Dylnmatrix's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Door - Rising]

I really like this!

The beat is nice, and I really like the piano. I enjoy the simplicity of the track as well, good for some light listening after listening to a whole lot of tracks that have a lot of complexity to them. I could see this being turned into a really nice longer track, but it's great as it is now. It looped fairly well, I like how the track pauses for just a split second before it loops. Maybe it wasn't intended, and it was added to the mp3 when you exported it, but it works really well in this case.

I didn't really find anything that I didn't like. I noticed a lot of FL presets that I've used before in a lot of my older projects, but it actually works for the track. Gives it a bit of an 80s/90s feel to it.

Great job on this.

Also, sorry for not reviewing your stuff sooner. Procrastination and laziness are to blame. But I have been checking out your tracks since you reviewed Bound By Fate. I've just been too lazy to actually leave a review.

TaintedLogic responds:

Wow! Thank you so much! :D Yeah, I do use a lot of presets- I've been trying to move away from that. Don't worry about not reviewing my songs earlier. I was happy when you simply responded to my reviews of your stuff, but this is a whole other level! Thank you again! Made my day! :)

[video game loop ;)]

Great job so far!

I'm really liking the calmness of the track so far. I could see this be a menu theme or a safe city overworld theme, where the character's get to relax finally after a bunch of crap has been happening to them. I personally don't mind the mixing as it is right now, except maybe the hi hats and the kick could be a little bit louder in the beginning, as they are at the . Other than that, it sounds great. There were times that I would skip ahead a bit to see what was coming next, but after the first loop, I've been listening to it all the way through.

For the ending, as you had that drum fill swell after that little calm break, maybe have a little part to sound like the character's are celebrating, going along with my safe city/town overworld theme interpretation, happy to be rid of worry for a day or two. Then you can tone it down as you get it ready to loop back to the beginning, if you want to keep it a loop. I think that would be pretty cool, but you don't have to do that.

As for the structure, it sounds good as it is now, the track flows nicely with some good transitions, and that part I suggested earlier would help satisfy my interpretation of the track, while keeping the song flowing. I'm not exactly sure what could be added or taken away, as my inspiration is at a pretty big low, but I'll PM you if I figure anything out before you finish the track :)

Keep it up my friend!
Dylnmatrix

SoulofT responds:

Glad it made you think of something like a menu theme, it's exactly what I had in mind! :)

yeah, I figure the kick/hi-hats do need a volume boost in the intro, especially to give it the "pumping" feeling which I'm trying to get... maybe some sidechaining might help :p

I really like your idea of the celebrating sounds, especially as I've been trying to find a way to make this sound more like a loop. I don't know, I'll try it and see how it turns out I guess.

Glad you also think the track flows well, this is something I've been struggling with in other tracks and which I've been working on!

Thanks a lot for the insightful review man, it's really appreciated!! :)

[Battle! vs. The Razos]

This track is pretty cool. Very "futuristic."

I really like the flowing melody and how the melody changes speed from the beginning. Like how a war builds, very much like the song's intended. I can definitely see a space war while listening to this. I also enjoy the bassline and the synth you used for the bass. The builds are great, and the way you introduce new elements is crisp and clean, making the piece easy to enjoy without it stopping too much.

I didn't like the background "plucking" progression (I dunno how to describe it) very much though. In the beginning it was fine, but by the end of the track it got a little stale and a bit monotonous. But with it being hidden in the background, it didn't get to me that much. Plus war can be monotonous, so it makes sense in a way when you think about it.

I also believe the ending could have been a little bit better than just ending everything else then having a reverse crash echo. If I had to suggest how it could be better, I would say that you could have taken that "plucking" progression and have it start taking over the rest of the track, by means of getting louder or having everything else fade away until the end when it solos as you slow the progression down to the final chord. You could use the reverse crash to transition to the solo, or you could still use it at the end as the final chord is playing. You don't have to do this, as the song's fine as it is, it's just what I would do. -shrugs-

All in all, it's a great track. I enjoyed it, even with the minor issues I had with this. Keep it up!

vorteX-sound responds:

Wow. This review is incredibly detailed, thanks! This is going to be for the same series of music for the possible upcoming flash series on here I mentioned in the contest. Hopefully I'll be able to improve my music skills to come close to perfecting the scores for the series. Thanks again!

[Hardly the Sound]

Interesting melody, the song definitely started head-nodding for me.

Pros:
-The melody is nice and simple in the beginning and starts getting more complicated as the song progresses.
-Most of the transitions are nice and clean, they don't cut off too much from the feel of the track.
-The rhythm you had the melody do at around 2:30-ish was interesting. It felt weird at first, but once the beat and everything else kicked in at 2:50, it started to work a lot better with the track.
-Mixing seems fine to me. Not too loud or too quiet.

A few Cons about the track:
-The first transition. It's okay, but could be a lot better (not really sure how though, sorry ^^;). But you already know this.
-When the melody starts doing its funky rhythm with just the drums behind it (2:40-ish), it didn't really work and the way the rhythm was sounded kind of sloppy to me. It works once everything else comes back in at around 2:50, but it just doesn't work for me that much before then. I'm not exactly sure how you could introduce that rhythm better so that it would work, though. Maybe have the rhythm with the sixteenth notes come in at 2:50 with everything, introduce it a bit slower? It might work better for me then.

Other than that iffy first transition and the way you introduced the melody's interesting rhythm, this is a nice song. Definite head-bobbing material. Good job

Dylnmatrix

It feels weird asking for this in a review, but could you possibly review my latest piece "Love Is Powerful" and maybe check out "No Chance of Survival"? I'd really like some new reviews on those pieces as I just recently updated them to finished versions. Thanks!

GershBeats responds:

Thanks for the comprehensive review! I'm pretty aware of all the things you said, but it's good to have it clarified. I'll definitely re-release in a day or 2.

Also I'm happy to check your stuff out! I can't do it now but I will soon.

[SmK & DJH - Finally Free]

Simply amazing. The piano, melody, synths, beat, progressions, intro, outro, everything. Just beautiful. It's been a while since music made me feel like I was soaring through the air, with nothing to worry about. Thanks for this beautiful dance music guys, I needed something like this.

SKILLZmakeKILLZ responds:

Of course, we were all happy to bring you this masterpeice

[Raging Out]

Pretty good. The mixing is good and I like how the beat just keeps going till the end.

There were a couple things that I had an issue with though.
- It's a bit too repetitive. I found myself wanting to skip ahead in certain points of the song so I could hear the next part. Add a little variety to it by changing up the melody or adding in more different elements.
- At about the 1:00 mark, you start adding an element that sounds like another song in the background that's in a different key than the foreground music.
- 1:45 mark. The melody here is out of key at certain parts, most notably the arpeggios at the end of each phrase. It makes the song sound weird and it makes me cringe a little, being a little OCD when it comes to keys and music.
- When the piano comes in, some of the chords are out of key as well. Same as the above remarks.

It's good other than those out of key parts. Maybe fix those and make them actually be in key, and I'd be a lot happier. If they were out of key intentionally...you can keep it the way it is, but maybe fix a couple parts.

2.5/5 stars, giving you 3 for the rating ;). It was good mixing, and the song had some good structure, just that those bits that are out of key make it a bit harder for me to enjoy it. I can see/hear the potential in this though, so keep it up.

Dylnmatrix

AeronMusic responds:

Hey there, DylnMatrix,
Very thanks for the big review and the good constructive criticism. Some points you are right, but at some points I think you are not.... I disagree with the off-key beats, I checked it again and there is nothing off-key (Still not sure by the way). You may think it's off-key, but I've used semitones. Thanks again!

[Gold (preview)]

Sounds great, can't wait to hear the full thing :)

Some feedback on how it is so far:
-Great melody, yet again. Simple yet pleasing to the ear.
-Oomph, that bass...I love it, though I'm a sucker for gritty/dirty basses, so there's a bit of bias there haha. Tip though: You might want to turn it dow a bit, as is causing the limiter to come in when you have the kick, melody and bass going.
-Speaking of the kick, maybe make it a little stronger? You may not have to when you turn down your bass, but I'm going to throw that out there.

Other than those two things, great job so far. Keep it up c:
Dylnmatrix

Nervousnoob responds:

Il keep that in mind! Thank you!

[SmK - Evolve]

Definitely my new favorite SmK song. This is amazing. The melody is uplifting and beautiful, I love the bassline, and I love the song. I wish I could sidechain like that. Hell, I wish I could make amazing melodies like you do in all your tracks.

The song does get a little repetitive in the middle, but the melody is good enough to make it unnoticeable unless you start nitpicking.

Great job :)

SKILLZmakeKILLZ responds:

my goal is always to make a song better than the last, so thank you in confirming that I did this time (:
im glad you enjoyed it ^^

[The Simple Things]

Very relaxing and calming, and a nice change from all the trance I've been listening to all day. Simply put, this is beautiful. Everyone needs a bit of simplicity to calm them down every now and then.

Thanks for this.

stunkel responds:

Thanks! :D Glad that you liked it! I'll be making more soon!

[Silver Paradise]

Damn, that's a big project.

But the song clearly shows that it was worth the size. This is very uplifting, and I love to hear trance like this. It has a beautiful melody, flows smoothly, and has a good bassline. I really liked the effects you used, along with the voice samples.

My only critiques, would be that in some parts the kick and bass are a little too much, making it hard to hear the melody behind them. Maybe turn those down a bit, or turn down the boost you added to them.

Amazing song regardless, though. Great job.
Dylnmatrix

SoulofT responds:

"Damn, that's a big project."
yeah, I must say, I'm glad to be done with it :p

"This is very uplifting, and I love to hear trance like this. It has a beautiful melody, flows smoothly, and has a good bassline. I really liked the effects you used, along with the voice samples."

Hey thanks a lot! I wasn't really confident with my bassline, but now I feel better about it :p
Oh and most of the voice samples were me :] (all of them except the weather forecast part)

"My only critiques, would be that in some parts the kick and bass are a little too much, making it hard to hear the melody behind them. Maybe turn those down a bit, or turn down the boost you added to them."

That's true, I agree the kick sounds messed up in some parts... I actually had like 8 different patterns of kicks in this, because I just never felt it was good enough.

Thanks a lot for the review!!

SoulofT