Free2Play's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Magnetic Substitute]

Wow really good usage of synths and chord progressions building to a nice sort of laid back beat.

I really don't have much to say, it was pretty nice to listen to.

Uh.... how did you make those cool synths? Did you program them yourself?

Uh...... What's your number? Can I make love to you?
I mean its not relevant but I have to put something in the review other than "yeah it was good"

Lethal-Input responds:

Lol thanks. I made all of the synths except the piano, flute-y thing and the violin that I had layered in at some parts. I used Nexus presets for those. I used Slyenth for the plucks and the synth that comes in at 0:07 I used sylenth as well. The rest I used Harmless on FL

[Noctilucentic]

Wow not bad! This has been an interesting day of reviewing for me, lots of good artists, and I even found you someone who I wouldn't say is at the tip top but you clearly are learning.

Really REALLY good usage of chords, key, melodies. Memorable and fun to listen to.

I think the main thing you probably should work on is your mixing and mastering. I know that's a complicated subject but it can be learned. Try to imitate other styles that you like more.

Also those drums are cool but I think they should vary a little more and probably should've been either tweaked or had different samples all together. (It's beginning for more minimalist like clicks and boops, with reverb and delay or something).

Besides that really good for what (I'm guessing) is your level! It reminds me of my music back in 2011 lol.

[Dragon Ball Z - Cha​-​La Head​-​Cha​-​La RMX]

This was a really fun track!

The only complaint I think I can make was I think it needed an nice break or some sort of change up around the 2 minute mark. Something to make the ending where it goes back to the chorus feel more wanted.

It just kind of went on in that respect.

Besides that I thought you did a pretty good job with your synths, mixing, and all that jazz! Good stuff!

djahmusic responds:

Thank U :P

[Subconscious]

Sorry to knock you down a peg bro, but this is not like THE hottest thing I've heard.

I like that you have decent structure and you are utilizing different rhythms and loops well, chords, etc.

But a lot of the rhythms are kind of weird, and especially the samples and soundfonts are super unconvincing and don't play out well. It's especially jarring cause you have so many different qualities of samples and don't mesh them well. Like the chanting vocals is much better than the awful and I mean AWFUL piano samples. There's no velocity or articulation.

Also as this has kept playing you don't vary the beat almost at all.

Also the strings aren't utilized super well, there is a lot more to strings than just stacatto.

Ultimately it's clearly you've learned some stuff but there's a lot lacking in how you mix and use your samples and sounds. You want maybe more reverb or distance for a beat like this using what is supposed to be REAL instruments. It feels like a stock phone ringtone or something like that. It needs more mixing, processing, better samples and soundfonts, all that good stuff.

I want to stress though, that at one point I was just like you. I was not very good, but trust me if you just keep an open mind and learn you can go very far. (just look at my first song on here and then my last).

TheSubfrost responds:

Thanks for the criticism. All of your points are very helpful.

[Morde #1]

it's so weird you use so many synth sounds that I wouldn't think work, but then you make them work. It's like magic.

[Up to the Sky]

I am so glad I found you lol. Super cool stuff!

sandordude responds:

Hehe thanks.

[Audio Collage]

Wow dude! You make some interesting sounds! Do you program your synths yourself? Also where did you learn so many cool electronic production techniques? I'm a big fun of the second song and it's really deep kick and feel. Does that come from the sampling or some kind of mixing?

sandordude responds:

Well, I use presets and from time to time I design my own 3xOsc or (really basic - like reeeally basic) Harmor stuff. Thanks a lot! ;D Yeah the second song is one of my most professional ones (but I never manage to finish songs because I have some problem structuring and doing transitions, I really can't get any further and that's where I am currently on a song I'm working on). I learned to EQ the kick with a tutorial... I think it was fruity Limiter... a highpass, lowpass etc., like 3 Bass drum samples each with 3 different frequency intensities. I learned everything looking it up on the internet and it takes A LOT of time to do all this stuff.
Thanks again!

[8-bit Rampage]

So while neat usage of 8-bit stuff and I liked the constant change of pace that kind of made me think I'm watching like a crazy Nintendo cutscene from Ninja Gaiden, something about this song is unpleasant. There's a way to write darker, or atonal songs, but this is just not it to me. It's very lacking in harmonic structure which just makes it sound unpleasant, and since it's only 8-bit sounds its more like listening to an angry robot.

I think if you tried to using like a minor or darker key, and still had some kind of chord structure it would come across with more emotion. This just comes across kind of hard to listen to cause its so cluttered and imprecise.

Keep trying buddy!

Draconis256 responds:

Thanks man! I'll keep that in mind!

[The Noise Crew]

I love it dude! It's so nice when browsing through the latest finds you a super cool artist!

I mean this is "I have to PM this artist" good! So I'm gonna go do that and ask you things!

Great work! Fanned!