samulis's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Fun Teacher]

No harp from ERA this time? Also unimpressed by the lack of cowbell, the only important instrument in modern music.

I really liked how I could hear some of the Jon Babb in between the pop with those strings playing tensions. Such a characteristic yet always interesting sound. :)

Also jealous you are not my teacher. Come teach at Berklee! ;)

Bosa responds:

I do not teach music! I just teach it as an extra curriculum activity for my sixth graders. I doubt I am worthy to teach music anyways, lololol.

MOAR COWBELL

[Farewell]

Love it! I definitely like where you took it after you sent me the demo. Thanks for sharing all the youtube videos of great pianists with me over the year!

I just feel like the string shorts could use some more reverb to blend them in more and get them to fit with the reverb that the violin is under (which is very heavy compared), but that's just me the "reverb addict"! ;)

Best wishes for this year my friend!

SoundChris responds:

Thanks a lot sam - glad you liked it :D I was also thinking about increasing the reverb, but i was afraid it would become washy - mixing is one of my weak points. I am also glad you liked the piano videos. Its just an awesome instrument. I say thanks to you man for telling me so much about instruments, music and stuff. Its always a pleasure to talk to you my friend!

[My Missing Girl]

Gotta love the cluster chords. :D

Good work, though I wish the ending had a ritardando or something like that and faded out gently or something... the cut back from the "epicness" was too quick and rough I think.

Bosa responds:

You're just jealous.

Jk.. I'm gonna start working on an extended movement for this song tomorrow.

[Season's Greetings]

Very pretty. Makes me want to write music. :)

Happy holidays!

papkee responds:

thx much <3

[The Traveler (Battle) WiP]

great feel, but I think there are some things missing.

First off, the intro and much of the song feels void of bass. Consider some marcato contrabasses or something to that nature to juxtapose the contrapuntal nature of the other marcato strings by having a steady beat, or just providing a nice bass to everything. I also think you should add some tremolo strings- I find the 10 viola trems to be great. I hear a little at the end, but you could use them so much more than that... if you have time at some point, I can show you an example from a game I am working on now.

The beginning is nice, but lacking in a beat and steady tempo... I think some more drums could help, maybe a snare or tenor. Also, some cymbals or gongs can accent the hits. The strings doing their thing is sweet.

The use of auxiliary percussion in this is great, and I feel that was the main focus of this, and if it was, you did a great job in that regard (reminds me a lot of Stecho with their love of aux and ethnic perc). In fact, that makes it sound a bit like the Age of Mythology battle music, which is pretty sweet stuff (steve rippy if I recall).

When you have the horns doing low notes at 0:49 to the end, I was expecting at the very least a crescendo and build up into something, but that did not happen. I think perhaps you could have extended the piece or worked on bringing that buildup somewhere more effective... it just kinda... dissipates... like a Romulan warbird cloaking. The drums there could also use a bit more variation in their rhythm- things like grace notes and triplets are fantastic on drums.

Drop me a line if you have time on skype, I'd be glad to show you some stuff I've been working on up this vein that might give you some ideas. :)

Overall a good cinematic piece.

Keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Samulis

headphoamz responds:

Oh wow, thanks for all the feedback samulis! I really appreciate it. The Age of Mythology battle music?! That's awesome! I'm definitely still working on this bad boy :D

[Ectopic beat]

I can't stop turning to check that no one is at my window now...

Phonometrologist responds:

Sorry. I'll try not to do that next time ;-)

[Teaching My Students]

NEEDS MOAR COWBELL! ;)

Nice sneaking medieval instruments into a song about the present day... you just can't get over that harp from ERA can you. I like the strings writing, it's very professional sounding!

I must listen to this while I drink tea, good sirrah! Now make sure you give those children a proper Victorian education! Don't cane them too hard, good sirrah, for they must be able to walk back to class the next day!

Bosa responds:

A couple of minutes in the stocks is usually enough to discipline the kids.

... jk

Actually, I treat them like they are angels! I give them the attention that they want, and in return they give me the finished homework that I want. It's a beneficial system that the United States economy should take notes on.

[Your Flashlight Dies]

NEEDS MOAR COWBELL! ;)

Nice textures... good ambience. Reminds me of the music in a certain side-game made using the Civilization IV engine called 'Final Frontier" wherein you were the leader of a galactic empire colonizing solar systems around the galaxy- it had that creepy unsettling ambient feel to it with bits of electronic sounding elements to fit the sci-fi feel (a track from it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QmzNZsxK3c).

I think it could have a bit more to it... more effects and hits to scare your pants off if ya get my drift. Now if only I could write ambient too...

headphoamz responds:

Thanks samulis!

[Pompeii - The Zero Hour]

Please give up and go become a professional film composer before I give up and become a fry cook. :P

Really top-notch, I love the subject matter too. I think the marcato strings the start sound a bit dry and lonely... maybe add more reverb or some stereo spread to them... or maybe that's just my headphones (using crappy ones right now).

Emid responds:

Hahaha cool...lol...but really glad you liked the piece as well as scenario.

Marc strings are from EW and I did threw some reverb on top. I will try to add more to it but yes I think stereo image should have been more better as of it right now. Thanks for the tip.

And thanks for the comment as always, Samulis!

[When The Clock Strikes 13]

This is so awesome. I love what you did with Miscellania! :D

steampianist responds:

thanks man