SourJovis's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Towards Madness (alt)]

The base at the beginning and end of the song sounds sick. How did you get that sound? The panned snare drums sound very interesting. Perhaps you could make the velocity levels rice. That's always good for some lively sounding snare rolls. The instruments sound very epic. The low synth that kicks in at 1:51 sounds very dominant. I'd turn the volume down, and probably cut off some of the far lows. I like the harp at 2:14 as well. It's the most interesting instrument of that segment. I would turn up the volume and decrease the reverb. Also I would have it pan from left to right. You can change the velocity levels some more and have the arpeggios speed up and slow down. Like start slow and soft, make the speed and velocity rise as the arpeggio becomes higher, that drop everything nearing the end of the arpeggio and start over again. Have the uneven tones (1 and 3) sound louder than the even (2 and 4). The synth at 2:58 sounds better than the one before. Maybe that's because it doesn't drown out the other instruments. I like the recurring motifs. The little synth effects make the song more interesting to listen to. More is going on. They also make it sound faster. I think you're on the right track. I hope you can improve it some more even.

ET16 responds:

Thanks jorivs! I used your ideas there were much help! :)

[Action Hero Dance Party]

I like this song! Nice contrast between the action driven elements and the happy things (hence the titleAction Hero Dance Party I assume), but it doesn't contrast much, it actually blends very well in an interesting way. Makes the song very original. It indeed loops well.

Mawnz responds:

Yea imagine some action heroes being heroes and then taking a break to dance a little or something...! If it wouldn't have been this title I was thinking of something like "Summer", but this title was cooler ;D

Thank you for your thoughts on the song SourJovis, much appreciated!

[The Weapon]

I can hear how you were inspired by Elitistinen. Just like him you create a good combinaion of industrial electronic/metal music, epic orchestra and heavy percussion. It reminds me of Neon Genesis Evangelion. It's not so much that the music sounds alike, but your song just puts images in my mind of giant robots fighting supernatural creatures for the sake of human existence. I particularly like the choir sound, and how the people are actually singing words instead of just "Oohs" and "Aahs". I'm looking for some new software and plugins, so I'll check out the things you've used. The structure of the song is also very good. How it sounds like a machine gearing up, how the song's tension rises and falls, and how it ends in some sort of double time.

Mattashi responds:

The Symphonic Choir Word Builder is an awesome VST, probably one of my favorite from EWQL.
It does suck up allot of ram though (I had 2 of them running and I think I need to get my ram upgraded).
You can basically type words you want the choir to sing you should definitely check it out! :)
Thank you for the review!

[The Place of a Skull]

Interesting piece. I hadn't listed it as one omy favourites of the competition because I didn't really know what to do withthe style. Now I listen to it more carefully I think I really missed something before. It's a long piece with realy different parts. Even though it's experimental and rather abstract it still touches you, and that's what I think music needs. It tells a certain story of changing emotions. It's like Real Faction said. It sounds like it's about dying. Scary and painfull at first. But then you move on towards a whole new world. It sounds very cinematic. I like how all of the sounds are interwoven and balance each other out. Despite the sounds are strange and a little dissonant, it's still polished and good on the ears. My only complaint perhaps is the violins that start at 4:29. They sound a little direct and dry for my taste. It gets better later on, when more instruments join in. Then they sound very good. Perhaps they should start out more distant at first, and slowly grow stronger and closer while other instruments join in.

Phonometrologist responds:

I appreciate you enduring this and your approach to listening by giving your perspective. I love to hear even from those that haven't been accustomed to this style and even for those that would like to tell me how they don't like it.
Every word you used to describe this is well taken and insightful to me. I invite all to offer there own meaning to it by taking ownership of what they listen to. I would even use some of your words to describe this, but there is a hidden meaning to it as well which you touched on.
To get more technical, I agree about your complaint. I was in a super rush to reach the deadline though, and I didn't have enough RAM to keep all the instruments going as it was let alone add yet another plugin for the strings. I would have liked to add more to the strings, but this will have to do. I will just have to learn from it and take what you said into account for the next projects.
Thank you for the thorough review.

[Nemesis]

Good song. Very much tension. Good build up and structure. I feel the mixing could be improved on. It sounds a little tamer than it could sound. Perhaps the drums should've more impact, by giving it a louder attack and more trebble. Also some highats would be nice. I like how there are so many instruments and they all add up to an epic sound.

[Waves of the Alchemist]

Really beautiful song. Very emotional and professional sounding. Easily fits a large production film score.

[Strange Way]

Very ominous song. I like the spiky bells in combination with the piano. Gives a mysterious sound. I also like the rasping string bass. Fits the inspiration art very well.

[Fleeting Forest Lights]

Very mystical. I like all of the atmospheric sounds you've used fo this. They blend well into a blanket of sounds.

Krichotomy responds:

I'm glad you like my atmospheric quilt.

[The Wishing Tree]

Very fairy tale like. I like the Asian style. Is that a real flute? If not it's some realistic sounding sample pack. I like the legato.

JosephAS1 responds:

Thanks man, it is indeed a real flute

[Sacred Chants]

Nice song. Very tranquil and hypnoticing. I like the bells in combination with the piano and the echo on it. Makes it sound like one instrument. The choir sounds very much like a monk choir chant. Fits the theme. The violins are a welcome addition as well. Just because they sound well in combination with the rest.

Emid responds:

Gratitudes dear friend. I used free cello - Blakus cello. If you haven't tried I recommend it over all available paid cello libraries.