Gravey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[.::maXimum::. (unfinished)]

Ok, First Off...

Don't ever use the preset vocals from the Fruity Loops library. It simply ruins everything in a song, because it screams noob. I'm not hating, just stating the facts.

The song itself is pretty interesting for a demo. The beats are very intense, and the synths aren't bad. Although they are mainly presets, which you should look into fixing. I'm not so much a hater of presets, but you gotta make them unrecognizable if you use them. Because people will down vote your song for using them.

There are hundreds if not thousands of free sound fonts and VSTs out there you can use. Ya just gotta look for 'em. :-)

The different sections are really cool how they contrast with each other. You were able to make them flow into each other very nicely too. And that is so important. There has to be a good flow in a song for it to work, and this flows pretty well in my opinion.

Overall I like it. But the Fruity Loops presets are making it hard for me to give you a great score. Soooo...

4/5 and 7/10 overall. A good score, but not quite great. And right now I think that is about where this song stands. Good, but not quite great.

-Gravey-

FlyMusik responds:

The reason that i used that preset is that my microphone isn't working and i needed to put in something. I'm gonna take it out though.

[Ghost in the Funk]

Really Cool...

But definitely shouldn't be in the industrial genre. X-D

I really like this a lot. Almost begins with a slight latin edge to it, then just grows and grows into a wonderful little rock tune. It has some very nice layers that help it build.

The guitar is pretty cool sounding in every single way you used it. Very original and full of energy, which is a good thing. I like the different effects and distortions you used and how they changed. Normally it wouldn't work, but for some reason it sounds great in this little tune.

I don't like how it ends. It deserves a clean and clear cut ending. So you should work on that. But other than the ending, this was great.

5/5 and 9/10 overall. I really enjoyed this.

-Gravey-

P.S. - Transfer this to the Rock genre. You can do that under the "edit song" options. It doesn't belong in industrial.

[Anticipating]

:-D

I'm so glad I introduced you to the world of Squidfont Orchestra! This is so awesome man!

Love your style, just loooove your style.

5/5 and 10/10 overall.

-Gravey-

InvisibleObserver responds:

Having some decent orchestral sounds has been a huge boost to my aresenal of peculiar sound creation Gravey.

Can't thank you enough.

[Into The Abyss--Trance/Rock]

Not Bad...

I think this is pretty decent and well written for the most part. I think you could really add a lot of layers to it though. Maybe a piano line wouldn't be too bad, with some effects or distortions on it. Or even a clean piano would probably fit if you EQ'd it right.

I like the guitar work, but without vocals it stands still a little to much. If you were to add vocals to this song, it would be simply great. Because the guitars would not be so in your face and pushing the melody. But without vocals, this is really lacking something. Not all songs need, or even should have vocals. But this one really should.

Despite that though you got a pretty decent mix with the synths and guitar. You should definitely play with the percussion though. Add some glitch affects and maybe bit-crush 'em a bit. For this song, I think that would be very appropriate.

4/5 and 8/10 overall. Good song, but just not great. :-)

-Gravey-

Mushroomhead18nc responds:

well about the vocals part.. Im currently in a band so when I write all of my music now that involves a guitar.. it generally follows the 4bar verse,chorus,verse,chorus solo type deal so its easier for him to write and sing with... I only do that incase he does want to use it and throw his voice on it... writing a non repetidive piece on guitar is not hard at all lol.. with guitar theres a shitload of octaves same way with piano.. you should know that one first hand.. lots of combinations between chords and lead lines can be played..and honestly I got tired of doing the drums on this.. because I had to redo the levels then export it.. then email it to myself to use on my other computer then add it to Adobe Audition 3.. and after already doing that like 5 times... I got really aggravated with it.. lol

[Skyfall]

Ooooooo...

Definitely a great visual there with the magic carpet my friend! I can so see it. This would really fit in a video game of just about any sort actually.

I really like it a lot. It is pretty original, and has a great flow and feel to it. Every section leads into the next wonderfully, and really creates a nice sense of continuity. Very well written in every way.

I like the overall mix you got with this song as well. It has a nice flavor to it, or timbre if you want me to use the technical term for it. This is just ripe with emotion and feeling.

5/5 and 10/10 overall. This has been favorited!

-Gravey-

[AngelsGuideMeThroughTheNight]

Wow...

This is very nice actually. Not sure why you got eaten on the score.

This is so light and airy. And thse string runs are wonderful. This really is a beautiful song. It has so much quality and texture to it.

All that being said, I think there could definitely be some work done to it. It is a bit short for sure, and lacks some depth. So you could definitely add some other instruments to it and create layers.

4/5 and 7/10 overall. Very good, but not quite great yet. :-)

-Gravey-

[Storm of Consciousness]

Very Cool...

I like the percussion a lot on this. Although I think you could EQ and compress the percussion a lot, the basic rhythms are pretty well written.

That piano at 0:53-ish is pretty cool sounding. Very nice work there.

Your overall mix in this song is fantastic. Really, everything meshes so well together, and every instrument fits in it's place so perfectly. The strings do a great job being background AND pushing the lead line along. Wonderful job with the strings.

I think there is definitely some work to be done here, but you know that already. It sounds great already though, let me know when you post the finished product! :-)

4/5 and 8/10 overall. Nice start here my friend!

-Gravey-

masterjiji responds:

sorry, but upgrade your speakers. it was a harp, not a piano. i also thoroughly appreciate the 8/4 rather than pelting you with bits of furry animals because this is such a rough cut.

and yeh, strings are pretty much my thing.

[Brittle Sight]

Love It!!!

I've already heard this song, and told you what I think on MSN. So I'm not gonna leave a huge review. But I wanna show some love for it anyways.

5/5 and 10/10 overall. This shows so much ingenuity, even if the typical Newgrounder won't be able to comprehend that.

-Gravey-

InvisibleObserver responds:

I'm sure the typical NG-er will be able to fart out some euphoria to this for themselves to take a whiff of, after all, everyone likes their own brand.

[{B.A.B.} The Fall of Eden]

Awesome...

...as always. :-P

I've got a headache, so this will be a short review. To be honest though, what do I say really? You have a great grasp on writing, and really do a great job at creating the perfect atmosphere in your pieces.

The mesh of instruments is really well done. I still can't figure out how you get everything to sound so clear and precise. I can write, but I can't get a professional sound out of my sound fonts for anything. You though my friend, seems to excel at it like no other.

I love the the fluidity of this piece. It really interweaves itself around itself. I'm not sure that makes sense, but this seems to be like smoke and it simply flows around itself. It is solid, yet ethereal, tangible, yet untouchable. Simply wonderful work here.

5/5 and 10/10 overall! This has been favorited!

-Gravey-

blackattackbitch responds:

I usually try to layer my instruments in order to create a more unique sound while also masking any bad sample elements. I also eq everything below and above the main signal to the lowest point possible, while moderating the rest. I EQ every instrument that sounds a bit beneath par.

As for reverb, I keep all instruments under the same reverb settings, so that each instrument sounds like it belongs with the other. All the volume envelopes are edited while the reverb is still active, so that no instruments sounds like it's ending too soon.

I try to make sure that the amount of instruments playing on one side of the stereo field equals the other, or is at least close. As a result, many of the instruments are separated.

I also try to separate the melodies, make sure that an instrument playing one melody isn't on the same octave as another playing a different melody.

That pretty much sums up the ways that I keep everything clear.

The fluidity of this piece is actually a weird effect of the samples I chose for this piece. Since I used a lot of section instruments, which have a slow release time, the piece seemed to swim, adding to the mystery effect that linkcrazy cited below.

Thanks for enjoying, man. That's all I really ask for. Thanks ;)