saintedix's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Arpeggios (rough)]

Gettin' To It

I actually like this a lot better than your FF7 piece. It has a lot of creativity and energy in it. Now to the criticism:

Again, keep working with reverb and delay effects, especially if you are going to use a piano. Maybe add the accompanying chords to the arpeggios at certain points with a warm pad, and fade in a second piano at a higher octave. Also, a high hat and more work with the drum loops could make this piece rock. What software do you use? Feel free to message me.

Daxter1537 responds:

well man, i love the criticism, and yea this seriously had very little effort into it, i am going to definetly take your suggestions into mind. I use FL 9

Thanx for the Review

[Mega-Man X Intro Highway]

Depth Again

As I said with your other track, keep working with it and building upon the effects and mastering of the instruments. Once you get a good base down and learn the tricks of your software, things will some much easier.

One thing I would say is that work with your drum kits first. Even if your main synths and melody aren't that great, a good beat can carry you through a track!

[Metroid - Nightmare's Theme]

Add Some Depth!

Good base, but it needs a little depth to the tune. For example, the instruments need a little reverb and more punch to them. Also, it couldn't hurt to add a little variance to the theme and baseline. Keep working with the tune, it'll get better for you :)

If you want to hear some examples of some great VG music, check out the artists on my favorites list. I also do some remixing of VG tracks, so feel free to browse my audio as well :)

Furrymarine23 responds:

I've been adding reverb and depth to the instruments, hopefully the next time i upload the new version it will sound much better.

I'll check out your favs list and Remixes, I'm always open to hear different artists and styles.

[<PS> USA National Anthem-Final]

Patriotic...

You're right, the beginning is a little slow. Personally (and you're going to hate it, because it's what I say about all of your songs that I've reviewed), I would add percussion. Timpani and cymbals earlier in the track with the build-ups, and maybe even some of the army snares rat-tatting in the background. That's just my take.

You're a lot better at creating than I am. I'm much better at taking other people's work and providing constructive criticism (hence the reason why I do almost exclusively remixes :P)

4/5, 8/10

[<PS> Conquest]

Very well written!

I would like to see more percussion used in the background at some points, even if subtle. I didn't really get "power" out of it, but more like a shift of power through sinister means (kinda like the review below me...think Wormtongue and Theoden in Lord of the Rings). That's the feeling I got anyway. Great composition though, and with a little more "richness", it could be a great, short piece!

PenguinSam responds:

Hmmm...I believe I see what you are saying. I will admit that this is not by best as well. I can see why the percussion could be used more, but that just seems to be a weak point of mine.

Thank you for the review.

<PS>

[<PS> Dreams of Ice and Snow]

Pretty good. Love the atmosphere.

I think you do a great job with setting the mood of the song as lonely and cold. Now, my only reasoning for not giving it a 10 would be that I would have more "spice" to the song like you add with the reverse cymbal around 2:30 and the celesta at 2:53. That stuff is AWESOME for adding a lot to a winter track, so I think you should visit it earlier than two and a half minutes in. Maybe a vibraphone, grand piano, or even solo strings. Oh, I would also use more bass in the main chords (or maybe my speakers just didn't bring it out very well). Hope that helps!

Check out my remix I just did on Dr. Cossack's Castle from Mega Man 4. It's supposed to give off the same icy feel...at least I hope it does :)

PenguinSam responds:

Well, just so you know, it's not a reverse cymbal, just a suspended one and a bass drum, and it's a glockenspiel, not a celesta, just so you know. ;)

Hmmm, I was wondering about the bass to, I'll make some adjustments to that.
And adding the glockenspiel and percussion sounds like a good idea. I may even add a grand piano or solo strings, I'll have to play around with that.

Thanks for the review, it's great to get insight like that!

<PS>

[Aerith's Theme Remixed]

Good Idea

Pretty cool idea, real jazzy. Only thing keeping it from a 10 is the quality of the sounds, and variation as the track progresses. I like it though!

Anthouse21 responds:

Ok ill remember that, thanks alot for the comment!

[Warp Pipe Dreams]

Very creative!

I like this mix altogether pretty well. Again, I think you could use a little work with the parametric EQs and compressors in FL Studio to achieve an overall better sound. Only thing from keeping it a 10 :)

Cam3leon responds:

I've gotten the hang of those a little more recently. I'll definitely revisit this joint when remastering my other songs. Thanks for the feedback!