I still enjoy it. It seems the transitions could use some shaping to make it feel more complete. The howling was humorous only because I don’t know what you’re trying to convey there.
You have an interesting approach to your music that I could say is unique and quirky.

arbelamram responds:

thank you very much thats very supportive :)
you are right about the transitions , it was a bit lazy part from me...

about the howling was becuse the art that inspaird me (http://www.newgrounds.com/art/view/maquenda/luo-varjo)
i was looking for a creative idea to end the break.

thanks, Spread the Love ♥

[Sacred Chants]

This takes me back. I like that you chose a slight difference approach in style from your previous entry. The percussion and voice makes this sound like Enigma and I’m surprised that no one has mentioned that yet. I don’t have much to say other than I enjoy this to be quite refreshing to my ears as they are worrisome from all the noise I’ve been writing lately.

Emid responds:

Glad you enjoyed. I have mainly this cinematic ambient orchestral style in my mind to experiment as soon as time allows me. Somewhere I mentioned I used Shimmer reverb which is very hard to control without gating. This song is an experiment without gating and although am not happy with the structuring, I am happy how it came out. Technically it was hard.
And yes...sorry for late reply. Busy with my newborn baby.

[8bitbleepshit ng loves it]

LOL great comment. I just figured people enjoyed 8 bit for pure a nostalgia sense as they reminisce of the old 80s and 90s video games.

really can't properly review on the music for I'm not really into 8 bit. I will say at moments that it reminds me of some Radiohead stuff.

jambrother2 responds:

no your right, its just when i spend ages mixing a song to as close to perfection as i can get it with real guitars and instruments and it gets zero bombed straight away but when i spend five minutes making some bleep thing it gets way more downloads and it just annoys me a little.
and thanks about the radiohead thing i try to get as close to their sound as i can without actually ripping them off, some of my others are a lot more radiohead-y if you liked it too

[Lost in Deep Space]

The opening chord progression reminded me of “Time,” except the last chord, so that kind of got in the way a little bit of my enjoyment for the beginning.
However, the synth instruments were great as everyone has already mentioned. After a while, and with the slow addition of layers, I begin to stop critiquing it and just enjoy it as I allow it to wash over my thoughts.
Yes the piano needs something like a reverb, a delay, or any effect for that matter—I don’t care what. The synths create a nice atmosphere so you don’t have to worry about making the piano sound realistic as long as it isn’t too dry in the mix as it is now.
Everything beyond the third minute mark sounds great, and I wish you could have kept that going—just wanted to affirm even further what has already been said about this part. Love it.

Chemiqals responds:

Thank you so much! I've touched it up even further. Added some more reverb to the piano and tweaked the EQ of most of the instruments. AND I altered the velocity on all of the notes to try and give it a more natural sound overall! Hopefully the changes are for the better! ^_^