Aalasteir's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Mach 1 // DEMO OST]

The stereo panning is very professional, with a strong separation of the musical elements that is done in a well-defined and constructive manner. You've built your song well. The "Ice Track" theme is also my favorite; it has amazing energy!

@TeffyD, which one is your favourite song?

TeffyD responds:

Thank you! Probably either the City Track or the Ice Track theme

[echoes]

Really like this intro; the instrumental is very well done. I wish you had parallel compressed your vocals more to emphasize their presence in the song. If there were more variation between quiet and loud sections, I think the song would be more engaging. I can hear that the mid frequencies are competing with your vocals, which I find distracting. Overall, your song is good! The vocal glitch effect is very nice.

You have a good voice! I think you should practice more consistently and push yourself to add more variation in how you sing the chorus and the verse.

Wish the treble were mixed less harshly, especially at the high end. I think it would help to set up a consistent mixing and mastering template. Additionally, incorporating more bass and using mixing references, like Juice WRLD, could improve the overall sound.

@xxs4gexx, how did you get interested in music?

[illustration60]

The bass is dope. There's an interesting choice in blending natural sounds with electronic elements, and the way they are processed with effects is creatively done. What I find most intriguing is how unique the overall sound is.

The build-up to when the bass hits is the best part. The use of long bass notes, with pauses of silence to emphasize each hit, creates an engaging listening experience. I would say the low end is the focal point, with the melodies supporting the bass. The song could still function with just the low end, though I don’t think it would be the same without it. There's also a very strong melody in the middle section around 1:45.

@Natedawgg64, how do you structure your songs?

@Natedawgg64, what vsts do you use and how do you know one of these t is good and usable for your workflow what are the defining qualities that it should have

There's an interesting blend of clean and distorted sounds in your music. I'm particularly curious about the type of distortion unit you're using. It also feels like there's one main, consistent reverb type used throughout the song.

@Natedawgg64, what do you personally enjoy in music?

Natedawgg64 responds:

first of all, thank you for taking the time to leave such an in depth reply.

for the first question i usually start with an idea for a song, like a chord progression or a melody, and then just go with the flow from there. i dont usually have a pre-planned structure before going into a song.

for this song i actually tried to work with a bunch of default fl studio plugins. i started with the chords wich use a flex preset, the melody thing uses an autogun preset. i use serum for most of my synths. the one in this one was a preset i made that was supposed to mimmick an 808. for distortion i mostly use the default serum distortion or fruity limiter. i dont really have a way of knowing when a vst will fit.

and lastly i dont think theres rly anything specific i personally enjoy in music.

[Elexiel & Xianei - S0UL T4K3R]

The auditory progression is well-defined, and I appreciate the balance between the louder and quieter parts, ensuring it isn’t just one continuous "sausage" waveform. The mixing and mastering are solid, and both the vocals and drops are well-executed.

@iLX29 & @Xianei, how did you get interested in music?

@iLX29 & @Xianei, I'm not very familiar with the environment of SoundCloud. How would you describe your experiences from SoundCloud, YouTube and Newgrounds?

iLX29 responds:

1. Maybe while studying I was able to listen some EDM music, so prolly that's the reason why I'm making music today :3
2. Sometimes you can get a strike on SC and NG, even if you're song is completely original, that's a bit annoying, but not a big problem tbh.

[welldock]

You’ve structured the introduction of each element really well, maintaining a good balance—it's neither overwhelming nor underwhelming. You creatively introduce new elements, which is rare to see. It's also uncommon to find people here using Logic Pro X.

What I’m honestly really tired of seeing in the Author Comments is phrases like, "I didn't really feel like finishing this," or, "this is an unfinished song." I’m exhausted by that trope—

It takes away so much focus from the listening experience when you post a song but then say it’s unfinished. If you’ve posted it, the song is finished—end of discussion. If it’s a short song, it’s a short song. There’s nothing wrong with that; in fact, it can be a positive since people often have short attention spans and are more likely to listen to a shorter track.

@Pciphidic, why do you make music?

@Pciphidic, how did you discover Newgrounds?

@Pciphidic, what are your creative goals?

[Tunetober24 #20]

Super bouncy beat! The way the soundscape has space is very well thought out. Keep up the excellent work!

larrynachos responds:

Thank you <3

[Tunetober24 #19]

Your song sounds good! I feel that having a negative attitude toward your own music is a significant detriment. You shouldn't say that your own songs sound bad because that damages your perception of what other people will think of your work. From my perspective, I struggle with this as well; self-hatred has been a massive psychological detriment for me.

For a long time, I’ve found myself finishing a song only to delete it, even though it's fine. I can repeat this over and over again, perceiving it as not good enough, which is a very destructive habit. You have a solid song structure and good sounds—it's a good song, so embrace it!

larrynachos responds:

Truthfully I've stopped caring about how others perceive my content, even though it was the most powerful motivator for years. Recently I've been asking myself why I create stuff at all anymore, and I don't really have an answer. It's not really fun unless it's working, and I don't really enjoy the end result anyways. I guess I just feel compelled to because it's what I've done for so long. Almost like a sunken cost thing.

Thanks for listening and leaving a review!

[Tunetober24 #18]

You're right; it's crazy how fast time can move, especially in October. Your song has a magical vibe to it, with very interesting instruments and psychedelic sounds that feel like they're having a conversation with each other. I also like that reverse effect!

[Tunetober24 #17]

Great energy! You balance your mix very well, creating a strong sense of progression.

@larrynachos, what is your process for using automation?

larrynachos responds:

I am guilty of under utilizing automation. It's usually something I only use when necessary, such as transitions and making larger changes for different sections of songs. I should definitely use automation more frequently, it would help my songs feel more alive and less stagnant.

[Inktober #19 - Half Lights]

The way you blend your vocals in the mix is really impressive.

Cyberdevil responds:

Thanks man. :) The layers may be a little rushed on this one but I'm glad they still come across alright, appreciate it!