Soapbubble's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[1990]

Really quiet.

That's going to be the first thing I point out, it's far too quiet and you really should check your levels. If you got any issues with peaking or interference with a higher volume, you need to look into getting that fixed, re-master the piece, because when it is as quite as this, it kind of ruins the feel of the track.

Not a bad track. It all does seem a bit random, I don't really know what "1990" has to do with the actual track itself. It could do with a bit more variation, as right now, it's mainly this one main synth running throughout the entire track. There is variation in the rehythmics and backing synths, and the ending is real cool, but with so few changes to the main melody synth, it feels a bit dull after a while.

It could also do with being... bigger, simply. Adding a few more layers, more ambience or more backing tracks in general.

lazy-dave responds:

Right, I'll look into that especially the levels thing. Thanks for the advice very helpful and i'll take it into consideration for other tracks and this one if I come back to it. I appreciate the review and all the help!

[Bridges of The Fallen -=MMD=-]

Eerie.

Great track, the first 2.25 has a really eerie feel to, love the ambiance this creates. The piano melody is great, with the ambient backing noises, and eventually, the vocals making the track feel somewhat majestic all the while being eerie.

I feel that at the 2.25 points, the track changes a bit into something that would be fitting for something equivalent of a Resident Evil movie. Still sounds harrowing and evil, but also pretty badass.

[Enduring Evolution]

Love the sound, but it's very short.

I feel you could've done so much more with this. I really love the intro and the general sound and feel of the track. The synths and beats you've picked out really fit well together and creates somewhat of an odd atmospheric feel, which I can't really put to words.

I don't think you should add more bass, I'd prefer for this piece to stay somewhat ambient and relaxing, instead of a thudding beat wrecking it. I didn't quite like the transition around the 1-minute mark, it seemed very random, and the ending left me feeling the track was unfinished. Make it longer, a minute or three, and you'll have a great track on your hands.

[Kr1z-Frozen Words (Antiskill)]

Haven't heard the original, so can't say anything on this being an improvement or not, but it's a decent track.

The intro seemed very awkward. I didn't like the beats, there seem to be something in the line of interference or static, that you should try to mix out of it. Or just get some other samples.

The build-up was real slow, and I don't feel it really reached a proper high-point. Maybe shorten the buildup a bit, as I didn't feel the track itself started till the 1:50-mark or so. The long period with synths you used also seemed a bit dragged out.

Once it starts it definitely has a nice beat and vibe to it, but it quickly gets repetitive, and it's not the most original track I've heard. Though there is some variation, mainly in the rhythmics, it doesn't vary enough for the rest of the track, and even with these slower parts (like at 2.45), it really doesn't get much variation.

I do like the part starting at 2.45, but it also feels a bit dragged out. It sounds real good, a bit laid back, but with that nice buildup. Once the main melody kicks back in it all just gets really repetitive again.

I feel you could easily cut about a minute or a more off of this track without it lessening the quality. The outro is all right, it doesn't end too abruptly, you let it play out. Nicely done.

YakovlevArt responds:

yeah, i didn't have much to work with when I got the patterns for the remix.
This is an older track I had on my hard drive, so i decided to post it becasue the preview got so much love =]
But I agree on your review. Thanks for it =]

[~SW~ Memories of Better Times]

I was rather surprised when I found I hadn't already added you to favorite musicians.

As per usual your track is one of the best I've heard on the NG audio portal. It's an absolutely amazing ambient track that really lets your mind float. I think it fits the competition perfectly, but it also fits for just letting your mind wander. This is going on two of my playlists. Getting high, and walking around outside at night because I can't sleep.

There is a lot of variation from the very wide specter of instruments you've used. The track never grows dull and never feels repetitive, which seems to be what some people fail to do with these ambient tracks. No parts of the track really stand out IMO, which I am perfectly fine with.

Only thing I'd love for this is to be a bit longer and have a better ending. I've never been a fan of just a simple fadeout. Sure, ambient tracks tend to fade out, and I wouldn't hate on you for fading out this track, I just feel it's a bit sudden, like you didn't get to finish the track up entirely before submitting it to the portal.

I don't recognize the intro, but I'd like to have that cookie anyway, please :>

SkyeWint responds:

AMG SOAPBUBBLE YOU'RE BACK!

I remember you, you gave quite nice reviews before! Of course you can have a cookie. ;>

Seriously, thanks for all the compliments, I worked hard on this. The ambiance of this was a difficult thing to get right, and it's mainly done by having a lot of background pads and strings behind the piano and main tune.

I always try to make my songs stay interesting throughout their whole play time. Glad I could deliver here! I was a bit concerned, because it's essentially just three solos with a huge ambient background. I actually did intend one part of the track to stand out a bit more - the initial 'tune', starting at 0:30.

I agree with you on the better ending, but that wasn't what the competition was for. As I had said in the description, this is meant to be a loop with an intro - similar to the other song I had made that you talked about this on. The loop is from 0:30 to 2:06, so I had just gone back to 0:30 and faded out to show that's where it loops (make the loop recognizable). I'd love to make this into a full song sometime. If I ever do, you'll be one of the first people to know! It was too bad that I only had 2 weeks to make this...

Thanks again!

[Offworld]

Quite interesting little experimental track. Seems a bit lackluster in some parts though.

My main issue is the slight lack of balance and... in lack of a better word, co-operation between the different instruments and parts. At points they seem to go off and do their own thing, which doesn't always fit. Example, the xylophones don't really feel like they're part of the song, but rather like they're on their own. Might be the pitch of them that gives off that feel.

Variation is not something I can complain about on this track, oh no. You've got it. I like the feel it has, both somewhat ofa video game feel, and of an older rock tune. The intro is awesome, and the transitions are so damn smooth you'd never notice the song changed. Kinda.

I can't remember which track this reminds me of, but the seemingly random switches in nature of the track, that somehow seem all connected, really works out for me.

Twone responds:

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been complimented before on my use of transitions, and the fact that while random, they can work well. I like to use that to my advantage.

[Leaving You]

Could do with some mastering.

First off, the vocals are all right, but they seem very very plain. The lyrics are also not very original, and very plain.

It's highly repetitive too, with a huge lack of variations. Little to no melody, and repetitive rhythmics are rather dull in basically any track. Sure there's potential with some fine-tuning on the voice and maybe adding some other elements to the track, but as is it's rather boring.

[Stargenx - Universe]

Very impressed.

I guess I should stop being impressed by finding gems on the NG Audio Portal by now, seem to come around more often than not.

This is a really, really good track. It has this grand feel to it, and it's very well written. The rhythmics are great, no lack of originality or large amounts of boring repetition, and in general the track is varied throughout, which is always a good thing, IMO.

The track has this ambience to it, it feels very expansive and large and rather soothing and relaxing. The melodic tracks of the guitar is really good, and definitely part of what makes the track so relaxing. I doubt it fits very well in Heavy Metal, but I wouldn't know where to put it myself.

Get working on another track and see if you can't throw in some vocals too.