DavidOrr's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[A Cold Wind]

Good job

The ending was astounding, musically. You need more instruments, and different parts.

You posses a lot of good qualities that could potentially set you up to be a film composer someday. How serious are you with music?

DrZonka responds:

I like music and I like to make music that sounds good to me and to others as well. I currently record off of Audacity with a Yamaha keyboard using a phono jack and a aux port. I hope to make better synced music as I grow to learn this program and use it more efficiently. In any case, thanks a lot for looking at my music and listening to it and giving me a new understanding of patience and moderation. "A Journey From Old to New" was probably put together a little to fast considering I put it together in 2 hours, so I will take my time now and hopefully make better music with the months to come- DrZ Thanks again David

[A Journey From Old to New]

Hmmm

This piece wasn't very good. The rhythms were off, some of the notes clashed, tempo was off. The piece has that beginner sound to it.

That said, I think you have a lot of great musical ideas, and may be able to develop into an astounding composer. Your music had all of the right elements a piece needs, you simply need to master the software your using.

Send me a PM if your interested in getting some musical guidance by me. I'm extremely busy, but there is something about you I really like, and would be willing to take some time to help you improve.

What sequencer and samples are you using?

5/5

(I'm going to go 5 all of your stuff, it would be great to see you to get more feedback from some more musicians)

[Piano Piece OP #1]

Very interesting

Had a modern feel with the intonalitied, but still felt harmonically stable in places.

I'm going to have to agree with WinTang on this one and say I liked the high note (sorry Rucklo). I've always like repetitive notes like that, as long as the music is developing around the note, and not just repeating.

Great job!

5/5

orange-peel responds:

Thanks for the review, I never properly finished this track, i had great plans for it but i lost my way.
Thanks for the comments.

[~|Affectionate Moment|~]

Nice job!

Very calming piece! Watch out for clashing notes, they creep in here and there, but aren't too much of an issue.

I would recommend adding a little diversity to your instrument choice. It gets a little boring with just strings. Add in a flute, a harp, some woodwinds other than the flute, even some brass.

Are you going to release your game on newgrounds? What language are you using?

5/5

Klace responds:

It's Not a Flash Game so I won't be releasing it On Newgrounds.
Nor am I using any Language.
I'm using RPG Maker XP.
I'm Glad you liked the Piece!
Well I am gonna take your advice and add some more instruments in next time, But I sorta think this sounds good the way it is.

[Cloud 9.1b]

Great work!

You've got such a diversity in styles, it really shows that you have a talent for music. It is much easier to make good music in one specific genre, but when you are able to write good music in a variety of types, it really shows the making of a well rounded musician.

I really need to get aruond to checking out more of your stuff!

5/5

dj-padman1 responds:

Thanks mate, sometimes I worry I'm spreading myself a bit thin, but I can't help myself!
Review much appreciated ;)

[Brandston Remix Version .05]

Too random

Alright I'm going to try to give you as much feedback as possible, to help you out with the contest.

First off, the whole song sounds really random, there are long pauses between some parts, and some things don't sound like they fit together. Make sure your song sounds like one whole song and not a bunch of clips.

In the beginning, you have a snare hitting on the first beat of the measure, which sound very awkward. In a basic drum beat the snare will hit on the 2 and 4 of a measure in 4/4, not the 1 and 3. It throws off the beat.

Try putting your parts together using a metronome, and only put new sections in at the beginning of each measure, not over another part. This will give a better feel to the whole piece, it would sound like it has hic-ups in places.

Hope you do well, and that other people leave you other comments.

Good start, and keep at it!

[Mazurka in E minor (1:15)]

I loved the chordal structure

This sounded like it had a Beethoven influence to it also.

Here is where I think it could improve. Well for one, it sounded very midi, which, although does not effect the music in a structural way, detracted from the overall performance. Since you can play the piano well enough to play this without too much difficulty, I would suggest playing this and recording it on a real piano, or using a nicer VST to play it. That may be out of your control, however.

A Mazurka is a (polish) dance. I was pleased to hear that you accented the 2nd beat of each measure (I hear people accent the first beat when performing Mazurkas sometimes, which isn't correct). You have to keep in mind that Mazurkas are traditionally lively, though. I can't picture many people actually dancing to this, although I love the chordal structure of it. I suggest speeding the tempo up slightly, and rethinking your first section. Although I liked the tonal instability at the beginning, I don't think it is a good way to begin a Mazurka.

Listen to the Mazurka in Bb by Chopin for an example of a very lively Mazurka, but with a tonally unstable C section.

Remember, all of these are my own opinion and others may disagree with me. But if this was my piece, I would aim for a more 'traditional' (if that is what you would call it) Mazurka.

Very good work though, I am impressed by many aspects of this piece!

5/5

WinTang responds:

Thanks a lot! As I suspected, a very interesting review.

You're correct on the MIDI-ish sound, I need to spend more time on conceiling that next time... I can technically play this but the left hand provides quite a few difficulties for me, so I decided to try sequencing it in a natural way, which I learned a lot from.
I'm currently using the Edirol Grand Piano (and Hyper Canvas on the Notturno). I'll have the Garritan Jazz Orchestra soon, and according to Simon_F its Steinway is extremely nice, so hopefully that'll help.

Funnily enough, the rest of your remarks describe exactly what I was aiming for. I purposely limited the "dancability" to the middle part and give the natural liveliness of the pattern (dotted eighth, sixteenth, quarter, quarter) a desolate aftertaste.
In fact, only the fortissimo part with the heavy bass is really tonally stable :)

Which is not to say that all those choices were right. Your points were all very valid and will definitely be taken into consideration when I decide to make a new one.

Thanks again!

[Names]

Great feel

I loved the feel of this piece, the drums complimented the piano very well, the really accented the sorrowful mood of the piece.

Unfortunately, the piano wasn't at a very high quality compared to everything else, but it still was well written and didn't detract much from the overall piece. The guitar was a nice addition, although the voices behind it were very difficult to understand.

All in all, excellent work!

5/5

Love-Hate-War responds:

Heh, thanks. That's such a compliment from such a great artist as yourself :D

[_-/| A moments Peace]

Wow

This sounds more polished than your previous work. I see you enjoy using the tambourine, you included it in your last piece. I would suggest softening it a bit, but that is only a suggestion, as others may like it as loud as it is.

The animal sounds gave it a really calming sound. I could see this being at the beginning of an epic movie (such as Lord of the Rings). Watch out for clashing harmonies, a few creeped into your pieces.

Again, I would suggest having more underlying long tones in the basses (and in this piece, the upper register too). It would give the piece much more body and a firmer foundation. Be sure to keep them quiet though. I could picture a really high violin motif accent the piece in times.

Great work, once again. Can't wait to hear more from you!

5/5

MaestroSegments responds:

Thank you David, you will be hearing plenty of me I hope.

Clashing harmonies eh... its a very high possibility, i'm lousy at catching these things, getting better, but some still pass me by.

Thanks for your advice David, i'll be sure to consider them, see what it does for upcoming pieces ^^.

Thanks again for the review.