stardew's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Underwater Bitz [Pixel Day 2021]]

VGMC, 8-Bit Wandering: "Underwater Bitz" Review

I think the aspect of this track that stands out the most to me is its sound design. You note in the description that you've assigned a story to this song of sinking through the ocean into a different world, and I think that your success in conveying this is largely due to the sound design decisions you make throughout the tune, with some smaller contributions from composition and structure. While a few sounds you employ throughout this piece are questionable (particularly the dubstep drop at 4:38, which I think could use some more care), the majority of the sound design on this track does a great job of making the song sound underwater. Your use of reverb and delay shines through in particular (I adore 1:44, and the hollow sounding section at 4:02 before the ensuing drop), in addition to some of the shiny, resonant timbres you create, like the bass at 0:52, and the murky guitars (?) at 1:28. The progression of this track is wonderful, as well - the dark, sinister place we end up at 4:38 is miles away from the optimistic moment at 1:17. The downward motion of this track is incredibly palpable.

Unfortunately, there is one facet of this song that's stifling its true potential: the production. For one, the kick you use is way too loud throughout the song, with its gargantuan sub frequencies eating up the rest of the mix, interloping on the space that the mid and high-ranged frequencies should be allowed to flourish in. Compression seems to be a big problem throughout this track, as well: a lot of your bassier sounds are squished to unnecessary extents, some of your higher synths as well. The entire song itself is actually compressed farther than it needs to be - as you can see on the waveform, the full 7 minutes of audio all reside in a thin strip at the middle of the waveform, with plenty of room above and below the small threshold you've set.

Compressors are tricky to figure out when first approaching them - a lot of the changes they make to sound are almost unnoticeable to those who aren't familiar with them. They took me quite a while to figure out, and I'm still not really the best at using them on certain sounds. I think that with the ambitious scope of this song, though, once you figure out how to produce your songs better, you'll be able to make some really great stuff! I implore you to keep at it. :)

Teckmo-X responds:

Honestly this is a lot to process. I like the review really brings light. Sorry this is so well reviewed I'm speechless. I did for a fact though make the bassline deep on purpose. For me whenever my basslines are deep and hit hard I feel that feeling of accomplishment. I've used compressors in the past and I like them for certain projects but instead I prefer to process everything using the EQ plugins. I have realized how much easier in my opinion it is to process everything. I'm still working on it. I'm slowly working my way up in sound design. Thank you!

[Holding on dearly]

VGMC, 8-Bit Wandering: "Holding on dearly" Review

Incredibly groovy song! It definitely matches the story you've set it to. I think you've created a very well-rounded tune; there are things to love about every facet of this song. While the song isn't too ambitious in its composition, the melodies you employ throughout the piece are memorable and catchy, and the chords they rest upon always complement them wonderfully. The sounds you choose throughout this piece are so full of detail: the breaks you chop up have so much texture to them, the synths each have their own distinct tonality (I particularly appreciate the fill they feature in at 1:26), and the alternate percussion, like the 808s at 0:52 and the clockwind-y sound at 1:10 keep the song fresh. The production of this is also stellar, the only gripe I have is with 1:28's main snare being a bit over-compressed.

I think my main issue with this song is that it isn't doesn't adhere to the theme of the contest nearly as much as most of the other entries. The only retro elements I can pinpoint are it being synthwave, and maybe the filtering of the synth at the very end? While I can appreciate the retro-ness of synthwave itself, it hasn't really played a noticeable role in video games' history, with its most noticeable inclusions in games cropping up within the 20th century. This is the main thing I'm docking points for - I think the song itself is really great outside of the context of this contest.

Despite its shortcomings in theme, I still really adore this entry! There are very few flaws I can gather from it. Keep it up! :)

Cebster responds:

Wow thank you so much! I really appreciate it. This contest has been a wonderful experience and I’m awestruck by the amount of great reviews/criticism that so many highly skilled music producers have left me.

With your criticism, I couldn’t agree more. For a while there I became a bit audio blind to the art, near completion I looked back only to realize that I had pretty much missed the mark. So I pretty much knew that would be my biggest short coming. Thank you for the great review. <3

[Twilight Jungle]

VGMC, 8-Bit Wandering: "Twilight Jungle" Review

Reading the description of your song, the care you put into the story and concept of your entry is apparent. The steady pace of the song makes me feel as if I'm trodding through a cramped, humid jungle, keeping an eye out for the dangers this environment all too readily offers. I love the details you add to the song to keep it interesting - like the strings at 1:03 swelling in and out throughout the song, or the panning of the piano at 0:59 - it almost feels like you're keeping the listener on their toes. Additionally, the groove throughout this song, while its playfulness doesn't quite match the menace of the story you wrote, is filled with a moderate but persistent energy.

While I appreciate the groove of the song, I feel as if it's a bit too present in the song throughout its span. In other words, I think the song doesn't evolve enough, or should have some sections with lesser dynamics. For example, there's only one distinct section of the song where the drums drop out completely (which can be heard at 0:49), and it only runs for ~5 seconds. While this normally wouldn't be an issue for video game music, with songs often serving up only one or two distinct vibes, I feel like the story you wrote is a lot more dynamic than that, which makes the song's steadiness feel unambitious and a bit stagnant.

Overall, though, I think you've made a really solid piece! I like the approach you took to the retro nature of my theme - most people just used 8-bit sounds or bitcrushed synths to get their song to adhere. Nice work, keep at it! :)

OliRO responds:

Thank you so much for the detailed review! This means a lot to me. Everytime I get constructive feedback on my work I see this as a step forward. I agree with you, the description is way more intricate than the song itself. I kind of went overboard with the storyline compared to the effort I to put into the song. For the happy groove, I've got this observation from other people as well. I wanted to go with a Jurassic Park (Snes) kind of sound, but I understand that I could've worked it a bit more to fit the anxiousness of the song.

Thank you Stardew! :)

[Dream Zone [Final Sector]]

VGMC, 8-Bit Wandering: "Dream Zone [Final Sector]" Review

You mention in the description of this song that you had a lot of fun making it, and listening to the song, I can definitely tell! The sounds from 0:00 to ~2:00 are surreal and menacing; I really love how you intersperse the more obvious 8-bit sounds with the crunchier, machine-like glitches. While this section is somewhat unpredictable, a pattern will crop up occasionally (e.g. the repetition at 1:08), which makes it super intriguing to listen to.

The song dips a bit around 2:19. I love all the sounds you use here, and the groove is nice, but the melodies, chord progression, and overall feel of this section are kind of underwhelming to me. It's not the concept itself I dislike - I definitely believe there's a way to pull off the "waking up from a nightmare" story of this song - but I think this piece could benefit from a more thorough transition between its two distinct sections, to solidify the fact that we're out of the nightmare and into a happier place. I almost imagine the first part fading to near silence, before the happier riff starts fading in, like in Linda Perhacs' song "Parallelograms" around 3:30. I also think the interactions between the melody and countermelody of this section could use some looking at: they tend to clash a lot, with each other and the chord they're supposed to be resting on, fostering tension in a section that I think is meant to be free of it.

There are definitely some things I love about the second section, though! I adore the drums that come in at 3:36, for example, and the hi-hat pattering away above everything else helps keep the energy of the section steadfast and light. I think if you put some time into ironing out the details I mentioned earlier, it would make for a really great song! Keep at it. :)

9VoltBaby responds:

Thank you so much for all this feedback!!
I've taken note of everything and i'll be sure to try and improve to make an even better song next time!
Thank you again for listening to my track!

[Nadir]

i have already told you how much i love this on various platforms so here are some stars i guess

Onefin responds:

omg star like your name haha i get ur joke

[Journey (ft. Ponycutz)]

hey! just popping by to say that this is one of my favorite songs from the NGADM audition round. the song is ripe with creativity; the volume of detailed and earworm-ish sounds you've managed to squeeze into this track is remarkable.

i do think that the song begins to suffer from this sporaticism as it continues, though, because while it does take you on a journey quite far away from home, it never really loops back around and concludes, leaving you feeling a bit unsatisfied. also, i was a bit bothered by how fake the piano at 2:04 sounds :P

nevertheless, i do really really love this song, and i think you and ponycutz have done a fantastic job with it. also, i couldn't help but notice you were in the FORM telephone event, which i also took part in. :)

i'm super excited to see what you come up with for NGADM!!

CylrielOfficial responds:

Thank you so much for feedback! This means a lot :D

[Rumble]

though i do have some issues with the production / instrumentation of this song, i have to say it's incredibly charming, and something about it really hit my heart in the right place :)

the transition into 0:22 is really lovely; the vibrato in the bitcrushed synth contributes quite a lot to the character of the song. a lot of the more energetic sections in this song remind me vividly of garlagan, and one section in particular (starting at 1:49) gave me flashbacks to an artist called acloudyskye (if you haven't listen to his music before, i highly recommend you do).

i think that with a more aggressive, less muted mix, and a more vigorously worked, involved sonic palette, this song would be something really wonderful. i really do love it nonetheless, though :^)

looking forward to hearing the work you'll do in NGADM! i hope i get to go against you at some point.

UmValent responds:

Thank you so much, stardew!
That is some solid advice, mixing is definitely a weakness, but I'll keep working on it!

As for acloudyskye, I have listened to some tracks from his discography and I can totally see the resemblance, especially from a specific track called "A Drowning Cry". The syncopated percussion and ghostly athmo is bizarrely similar and it was completely unintentional. Glad you told me about him, though.

Good luck in NGADM! :)

[Will of the Wisp OST - 02 - Sanctuary]

i think out of all of your Will Of The Wisp songs, this one is the most enveloping. i haven't been able to play the game yet but with this song alone i already feel as if i'm residing in a completely different reality. the strings are hauntingly broken, and the piano, because of its heavy pace and occasional stumbles, sounds almost mournful. when the glockenspiel enters in reverse, i feel suspended permanently in a moment preceding something unforgettable.

you've managed to capture a rare emotion in this one, a wandering, lonely, sullen feeling that i've only found in soundtracks like Hyper Light Drifter. really great work :')

Miyolophone responds:

thank you star!! this piece was the first one i made, so maybe it got the benefit of my untempered emotional energy before the exhaustion set in :')

[Moonflower, II: Close]

i never really commented on how much i loved the moonflower couplet so:

i love the moonflower couplet! i love how they both take place during the only two night cycles of the EP, according to the album art. the theme seems like some sacred ritual of night, in which a magic garden awakens once the sun takes its leave, and fairies emerge from their hidden floral nooks as the air is filled with millions of tiny light pinpricks. i also love how the theme re-emerges at the very end of the EP in a simpler, reminiscent form, as if it's a lesson learned from whatever mystical events occurred in its first iteration. i love it! i love the whole EP, in fact! one could even say i love music. thank you for making it so that i can jabber on. :^)

Miyolophone responds:

yeah!!! obviously all the pieces on the EP have specific meanings to me but i don't like talking about them because i think it's more interesting to let people develop their own impressions of them. this is a really great one

thank you for the kind words :)

[Will of the Wisp - 05 - Withers]

this is great! the pacing of this is all together unrelenting but thrilling. 0:57 made me smile :)

Miyolophone responds:

thanks star!! i love runs :)