Score: 2

"You're brave. Props."

submission: Crystal cave Theme (real one)

date: August 21, 2007

There's abstract, and then there's abstract.

Clipping, random noises, no discernable musical key, random synthesizer patches, odd, piercing sine arps, dissonant drones that don't change timbre, General-MIDI grade drum hits... if it weren't so trance-inducing I'd show it the bottom of my boot.

If you're going to focus on 'holycrapabstract', try to not make your instruments piercing and use a limiter if you're going to be so loud. Or, if clipping is 'artistic effect', record a clipped instrument, then bring the level down so you still hear the clipping but it isn't maximal volume.

I can't believe I'm giving this advice...

Score: 5

"Fair ideas, but execution needs work."

submission: KH-Dearest {2nd mix}

date: August 21, 2007

Mainly: What the hell is your bassline doing half the time? It goes off on its own -- which wouldn't necessarily be bad if it didn't switch keys every bar and a half(?) to completely unrelated chord structures while your uppers stay static.

Otherwise I'm entirely too keen on your choice of timbre or effects.

I respect what you tried to do, what it should be, but isn't.

This could be pretty epic if you work on your sound design (synth programming) and audio production skills. I'd love to hear what you do with this track a year from now if you keep going.

You are encouraged to take this review with a grain of salt, but I'd rather give you a list of things that sound poor so they can be improved upon (and sound amazing the next time through):

* Timbre -- each and every last sound is flabby.
With production and effects, you might be able to use the same tones, but while the production sounds 'wide' enough, it's very thin. Don't fatten it with more detune, that's not what it needs.

* EQ -- The sounds are all occupying the same place, stepping on each other.

* Compression -- learn it, use it well. Get some snap in the right places.

* Clever use of reverb -- not to make things echo'y, but to reinforce what's there and place your instruments on a soundstage. Also play with stereo width and panning automation.

* Chord change -- more of them. It's a short track, but it hovers around the same few notes. Break up what you have into at least two phrases. This also gives you an opportunity to create awesome bridges (transitions).

* Dynamics -- More. Make the low-volume stuff more low-volume and hype the stuf that needs to be in front. Modulate them, automate them, play/record them. Give it feeling by making the notes jump and duck. It's hard to put too many dynamics in.

* Have at least one something not perfectly quantized. Everything is 100% "tight" to the beat. Get some human playing in there, or some sound samples to comliment your 100% synth-driven groove

* Percussion. You do vary it, but it never changes 'style'. It's there, it does a job, but it doesn't push or pull the song, it doesn't carry the flow like it ought.

~

Score: 6

"Clipping?"

submission: Empty Promise (Skid Mix)

date: April 15, 2007

The tune itself kicks. But it's like no matering work went into it.

In a digital workflow, clipping is inexcusable. This is easily an 8 if you set EQ to your instruments and use a proper limiter.

Please clean this up! It deserves a 10, but this version doesn't make it!

Score: 4

"Too much theme-riding"

submission: Finding

date: April 15, 2007

There's a little bit too much dependence on one phrase and one instrument-set. It doesn't come across so well.

The key for higher marks here is to up the number of sound types, how and when they appear, and especially -- use automation.

You can totally get away with dependence on one theme -- so long as the same theme never SOUNDS the same twice.

If you can morph, filter, and change-up the tune continually (which is a LOT of work!) there's no reason this can't have double the marks I gave it!

Score: 7

"Rhythmic-Centric Goodness!"

submission: Inflammable

date: April 15, 2007

You got drums.
You got chord-glue.

You got tension out the wazoo.

You got a very nice game-tune going for you. It's repetitive, but the all the rhythm work you spent time on gives it that right to be. It remains a very nice groove loop after loop after loop...

Score: 5

"Jam Session Personified"

submission: Liar

date: April 15, 2007

Nothin' wrong with a good jam session!

The trick here is it could be fleshed out into a "full" track, but right now it's a respectable bounce-around without needing to change a thing!

Score: 5

"Half-themed, no coherant support"

submission: Kirstin

date: April 15, 2007

Your main melody and the drums later are this tune's best character.

Before that there's a bit too much dissonance and it's really difficult to "find" the feeling of the tune.

After that the track sort of 'coalesces' into something listenable, but breaking this tune into main areas, variations, and bridges might do it well.

This one's pretty far from being what it could be in terms of pure kickass, but the ideas are presented are admirable... just too ad-hoc.

Score: 5

"MIDI-esque, good ol' days of gamin'"

submission: Terminal Presence

date: April 15, 2007

Sharp quantization and minimalistic approach with 'low-bar' sound-sets and a groovy, moving beat keeps a bit of tension and wonder flowing.

Absolutely a 'travelling' tune, headed towards the unknown.

This one might go under the knife again, but that would be just to experiment with arrangements a bit and to replace some samples/instruments. That's where the missing '5 points' in the Overall score comes from.

I'm absolutely sure it'll fit as-is into the right video track.

Score: 7

"VGM BG Material!"

submission: TeMHaR

date: April 15, 2007

That is, 'Video Game Music, Background Material'!

Another track with hidden potential that just needs to be brought to the surface.

This can be downright epic without a lot of effort!

However as it is it stands on its own really quite well, and the murkiness of the audio might be considered to this tune's benefit: The medium pace, 'jogging' feel to the bass, and progression sets this up to be a "thinking" game background with medium pressure and a countdown timer, or a boss battle of some sort.

Score: 6

"Mastering Makeover -- Potential"

submission: Pullin the Trigger

date: April 15, 2007

This tune is a cross between some sort of club tune and video-game driven tenacity.

The only thing I can suggest is a re-mix and re-master. The tracks (individual instruments) seem a little 'squishy' and without quite as much character as they should have.

The overall impact of the tune can be MUCH greater with a few additional tools and work. There's so much hidden in this track that are covered up by superficial "errors" that the ears latch onto and won't let go.

Remaster this and repost!