SoulSecure's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Abyssal Depths]

Oh man, don't make any changes to this! It's right where it should be.

I use sytrus as well. You can make your own sounds pretty easy with that thing.

Funny enough, I was just thinking how it reminded me a little of EarthBound when I read that review below. :P

The mix is great. No outlandish frequencies. I'd say you got this song in the bag.

JRob responds:

It takes a bit of practice to make great synths in Sytrus, though. For simple leads and arpeggiators, it's pretty easy, but really good sounding pads can be tough to make.

I've never played any games from the Earthbound series, so I have absolutely no idea which game in the series it's from, or even which song - a rather odd coincidence that two people would get an Earthbound vibe from this.

[Contemporary]

Shit son, there ain't no reason you shouldn't get a spot on the album!

Personally, I hate dubstep wobble stuff, so I hope you don't mind that I skipped that bit and will not let it impact my review.

I really enjoy the distorted sound you got on the piano. The intro is beautiful and you definitely have an ambient feel and that awesome distorted organ-sounding sustain/long release just melts my heart. I seriously could have dealt with the whole song sounding like the intro. Recording with a crappy mic was a good move.

Then everything gets pretty wicked. Fast percussion with a step beat, a bass line that sounds like an udu being played at times and these beautiful, soaring violins that get accompanied by some nature sounds. Marvelous.

It should go without saying that I loved the second verse and outro as well. I personally feel that you could have made the song perfectly fine without the wobble, but I hear from dubstep enthusiasts that the only good part for them is the wobble, so I'm not expecting anything to change here.

The mix could be crisped up with some upper range EQing on the master, but I enjoy the sort of sound it has now. The only noticeable issue with EQ I have is the snare. The snare is the thing that really needs some crisping up. I don't want you to fry it, though. If you can't get it to work just leave it alone, y'know?

It reminds me of PSO and Gunslinger Girl, which are huge pluses for me.

Great work!

[Collision Course]

Straight up excellent!

itbegins responds:

You're excellent!

[New Dawn]

Don't listen to these sods about the structure or the drum lines. Everything sounds perfectly normal compositionally. In fact, this is one of the few moments where I like something you've done.

But holy compression, Batman! Your drums sound like they've been put through Soundgoodizer! This does NOT compliment your instruments, this is not some crappy trance song where you can get away with that kind of technique. Not to mention that your drums sound like they were recorded in a separate file and then inserted in. They do not sound integrated into the song.

Fix up your mix and I'd say you got a good nugget on your hands.

DESHIEL responds:

I did violate them drums in EQUO, because the original quality was very poor.

[Revisit]

I love the warmth of your instruments, but your drums... I feel like they should be very crisp in contrast, but they have the same muddy tone. The cello sounding synth is too loud. It sounds a little messy in the mix too. The mix issue could just be because of all the issues I mentioned though.

Another issue I have is that I find this song to be pretty happy sounding. Not getting any melancholy, man.

Otherwise, it's an alright song. From this I could see you doing something really cool.

[(F) _Ventilation_]

Cool use of gating. I really enjoy the fullness of the sound. You know what? I really like this. It's Akira Yamaoka-esque and extremely pleasant. Well done.

Fubaka responds:

I thank you for the kind words.

Stick around, cause more music is coming!

[Left & Lost Forever Pt.2.1]

Holy shit, clean up your mix! Too much mid-bass and mid. Makes it crunch when you take that final volume increase. (Could just be my headphones, I've never had a problem before, but I'm not perfect) You could try having some the instruments take a volume decrease as well, since they are kind of fighting for your attention in here.

Unlike the previous reviewer, I enjoyed the morphing of the parts into the next part rather than a clear transition. Obvious transitions would ruin this piece. Taking the theme into consideration I conclude that not knowing exactly where the song is going and the way you left out some more obvious conventions keeps the 'left and lost' feeling in the song.

I thought it was a pleasant zone-out kind of song, that breaks you out of your zone with volume increases. The ending and opening are quite good as well.

[WHAT THE FUCK]

I was expecting some WIP classical piece...

[chrolspach123vox]

This song is really good, but I don't like the whole racist lyrics bit. Despite not enjoying the lyrics, I will not factor it into my score.

The mix is perfect. I don't feel that the vocals are being drowned by the instrumental, I understand and hear every lyric. I think the vocals are in the sweet spot really and sound great the way they are. If they were crisp or louder it would sound like shit, the fuzzy sound is what makes it perfect. You really couldn't make a better mix, man!

The song's musicality is phenomenal. It sounds just like that electronic music we were hearing back in the early 2000s. Really takes me back.

Super awesome song, man!

snoballandthmonyshot responds:

thanks man.
You meant racial rather than 'racist' right? The man who did the vocal bears the name of his forefathers slave master.
Px

[Majora's Mask Swamp Theme]

Lol, bro! You made this song sound like if Majora's Mask and FF7 (specifically the games, not the composers of the music) ripped each other off! Imagine Link with a buster sword and spiked up hair, hah!

I enjoy the composition for what it is. It's definitely fresh and while not exactly 'original' (deerrp) I think it pulls off an odd and kind of original quality. For one thing, there isn't a hint of evil in it unlike the original. More of a sadness (AERITH DIIIIIIIED).

I don't really feel the 'swamp' bit. Then again, you wouldn't call it, "That Overarching Majora's Mask Theme That Plays In Each Realm Initially, Until You Beat The Boss In That Area's Temple," so the name works.

Your mixing sounds great, but I think the panoramic sound is leaning a little to the left even when the music swells. I think I might be having issues with my right ear right now, though... I can't be sure.

I like this and I don't want to be a twat, but I feel like it needs to be longer. I can accept it as a sort of short theme for a scene, but Aerith can only die so many times (I gotta stop saying that). I feel like this really has the potential to be a longer song, maybe even a medley (I know how overdone that is, but still).

Anyway, fantastic piece, want it to be longer and that's it.

headphoamz responds:

Thanks man, glad you like it! :)