monk1's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Drive Forward]

I'll agree with forever bound. You've got awesome melodies, but the instruments don't bring it to full potential. I like the opening synth you use throughout though. The bassier synth. The higher one's not bad, but it just doesn't really fit the sort of slight bit of harshness that the first has to give a similar feel. Unless that's not intended in which case I say ignore that, and just try to make everything a tad bit louder. Sounds like it's quiet because of a slight filter or limiter or something.

swordsofe responds:

Try playing the track on a big system like I have, these little computer speakers don't give you the full experience. When mixing what ever I mix on tends dictate how loud the track will be but there is a limit on how loud you can really be. If I went just a bit louder in the mix everything would red line and clip, thats the last thing I want. Besides that it's made to be turned up. Look up "the loudness war" on youtube so you will have a better understanding of what I mean. Oh and the comment I answered first on here has the rebuttal to your comment about the instrumentation on the track. ("few" wipe sweat from head) Now that I got all that off my chest, Thank you so much for taking the time to listen there is more to come this year.

[:Error:]

8-bit and chiptune music is awesome. If you could manage to have some better quality percussion, and add some guitar to this, it would sound very much like(and it already does somewhat) Anamanaguchi. I'd like to hear more of it. :)

DFerociousbeast responds:

yea, this is as close as 8-bit sounding percussion as i can get, I was thinking about adding guitar, but it's currently at my friend's house. Also, I saw "MEOW" by Anamanaguchi and it was pretty good, I can totally see some type of resemblance, but i just wanted to put something short so I'm probably not going to work on it anymore, so I'm sorry....but thank you for your response! It means a lot!

[Death and Rebirth]

Wow. It's good to see something Artistic in nature, not solely for creativity, but expression of personal thought and even in a sense, philosophy if you will. Days like this, where I stumble upon something besides a dubstep or dance track entertain me, as it's great to see such unique material. I myself honestly fall in the former of the two types of music for the most part, but if I felt I just had the patience, the will, and time, I'd love to make something as remotely beautiful as what you've made. At first you think to yourself, "Wow, this is going to be long." But actually, by the end of it you feel as though it wasn't long enough. I haven't gotten much out of it this time, but I'll have to come back to this, or put it on my ipod, and just daydream to see what it makes me think of. I think of the most amazing things listening to such unique music.

bassfiddlejones responds:

I'd love to hear your thoughts while listening to this one! I'm quite happy that you enjoyed this, thank you for the kind words.

[ffffuk]

The samples really get old quick, and aren't very fun for the song. the song's also at a very low volume, but sometimes I've seen that happen even though it wasn't already like that. I like it about 1:45 kinda makes you feel like dancing or at least wiggling. Before which it sounds like some sort of happy nintendo game's song(At least it seems it would fit.) To be honest if it were shorter, didn't have the samples thrown throughout it, It'd probably be great for a flash game.

Synthapse responds:

alright cool. Thx for the input!

[Testloop]

What are you using to make some these sounds? Some of them are amazing.

[Death Slumber (Villain)]

Damn. that's some kickass sounds you got in there. What are some of the instruments you used? The harshness, yet melody all comes together as a badass, yet soothingly dreary track. Loving the sort of 8-bit possibly 3xosc or wasp you have in there throughout the song too. Goes very well with everything. The song carries a sort of tone of "the end of it all" while the 8-bit sound and beat give it the "Oh, it's not over, not by a longshot." message in it, that is until the end.
Industrial-based music is by-far, if not my favorite, somewhere close to second favorite style of music. There's so much emotion to be had that you just can't access through mainstream and popular music.
5/5 10/10 Keep it up!

ZLEAP responds:

Much appreciated.

I can't help but feel like I was born a bit too late. The reason being, I tend to listen to older music. I feel like I should have been around when NIN, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, KMFDM etc. were in their prime and still fresh and exciting. I suppose I hold on to old ideas and try to modernize them and make them relevant.

And it's not that I don't listen to more modern music, my tastes are just a bit nostalgic.

Thanks for the review.

[cominout]

Nicely done. Sounds like it would make a good song for the opening to a sort of happy puzzle game, or some sort of space shooter-physics game, something unique for sure. Almost makes me wanna classify it as Trance-hop. Haha. Love the tempo change, the resonance on the percussion in the softer ambient/trancey parts, and the following music is amazing. Brilliant synth choices. Is this in FL? Sounds like you used an adapted Acid4 in there. Also, it's a shame you ended it when you did! That could've gone on to make some more awesomeness! Still, it's a fantastic jam man.
5/5 10/10
Loving it. :D

Kassich responds:

I wish I could have continued to work on it... sadly I have a new computer and the files are all gone :( (but i have a new computer!) I use Ableton and some random plugins for (almost) everything I make. Thanks for commenting, and thanks for listening!

[Dark (Kassich)]

A very well done mix of trance and dance. I Like this track. The unique sounds you use in it. As far as constructive criticism goes, if it were trimmed down to maybe two-thirds of the present length, or if the breakdown that comes in at 3:00 was maybe 30 seconds sooner, or if there some sort of similar climax/peak like at 1:30 in between, it would definitely bring some more energy to the song. When you have the beat come in 4ish minutes in, I think a sort of dubstep warble would be very good there, tastefully of course, and not at an excessive volume. Sort of a bassy texture to bring some more to the track for a little while. The beat's perfect for it. Maybe another sort of peak/climax at the end just before the sort of fading at the end of the song. As for what it is now though, it's definitely refreshing that it's not a typical sort generic dance track, like a lot of what you see on NG.
4/5 9/10 keep up the good work. :D

Kassich responds:

thanks so much for the review, I agree with your comments, and will definitely keep them in mind for my next submissions. Hopefully my submissions get better!

[Phones]

A bit odd at first, but it starts to come together to feel like a mix of so many things... Like Blackploitation films, Superhero cartoon credits with a silhouette running on rooftops, 70's kung fu movies, and porn, all rolled into one awesomefest. Haha.
Loving the badass drums, the (I'm guessing) Ambient guitar-like synths, and all the general effects used. Enough distortion where it doesn't matter how well you can sing, and just enough so you're voice isn't a confusing static. Nice job man!

LowBit responds:

Haha, best comment ever! Cheers man!

[Sleeper]

Interesting stuff. Love the Strings. :D The beat sounds tame, so it's not too rough/hard for the track, but I personally would like to see something where it's without a beat, keeping a very soft, melodic feel that just makes me feel like peacefully falling to sleep.

LowBit responds:

Cheers man, yep I know what you mean, though I don't think I've the skill to make it feel like it's moving without a beat. Working at it though :)