Burn7's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Frostpunk - Main Theme (Black Metal Cover)]

Woof dude this turned out real good. I especially like the basstone now, it's real damn good.

I would like to echo the sentiments of Renard in your determination. It certainly comes across in how hard you worked on this piece. And sonically it shows, especially if compared to some of your previously submitted tracks. This seems like one of your most developed and versatile tracks.

I can't wait to see what else you cook up :D

[Radio Ninja]

Yo, this is a reply to your message you sent me. Newgrounds says you only accept messages from your contacts so I can't DM you back (Which is just... so dumb NG does that now). So I sent you a friend/contact request.

I'll give the track you sent me a listen and hopefully by then I can send you a DM instead of reviewing your tracks to contact you.

Speaking of reviewing your tracks, this one is real clean. Those bends in the notes really give it some life. I think the drum/bass leveling could use a touch of love and attention but I also realize this was written quite a while ago. Reminds me of Risk of Rain 2 with less Prog Rock + Synthesizer vibe.

Also, I'll resend the scout request if I can :D

[The Dead Brown Fox]

Hey, this is pretty sweet! I really dig the high-toned lead overtop the driving rhythm bits.

Here's a cool little trick you can try if you're using that Odin II thing: Normally with rhythm guitars in metal tracks, standard mixing practice is to double-track it and hard pan it to either side (So you have one recording playing in only the left channel and another in only the right one).

That's hard to pull off with a VST plugin for a couple reasons. Mostly because every note will typically play one of a few different samples. If the Left channel and Right channel ended up playing the same sample note at the same time, it ruins the stereo image and becomes mono.

To circumvent this with a guitar plugin, simply increase one side's midi notation by +1 semitone, then in your chain (before the amp FX), add in a pitch shifter (Preferrably something with both pitch and tamber/formant adjustment) and decrease the pitch back where it's supposed to be. So it'd look like:

[Midi Note (+1)] -> [Guitar VST] -> [Pitchshift (-1)] -> [Amp FX] -> [EQ/Comp/etc]

The logic behind this is, because it's just a series of samples being played, if the guitar VST is playing the samples from one note higher, they will never intertwine/overlap and drop things to mono when you're panning.

Also, go check out some free OTT plugins for your drums. OTT compression is just nuckin' futs and I guarantee you'll enjoy using it on your drums if you play with the settings a little bit. Xfer Records has one that's free, just search for Xfer OTT Plugin.

joe-4-kerr responds:

Thanks for the tip, but in fact Odin 2 uses panned guitars, and I shift panning myself a bit as I like a less linear sound, so instruments don't intersect in space (at least that's how I feel it should be played). When asked Maxeme directly, he said that there's no need in second track if you just select panned playing - should do all for yourself (but again maybe I didn't figure how it works, or my panning shift makes it less apparent - you tell me in DM when you try the plugin :-) )

I'll check OTT when I'll get back to writing my next track (decided to make a cover this time to experiment with genres - will be black metal).

[Terminus]

Very mixed feelings on this track. I don't even know how I got to this page, I'll be honest. But I don't regret getting here so that's a win. This is a really good track, but you also wrote you wanted to challenge yourself. So I'm gonna be SUPER picky (because what good is stretching yourself if you're just gonna end up in the same place?).

This has an AMAZING "build-up and resolve" introduction. Yet as the track advances into full-song mode it feels like... There wasn't a very clearly defined vision for what was going on. Where the track was going, what it was meant to convey, etc. It's hard to get a real sense of destination or purpose. It feels like "Build Resolution; The Song".

Melodically speaking this track almost feels like an abstract art piece. The key changes in many places feel forced, harsh and jarring with little transition but tonally it's all very pleasant and consistent. I'm usually a sucker for a good prog switch track but we kinda go all over the place for this one. I'd say about 85% of the keyswitches I was on board with, but that other 15% (4:28 stands out. That much of a jump didn't felt "earned" or set up more smoothly with previous melodic elements or note alternatives within the arpeggios themselves.) ends up really throwing off it's own groove. By the end it feels more like an MC Escher set of stairs, an Ouroborous with no clear destination.

As an experimental track designed to test and challenge yourself I'd say this probably gained you a lot of melodic experience points. The track is a solid a 5/5 for vision and execution in my book from that perspective alone. It's a hell of a lot more palatable than the majority of my challenge/experimentation tracks! But from a structure, purpose or design standpoint it's left a lot to be desired to my ears.

If this were 2010, this track would easily compete with most of the Tron Legacy OST. Which in itself is a pretty high achievement for that time. But this is over a century later and this vibe has been chewed up and spit out by the mainstream music scene, making it very difficult to stand out among so many others like it. I know that wasn't really the goal here but the tone invites the comparison and... by the end I was left wanting. But, just like any good art piece, some people will see it and "get it", and others won't. I kinda of get it? Yet I can't help wondering if those Escher stairs could have been more clearly drawn.

[Black Magic [BLACK MAGIC]]

Welp this is really goddamn nice. I very much enjoy the buildup from 0:00-0:32. That hard duck immediately afterward with the subtle kick is real choice.

But that snare. I would highly recommend doing something else to organize it a little better within the context of the overall mix. Cut the low end out, it's muddying the tone. Add a touch of distortion on it, maybe some sparkle on the high end with a touch of verb? There's a great free plugin called Tritik Krush that has some bitcrushing modulation on it that I find works really well for just a little bit of snare distortion.

I would also recommend throwing in a little bit of note variety after the first loop through. Just adjusting where some of the last notes in a sequence land can spice up the parts to keep listeners engaged. Like at 1:41, when that plucky synth line comes back in, perhaps adjust a few notes here and there after it returns.

I also find the lack of a synthbass sort of distracting. I would highly recommend adding in an accompanying continual bassline at least for the beginning verse and secondary one. Maybe drop it off for the entrance of the verse at 1:19?

I know when I post stuff on Newgrounds most of the time I'm over working on it, so perhaps don't go through and adjust things in this piece itself but maybe bear things like this in mind going forward?

Other than that, you're definitely doing a HELL of a lot more than I did when I was your age/skill level. Great work!

Lot7even responds:

Sorry I saw this pretty late, but you are absolutely right - the snare throws the hole mix off and its a bit repetative.

[Drumstep Experiment]

This is pretty goddamn good, my dude. Next time you're putting together a drop, try playing with having an 808 or triangle-wavey synth play a single deep note and manually automate a detune on the fucker. If it needs some fattening up to get that really crunchy deep drop, throw on some mid-freq distortion pre-pitch shift/detuner.

And maybe some speedy hi-hat things? That might just be me though, I love a good rhythmic background hat piece behind that beat.

Otherwise this all sounds real good. Reeeeeal gooooood.

X3LL3N responds:

Thank you, I'll think about it when finishing this if I ever do x)

[Impetuses-Metaljonus]

Very rad with impressively solid consistency across a technically impressive riff. I absolutely dig the ridiculous drum fills during the slower chorus-y bits. As usual your singing leads are a major driving factor and rawdog the track in a killer way.

The drums sound pretty damn good, what kind of axe did you get?

Also, congrats on your status as a dad! I'm sure Ryan will be shredding in no time :D

[It Was Sunny]

This is rather chill, I quite dig it. It's very minimalist and works quite well as a single cohesive piece. Love that use of space and panning. Hot melody around 2:00, although I think I hear your piano clipping O.o

Additional EQ would do this well, I promise :) Give your kickdrum an 80hz bump and remove lows from your piano for audio fidelity improvements. Unless you already did these things and my old ears can't tell anymore :P

Although it's not typically what I'd choose to listen to, I'm glad I did. Good work on this!

rsonbie456 responds:

Thanks for this awesome review! Yeah, I agree that additional EQ needs to be done. I have since improved piano recordings, so hopefully my future songs will have less clippings and distortions in piano sounds!

I'll take your advice on the kickdrum and lows! I definitely can do some more practice with EQing.

Thanks for listening! :D

[DOOM Tribute - Hangar]

Ugh omg you actually did the trilly quick part at the verse changes!!!

I was planning on doing this song but couldn't get over how ridiculous those things are. So I think you kindly for doing this shit complete justice.

Bobby Prince would be proud as fuck.

Tremulos responds:

Haha well the guitar in this is actually programmed, so don't be impressed. I can't even play the rest of this riff this fast yet. Glad you enjoyed it though; thanks for the review!

[Meltdown]

Give it just a touch more glitch and you'll be my new favorite spinner.

But you seriously need to learn to mix/master. Like a boss. Compression, son. Compression.

OH YEAH! And swap drumkits about midway through the song, it gives your percussion some variety. Which is something this genre needs.

I'm not going to review every one of your songs on here because I have a day job now FUCKING SIGH but keep being good and you'll go far.