EvilRaccoon's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[No Time Left]

This is pretty great for your first cinematic track. :)

Cinematic is a bit different to every genre, so well done on giving it a shot. I think your placement of your instruments and the choice of instruments is really nice. The guitar I felt could be a bit in the background compared to the rest. But I think that's a personal preference.

A few ideas to help furthering yourself after this I'd say is, automate what you can, use your velocities of your instruments to sweep volumes to create tension and interest. Things don't always have to have the same mood all the way through, you can change key, tempo, timings any time you think it's necessary (unless your scoring to film timings). So although it's quite an easy thing to fall into when creating a track try break up the repetitive structures which occur when making digital music. Break tracks into chapters, set yourself some visual goals to reference and have a mood, which I see you did here, but add more to it than just a concept, keep a visual timeline in your mind and the progression. This will help change it up and create interests to the listener. It was help anyone whos listening get sucked into it when listening to it the first time.

orchestration wise I think you have plenty of room in your mix to add more instruments, so dont be afraid to go from subtle to climax to bring us back down again right back into a climax. Cinematic allows you to play with these kind of elements.

Keep it up! Looking forward to hearing more. :D

Chemiqals responds:

Thanks so much for the helpful advice Peter! I'll be sure to keep all of this in mind when I make my next cinematic track! ^_^

[Lai's Theme]

This is awesome Step! Beautiful piece.

Step responds:

Thanks man, means a lot!

[DN-A - BombsFallingDown]

0_o What passion! What an amazing riff! Raw Talent! Your blend in instruments, real and synth are superb.

InYourDreams responds:

Hey Peter! xD... I feel honored with your review. Thanks man! It's not perfect, but I know I'm getting better with every new song... and that's what I aim for: getting better :D.

[Bowels of The Machine]

OOoof! The power! This is great! love the 1:48 climax. :D

LunyAlex responds:

Thanks a lot, man! Really appreciate it.

[Mordiggian]

F**k me! How awesome is this!? 0_o
Amazing!

JDawg00100 responds:

Thank you! I'm glad you like it, thanks for the listen :D

[Glitch,Blues.Baby!]

Hey YouriX!

This is pretty good! I really like the beat in it, I find it really smooth to listen to. Even though you have all these sounds in it which individually are quite aggressive you somehow have kept the piece chilled out. I dont think the composition is where it falls, It's more in my opinion from the mixing of it all. The piano seems quite distant in the mix, but would have maybe benefit being more mid ground. The reverb on it does seem a little too much in comparison to the rest of the other instruments which made me feel like the piano was in the hall, while the rest had pretty good clarity. I think you did well though in trying to establish the far, mid and close sounds though and i liked the use of stereo too.

I think for the type of song i would have preferred it more frontal though as it has a great groove to it.

YouriX responds:

I see what you mean. The piano has a bit more reverb because i wanted to give a ambient feel to this song and having the song. But your suggestions are actually quiet good! I will consider them in my future projects! Im just glad you liked the song! :D

[Endgame]

This is really good, and you have great pace through this track. I think you're missing a lot of low end. I have a big sub below my feet and it's barely making a peep, so you possibly could go back and add some really low strings to warm and broaden your mix. Your drums are also missing any low end. You have this snare-ish whippy swipe at the beginning. It could be coupled with a braam sort of synth to fill that out.

Get to know some of your velocities on your instruments, if they dont have an expression ability on them, then use the volume to slowly bring in instruments and take them out. It will add a lot of realism to your instruments and composition. No crits on composition, i quite liked it. I felt you could have really teased me alot more though at the start. Thin cello section playing the spiccato theme you have, meaning when it comes to your big climax you hit us hard with the entire section.

Good stuff! Added you to my favs as you have loads of potential. Keep listening to those big names and trailer tracks!

Goran1990 responds:

Yeah, I kind of cut of the low end of the song during mastering. don't know why, I just did it :\

Thanks for constructive criticism, some of my never works are better mastered :)

[Aim-fire-Run]

This is an awesome track!! Love it, such fun! Kick n snare are just a little heavy however it's still great! Dancing away here!

8-bitheroes responds:

Awesome, yeah I think i will lower the drums a bit. Thanks again!

[Road Rash HD Vermont]

Why do I keep visualising myself flying through the air going ARHHHHHHH!!!! This awesome! Really takes me back zer0! :D

Enzer0 responds:

I hear the sirens of failure!!!

[Destiny's World - Hans Z.]

It's great and a very different take, but you need to take this off! The rules state that posting elsewhere opens up to prosecution and automatically disqualifies you.

The samples are only allowed to be used in the rights of the competition and you cant post your track anywhere else.

XTREEMMAK responds:

Thanks Peter,

I was searching for a clause like that in the contract.