MadenameXD's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Radical Squadron Swat Kats (Swat Kats Remix)]

Haha

Haha I love the Swat Cats theme. I watched it a bit here and there a while back. I didn't have the channel that it aired on, or at least I didn't know when it aired hence my not watching it xD

On with the review. As you can easily tell, this song is very short. That makes for an easy 10 (cheater). In case I don't have a well though out review of it, I think that there's another 10 of yours on here. I will check out the song again, and try to listen in to the details now that I'm using headphones again! The bass in this song is pretty nice and doesn't have an overpowering sound to it with the layout, but it isn't so weak as to make you strain your ears to hear it. The guitars sound pretty good as well, and the drums accompany them with precision. At least it's not like some of your other songs where you take the drum and give it an overdose xD

All in all, it's great, but I'd like to see this quality of music in a longer song. Listening to this 10 times to get out of it what I would get from 2 times of a decent length song. Also, what's with the 3-4 seconds of pure cymbal at the end? Haha oh well I won't mark off for what's after the song ends. Fading something out is what Audacity's for (if you're going to put it on an MP3 player/DSTwo). Good job, and keep it up. I can tell that this is one of your more recent songs that you uploaded (coming from 2009, which isn't THAT long ago), so I expect more recent songs to either be 10 or have some stupid mistake somewhere in them that I will crop out after downloading.

~Spiralz

rtnario responds:

Aww XD As for me, I should rewatch the entire thing, it's obviously not on TV anymore and it'll definitely give me some nostalgia :D

Yep, very short indeed. First 10 ever! ...doesn't count! Too short! XD I need to get a 10 I can honestly be proud of, so just you wait :) Yeah, this is part of some more experimental mixing I did. I will point out though that the rhythm guitar mutes seem to lower in volume unnaturally thanks to my compression. So it should be a 9/10 8| Oh well XD And I love giving drums overdoses, else it wouldn't sound much like my style, but here, like I said, experimenting o:

Maybe I made the end too long, which can be faulted to me just plain exporting and uploading the song. Guess I was excited, didn't really think about so many factors like those song aesthetics in regards to the ending. And, hahaha, I completely get what you're coming for, and you have discovered a fellow DS-owner with a flashcart...three flashcarts, and fading out really would help on our Moonshells, eh? XD (btw, I'm jealous, I want my own Supercard DSTwo someday, want to test out its extra RAM capabilities) Anyways, on topic! Thanks yet again for the review, and I will get that 10 someday. =)

[HUZZAH (Cave Story Remix)]

30 minutes to...

30 second review ;D

Yeah, I can kind of tell that you didn't spend too much time on the song by its resulting blow. It's not bad, not at all, but it's not the best. You've done a lot better ;)

Haha this sounds so rude now that I look over that 30 second review part, but then again I like to hear your full potential. Your full attempts are sound better on a whole. It's kind of like comparing a band in middle school to a college band. They may both be playing the same song, but the college band is more experienced and thus will be more in tune, and know how to shape the phrases. There's far more to it than that, but I'll just leave it at that for the analogy. Anyways, keep up coming at us with songs. I know this one's somewhat old, so haha I'll keep that in mind for some future songs.

~MadenameXD/Spiralz

rtnario responds:

Right you are! In fact, this entire song was actually a test...until I made it repeat twice and I posted it as an actual release, that is. Yep, I definitely get what you're saying since it's been some time since I made this remix, and even in some years time I can already spot so much that I can correct. And if I DO remake it, in some more years I can spot errors yet again. A never-ending life of improvement, as all artists have, is what I'm referring to, of course :)

Thanks for the -insert number here- reviews!

[Garden Of Moonlight]

Haha

I'm sorry, I laughed at the ending. So simple, yet such a "classical" feeling of unoriginality xD

I know you must struggle making something peaceful and classic, especially because you like making metal mixes. All that being considered, this is definitely a good "peace". That play on words about sums it up. Some of the flute's notes sound like attacks. Also, some of the blending just doesn't seem right haha. This is great for a metal artist's attempt at a classic song, but somebody like Chronamut who does classic pieces all the time has a more comfortable feel to it. After all, he's used FL for like seven years now, maybe eight, and classic (if you ask me) is his specialty. I don't really have much in depth of this except for that it could use slightly better blending for the melodies, and some slightly less strong attacks with the wind instrument (flute?).

rtnario responds:

I wouldn't take offense to it at all, considering that even from a not-exactly-classical musician, I know that it's a tried and true unoriginal tradition, as you so mentioned appropriately :D

Yeah, I do. But sometimes it's the other way around, really. I make too much metal that I get tired and want to make something different, and when I'm given no choice but to go classical (right now while my CPU is broken), I get tired and want to make metal. Anyways, damn, I was about to toss a rock at you for the wordplay, but apparently you meant it seriously XD Actually, if you check my personal blog you're missing more than half my current discography :D But the point of mentioning that is to show that I have more classical outbursts than I make it seem!

Funny how you mention Chronamut whom some years ago I knew for making a Spark Mandrill remix when I was checking around for people who have remixed that song already. But I haven't checked his most recent works, which I assume by your description should be an example for how I should try adjusting my view on classical music composition more. Guess I'll be checking him out!

And yeah, guess it could, since the whole mix is still one that's...made for...metal...and I didn't adjust attacks XD Thanks for the review!

[Return Flight]

I believe you mean "Therefore"

Muahaahahaa you got me on a failure before, so I gotcha back xD

ANYWAYS, on to the review. The usual, 9/10, 5/5 as to make sure to help your grade because you deserve more than a 3.91 which I raised to a 3.93. First thing's first, the two cymbal crash things near the beginning are kinda harsh, and they overpower EVERYTHING. That's not good if you ask me, unless it's seriously a major required thing of the song, but they seem slightly too loud while overpowering everything. Excuse me if it's just these headphones of mine which are well overstaying their welcome, but some of the background sounds also sound kinda bad, unlike the usual pure background you like to put in. The riffs are very nice though, and well executed for the most part. I'm sorry if it's just these headphones, mainly because I wouldn't lower your grade one point because of the cymbal crash thing. The strings are also kind of overpowering at the end, but all in all they are decent. I swear (swearing is bad, yes, I don't swear literally ever, but swear as in oath) that I will find a song of yours that I will give a 10, whether it be because of me having a good day, or because I get new headphones, or because of both and me not noticing any flaws that are big enough for a point deduction. I look forward to new pieces (yes I know this one is old, 2009). Happy composing~!

~Spiralz

rtnario responds:

...AWW C'MON THAT WAS SUCH AN OLD ERROR IN THE PAST I DON'T BOTHER TO CORRECT XD

Now THIS one's probably very different compared to the others you've heard. Aside from being quiet, everything was pretty simple and untweaked. So that would kinda explain the two overpowering crash cymbals :< That ALSO explains why you don't hear the "pure" background since this is back then when my sound was pretty...in beta stages, I could say. If I listen to this now, I could point out my own errors XD And yeah, strings are too sharp for me, I didn't have my present strings then. Oh well. Thanks for the review man, still gonna head for that 10! :D

[Boss Battle! (Intero Remix)]

Good news.

The beginning reminds me of some of Sasha-Tarquin's work, like Death Adder and Battlefield. You can check out some of his works to see the type of metal I am referring to. Anyways, the drums seem pretty nice, although the bass drum could be louder, despite the fact that it's not really something to focus on in a song like this. Currently the bass drum sort of sounds like little attacks in the background rather than a musical sound, although it has a good rhythm and form. It kind of reminds me of something, but I cannot think of it at the moment, and I would be replacing this text with it if I could only figure out what. That bass drum does sound good however if you focus in on it to hear it, and what I believe is hindering the sound would be that it's slightly too quiet, making it meld too much to the guitars sounding kinda like errors. Maybe I'm completely wrong and it's too loud, but there's just something about the base. Also, the bass guitar sounds very good. It has good rhythm, a nice sound, and a great blend. I personally always like more bass, and it probably actually would sound better either way with the bass slightly louder. I can't really hear it in some parts which makes me sorta sad, but then again when it has its 5 note or so uplift things which sounds really good. The second guitar I believe it is, the non-melodic one sounds really kind of static-like, and has a bad sound around 14 or 15 seconds. The melody sounds pretty good however throughout the song, and I can tell that it seems like you focused a lot on your melody as you do a lot of the time. The harmony to the lead is also really good, and I believe it has an equal, if not greater, sound. The cymbals on the drums sound pretty good, although you could make their pitch a bit different because sometimes they don't sound too much like cymbals. The snare is pretty good, and its volume isn't really too quiet, and it's not too loud either. You almost got the 10, mainly because the bass drum isn't too big of an issue, but when I noticed the the bad sound in the second guitar (non melodic or harmonic guitar), I just though "oh dear..." and left it at that. Also, the loop to it could be a little bit smoother, although it was fine. The start is just too-sudden.

Well then, how's THAT for an in-depth review? I felt like going into detail. I was in a detailed mood for this review xD

Your pal,
~MadenameXD/Spiralz

rtnario responds:

Okay, let's give this review a reply! XD First off, I don't know who that person is, and searching a bit online made me see that he's related to...Sonic games? Here we go again with the bass LOL I have like, a whole set of songs here that have the exact same settings, because I made a uniform template for all my songs to use for a set period of time. So the bass, as you have mentioned so many times before, never changed in volume really XD Now that you mention it, I guess my compression wasn't exactly tweaked for everything so the kick drum does sound kinda small. Yeah, I liked working on the bass of this song since the original had a pretty good dynamic line instead of the usual background a bass is supposed to provide. And yes, I agree completely with the 5-note thing XDDD However, I cannot spot that bad sound that you're referring to because all of these notes are melodically sound, at least the way I hear it. I think I make my cymbals too noticeable or too...high-pitched and high frequency, so they sound pretty different from the standard. Oh well, thanks again for the in-depth review, and too bad I still don't have that 10. One of these days...XD

Thank you so much for your continued and noticeably significant support man!

[8-Bit Fireflies (Owl City Remix)]

Great!

Understanding that this is your first real 8-bit remix ever, it is very good. You could have used a few touch up days after the two days to give some of the 8-bit sounds a more 8-bit sound. Some of the time it almost seems a bit 16-bit. Kind of like taking Super Mario Bros. and re-making all the music on the SNES instead of putting it into an NES xD. Either way though it is very good, although there could have been a bit of sound requisitioning to give it an even better feel. Also, some of the vibrato-type things that it seems that you put in, especially around the end, don't sound at all 8-bit but more of a further on development. Maybe I just never heard any 8-bit songs really use vibrato like that, but I believe that most 8-bit was flat tones put together musically. You do follow 8-bit style guidelines very well however. As Chronamut told me, you've got your lead, your background, your bass, and your percussion. Keep up the good work, and maybe we could see another few 8-bit remixes from you to see what you've got overall in the 8-bit department aside from the metal? Just keep at it, and I'm being a real jerk here and not giving a 10, although I really think that one of your pieces that I have not heard yet will/might get it. Maybe I just have the wrong mindset at the moment, but I think that you can do a bit better with touch-up.

~MadenameXD/Spiralz

rtnario responds:

I could've, but that's a problem when it comes to something I made out of boredom and in the interest of being the first one to do so! XD Yeah, this was also posted on a certain popular video-sharing site (it's carrying my upload views there LOL) and around half of about 700 comments say the same thing. I listened to a legitimately faithful 8-bit remix and found that I DID go overboard, but of course I'll never stop getting reminded XD;; I think the vibrato is possible, but I also don't think it was a popular effect back then, nor was it one that particularly sounded so good. Like here when it presents itself, it was automatic, I didn't change it ._.' Glad I did well on my first try, though! More 8-bit remixes? Maybe I might be bored again someday...XD

Nah, you're not being a jerk at all, you say what you honestly think and it's so much better off that way :) Thanks for the review! I'm still forever looking for that 10. XD

[Once Upon A December (Anastasia Remix)]

Enjoyable.

This piece seems very nice, although I believe you could add just a bit more in some places, and a bit less in others. The pause at 2:20ish seems a tad long as well, or maybe it would be that almost as soon as it ended you started another note too abruptly. The start is very nice with an eerie feel, as well as a simple feel. The acoustics are very nice, although I believe you could add a little bit better filler to the background throughout the song. Maybe since you're adding strings and some woodwinds you could have some extra strings and/or woodwinds in the background at places to increase the overall feeling of the piece. It is very nice, and I'm just pointing some tiny things that you might be able to do to give it an even better feel.

~MadenameXD/Spiralz

rtnario responds:

Well, I was trying out some new things here...the pause was in the original and was meant to give the effect it did, but I guess people would have different views on that XD I worked pretty hard on the acoustics of this one, and yeah, I feel that the background seems to need some filler indeed...gotta apply this to songs in the future! Thanks for the in-depth review once more, I'm glad you take the time to point things out as much as you can, really do appreciate it for so many songs now :)

[Winter Night's Journey (Through The Storm)]

You're getting there!

I don't really have that much to say in this review. This is very good. I like the use of guitar, and the addition of a piano was very nice. The piano sound is not a cheesy one, but a good one. I enjoy your guitar sounds, as they sound more real than most. The addition of strings also was nice. As all your songs seem to have, the background is very full with musical notes, not just random ones. That makes for a very nice overall sound. The bass seems a bit low in some parts still though, almost as if it's changing in volume throughout the song. Keep it up!

~MadenameXD/Spiralz

rtnario responds:

Haha, well XD This is an example of how I'd usually compose if given no obstructions about specific sound tweaking and all that...it's a representation of my original composing style in all its video game power metal glory. Glad to know that all I've learned works well, and that all I really do need to improve on is a bit more balance when it comes to the bass as you've mentioned here and in the review for Last Showdown...THEN I'll handle those specific sound aesthetics. Again, thanks for the review(s); I'll definitely keep it up! :D

[Last Showdown (Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier Remix)]

Nice.

I like the bass, although you could make it slightly louder in some parts, because I think that it would compliment the guitars a lot. The drum-guitar balance is very good though. Also, the different guitars fit in with each other, so it's not a bad thing to have different guitars. The filled in background also gives this a nice feel. You executed this very well, although at some parts the bass literally cannot be heard, unless you have a bass booster. Keep it up, and I'll see if there are any songs of yours that I might give a 10 to! I'm giving a 5, this song is good, but there is stuff that you could do to improve.

~MadenameXD/Spiralz

rtnario responds:

I think the right term is "complement", but nitpicks aside, yeah, the bass actually has good volume but I couldn't mix the kick drum and bass well in those frequencies...as for guitars, usually I have one rhythm and two leads, so I'm used to working with them XD I think the background orchestration is pretty damn loud at points though, making the guitars themselves muddy and unhearable. And the bass too, of course. Thanks for the review, and someday I hope to get that 10 from you :)

[Guitar Vs. Piano [ver. XCEED] (Goukisan Remix)]

Piano

The piano was a major part to this, and they had it loud for a reason. The reason I'm only giving a 5/10 and a 3/5 is because of a lack of half the main song. The song in parts focuses on the piano as an essence of putting the song together, but by making the piano much quieter, and covering a lot of things with drums, it's seeming repetitive of drums and guitar. If you aren't going to have the piano be its normal self, I personally would recommend just cutting that part out because it's tiny in the background with loud drums in front.

rtnario responds:

Well, some valid points made about how you interpret the original. I guess you would've appreciated my original concept, where I'd have both a full band and a complete orchestra playing this remix. However, that's nowhere near as common as a simple band with keyboards XD I'd rather have five guitars and one keyboard instead of five keyboards and one guitar...to each his own o:

Thanks for the insightful review, though. Will seriously keep it in mind when I work on something like this again :D