paradiddlesjosh's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[SSJ3 - Consumed by War]

Interesting... Interesting...

I like where this piece goes. I've only got a couple of gripes.

First of all, you have access to the Mixer in your copy of FL Studio 9, yes? Have you used the Fruity Parametric EQ 2 before? Try it; EQ processes are great ways to shape your sounds. One sound in particular that could use some shape change would be that concert bass drum that's prevalent throughout the piece; with its current sound, the real-world equivalent is hitting the drumhead dead center -- a major no-no in concert bands and/or orchestras for most percussion instruments because it sounds like the percussionist is slapping a mallet against a wet sock. Remove some of the middle to middle-high frequencies (move down sliders 5 and 6 -- play around with their widths and knees, too!) and bring up some of the low to low-middle frequencies (move up slider 2, moving it right a touch and widening the frequency range of the slider). This will give your bass drum a darker, warmer tone that, you'll find, blends nicely into the soundscape.

If you know how to change the root key on the Fruity Soundfont Player, move your snare drum up 6-8 semitones. The result will be a brighter, tighter sound.

Otherwise, I love the progression of this piece and its relative simplicity. Keep up the good work, Shawn.

~Joshy676

P.S.: If you don't have access to the Mixer, ignore my advice about the bass drum -- you could then either lower its note velocities down or find another soundfont.

Shiverwar responds:

Man, you do all the good reviews.

Well, this is what I get for asking for a review from a drummer. XD Oh well, I like the advice you give me. If I make a re-release of this, I'll be sure to try what you've given me.

Thank you again, man!

[SSJ3 - Legend of Zelda Redux]

Very good work, Shawn. :)

It took me a long time to realize that long note harmonies are often more effective background than syncopation. Blame the drummer in me! xD

On a more serious note, the long note harmony is what makes this piece work so well. Everything is in proper balance and it flows smooth, like good liquor.

Once again, great work, Shawn.

~Joshy676

Shiverwar responds:

Thank you, Josh! I was wondering how I'd do on a new one, but I think I outdid myself here. I think it's time for a little StarFox.

[SSJ3 - Technova Jenova]

A bit repetitive, but technically sound.

This one's a keeper, Shawn. Good blend of sounds, interesting percussion choice, flows nicely. It's just a little on the repetitive side. A second percussion pattern for the "break" (where it moves from the material that was exclusive to the original to the material from the Black Mages version) would break the monotony there a ton, or even just another loop on top of the current one.

Either way, good work, Shawn. :D

~Joshy676

P.S.: Been busy, but I thought you might want a review. :)

Shiverwar responds:

I got bored and redid this, lol. But thank you, man. Really glad you keep up on the reviews. :D

[SSJ3 - Silly Times Remix '10]

It's well arranged, but it sounds incomplete.

I like the arrangement directions this mix takes, but it's missing a few things:

1) A bass voice. It's my opinion that you should write an additional part that plays notes in the C1-C3 range, possibly doing simple arpeggios underneath the thematic melody (the exception, of course, being at beats 3 and 4 of the last measure of the loop, where the melody hits a chromatic stepwise resolution -- the bass voice should play the same resolution, but in the lower octave)

2) Another drum pattern or two that you can interchange with your current pattern for more flavor or variation. You'd be surprised how much a simple beat change can alter the feel of a section.

3) A working harmony. This piece seems like it'd be more silly with some percussive major chord work -- again, resolve with the chromatic as with the melody -- and the more ostinato the chord work, the better. You could even have the harmony syncopate with the drum patterns and create an interesting rhythm-countering experience in the background.

What you've got so far is good work, though. Keep it up, Shawn!
~Joshy676

P.S.: Sorry I'm so late writing this review, especially after all the times you've asked for one. :P

Shiverwar responds:

You sure know how to write good reviews, man. Everything I've gotten from you is simply awesome. I'm glad you like it, even with those few nitpicks. Glad to hear it!

[SSJ3 - Encounter MGS4 Ver.]

Hm...

Let me think about this one for a minute.

I'm thinking your castanets, which are playing the same rhythm as your hi-hats, would probably work better if their pattern shifted over one 8th-note duration. That would offset them enough to give you a kind of call-and-response between them. Panning them in separate directions would give a nice touch to it, too.

That's my only real complaint on the composition of the piece. I mean, I would have liked to have heard more crescendo action going on at some of the transitions, but that's because I'm a sucker for crescendos. Your mileage may vary.

As for its execution, I have no complaints. You've got a good piece going here, Shawn. 9/10 5/5. :D

~Joshy676

Shiverwar responds:

I understand that it needs work, lol. I totally agree that I could have done the castanets a little better, but I did this rather quickly. If I do another one, I'll try a different method with them.

Leaving that, thanks for your review as always, man! I love seeing what you have to say on my stuff!

[SSJ3 - J-E-N-O-V-A '11]

Nicely done, my friend.

I think, percussively, the only thing missing is a concert bass drum, but those buggers are hard to EQ, so sometimes it's better to just ignore them entirely.

Nice gong/tam tam in the beginning, though. And then closing with it, too.

I like that your sounds blend nicely, and your instruments sound almost real. Are you sure you used SGM? xD The only one that stands out as synthetic is your flute, but that's not to say that synthetic sounds are bad.

Again, nicely done, Shawn. Keep up the good work!

~Joshy676

Shiverwar responds:

Oh, that, I forgot to put in that I used florestan_woodwinds. XD My bad.

Anyways, yeah, I think this is my best J-E-N-O-V-A redux yet. I might do another FF remix sometime. :D

[-Orr- Soaring in the Stars]

Wow!

Flight is a wonderful game, but the game is made more fun by this uplifting, whimsical tune.

My particular favorite is the short phrase where the melodic percussion enters to say their piece on the melody. As a percussionist, I personally live for those parts because they always put smiles on the listeners' faces.

Then that bass lick comes in at 1:30 and just, like, warms my heart.

Hell, just listening to "Soaring in the Stars" without playing the game makes me feel like I'm flying.

Great job, good sir! 10/10 5/5

~Joshy676

[A Hero's Last Stand Remastered]

I was just thinking something was missing...

...while I was listening to the original.

Those horns make a big difference to the sound, as does that (what sounds like) a xylophone or vibraphone in the background.

Don't get me wrong; I liked the original "A Hero's Last Stand," but this arrangement is much better.

Props to Xayber, and congrats to you, Shawn. Keep rockin'!

~Joshy676

Shiverwar responds:

I added the vibraphones in as a more peaceful instrument in the beginning and the end. The brass I added with the horns to add to the feel, and the oboe adds more to the feeling as well, I thought.

And yes, Xayber is a life-saver. :D The horns really do make a big difference, I must say. He supplied me with the best thing in the song, and I put it to good use, I think. I also added a metal pad during the solo part.

Thank you, Josh. :D

[SSJ3 - Theme of Solid Snake]

I'm throwing down a challenge.

If I can find the time this month/year between all my Project 52 submissions (not to mention remixing "Endless Confrontation" and a couple of other non-Final fantasy pieces that are dear to me), I'm taking this tune on again. And NOT with all percussion instruments again. xD

I can tell you did this one by ear; the clean guitar line in the beginning is missing a few notes in its little arpeggio pattern. I should know -- I missed 'em, too, and didn't realize it until after I'd finished it. D'oh!

Still sounds good, though.

~Joshy676

Shiverwar responds:

I was wondering when you'd review this, man! Thanks for your review!

[SSJ3 - A Hero's Last Stand]

Rockin'. Oh crap!

I forgot I still have to finish my arrangement of your "Endless Confrontation" piece. This is a great reminder of that tune; I'm not sure if it's the similar instrumentation or chord work that throws this one back to it, but the similarity is very cool.

The addition of a bass soundfont, by the way, is music to my ears. :)

Keep up the good work, Shawn.

~Joshy676

P.S.: Sorry about reviewing this so late. I've heard it five times since it's been up and kept forgetting to review it! :D

Shiverwar responds:

Heh, so you HAVE been following the feed. XD Yeah, I put it in the same basic orchestral style as EC, but a more intense feeling throughout the entire piece. Thanks for your review!