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WolfgangMiakoda

33 Audio Reviews

22 w/ Responses

Though I think the sub bass in the drop might be an octave too low, I still think this track is incredible! By a good margin some of the best dubstep I've heard on this site.

Gotta say, though I really like what you're going for, I can't get over how synthesized the guitar sounds. It's also a tad bit too loud in my opinion. Some humanization should help with the synthesized part of it, though. I also feel that you could have some other instruments join the violins and cellos that provide the founding of the track, just to spice things up a bit. I understand it's supposed to be a background track, but even now, I think that it'd be kinda forgettable as is. Still, I look forward to seeing what you're going to turn it into!

ARealGhost responds:

Thank you for the feedback <3

The intro is a bit devoid of interesting elements; I'd add some more instrumentation, some sound effects, etc. to keep listeners interested. The clap used sits a good bit too far stereo. Try making it more mono. The biggest problem I have with this track is its utter lack of bass. Any track, however made, should have a baseline, and this song doesn't. Add to that that the song is fairly repetitive, as you keep using the same melody over and over again, and this isn't the most interesting song.

I can tell you're still new to this (hell, the first track I ever made didn't have bass either). So here's a little tip to help you learn:
I'd recommend taking a few songs you really like, and listening to them analytically; how are they made, in what structure is it done, what instruments are used, etc. Try to learn through examples. This is a really good way to gain an understanding of how music is structured, and how it's made, which is knowledge you're going to need if you're going to make your own. Keep up the work, and I look forward to seeing how you've progressed in another year or so!

GavHern responds:

Thank you so much for the feedback! I will definitely keep this in mind in the future!

Ok, so I don't know what you did to bandpass the entire song, but needless to say, this sounds like a ringtone, more so than a spooky background tune (Wait, did you record this from the computer speakers?). Composition wise, it's not bad, if only a little repetitive. Perhaps adding some new instruments or chords could spice up the track a bit. I can't give much more feedback because of the lack of frequencies, so unfortunately I'll have to end it here.

Note that I'm giving feedback as I'm listening to this. This is actually pretty damn good! Drop sounds a bit messy, especially in the mid-high frequencies, mostly due to the lead you have. I think that if you shortened the notes there it'd fit together a lot nicer. Also think about lowering the volume of the bass in the verse, so that your drop sounds more impactful.
Not a real big fan of the snare you used for the buildup at 1:12, but that's personal taste. I should cut off a bit of its tail, just to be safe.
The drop at 1:21 lacks serious power, largely due to the lack of bass, and no, the growl you have doesn't count. At 1:41 you actually partially remedy this problem, though I still think the sub bass could be a bit louder.
The silence at 2:01 is a bit too long for my tastes, as it messes with the established flow of the song. The verse that follows is a bit empty, and I don't think that the stereo bass works.
The top at 2:51 again lacks bass like the drop at 1:21.

The idea is really cool, I'll give you that. You need to work a bit on the execution, but that can be learned with practice. All in all, this is still really good. Colour me impressed.

Dj-Troll responds:

Hello!

I am surprised by your feedback! And of course I want to say thank you for constructive criticism and useful advice.

In fact, I have little experience in creating music and your advice will be very helpful for my future projects.

Ok, I can tell you're relatively new to this, so I'll try not to go to haywire.

Try automating the synth volume; the wave form shouldn't really look like two solid blocks, and the synth is the cause of that.
Also, add some sidechain to everything. The drums are not coming through at all. My recommendation would be doing it manually, but side chain plugins like Grossbeat or Kickstart work too.
Your track is lacking in mid bass and bass frequencies, which makes the track sound pretty empty (even though it's far too full).
Ok, it's fun and all to have a lot of elements in a track (I myself am guilty of stuffing tracks full of details), but at least make sure that everything works. For example, when the large synth joins in at 0:43, it instantly clashes with the piano, which isn't really pleasant to listen to.
The white noise during the drop could be turned down a bit as it's a bit overpowering at the moment.
Ok, hear how the sound begins wavering at 2:58, when the synth comes in? That's a telltale sign that there are clashing frequencies. You can remove that by using an Equalizer, or EQ for short. Try looking which frequencies are most prominent in both sounds, and remove those from one of them (preferably the synth, as the piano kinda acts as a lead).

Melody and chord wise, your track is actually very solid. Your mixing just needs work, but you'll get better at that when given time. You're still in that stage where every track you make is going to be better than the last. I wish you best of luck, and I hope my words have been of any help to you.

Time for some constructive feedback.

The entire track feels fairly empty. Something of a background pad or arpeggio would have helped fill it nicely.
I feel like the heavily reverberated percussion could have been quieter. Even so, percussion is on point. Nicely done.
I think the biggest problem this track has is lack of variation. Though the mixing is actually quite nice (take this with a grain of salt though, as that may just be due tot he fact that there aren't many elements to mix), the track stays quite monotonous throughout. It's the same percussion loop, the same bass sounds, the same guitar (except for 2:25, which was a nice change, though it ends very abruptly). On top of that, the track lacks anything resembling a drop, or, alternatively, is there is one, it's severely lacking power and impact as I was not able to distinguish it from the regular verses.
All in all, it's not bad, but it could have been better. Still, as I said, the mix is quite good, so you show some potential. Just work on your ideas a bit, and I'm sure you'll become an excellent musician. :)

The only reason I gave this one 4,5 instead of the full 5, is because the second verse is a bit empty for a large portion. I know that this is an OST track that's supposed to play in the background, but I'd still like it if there was something going on, instead of the music leaving a gap to be filled. Otherwise, this is a phenomenal orchestration

ARealGhost responds:

Thank you for the feedback!

Question: why is the piano in the beginning so stereo? It's a bit off-throwing when it's solo, though it works fine when the pluck comes in. Said pluck is pretty dry though; perhaps think about adding some reverb or delay on that. The drop, as it is, lacks some impact, though I don't know if that's what you were going for.

All in all, quite a nice project, having made it in one stream (I assume).

icantpronouncethis responds:

I haven't thought about switching stereo to mono or vice versa in mid song. I should take a note of that. Thanks for that tip. That could really help me with the clarity. It's true, this was done in one stream, and it was also a challenge what I can come up with and if I can make it sound good. I might have forgotten about adding the reverb/delay on the pluck. Speaking of drop, I do have a problem approaching. I know I want to make a bigger impact, but I get to afraid it might get distorted or just blow out your ears. Any tips or examples how to approach drops with big impact?

Thank you again for the feedback.

Not gonna lie, this is relaxing as shit. Personally would have added a few pads to give it a very cozy, floaty feeling, but that's just personal preference.
I would have liked a bit more variation in the melody structure, as it's a tad bit repetitive at the moment, but that's not a huge issue. Definitely fits the title of "lullaby" though.

ARealGhost responds:

These are some great notes! Originally, I wrote it short to actually be something that would fit in an actual music box, but I like the idea of making it something more.

Why doesn't Newgrounds allow you to choose both Musician AND Audiophile for your Aura?
******
Self-taught music producer & composer, hobbyist writer and artist, and professional lover of tea and cheese. Might do commission work at some point.

Wolfgang Miakoda @WolfgangMiakoda

Age 22, Male

Music Producer

HKU

The Netherlands

Joined on 3/11/19

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