ZipZipper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Discovery]

Fantastic use of time signatures. I really do have a lot of trouble counting the end because I'm pretty sure 5 and a half is not a time signature hahaha. I hear two counts of 6 and then this variation between 4 and 10 ughajkdfashf I don't know. Really clever melodies written. Even though I think 5 is sometimes not as hard as it seems, I liked your melodies and how they weren't so predictable. You've actually got nice mixing and production on this, I just really wish you had used a different instrument choice. The one you have actually works so very well, but damn it would be really cool to hear this on some less cheesy sounding instruments ahahahaha. Well anyways, really great job here. Impressive weaving through time!

Wilhiemthe2nd responds:

I will probably upload a different version of this but with me on an Actual Electric guitar, to add some drive behind this.
5 1/2 /8 Isn't a Orthodox Time Signature in truth, but it DOES exist. its basically like an Illusion. Towards the ending phrases of this song, The phrase ends half way through a Measure, hence it being 1/2
So instead of being 5/8 or 6/8 it is 5 1/2 /8
"Some composers have used fractional beats: for example, the time signature 2½ 4 appears in Carlos Chávez's Piano Sonata No. 3 (1928) IV, m. 1."
Its one of those Time Signatures you can't notice without changing a previous Time Signature.

Kinda hard to explain, I only recently began delving into Odd Meters. I might be listening to too much Dream Theater. Haha

[Painted Dreams (Studio)]

Sounding like Pixar lol! Really nice stuff, you can't beat the sound of live players...funny because in the very beginning I wasn't sure if the strings were synthetic or not. Of course, everything got realer and realer as the song progressed. Interesting that you note the overlap technique, is that an actual term? I just thought it was only natural to record something long in separate takes. Though I suppose, thinking about the price of an orchestra it does depend whether you have the money to pay for a session long enough for a single take, and I suppose it depends on the piece of music too. The overlap was done perfect and thinking outside the end product I see how that logically works to record the song in those two parts...well obviously lol. Great music here, I really liked the jollity of the second part.

deadlyfishes responds:

Thanks! Yeah, in film scoring an overlap is ideal when cues are about 4:00 or longer... Imagine if something went wrong about 8 minutes into a 9 minute score... What a bummer... Especially when you aren't using clicks, and just using a projector/screen with punches and streamers (to help line up your conducting to the video) You'd have to start over again. A waste of time and money! It's practical to split cues up, write them knowing that they will be spliced together without making it sound that way is the challenge here. I am glad you liked it! I'll be uploading more stuff here soon, I've been neglecting my NG account since I've been really busy with so many writing/composition gigs. Thanks for your review!

[Determining The Stakes]

Ahhh more Yanterflum! I actually think the story could have been narrated over this music, the connection between them is so strong! With the scene of the Yanterflum's abode still fresh in my head, this encounter really took on a life of its own to me. The walls a reddish-orange, glowing because of a fireplace. The Yanterflum's...blue or green I think. He seems a little more tame here than I thought he would be, but I think that's a good character choice. Just, really great storytelling supported nicely with the music, which loops! That's a nice touch as well. Nice work!

WingoWinston responds:

As if you also think he's green/blue. Definitely on the same track with the Yanterflum.

And I just wanted to show how ruthless he could be, even to a friend. I think my next piece will be the actual battle of wits with naturally, the accompanied storytelling. Thanks for taking the time to actually listen, read, and review!

[Assault Drone]

Whoa! Really cool! Excellent epic fanfare rhythm and a neat melody. Nothing really popped over each other which is nice actually. It serves like a background music for the beginning of a videogame, featuring the tutorial on how to maneuver the Assault Drone through a replica city. That being said, I thought its consistency was perhaps too good. I mean...wow it would be great as background, but I think it could be even better with more foreground. Some break where a lead synth comes in and plays a sort of solo in the middle or something like that. I also thought the drums beginning at 01:33 came off as a little cheesy and anticlimactic, at least alone. They sound nice blended in with the other percussion, which evolves and translates over time anyways so I guess it's not that big of an issue. Overall, definitely paints that videogame picture in my head, for some reason I'm thinking old school Playstation games hahaha. Anyways, really nice work! Noticed that I'll be entering the contest with inspiration from a piece by EchoCharlieDelta as well awkwardddd <3

anthonyloprimo responds:

I had some issues getting a really awesome "pop" to the music. A section that not only stood out amazingly.. but actually flowed with the song. I do agree though - it's good for background but... even with what I did there could have been a more distinct sound to give it more of a foreground.

The drums were kinda 'meh'. I wouldn't say slapped on towards the end but nothing spectacular even after several attempts to get something kick ass.

Thanks for the feedback though, first and foremost. I always strive to improve and I appreciate the feedback. I'd love to hear your own entry when it's out! Hope you get a chance to note me a link!

[Stab Victims!]

I completely accept and advocate extreme, random transitions. I start to find myself instead noticing the innovation in how they connect rather than how upsetting it may be...of course there's a right and wrong way to do transitions like this hahahahah. This was executed perfectly, put a lot of extra flavor into it and kept my mind interested and surprised. I cannot stress enough how I just want to be taken by you...to the bedroom...to dance to your music. Adding this to my library of you on my iTunes <3

OcularNebula responds:

keep them sexual advances coming!

I, personally, didn't think the key change was too extreme, but it was a key change, which, to be honest, isn't all that common in electronic music anyway - most tracks tend to stay in one key - but, oh well... they were essentially direct modulations, so I can see how they might have seemed abrupt

[The Yanterflum's Grotto]

Magnificoooo!!! Nice waltzing! Those instruments are so reaaal omg. Really love the beginning flute and bassoon conflict and love the part at around 01:00 where the wind instruments kind of rhythmically syncopate and the glockenspiel arrives. It's quite soft, I suppose to play as a support to a storyteller. This makes me think the Yanterflum is a huge, bulking creature that is actually quite even-tempered and refined. The Yanterflum gets more angered and heated in intellectual arguments rather than physical ones, as he quite obviously could best any creature who attempts to fight him head on. I see his grotto is tightly packed with books and gizmos, exemplifying that his intellect is even larger than himself. Really great song, though I think the silence at the end could be cut a bit...overall excellent work anyways!

WingoWinston responds:

I wholeheartedly agree with all of it. I couldn't have described what I imagined the Yanterflum to be any better. The silence at the end is of course an easy fix which I will get to very soon. The issue is a mix of human playback and a ritardando at the end which seemed to prolong what was two quarter rests at 140bpm lol,

Thanks for the generous review!

Winston

[The Factory]

Yaaaaay circusy with a soft beat! Sounds like something I'd do hehahaheh. Nice ritard and creepy dissonance at the end, but there's that five seconds of dead space after that that could be cut shorter. I thought the organ being used as the main melodic line was kinda soft compared to the rest of the instrumentation, could be brought out. And conversely, perhaps the percussive line was a slight bit too loud or treble harsh, but I love its use so much anyways so I don't mind really. Overall a neat song that sets a mischievous and eerie mood. I really liked the harp part for some reason. I suppose the picture in my head for this cue is a young man being lead on a tour through a toy factory geared towards the modern day child, which disheartens him some as he sees how unimaginative the toys are. Nice work!

lordavocado responds:

Thanks very much for your feedback! I'm actually not sure where that silence came from; might've been a fluke from the upload process. But you're right, the perc is indeed a bit too harsh.. will dial it down for future use. :P I'm glad you enjoyed it on the whole!

[When The Night Falls]

Gonna go listen to the EP. But, I particularly like this piece...it has a great ambience and depth to it. I actually wish the first flute that comes in wasn't so worldly to the character, but it does its job and whatnot. It's just so subtle and calm...a great addition to the new World category. Fantastic job!

Mattashi responds:

Thank you for your review ZipZipper! :)