samulis's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Dreams of Splendor]

Where's the Bosa-style key change? :P

Bosa responds:

Not this time. I'm getting lazy lol

[~SW~ Astral Nation]

Shivers down my spine... just magnificent. So much attention to every fine detail! Excellent story telling over a vast arc of styles and genres. This piece is simply incredible... It lacks nothing. Every single noise in this has a purpose and a reason, and there is nothing left to standards or cliches.

You need to spend less time being so awesome! I am getting jealous with my inferior works! :D

Keep compos(ed/ing)!*
-Samulis

* No really, after this, you had better keep at it or I will break your fingers or something... your past pieces have been 'wow', but this really took it to a new level.

SkyeWint responds:

Hey, Samulis! Glad you reviewed this! I'm glad you like it - as I said, it took a ridiculously long time to make. I'm glad you noticed that every instrument serves a specific purpose in telling the story. :^) (hooray for new smileys) You know I also really really hate making pieces sound cliche - funnily enough though, this takes a lot from a variety of songs, such as Step's Ecosystem, a percussion pack from Buoy, that song I showed you with a similar bagpipe riff from Grandia, music by Two Steps From Hell, the song Artificial Intelligence by PeterSatera... Yeah. I'm not actually as original as people like to think. ^_^`

Your works are FAR from inferior, man. You've made some amazing stuff!

I am definitely going to keep at this - don't worry, I have two other songs in the works (though one is backed up ad infinitum because the person I'm working with hasn't been active in over two months... :<). I do have a couple other ideas for new pieces as well, hopefully they'll be as enjoyable with this one!

[Edge of Time]

An example of what happens when you give something your every ounce of will. If anyone has worked by the guidelines of this contest fully taken to heart, you have. :D

stunkel responds:

Thanks man :) That really means a lot to me. If anyone has worked by the guidelines of an amazing review and take it to heart, you have as well :P Thanks for reviewing and giving feedback man!

[Terre des Hommes Libres]

New mic sounds much better! Good work on this. :)

Troisnyx responds:

Thanks ^_^ I am truly grateful for the new mic, it's a Godsend.

[Arabic Ectasy]

Really good work on this... I love it! It almost makes me think of the Age of Empires II soundtrack or Age of Empires Online soundtrack.

Perhaps a bit more reverb on those marc. strings and see if you can mix them in a bit better, they sound very up front. Consider some gentle gong hits here and there, it has a nice effect. If you have any samples of a real low male vox (ooh) consider putting it in here and there as well.

Keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Samulis

Emid responds:

Wow...AOE...yeah grew up with it :)
Exactly....and you are right. I wanted to use gong and I was also thinking of using low choirs as well but I was a little uncomfortable in terms of mastering them (am very bad at it) because of the muddiness and losing essence. Am planning to do another piece and will surly follow your suggestions.
Bundles of thanks, my pleasure if you enjoyed it :)

[Quest for the Crown]

Sounds great as always!

I would love to see more cymbal/bass drum rolls here and there to smooth out transitions. Also, a cleaner ending, such as a final long chord in the cellos or such then harp slowly going up the scale 1 b3 5 1 5 1 (all ascending), would be nice... or just the bray harp/whatever repeating the final note twice on the 1 beat then 2x 8vb, getting quieter each time. Just some ideas. Sounds great though!

Bosa responds:

I will keep this in mind. Thanks for taking time to review

[A Newgrounds Legacy]

1:30 onwards... THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!

There's very little I can comment in regards to "wrong" with the piece. The one thing that gets me is the ending... I think it could be better... perhaps a Sus-4 to Maj resolution in strings and either a sfortsando or a fade out on the last note, as well as a rallitando throughout the last few measures of the piece and elaboration upon that gorgeous yet incomplete-feeling trumpet motif at the end, but in more of a mezzo-piano dynamic with gentle motion below as it closes out, then the strings fade.

Also, consider making your timpani part more involved and adding a snare part.

I would love to see you analysis of the symbolism of the piece! I think it sums up the ideas well and I love that you used some previous motifs in a new and creative way to achieve that feel.

As always, keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Samulis

Bosa responds:

I will continue to try new things and different techniques with the brass and string instruments. I just need to focus on detail more.

Thank you for setting time aside to listen and review my inadequate piece.

[Crimson Night]

Gorgeous!

If only my music were this epic sounding... I would enjoy some sort of high 1-7-1-5-1-7-1-5 eighth-note violin melody during the epicness or a variation on the original guitar motif.

I thought this piece really was a masterful mix of production and emotion. I can tell how much effort you put into the velocities, flow, and so on... I'm really glad to see you enter such a gorgeous piece in this contest!

Step responds:

"Gorgeous!"

Wow man thanks! This review made my day!

"If only my music were this epic sounding..."

Epic =/= good! Yours is one of my favourites, it reminds me quite a bit of the Journey soundtrack. But yeah, I wish I had time to review yours.

"I would enjoy some sort of high 1-7-1-5-1-7-1-5 eighth-note violin melody during the epicness or a variation on the original guitar motif."

Maaan I had that exact idea myself (except not 1 - 7 - 5) but I just can't get it to sound right. I think it'll add some good harmony and in the epic parts it'll add even more intensity, so it's a good idea, but I'm too crap at music to get it right :3.

"I thought this piece really was a masterful mix of production and emotion. I can tell how much effort you put into the velocities, flow, and so on... I'm really glad to see you enter such a gorgeous piece in this contest!"

Thanks a million for all the support. Good luck to you!

[Mio/Homura]

When a song sends a shiver down my back in the first 20 seconds, I know it's going to be a good one.

Reminds me somewhat of Baba Yetu, the menu music for Civilization IV. Perhaps with the addition of more instruments- horns, timpani, orch bells, and doublebass, etc. it would be more incredible. I can imagine a killer horn part echoing the vocals etc.

You did an amazing job through all that was arrayed against you... I could never have pulled off that much and that quality of music in the time you had.

Troisnyx responds:

Baba Yetu.... I can only dream of hitting that level. T_T *sob*
If you are on Skype now, please, let me speak to you.

[~SW~ Star Nuclei]

Sounds as gorgeous as it did when you showed me the first draft! I've been waiting to hear this finalized for a while.

As I always say, your music sounds like the Age of Mythology soundtrack. :P

I honestly wish I could give more critique, but this isn't really my realm of expertise, although it's great to listen to.

SkyeWint responds:

Hey there!

I'm glad you think it sounds gorgeous, and still feeling a bit odd that you keep comparing my music to Civ 3 and Age of Mythology. :P

It's alright if you can't give that much critique, I'm glad you like it so much!