Suspended-3rd-Chord's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Opality]

trippy, slightly generic, but not bad

nice synths in the start with the nice reverb/echo effect...I love the slow downtempo feel in this track. the lead synth in the intro was basic, but catchy. When you use the thin echoing synths, it does indeed remind me of the ocean. in fact, it reminds me of the ocean level in vectorman. I also like the shore sound you used at the end of the track...nautical! if you gradually add more reverb to the thin synths towards the end of the track, I think that would sound really cool...like drifting out further into the ocean.

the drums fit the track...but only because you were using light synths that didn't overpower the track. these samples surely wouldnt hold up in a loud, intensive techno clip-so I guess its okay here. but it sounded lame in the begginning of your track when theres was nothing else, try addding more bass levels to the bass and such, or just use different samples altogether, they're kinda basic they way they are now and need more punch.

but nice chill track here man. it sounds like a secret infiltration mission at night at the beach.

RougeChocobo responds:

yah the drums were a bit lame. Ill keep it in mind next time. thnx for the constructive critisism. i cant tell you how much it annoys me when people say ...17 W4s C001 !!!!

[-(WB)-Lava Reef Extinction]

nice new touch mate

its been a while since I heard this track, but it sounds like you changed up the original composition of the lava reef level track. if you did do this, then major props to you dude, it definetly gives it your personal touch. A lot of people who remix other peoples work just lay out the notes in a sequencer(usually imported from a midi file) and just add whatever synths and FX without changing any of the actual notes. IMO, this isnt entirely a full remix and sometimes doesnt take a good deal of effort. but thats just my own personal view. the saw synth kinda drowns everything out. and when it went solo, the sound of the saw was too screechy..I thought I heard another synth layered under the saw, but it was hardly other.

clarity wise, the drums need some work. it sounds like you are using factory presets without messing with them much..I can't hear the bass and snare, so those need to be louder. either that, or turn down the volume levels on some of the other synths. also add a hi hat and some cymbals to give the carry the track better.

nice track man! thanks for the nostalagia..

but you captured the feel of the original song and gave it your own personal flavor, so good job here. I think, you wisely choice your synths for this track. I do like the pan flute, however in this case it doesnt fit in real well with the other synths IMO. the saw

WritersBlock responds:

Cheers man, looks like you took some time to think out this review. Can I cover it all? Yes, I did work this out note for note instead of importing. It took me a while to work out the notes and rhythms, and you might notice I added my own riff in there near the end ;D
The saw is the lead of the track so I pushed it up so as not to get drowned out. The other parts are just there for harmony, and that's why they're soft by comparison.
The drums weren't presets, I filled them out myself, and for that reason, the kick tends to come out softer. I'm still working through getting the right sounds from the high hats and cymbals, but compared to earlier tracks, these drums are loads better.
Once again, cheers for reviewing.

[Electrick - Tranquillity]

Cool man

thats a interesting, mysterious pad that you started off with in the beginning, which could set up a good track for a lot of different styles. it revolves to a happy adventure type of feel. some of the melodies in the intro sound really nice, and you wisely selected the appropriate sounding synths for them, and laced them with nice effects. catchy bassline. you also choosed the perfect samples and EQed them very well making them suitable for this style of music...too bad it was the generic repeated drum kick, but in this genre, what are you gonna do? or does it really matter? when you hit the part with the sad piano bit, I think the trance part ended to abruptly and there needed to be a better connection piece. But the sadness part of the certainly added a lot more of interestingness. nice work with the second phase of the song. overall, pretty slick track. very catchy. this would be great music for the lasergun arena, atleast the high paced parts of the track.

Electrick responds:

Thanks man. I thought the piano was actually pretty neat. I guess I was too careful with is so it sounded more ambient then. Thanks for the review dude.'

Electrick

[Dewy Embers]

Glad to see you back with a new mix Gillenium

I love how you take simplistic and basic melodies and lay them over a beat, or a nice pad with some swirhling FX, and make everything sound so sweet. you are like the clapton of ambient/eletronica music. and it sounds real fresh and original too man. I can't even criticize you on anything here man. :)

the main synth in the beginning is real nice. it was just a two note melody, but you got an amazing tone on that bit. how do you do it? the intro didnt catch my attention much, but once the track and miscellaneous instruments worked it self in, it put me in a trance. the drums are pretty damn slick, like a young lost boy is running in the rain, under murky skies, in his teared up raincourt. the melody around 0:30 is downright touching...sounds so peaceful and has a major minor feel. the low frequency is tear inspiring. I guess removing the drums in certain parts give some recovery, chill time, i would have liked to see how the track progressed with without the short delays. i really dig the background ambient effects, they help make the track as good as it is. the fade in stuff in the second half of the track is killer too, it sounds like you took a lot of effort into tweaking out the right sounds. around 2:20, such a wonderful, beautiful pad. i also love the new FX you put on the drums after that bit. nice ending man, sweet, sweeet, sweeet man. amazing track.

Gillenium responds:

Very very nice review! Thanks for taking the time to write it. "Electronic Clapton" is one description I've never heard before :) But yes, I'm finally getting into the groove of my new software and hardware. Having a midi-controller is really great. I can just turn on the "record" feature and mess around. The melody of this song came from just messing around. I like that freedom.

[Panic Button (Preview - 2min)]

meh, nothing too new...

overall the track wasn't TOO original from the stuff I've listened to so far..I guess the guitars give the track some more originality. and this could pretty much be classified as techno.

the saw synth blends in nicely with the drums...good beat you've worked out here. I like the guitar riff, but I do not like FL slayer. most people dont. the first guitar track sounds alright for a rhythm sound, but try using something different for your lead guitar, atleast thats just my opinnion. I don't like the distortion sound really. atleast you restrained from using the default FL slayer guitar LOL.

nothing much to suggest other than you suggested already. mess with the equal levels a bit, give the bassline some more punch. its nice that youve already panned both guitars. but try to center them a little more, just a teeeny weeeny bit. might give the track a more fuller sound. the volume is a bit too loud, try putting a compressor on it or lowering some of the volume a bit...also, either my speakers may be dying but the track slowly fades, but not all the way out..its not like the track ended, so theres no need to put the fade effects in here...again, may just be my hardware. and unlike you said, I think the intro blends in alright with the guitar.

not too shabby!

Tom-Fanboy responds:

Yeah I'm tweeking the guitars still (if i get some money coming I'll be able switch to real guitar). It think I almost have them where i want.

I think I might give a more explosive jump from the techno saw into the guitar.

Yeah I'm going over tutorials to learn about compressors right now. Also the final version will have more diversity than this, I'm debating a 3rd guitar.

[Tales of A Forgotten Time]

interesting all the way through

I couldn't stop listening to this track, there's some really neat sounding melodies and progressions to this track. once again, nice intro. it was very visual too, its gives that forest type of feel, with little strands of light seeping in through the cracks in the trees. the strings move really nice they start off very serious, get a bit more relaxing once the harp/strings riff hits. the little woodwind bits sound nice as well. but really great strings bit...The harp sounds absolutely great as well...very moving melodies..I like the flute bit around 1:30, it contains a nice dreamy feel in the melody. wish the track could have been longer, but it would still work great for a lot of projects and flashes.

everything in here sounds very realistic as well. the string ensemble sounds perfect, the harp has a really nice thick tone, great amounts of reverb used and nice EQ levels. 10 for clarity here mate.

i've already listened to this track 3 times and will do many times in the future. great work man!

Twistedtechnology responds:

Im so glad you enjoy this piece so much! I worked really hard on it to make sure everythign sounded just right, and that all the melodies played ther part in portraying the feeling of the song. I like the scenery you got from this!!! I would have made it longer, but the file size was almost at the max from what i remember o.O

Thanks for the review mate!
~Twistedtechnology

[Smooth Sailing From Here]

smooth man, smooth

I was really drawn in by the opening sounds. I love the glass/bells and the great tone you got out of them from using reverb and how the notes sustain, and kinda float into the background, which creates kinda off a pad effect. it places a nice fluff around the track. the drum beat worked in really well with the track as well. you could have EQed it a bit better IMO to bring it out more; are you using FPC in FL? anyway, the acidy sounding synth was really nice, giving the track an eletronica feel. the strings duet was nice as well, you worked some real sad melodies into here.

pretty good man!

Twistedtechnology responds:

Yes, i was in one of my more dreary moods, i was supposed be be spending the 4th of july with my (now ex) girlfriend....so i fed off of that emotion and just worked it into my favorite scale, the MINOR!! YAAAYYY!! i love me some minor scales XD Yea, I love to use reverb on the bells and stuff like to create that offish pad kind of effect, really works well for ambient pieces in my opinion XD

Ya, i probably could have EQ'd the FPC a bit better (yes, btw thats what it was ^^) but i spent a good bit flirting around with the PR for it, so once i got the beat sounding the way it does now, i just kind of left it there, i didnt feel like messing with the note velocities in the PR XD Which i admit is laziness on my part, but im glad you still enjoyed the piece, regardless of that little mistake ^^ Thanks alot for the review man! Im actually about to post a new techno i just whipped up today! I shall return your genereous reviews with some of my own later tonight when i get the chance!

~Twistedtechnology!

[arabian dungeon]

very RPGish

wow, I definetly do like the track. the subtle, sounding melody in the beginning is very blunt and nice. the brass bits add a nice sounding mix to the track, while timpanis add a more serious punch. I'm definetly digging this. the louder bass sounds around 1:10 are sick too, and you even incorporated more badass sounding timpani riffs. the buildup is perfect as well, and it loops nicely.

everything sounds authentic and clean man. sweet.

the only problem(not really a problem actually) is that right now its just a underground dungeon...there's nothing very arabian about it :)...you could use some arabian sounding riffs, by using harmonic minor scales or the latter. or maybe even a tabla or sitar bit would be quite nice. maybe a lead sitar could layer the beginning melody that you used in the intro, since it blends in once the louder brass and timpani hits, making it not so distinct. adding crash cymbals would also make this track have a more "epic" feel.

damn nice man, damn nice!

mhb responds:

thank you very much for this review and the insight!!! i'm glad you enjoyed it. especially the timpani parts. it took me awhile to work those triplets in.

[The Wind Seeps In]

hmm, a bit too uncomplete

the track was quite...and just creepy and weird, and random, once again. it didnt really have any "meat" to it either...there isnt a strong sense of tonality either.

the slow, piano(?) melody is really nice...it has a dissonant and somewhat middle eastern sound to it. the "wah" synths placed at the end of the melodies are pretty cool. the track also ends on a pretty evil sounding chord..this could be utilized quite well in a dungeon scene of some sort. I hear a wobbly type of noise in the background, but its hardly audible.

the track flows well up to 1:30...and has a nice buildup around this part of the track, but then the same themes repeat in the later section of the song. IMO, I just feel that this track isnt finished. you could have faded in a nice bassy, wicked sounding ambient pad, kinda like around 1:30, then faded in some subtle percussion bits as well. from there, you could have added some loud chord hits like in the middle and end of the track...maybe it would have added a more full sound. but hey, definetly not bad, I just personally think its needs to be shaped up a bit and you've got another scary piece.

kevs91 responds:

the track is sparse for the simple reason that i was playing around on the piano, found a couple of melodies/progressions that i fell in love with, and then i recorded it. i felt like a litte synth doodling fit it well, so i recorded that.

i do completely agree with you on each one of your points-this track is just an example of me practicing recording music i make, instead of just writing it in a laptop. so i'm trying to learn and improve. as a result, alot of the normal layering i love gets left out.

thanks a ton for the reviews on both of these tracks-its unfortunate that they don't work, so thanks for taking the time to download and listen to them.

[trees]

really dark depressing sound...

unfortunately there's not a whole lot too this track..it definetly would be very nice if you developed this into a nice fully fledged tune. there is an emptiness in this track.

but man, I like the track the way it is. the vocals are nice and sad, you have a nice tone and nice voice. love the damp, distant sounding reverb..the piano could be more clearer, but it doesnt matter-because it is a cool different type of feel. the overall track including the vocal melodies and piano parts creates a depressing, yet hopeful kinda of feel. this would be nice for an opening RPG cinema.

nice track, hope you decide to create a more complete track in the future, I think it would be very cool.

snoballandthmonyshot responds:

ta, yeh maybe, this is quite an old track, dunno if i could justify getting back on it... is rather nice tho
thanks for listening
;ped