MollusK-Music's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Descent]

This is a pretty solid project, dude. If I had anything to say, it would most likely be personal preference statements. The sound design was good, though the pluck got a little old after a while. Though, that's really it. I guess the best way to fix that would be to add a saw oscillator (If they aren't all full) and automate the volume of that saw to make the pluck get progressively more powerful when needed. I know you are using the FL demo, but this is all just stuff to think about in the future. c:

KORAII responds:

Thanks heaps man :D yeh it'll be great to have the producer edition ;3; hopefully I'll have enough for it soon. Thanks for the feedback as always ;3 also could you review my other track Night Echo :3

[N1NJA - Alone]

When I heard this, I instantly fell in love with the pluck that came in at about 00:16. I am pretty sure you used some delay on it for that lovely echo, but that's about all I could decipher. If you don't mind, could you possibly tell me how you made it? If not, that's ok. Also, I find that the drop or high energy segment lacked a discernible bassline. That wasn't a big problem for me, just something to note for the future.

Great track anyway, cheers man! c:

N1NJA-Official responds:

Thank you so much! I used a delay to give it that echo sound. I also put on a bit of reverb and an LFO to add more of a punch on the parts I wanted to emphasize.

In regards to the bassline, I did add one, just very faintly. In most of my other songs I usually have a bassline towards the drop, but since I wanted to really show the sub-bass in the drop I decided to kind of keep it faint.

[Dance Laser]

This is a nice little tune you have here. I do want to say that a large portion of this track is lacking in mid frequencies. I really like the chord progression and the melodies they just feel a little alone. As if, one frequency (The highs) are playing the melody, and one (The lows) were playing the progression only. This is all well and good, but you really need some solid mids to fill the freq range and glue both the melody and progression together. I want to suggest that perhaps you add some supersaws (I don't know if you do your own sound design, but just take two or more saw oscillators, add some voices; 4 or 7 work best, and detune the shit out of them. Or just a bit or detune works, it depends on the sound you are looking for. You can do this in pretty much any VST, btw. Though, I use Xfer's Serum) If you play the progression with those it will more than likely help fill out your range. This works especially well if you reiterate the bassline on a higher octave.

I hope this helps, you've got some good stuff coming. I can tell that the music is not what needs work, just some practice and learning your DAW. If you use FL or just want to ask some questions about sound design, feel free to hit me up.

Cheers, man c:

Miyolophone responds:

Thanks for the advice! I definitely see what you're saying with the frequencies, even if I wouldn't necessarily been able to describe it as well as you :3 I have a lot to learn with my DAW, and this is exactly the type of thing I need to hear.

I'll try to overcome my fear of scary words like "oscillators" and see what I can do with filling out range in the future. (I don't use FL, but there's a good chance I will in fact hit you up with those questions.)

Cheers yourself c:

[Insomnia]

Damn, dude. You are pumping out tracks like a madman!

I only have a couple points of improvement for these types of tracks. Firstly, I think you mixed the drums a tad loud in the beginning of the track. Once the energy built up it was fine, but having quiet synths in the beginning didn't really work with the drums. Also, regarding the drop; going between the supersaw and that other sound was an odd transition. I'd suggest maybe layering a quieter superaw underneath it just to refill the frequencies you sacrificed, like the mids, when the transition happens.

Either way, keep it up. You have made some great improvements lately c:

KORAII responds:

thanks :D as i said i didnt really care much about this track - i wasnt satisfied with it so i uploaded what i had. i see what you mean tho - thanks ;)

[-Isolate-]

I find it fascinating how you worked on this as I worked on Inner Machinations. We both bounced ideas off of each other and came up with such ridiculously different results. Either way, I just want to let you know how valuable some of the stuff you told me was and thanks for that. Great song, man. I hope to see more in this genre from you. 5 Stars, bud!

sYrge responds:

Thanks m8 :)
I totally agree about how our results differed in such ways and they both sound awesome in their own ways. Thanks for the review, man :)

[Pendulum - The Island (Windlux Remix)]

Sounds really good! I just have to say, with a kick ass build up like that one, it should have dropped a little harder. But, that doesn't really take away from the whole track c:

KORAII responds:

Thanks man ;) i reckon im gonna be alot better once i get the producer edition, cos right now im stuck doing my song in sitting, but if i did i'd do more to it :D also i sent you a contact request on skype (my skype name is klucid)

[Jetstreamers]

I really enjoyed this! Though, as always, time for some constructive criticism:

The only thing I think needs improvement is sort of what Milo said. I think that clap sound was too loud in the first breakdown and some of the other percussion at other points. Also, it was a little odd at some points to distinguish a main instrument from a backing instrument, but that can be easily fixed by taking another gander at your mix. That's really it productions wise. The rest is all based on my preferences as a listener and as a musician.

Remember, this is descriptive to try and be as helpful as possible. I do really enjoy the track c:

KORAII responds:

thanks man i understand c: i am using the demo version so i have to do everything in one sitting :/ thank you for the feedback :D

[Wishful]

Contrary to the popular opinion, I actually likes that little arp riff that began at 1:01. I see what you were trying to do. Mixing it up a little bit, and I respect that.
The whole track feels solid and finished, it has a nice groove and almost funk, if you will.
Good on ya, keep it up! c:
~M

AeronMusic responds:

Thanks a lot Mollus! :D

[Nine Echoes - Within]

Overall, is was a really solid track; nice groove, good sound design. The one and only complaint I have is that it kind of lacked a melody.

I understand that DnB isn't about lush chord progressions and a musical mosaic of notes, however, it needs something to get the blood pumping before the drop. Those four chords you used were really good in the beginning, but it needs to grow from there before the drop comes in. 1:46 is a pretty good example, however it lacked variation in my opinion.

Aside from that, very good. I am especially impressed that this is your first DnB track, and out of the gates it was so solid. These are just my opinions, and good luck for the future. c:
~M

NevoMusic responds:

Right now I'm kicking myself, because for some reason I never even thought of adding a melody. XD

I totally agree I should have added one, and thank you for the great review!

[The Homebrew Channel [Syrge remix]]

That fade from 00:40-00:44 is absolutely GLORIOUS! Damn c:

sYrge responds:

Thank you :) I really appreciate it.