Sleepycoaster's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Darkstep]

This most certainly is deathstep, something I have listened to but have never attempted to create.
First of all, I think you could try changing the song structure of the drop section, because it seems like you have a single idea for every measure that you hold onto for the rest of the measure. Shift it up! Get funky!
I also find the change in pace at the drops jarring.
Sorry I have only criticism, but I think the cymbal and the open hi hat are a bit distracting. I'd notice it less if the hi hat were quieter (or the high frequencies EQd off) and the cymbal were hit less often.
I hope this helps! I wouldn't have said so much if I didn't think you should continue making dubstep tunes.

Blackdoom13 responds:

First of all thank you for the fair review! I sure it could be much crazier in the drop but I really dont know what Im doing when it comes to Dubstep lol like I said I gave it a shot :) No no Im looking for critisim I wanna know what Im doing right and wrong. You helped alot! Thanks!

[Fast Level (8-bit)]

I very much like how you varied the song structure from one phrase to the next. My favorite part is :20, because it was pretty unexpected and brought out the next part nicely.

wyver9 responds:

yeah, inspiration is so random thing)
thanks for review!

[Gothic Quest]

Nice atmosphere, the melody and harpsichord remind me of old SNES video games and Professor Layton games.
Have you considered EQing the howl and deep laugh so that they sound further away? I personally hear them a little too close to be atmospheric, and would have cut the treble on the laugh and the bass on the howl.

GamekrazzyProduction responds:

I have not had much practice on EQing for atmosphere... I tried applying some reverb and panning, but other then that I don't really know how to change the feel of distance.

Thanks for the review! ;)

[Vampire Castle]

Nothing wrong with the mixing. It sounds as slim and punchy as most metal tracks are.

DuttonsaysHi responds:

Oh that's good to know! Thanks ^^

[River of Illusions]

After hearing Flying Moon Creature and Adventua, to be honest this sounded a bit humdrum. Musically, the instrumentation is interesting. However, it sounds a bit sloppy to me in the beginning, when you put the grace notes of the harp over the punch of the choir. The echo of the choir was lost to me. Aesthetically, the strings and choir didn't sound natural. The most soothing parts of the piece involve the piano, and I honestly love the piano solo. A lot of the rest sounds a bit too mechanical.

DanJohansen responds:

Fair enough, the choir was never intended to sound natural from the beginning, it is more of a heavy influence of synthetic unique choir touches that I am really intrigued by. But hey, to each their own! Can't please everyone, I personally find this peace better than both Moon Creature and Adventua personally. Thanks for your time though!

[They feed on fear]

You say your mic sucked and the equipment was old? Something must be wrong with me because I think this sounds like it came straight out of an action movie.

mistarogerz responds:

It's not very often I get to use someone else's entire studio that I bought in an abandoned storage unit. Maybe the previous musicians were with me in spirit that day! I'm buying another unit today. Who knows what will be in there.

[Majestic]

Boy, can you write author's comments. There was Disney in those two melancholy yet uplifting paragraphs.

Okay, you want feedback? Here's my humble take. You cover the bases in orchestration, from the shimmering high glock to the deep bass. But I think you can make those blend better . . . somehow. I personally feel you could have come up with a second melody to play during the first half, because as good as it is, it was starting to sound a teensy bit repetitive.

I don't think the lack of lyrics makes it less Disney-esque. The thrills came just the same. Grand and majestic. Good work.

DuttonsaysHi responds:

Wow thank you! I rally appreciate that! It's nice to hear that I still managed to get it how I wanted it to be from another perspective :].

I get what you mean with the orchestral blend. I mean I spent so long trying to separate the instruments to try and get a clearer sound for them but I guess I split them up too much in the process? I always get unsure when it comes to mixing orchestral instruments because I'm never fully aware of the kind of sounds I want (Do I want the strings to be stabby? to the brass need to be smooth or resonant? should the woodwinds be subtle or dominant?) I'll try and get a unified soon next time!

I also agree with the second melody but with the change in chord progression it was hard to find an alternate melody and I found the original to work just as well, I guess because it's a simple melody. I must have over used it in that case. I just didn't want to keep creating new melodies out of fear of them sounding too disjointed.

Thanks for the critique! I'll definitely work on that next time! :D

[Carried Away]

Ah, such a smooth, fitting beat. I can't find a flaw in your lyric delivery, there's definitely emotion in a controlled rhythm. I'd download this in a heartbeat if I were a hip-hop person.

Blasphem-E responds:

Thanks AquariusCyclone! It's good that you could enjoy the song even if you aren't a hip hop person