xxxZigZagxxx's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Aspects]

Hi TheGreatKhalem

The beginning sounds very "Owl City ft. Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time", in a good way. 0:16 The sidechaining arrives. But it's not as hard-hitting as the owl city hit. I know everyone doesn't have those mixing skills, and this is a rough, but it just sounds a bit muddy. If you could somehow produce a high-end that has a quick release, then that's how they do it in mainstream I think. 0:52 Standard snare build-up, but it works.

1:00 Double time snares, and the repetition of the synth. But the snare doesn't come out of the mix enough. 1:17 Wow that turned really quiet all of a sudden. Usually you expect the chorus to be louder than the rest. You might have some majorly huge limiter on it or something because it just went *really* quiet. 1:45 You put DB glitch on it or something? Kinda works, but kinda not. You might need to reroute that to only the synth, and not the drums or something. Not sure how they glitch it to sound somewhat more natural on songs such as this.

2:13 You got that build-up down pat though. 2:17 I like that wind-ish sound to calm it down, coming into the piano solo. You've got the good structure of a mega-hit, it's just the mixing that's letting you down. OK I'm gonna stop here.

No wait I'm not 2:49 has a good build-up. It goes very suddenly loud though. If there could be a way to remedy that? I like your cool blipping synths (not sure how to describe at the point of 03:05. Again, 3:18 is *super* quiet. Probably your kick is too loud and overpowering your limiter it sounds like. If you use FL limiter, do you still have it on? I tend not to use a limiter but maybe I'm weird in that aspect.

Well it seems I've come to the end of your song even though I only intended to stay for half the duration. That must mean it's somewhat good. Thanks for your cool hit that perhaps needs a bit more mixing to make it really good.

TheGreatKhalem responds:

Zigzag...

First off lemme start off by saying I love you, and this is the best feed back I have gotten because you use correct terminology, and know what you're talking about. (seems like it at least.)

Also yeah, this is meant to be really radio friendly, easy to sing on and so forth.

I don't really know what you mean by "produce a high-end that has a quick release" ... I'm pretty new to mixing/mastering and I need to learn.

I believe the chorus is lower since the kick is too loud.

The Glitchy sound sound's better routed to the master since the beat adds to it. Also, it's preference to liking it. Some like it and some don't, however, it's only for like 4 seconds. But, you're right about it fitting in this type of track.

It suddenly goes loud at 2:49? I don't really hear it

Also I giggled at you using the word aspect, I couldn't tell if it was intended as a pun or not.

Lastly, I didn't mix this track at all. D:

Thanks alot good sir, you're a great man.

[Joyeux Anniversaire !]

Hi MadMath

The synth at the beginning has a lot of harsh high-end. The arp that comes in at 00:15 sounds very Kavinsky-like (Nightcall). Oh wow. That lead at 0:35 is very popping. I love your sense of melody. Pretty much everyone's crap at mix-mastering, that's half the battle, so I feel your pain there. 1:05 those strings are pretty potent. It's very wish-washy, you could work on getting some clarity amongst the instruments, but that's always a hard thing. Something about cutting instruments at various EQs to make room for the same instruments to boost at that same EQ. Not that I'm pro at that either.

1:43 Good vibes. Reminds me of nearing the end of "Giorgio by Moroder" on the latest Daft Punk album, Random Access Memories. Where the synths are competing for power. I like the progression in this track, and the addition of orchestral strings at points such as 2:15. The synth at 2:35 is very chiptune-Anamanaguchi, and I like it a lot. Throw in some pitch-bend on that synth and I reckon you'll have a winner. I just wish it came earlier on in the piece.

Plus, the ending isn't shitty at all. It's pretty triumphant.

MadMath responds:

Hey ZigZag, thanks a lot for dropping these few remarks and advice, I didn't got any, for months now, so it's greatly appreciated. I'm happy that some parts of the song reminded you Daft Punk and Kavinsky, because it was precisely what I was aiming for as my friend like it very much.

It's also great to read that you liked the choice of instruments and my melodies (creating melodic lines is actually what I like the most in a song, so your words go straight to my heart).

Thanks for your advices about mastering... Unfortunately I was aware of them, but didn't succeed to make something correct. I used pano, and equalizers to isolate frequencies, low and hi-cut my instruments, but couldn't manage to make a great occupation of the space, and as you rightly say it, to get "some clarity amongst the instruments".

Sorry for the late entrance of the chiptune synth ;)

Thanks again for your times and thoughts ZigZag.

[PoniiParty WIP]

Wow that's so intense! I wish I could make sounds like u. mine are soooo basic!! we should collab sometime........ producer ;)

Poniiboi responds:

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[Find a Way]

0:10 The resampling is great. I can feel the FL Studio burning throug here.

Your melodies are dissonant, your kicks coming through at various times neither known nor expected. This reminded me of the inanity of Groundhog Day; living the same repetitions over again, but in various variations, all different and yet the goal is clear.

1:17 It becomes clear, and returns back to you in the form of a revelation. Not many pause back to ponder like this does, but you have command of the song. You have command of the soundscape. Nothing is out of your reach. You are invinicible, and even near invisible, weaving like the Holy Spirit through the beats.

2:04 Otherworldly bongos. Dat flange. Have you ever thought about how music might be poetry, and if so, have structure? Because structure is important.

Go.

[Ms. Lollipop]

Your style has always been unique. It's got a certain Madlib-esque twinge to it, sidechained dated samples weaving in between your commanding kicks and snares. A touch of wonky dissonance here, a pinch of glorious hip-hop swag there. A defiant lack of hi-hats, replaced with garbled bird-tweets or other similar ear-noises.

Again, your kicks are almost overwhelming, to the point where the edges are not fully seen or realised. That is not always a good thing. I mean, even Madlib learnt to tone it down a bit. The style of yours is visceral and unique, but is it universal enough? If you want to, and I think everyone should, you should reach for this broad universality.

Keep being ThaKidd.

[Simple Things]

Your style is evolving. Personifying itself into a new beast with different styles, and a new take on life. Your samples aren't as overt anymore, and the flow of your song has changed somewhat. It's new.

The beat changes verisimilarly as you progress. From booming bass to delicate piano riffs, it escalates/descends. At various points it moves. The progression however, can feel light when held.

You could ease up on the booming kick and bass. Even though it's awesome, it doesn't always bring quality. I think quality is what we all strive for here. Quality of each sound coming together in one synthesis.

Overall, decent and thanks.

[Jingle Bells DJ Theof RMX]

0:00 Pretty hilarious stuff dude. Built up funnily and has a comic vibe about it.
0:45 Oh wow those hi-hats are overwhelming. The release on those hats is too long, it drowns out everything.
1:00 That's a pretty funny little drop though.
1:15 Those hats. Need to tone them down a bit. But funny hehehehehe
1:30 LOL at the breakdown. Sounds like srs bzness now.
1:39 Very classic Open hi hats.
2:00 OMG THAT DROP LOL
2:34 Now I can really hear the melody. Thanks.
2:45 By the way where did you get your synths from?

OK very funny very cool and comic remix of Jingle Bells classic. Where did you get those synths? I'm just asking curiously and because I WANT TO USE THEM AND STEAL YOUR SOUND! But not really.

Thanks
Benny

TastyTeo responds:

Thanks for the critics i read all of them, well i created most of the synths on nexus / 3xOsc / Harmless

[Golden Lobster]

0:00 Nice synthy starting. The reverb is nice, but may be a bit too much.
0:20 It is pretty ambient though.
0:30 Drums are sufficient. They don't hit *hard*, but they're good enough.
0:48 Yes. This refrain is really good. You need to bring the hype up with some sweet swishes though, and bring it up to a satisfyingly epic climax.
1:17 Right now is where it should build up. Have some crazy SFX and crap to bring that right out of there.
1:34 More swooshes!
1:40 I can hear it, but we need more!
1:51 I get that it's progressive, but I think you need to vary it up a bit.
2:15 Nice claps you bring in.
2:22 Those snares need to be louder.
2:35 More buildup please.

OK I think I've heard all I need to. This song needs a bit more energy, nice swooshes and hype-builders, perhaps a drop, some kick EQ to make it more bombastic, and generally... well, hype. I can see that it's really good musically and all, but for it to connect with the soul and the "hype-gland", we need those fancy FXs, bro. Or at least I feel like I do. Other than that you've got it musically down pat, might just need to be a bit more *progressive*. Good stuff.

Benny

cannibalcurator responds:

It loops at 1:17 with no difference between the loops. I'm honestly not sure what progressive means. I did re-export the song based on some of your points but left some other parts alone as typically don't like the sound of crowding effects. It is meant to be an ambient loop and not a full track so adding hype/drops wasn't my original intention for the song. Thanks for the review.