SourJovis's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Lying to a Stranger]

I like your synth settings. You come up with interesting unique sounds. I like that part at the beginning. Sounds like a lion roaring at one point. It sounds quite funky too. You manage to create continuation with yet a subtle development that keeps it interesting.

InvisibleObserver responds:

Its a mix of stretched down vocal layered in with some wood snapping (also pitched down) ran through the FL wave traveller at a fiddly curve to get it to time sync well. The development overall through the song is there, but certainly subtle! If not, I think it qouls just vw silly spaztic sounding.

[Graveyard]

Good idea. The rain and thunder sounds are quite good. I had to make sound fx for games myself, so I know how hard it is to record it. Good job. I like the other effects as well. Very haunting. I understand the idea behind the bass and the choir. Gives a nice spooky effect. However, they are rather repetitive. They also sound too clean and standard. I would dirty them up, make them sound fuller, more varied and interesting. The piano is actually a nice and necessary touch over it, but even that gets repetitive over time. It could do with more reverb. The song itself can do with more variation, more instruments, and a fuller more interesting sound. But you're on the right track. Just keep at it.

Morteth9 responds:

Thank you, much appreciated.

[Electroboy]

Cool song man. I don't think it's pretentious. Sounds like Rammstein (mainly of the part that starts at 1:00 with the guitar riffs and the synths) minus the vocals but plus 8-bit synths (the ones at 2:00 to 2:25 I mean) and guitars that are sometimes a bit more complex. I wish I could make my guitars sound like that. Too bad you're no longer in the game. You fought well. I want to hear more from you.

Lashmush responds:

There's always more. Life is my Audio Deathmatch. c:

[FD - Moontears]

Great work man. I especially like the string part after 2:12. So beautiful. Reminds me of some of Jóhann Jóhannsson's work and at least as good. I don't have any hints for you this time, other than to continue like this.

ForgottenDawn responds:

Thank you for your comment, I appreciate your support. I will leave a review to your entry soon.

[In the end]

Beautiful piece. You put a lot of emotion in your playing. I like the subtle strings as well. Personally I don't like the change of style that much when the drums come in, but objectively there's nothing wrong with it. Just changes it to a more jazzy piece. It fits the mood in that it becomes more climactic and hopeful. It too reminds me of Final Fantasy somehow, more like 7 or 8. Not that it reminds me of video game songs per se. This can be used for anything, or just to listen to by itself. This was a good plan B. I think you're allowed to use the other song in the next round. They said if you finish your entry early you can start working on the song for the next round, so this should be allowed too. If you don't make it to the next round you can upload the song to the audio portal. In any case I really like to hear it.

BlazingDragon responds:

I'm not sure if/when the other song will happen, but I'm sure even better things are in store for the future. :)

You're not the first to make comparisons to Final Fantasy! I suppose it is fitting since those soundtracks are perhaps my biggest influence. Thank you for your comments.

[An Encounter (8-bit)]

Quite a good song. Sounds quite classical like a Dragon Quest song indeed. I like that. It doesn't feel exactly like a battle theme yet. I think you should speed it up to about twice this speed. Perhaps give the kick snare more impact to give it more power. Then it can be used as a laidback battle theme against ordinary monsters. Then it would also be a good idea to make the song twice as long to give it more variation.

GamekrazzyProduction responds:

Thanks for the review Jovis. I'm just going to tell you the same. I am perfectly content on the tempo and the percussion of this piece. I am glad you took the time to review though...
Also.. why does everyone just assume that battle themes need to be extra fast?

[Cthulhu Surfaces]

Sounds very cinematic. Great sound fonts and composition. Wouldn't be out of place in a high budget film adaptation of H.P. Lovercraft's work. Some of the parts don't sound as bombastic as others. Mainly the short close by pizzicato strings and some of the percussion distract from the feeling of a large sea monster, and make the song sound less ominous. Perhaps it would work if it is timed with the right shots. Like the more bombastic parts are for the wide shots, and the other parts for close-ups. I would classify this as cinematic. Not classical.

headphoamz responds:

That's very kind of you to say, I'd be flat-out psyched to have it in a film. Yeah, I'm thinking cinematic as well, actually. I just thought there were parts that felt a lot more stylistic than normally used for cinema, but now that I look back on it, a genre change is in order!

[Lazy Island Daze]

Very good song. Clean and transparent mixing. This song needs that because some of the instruments sound kind of undifined, like the chromatic percussion instrument. Is that a gamelan? I like how you use all kinds of instruments from different cultures. Makes me think of a compilation of a travel around the world. The constant rhythm with the bass, percussion and rhythm guitar tie the free styling ethnic instruments together. Like everyone from all cultures can do their own thing whilst being united. Just as I thought it was getting repetitive at 1:25 there's a change in rhythm, good timing. Unfortunately I can't wish you luck with the contest, and I don't hope you win, but you know it's nothing personal :P

acmeDyne responds:

Thanks for the nice review! :)
''Lin Kano's Fighting Show" is awesome and I really think you should be the one to advance.
Good luck!

[Minotaur's Labyrinth]

It does sound better with these instruments yes. Well chosen instruments. Very atmospheric pads. It shows better how good the melody is. I think the part from 1:28 to 1:59 is too long. Especially because not a lot is going on there. I like how the return of the melody at 2:09 isn't as muddy as before anymore. I think you can make it more climactic though by playing the second voice. That's a backup for the original melody but 2 to 5 semitones (depending on scale and chords) below the original. Also the ending is a bit abrupt. I think the melody could even have gone on there, developing into a new part.

GamekrazzyProduction responds:

hmm I like alot of your suggestions... Perhaps I will make a more complete version in the future then. :D

I mean I feel that this is already fairly complete, but more so as a loop I suppose... In my mind I can see this being used on loop in a flash.

Thanks for your review Jovis!

[M. Path Through Infinity]

The composition doesn't sound too bad. Definitely mysterious with the reverb and dissonant chords. It does get muddy though. Maybe you should do something about that. Also turn down the volume. The song clips and sounds blown up when the notes are too loud. I wanted to say you should put more emotion in your playing, because it sounds way too tight, you could speed up and slow down more and change the loudness of your playing. But considering how fast this piece is I actually have a hard time believing you play this yourself. Actually I think very few people could actually play this. That's a downer for me. I'm more about the beauty of a melody and the emotion put into the performance rather than how difficult it is to play. To me music should be art, not a circus performance (though a circus performance can be art as well). I like the parts that aren't too fast better. They're less pretentious and sound more melodic. Assuming you programmed most of this you actually did put some different velocity levels in there, and that's good, but it still doesn't quite sound realistic and emotional enough. Keep practicing and you'll better learn to put emotion in your playing.

Blacklawn responds:

I didn't play this. The overall theme was meant to fit for a mysterious and very powerful character. Too bad you didn't like it.