Charleon's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Somewhere Out in the World]

More ambient than techno/trance

This gives off a nice feeling, though the drums lacks dynamic and doesn't keep me inspired for too long, try to give them more variation, and even dynamics (phasing, flanging, high/low frequency cutting, your choce) at some stages. This song has a really long intro and the main thing about Techno/trance song is that it pretty fast shows the audience that it can keep a cool rhytm and get away with it, in otherwords I think you should get on with the main part of the song a little bit sooner. Also, for a techno song I don't think this has any lead/synth that stands out much, the center of the soundscape is not explored at all in the song besides for the chime-beat (which I really like in certain parts of the song I might add). I also think your technosong should have at least 1 break/alternative melody. That would really inspire myself to listen to this for a longer time, and also create some dynamics that the drums doesn't give at the moment. I think of this more like an Ambient song than a techno/Trance song, but oh, how I love the chime-sounds! please polish this track, I can see it got loads of potential.

NightmareTheDragon responds:

Alright, I'll see how I can work this out. It probably won't be for awhile. Though I'll definitely send you my new version of it.

[Mortal Kombat (Demo)]

Barely a demo! impossible to judge

It sounds like you're mixing 2 synths together, or using a synth that accomplishes this, and you've picked out the Mortal Kombat song, I'll give you that, but even for a demo this lacks both originality and the "UMPH" feeling I get from this theme. At least add some drums, bass and try to give your listeners a feeling before submitting something that is a WIP (Work in progress) so they can review it and give pointers on what you should think about, or change in the song. The song in this condition... I really can't give any constructive critiscism

NightmareTheDragon responds:

The demo is the whole sound I wanted to release. Nothing special, I just wanted to know if you guys liked the sound for it. I guess I didn't make that clear on which I should. Though I see where your going at on reviews.

[And Just Breath]

Good base for hip-hop, but needs some fixin' yo!

The drums sound Hip-hop, And I really can see someone rap to this, so you've succeeded in setting the mood, I have a couple of pointers though:

Some instruments goes nuts in the middle/top frequencies, I would choose something trianglebased in a lower octave maybe, and this song definitely needs a solid Bass to pump up the beat and also aiding the melodies in delivering the rhytm. So lower some tones/Change the synth and add a bass.

Then maybe add some dynamics to the drums, as I can clearly distinguish you're using two different drumloops over and over and over again, add small crashes, fills here and there, and this song will sound much more dynamic.

NightmareTheDragon responds:

Alright, thanks man. Will look into it. If I remake this one. I send you the better version of it.

[Retro Game Beat]

Good solid base Idea, but needs development

While I reserve myself for judging this a little bit harshly as I don't know what the intention with this piece is, I have to speak my mind.
A nice creative bass indeed, But I feel you could have developed this concept so much further, all parts, actually. Just flashing a closed hi-hat here and there doesn't cut it with me, don't be afraid to explore the rest of the drumsection to create some dynamics in the song.

Getting to the melody, I think you have a great base to work on, but the melody needs to evolve, or this will get repetative real fast, even the alternative synth you throw in at ~50 doesn't change this fact. Don't be afraid to play with more melodies, as you already got a bass that's working in the background.

Though my critique may sound harsh, I can see some ideas in this song,you just have to develop them further. Have fun making music!

NightmareTheDragon responds:

I had no intention on this beat to make it special. Just decided to share it.

[Russian Waltz No.1 In A minor]

Awesome first try!

The Melodic Piano needs to come to the front alot more in certain places, or maybe it's meant to gradually appear from nothingness? I think you did a lovely first try at the waltz genre though! I've never tried it, but I might someday. I'd advice you to adjust the dynamics of the bassnotes of the piano also to make it sound less static and more flowing, overall a neat piece which makes me want to take the closest girl up to a dance of waltz =)

Darkmaster603 responds:

heh, thanks! I agree, it needs work, but I just had to make the deadline! I probably should have worked more on this but like I said, I've been pulling the weight on these games, so it's taken most of my time lol. I'll have to redo this piece then, seems like this just doesn't give it justice.

thanks for the review!

[Random Orchestral Demo]

Inspiring

Pretty good job with the melody and feeling in this, i feel that you use the crash cymbal a little bit too much though, tone it down some in the revised version and this will be swell =)

Darkmaster603 responds:

Yes, I agree. This was made with my crappy 512 mb ram 40 gb hdd 2002 stock computer. I had no idea what it would sound like but I hoped for the ebst lol. The redone version will be done soon with my new music laptop!

thanks for the review!

[~Mega Man 2 - Skull Castl]

A bit lacking, but accurate

Do I sense a FL slayer? the guitar sounds too muffled for a leadguitar in my opinion, also it goes off to some dangerously high frequensies at times.
The drums also sound a bit static, you should experiment more with them and try to add dynamics to them by alternating them once in a while.

This being said, i think it's a pretty good cover, just skip the FL Slayer and i'll be back for more :D

pheel responds:

Slayer has a very distinct sound doesn't it :)
Please if you can provide me with some better guitar sounds I would really appreciate it.

Thanks for reviewing :)

[Great Sea Orchestra]

Takes me back!

I'm also using Edirol orchestra but last week I went over to East West Quantum Leap Symphony Orchestra, a choice I'm glad I made, but when I hear what you've accomplished with Edirol I feel i misjudged it a little, this is splendidly done!

Zorathan responds:

I know, it does take a while to get used to the Edirol HQ Orchestral plugin. It just takes a little work, i'm pretty sure with a little more practice you'll be great at it! (just don't forget to add the french horn, it makes it a LOT better, trust me!)

[Mirrorworld]

Straight A's mah boy!

You have a great sense for music, you know that? =)
this is the first song ever on newgrounds that has made my
spine shiver, and that in a good way, really GREAT work with everything, from producing to performance

MashedByMachines responds:

Wow thanks alot :) im glad that some people like it ;D

[DV-Zelda-Saria's Song]

mediocre percussion, but still takes me back

My first though is that your percussion lacks dynamic. One way of accomplishing this is to give them a slight reverb and then alternate the velocity for each tone.

Also it's for me very hard to judge remixes with little to none custom content or theme in them. I played this theme on the piano yesterday and i can tell that not much has changed from the version I played. Try to make this song your own!

also sometimes the song sounds empty, then I realised it barely has anything that can be called Bass, which I think would be a great asset to the song.

Even though I judge it pretty harshly, I still love this song and you did a great job in reviving it in my ears one more time =)

DenVessidence responds:

this isnt a remix

i customized my percussion so it sounded like the game instruments.

i didnt add bass because there is no bass in the song, there is simply the chords and lead.

i didnt try to make it my own that wasnt the goal, i go through these songs and remake them by ear note fo note, thats my goal.

look for my songs that are marked remix in the title those are remixes, this i a simple game version tune, it says it in the description