ZipZipper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Toy Kingdom]

Oh waltzing! That's lovely. Your instrument choice is perfect and the overall mixing is pretty balanced. I feel that the musicality of it could be worked on more. It is akin to a waltz mood, but it would fall more into the flow if there was a contrasting theme to make us want the return of the original theme brought by the flute. Modulating upwards does help to build up energy, but hearing that same main theme so many times becomes tiresome. In the time between the building up and right before the end where it slows down, I think the injection of contrasting material could work very well. I also think I heard the rhythms weren't completely in-sync with each other, so it felt like instruments were lagging behind each other. Aside from that, you did a pretty nice job. I'm biased towards music that waltzes, but I feel there's not too much of it that goes on, or at least cinematic types like this. Good work!

LawnReality responds:

Thank you for your commentary! :D
I do think that I got lazy with this track, unfortunately. I got tired and didn't really spend much time polishing.
As for the out of sync rhythms, I'll be honest, I hadn't even thought about it until your comment. I'll be careful of that in the future. Thanks again!

[Argentinean Memories]

Wwwwhhhhyyyy did you end it so suddenlyyyy!!!! You built it up with those ballad strings and then quite quickly ended the last movement!!!! I'm upset. Where the chords were going after the strings vanished it sounded like a little B section would take place and then a recap with the ballad strings again. That would have been perfect but no. UGH. Anyways, I really loved everything else. It was sooooo real and caught the essence of raw emotion. The realism is just to die for. But as stated before, I think that 3rd section could have had a better transition, AND a better ending. dhasjkdhasjkads I love it bye.

SoundChris responds:

Awwww-some :D Man i am really, really glad you liked it because i know about your enthusiasm for world music - which IMO really has a far too small part of the NG audio portal. I am very sorry we ended the piece so fast - if we would have known that you enjoyed it that much we would have extended it more. We really gave our very best here to trigger the listeners emotions. These days most pieces here on the portal focus on epic and loud stuff - which is ok. But we thought that sensual things would be something the competition could need more.

Thanks a lot Zipper for your awesome support. You always were one of my ideals here because you always follow your own path and have a very unique approach - and since i am on NG you always encouraged me to go my personal way and. Thanks for that - i havent forgotten about it!

All the best from both of us!

[Dance of the Poltergeist]

Interesting, I wonder why you didn't get paired against me and Steamy. I guess I have to check what you auditioned with...well careful! If you keep up with this sort of music you'll probably will end up with us in the next round hahahaha. I have to say I enjoyed your previous entry before you changed it, but I definitely love this one for obvious electric polka reasons. I think there could have been more development with it, I mean the major key change at the end could have at least gone on as equally long as the minor key theme. Maybe have the solo part occur at the normal tempo and then suddenly get back on the speedy track to end it with a bang. I mean, the speed up really made it fun. Anyways, yeah you're definitely someone new I need to follow. You're one of few here who is adept at making wonky weirdy tunes hahahaha. <3

[Piece for Piano and Cello]

This is a really nice little mood-setter. The background rain was nice context for this piece, but removing that ambience would give the song a more neutral stance and versatile use. Your instrument library sounded fantastic, though those additional strings at the end were just a hint cheesy lol. I would have really enjoyed the trio of piano, cello, and trumpet. I mean, when the trumpet came in, it added a new flavor to the mood that was really enjoyable, but then it all fell together quickly. Plus, that sort of trio is a very interesting instrumentation to me. Overall, a great work for emotion, and I think I do hear what you mean about being lazy with mixing hahahaha. Nice job!

Basset-Hound responds:

Hey Thanks for the review :)
The rain serves for the mood as well as for cover up for lazy mixing, you can really hear the recording noise when I overdubbed 4 cello's and 2 trumpets at the same time with a sensitive microphone.

I also really like the combination of Piano/Cello, Piano/Trumpet. It sounds like a really stripped down version of an orchestra.

Its also funny how you say the strings at the end felt cheesy since those where the only strings that where "fake". Perhaps that was a lazy choice as well.

Thanks for the review! :)

[I Don't Want These Cells]

I want these cells. But if I ever see that genre written anywhere else I will scrape a chalkboard.

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

Ah-hahaha.

[Fun Teacher]

Nothing but girls? Awwww look at youuuu. But...I'm not sure I understand the tricky surprise? Anyways, nice loop with a nice mood. I do agree I wish it could have gone on just a little longer at least. To me, it wasn't quite a good spot to have created the loop, something to die off of that climax to then reawaken the beginning would have been better. Buuut yeah it's still all cool. Neat that you're a teacharrr

Bosa responds:

Indeed. Maybe I should have made it a bit longer, yeah?

[Gemini Antithesis]

I don't know how to handle you ever.

[Voice Demo 2013]

Oh haaaayyyy! Nice work! I think you could work on making a little more subtle differentiations between voices, but you've got a nice, concise, well-mixed demo here. Where were you in the VAC??

stunkel responds:

Hey! Thanks haha, and yeah I guess some of them sounded a bit similar. I kept on getting different responses from everyone saying they loved it and hated it, all of the feedback I got contradicted eachother so I just decided to leave it as is. But thanks for the feedback Zip :p And I was working on this demo during VAC! I was trying to perfect this, and I was so busy I only had time to work on this in my free time. Thanks for listening Zip :D

-Ryan

[My First Showdown]

VAC 11 Judge Review:

Being a string of voices, it was sometimes confusing knowing what voice was which. The plot was a little questionable and its pacing was a bit slow. I’m sure that’s part of the farce, but I think it could have been executed better. Your vocal range was pretty good, but the fact that you were doing multiple voices for almost the same type of character made it kind of dry. It was also almost at the same emotional level the entire time. Random side note, I really love that singing at the end and how you say shut up during it ahahahahaha. Anyways, I think the main thing this entry needed was more emotional levels and an easier plot for the audience to grab onto more instantly. Otherwise, it’s a pretty good piece with a couple of very definitive voices. Nice work!

Jakoshi responds:

I'll take all the criticism I can get. It's hard juggling this and taking 15 hours of college courses with 3 studio classes, so it was a bit more rushed than it should have been. I'll even admit that this isn't the best demonstration of these voices, and I should only submit my best. But you clearly indicated areas that need work, which is duly noted and greatly appreciated. In the mean time I'll practice and take into account these tips. Thanks!

[First Visit To The Future]

VAC 11 Judge Review:

Mustafa is one letter away from being a Star Wars planet! Anyways, very good. The biggest critique is that some ambient sound effects would have really really helped this entry stand out more. And to be even more nit picky, your enunciation was sloppy at times, or it just sounds like you have a bit of congestion. But, great distinct characters and acting. The story was a great idea to base off of the theme. The mood of this piece was interesting because it went from sort of comedic to more serious at the end, and I really liked that it ended with a serious tone. Not much else I can say except that lack of aesthetics with effects and music and whatnot. But, I know you know that since you were rushing. Great work!