blackattackbitch's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Hardstylez Demo]

Needs work, but it's on the right track.

First, I want to say that I loved the intro. I honestly can't tell you anything of value in that section although I would suggest adding a little bit more to the last 4 bars of the intro, although the intro is great as it stands.
Now after that is where it needs a little work. Now here's the note layout of the melody right now.

B-F#-D-G-C#-C#-D-F#
B-F#-D-G-B-B-D-C#
B-F#-D-G-C#-C#-D-F#
B-F#-D-G-E-E-C#-B

Now the synth at first (before the bass came in) suggested that the bassline would be:

B-B-G-G-G-G-F#-F#

Except for the last one:

B-B-G-G-G-G-B-B

So when the bassline comes in, it seems to clash with the melody in some sections. Especially in the part of the first and third melody, where it also clashes with the percieved bassline:

C#-C# (melody)
G-G (percieved bassline)
B (actual bassline)

The main problem is the fact that it clashes with the percieved bassline because I personally could never find a way to link those two notes together on a chord such as that one.

And the bassline seems out of tune. I don't know what it is about that bassline, but it sounds really weird.

Really nice drum, kick was good and hihats were smooth.

I put my all into this review because since this is a WIP, you'll need all the advice you can get.

SessileNomad responds:

this is probly the most loosly thrown together wip ive ever made, im sure that my synth melody is going to change drastically, since its not really complicated enough for my taste

the bass isnt fine tuned and i know why it sounds off, if i were to change the offbeat bass in the piano roll, then when i put it on higher pitched notes, the note actually goes by faster, and lower it goes by slower, i didnt want that, so i duplicated the offbeat bass for each and adjusted the pitch in the channel options(i think thats what there called, simply when you click on the instrument, some options pop up, idk how to explain), so the bass isnt completly tuned up, thats all

lol perceived bassline, actualy bassline, what it should be, what it is, what it should not be, idk much for music theory and most of those things(even though im stoked to take that class next year), i try to just make stuff that sounds good, and if it breaks the rules of what it should be, then w/e, but im not gona change up all my music, simply because the rules of theory say that my bassline should or should not be somthing, lol

i spent like an hour messing with drums, trying to find one with punch and a slight touch of distortion, i leikd my hats too :)

if i follow my usual habits of music making, then this song is going to end up drastically different than what it sounds like now, or hell i might not even finish it, im working on like 3 songs as it is..

peace thx for review

[Battle Music Two (FF9)]

First of all:

The instruments sound very muddied. Turn down the reverb.
The drums are almost inaudible.
The acoustic instruments are very very good, but your command of them are lacking.
The Harpsicord at the bassline sounds really reallly bad. For the sake of your song, please change.
The drums are pretty bad, I would recommend changing them. One main aspect of the original was the sheer power of the drums.
I can hear a little clipping. Please fix that.
Also, try to pan your instruments so that not everything is sitting in the middle.
Lastly, not every instrument in the original was acoustic. Nor does every instrument in this version have to be. If you can't find a good instrument, then synthesize yourself one.
And in your version, you lose alot of the dynamics that made the original crazy good. I still enjoy the original personally.
And another note, you should really make the first note of the bassline inaudible, or obscured with the sound of the drums. That was another key feature in the original.

viion responds:

Please figure out what recomposition means.
There's no clipping, that must be you.

Everything is how I wanted it :) Nice post but i think i'll avoid the feedback.

[Killah-]

Overall, a very good simple beat.

But I don't like bassline. It doesn't sound good at all.

Furthermore, you leave a lot of room for buildup in this song. Maybe that wasn't what you were going for, but if you wanted to, you could put higher tuned staccatos on this song and really FIRE IT UP! And you could enhance the drumbeat to something crazy at that point, make a monstrous chorus at that point.

I guess my main qualm with this song is that it lacks energy even though it sounds very tense.

But those staccatos really sound diesel, where'd you get those?

And you won't mind informing me when you upload your best beat, will you? I really wanna hear it, see if it inspires me to start rapping again.

Two-Shekel responds:

thx for the advice man

i know what your talking about, but that problem i got with that is that ur lookin for a different type of beat than this really is

ur lookin for like some "lose yourself" type thing where it gets crazier and crazier

this is more for me like a laid back DRE type joint

as for the bass-line tho i'm interested in what you think would make it better

-Shek

[~|| Strange Feelings]

List of things to change

1. change the piano. It sounds horrible and detuned. I really feel bad saying that because that's the main part of the song for you, but it really doesn't sound good at all.
2. Either lower the volume or compress the drums. I can hear clipping in there.
3. In the piano melody, where it goes Bb-F-C-Ab-D-Bb-C-D, The jump from Ab to D is not smooth at all. Furthermore, since the melody is so close to the bassline, the last two notes really sound bad when considering the chord that they're on. And it clashes with the higher piano key hits when they come into play.
4. 1:22 when the string melody comes in, it's hardly audible, in fact I would have missed it if I wasn't paying indepth attention to it.
5. The strings have a really bad loop. But that's not an emergency, that's just something I can pick up. Diff strings maybe?

And that sums up everything that needs to be changed. Things that should stay:
1. Chord progression: aids with the soft feeling of this song.
2. That melody with the strings, as long as it's turned up.
3. The high-key melody. It was really nice.
4. The drumbeat. Good choice with the drums. Just compress em.
5. Ending was good.
6. The beginning was good.

T-Free responds:

Thank you very much for that constructive criticism, blackattackbitch!
I'll work on that song soon. If the new version is finished, I'll contact you.^^

[[\Feels like Steel/]]

A great piece

The beginning was sick, but just a tad too long
I like the violin melody that comes in around 1:16, that's one of my favorite parts of the song.
The violin staccato melody around 1:40 probably should have been more powerful, that would have sounded really good.
Those random downsliding synths at 2:01 are really unnecessary.
The melody after that is amazing, I love it.
The ending sounds really good, but the last verse has everything kinda muddled because everything's playing at the same time, you know? Especially with the violin legato and staccato because they're in the same octave and it becomes really hard to pick them out. If I remember right, it was you who advised me on not doing that lol.
Oh, lastly, the attack on the cello staccatos should probably raised. It sounds like the violin is coming in at full attack at least a half-step behind the drumbeat.

Other than that, nice work. I always enjoy giving out reviews like this, especially when people take them into consideration.

paradoxphenomena responds:

Thanks for the well thought out review blackattackbitch, always a pleasure to hear from you.

Dynamics, dynamics and more dynamics. At least that's what the initial aim of this piece is all about and I sacrificed a lot of small but crucial details in order to paint the bigger picture, so to speak.

For the last verse and staccato melody at 1:40, my only excuse is that the mastering for this piece was a long and excruciating process and by the end of it I just wanted to make sure everything was EQ'ed because I did each instrument separately. When think i got it just right and render it, there would be an random spike and I have to do back so in the end I just had to sacrifice it for my sanity. I quite agree that the downslide at 2:01 was unnecessary but it was the quickest method of diffusion that came to mind at the time. Looking back at it now, I realise its not the greatest idea I ever had and certainly won't be happening again.

Cheers!

[Soothing Sadness]

Great song, I loved it

But a few things:

1) The beginning shouldn't have been so long, you probably should have introduced another instrument just a bit sooner.
2) That instrument that comes in around 2:12 should probably be turned down around certain sections. It sounds way too loud when considering the piano and everything else.
3) The song repeats just a little two much, I would have liked a little more variety with the piano melody.
4) Sometimes the instruments leave way too suddenly to match the reverb.
5) The pad around the 4:30-50 area doesn't match the piano melody well.

Other than that, this is a very beautiful song. Keep up the work my friend. The composition and choice of instruments were perfect too, that's probably my favorite part of this song.

[(Your) Absolution [2]]

I agree with all of the points of the guy below me

But I'll go even further than that. The drums don't really match the song. You need better drum samples. Furthemore, I would like to see more dynamics in your song, it feels like it was just compressed for loudness.

Otherwise, really good song. Keep it up!

Stolkmen5000 responds:

Really?

I thought the drums were ok for what I could find in my crappy library. If you know of any cheap yet great software for instruments or for just composing, I wouldn't mind getting it.

All I've got is crappy GarageBand and Logic, which are the only Mac things I can get. My Sibelius software is currently dead and I will try to revive that someday.

Anyway, TY for the review. I will take it into consideration when I attempt to compose a third version of this song. So far everyone likes the first.

[Is This True Love? (Piano)]

Well-constructed piece.

The only two things I can think of to change in this song would be that you lower the attack of the piano in certain sections, if your program allows for the keys to sound as if they've been played softer. That would really convey the feeling of love. Also, around 1:04, the main melody jumps from lower keys to keys 1 octave higher. It probably would have been better if it had flowed to the higher octave.

Other than that, excellent work. You captured the essence of love perfectly with this piece. Good thing that those artists gave you such *ahem* great inspiration....lol jk ;p

Keep it up man, I doubt I need to tell you that you have the potential to be an amazing artist if you stick with it.

Zero123Music responds:

Yep, ok - the velt should have been lower I agree :p
but I did try putting that 1:04 in the same octave - but it clashed with the left hand, leaving it feeling horrible. I would of had to jump the octave sometime - and I found that was the best part to do it

Though I should have left it in the original octave to see what it would sound like - cause you are probably right ^^

thanks for the 10!
>>Zero

[Our Epic Journey]

Honestly don't know what Marks-a-lot is smokin'

But I think this song is smokin, on a creative scale. Great chord choice, lovely powerful melody, nice everything. You definitely have one hell of a future in music.

I can't think of any suggestions except maybe these:

At some point in this track, put some kind of amazing ensemble in there.
Add a slight bit more reverb. Careful though, you don't want to blur the instruments too much.

Now onto general things:
1) A midi rip is when somebody takes a midi file, imports it into their DAW, replaces the instruments, and claims it as their own work. Many of the "Videogame Remixes" on this site are nothing more than midi rips.
2)The choice of brass staccato and the snare drums make this sound like a middle-ages theme, hence why it's reminiscent to zelda.
3) Once again, YOU'RE ONLY 13!!!!?!?!?!? HOLY CRAP!!!! You will be amazing by the time you hit your senior year in highschool. Once again, I predict a very bright future for you.

Zero123Music responds:

Yes, a bit more reverb - I did try reverb :)
I have just the idea of the ensemble - like maybe some high strings about halfway through - on the second main section?

Thankyou!!! I'm glad someone liked it :)

Now - for my response to general things ;)
1)I am truly shocked at what all the remixes are.. Those people are nothing but cheap skates who can't think of something original, which is the beauty of the NGAP.
Well - for me, this song is most certainly NOT a MIDI rip - never would I ever dream of it. Original tune and everything, started from scratch ;-)
2) Ah, thanks for clearing that up - I was wondering the relation.
3)Thankyou!! Alot, I try my hardest and reviews like this make me feel it's starting to pay off.
I think you are extremely talented also - and please PM me about a song you feel is pretty good when you upload it :)

Thankyou
>>Zero

[MH16: MAC9 #2 -Editable-]

Sickening!

Such a joyful tune, man this song is amazing. Nice chord progression man. My suggestions though are to smooth up the intro and ending. The intro isn't bad, just needs a touchup. The outro is too abrupt though, it seems to end in the middle of a melody.

Nice drums man. Really nice drums.

All in all, this deserves its ten. Each time, your songs get better and better. And it's not like they get slightly better, it's like they get better by leaps and bounds.

FairSquare responds:

To do list:
-Make the intro better
-Make outro better

Really thanks for this review!!!
I appreciate it :-)
MH16