Maverickmode's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Zyzyx - Glare (House)]

Hmmm... Kind of reminds me of something I would have made a few years ago. It's good, nothing bad really jumps out at me, and I really like your melodic ideas and the chord progression you chose here.

Here's the thing: You have to kind of start looking for your own individual sound. I'm not really sure how to put this into words, it's a really fine line to walk. This song, to me, just gives me the vibe of a generic FL studio song. I don't mean to sound harsh, and don't let this get you down or anything. The composition of the song I love, it's just the instruments and samples you used seem kind of standard for this type of EDM, like what you would get with a basic pre-made setup to produce this kind of music.
The thing is, you're at a real transition stage here. You have the skills and the unique voice down. So really all I can tell you is to keep experimenting, keep going outside your box and finding sounds you wouldn't have thought to use before, and don't ever just be satisfied with what you've done. You don't have to hate your own work, that's not what I'm saying, just always be looking for a new sound, a new angle, a new approach. I recommend buying or downloading some drum sample packs so that you can have a wide variety of sounds you can use, and utilize tools like EQ, reverb, and delay to tweak these samples (and/or the ones your already have) until they're perfect for the project you're working on. Also, experiment with the settings of the synthesizers you have and consider checking out some new ones, there are plenty of free and cheap VST synths you can find online that really give you a bang for your buck.
All in all, I see a lot of potential here. Solid work.

DJ-Zyzyx responds:

Wow... Thank you! I used Logic Pro X btw. I honestly don't even feel like this track reaches normal standards because it really isn't that great, it does sound really typical and is somewhat repetitive. I usually just use logic's drum samples since there are hundreds of them for each genre, and regarding synths and plug-ins I never download those because they seemed expensive. There are a lot of VST's in logic already that I usually modify but it isn't really that long until I find a good typical house pluck or lead. Thank you, and I'll try to get a more unique sounding track later on. Right now my main focus is to get a *decent* track. This is probably my best track in terms of decency and catchiness. :D

[Lost in Space]

This is honestly incredible. It captures a very specific mood beautifully, and it's so artfully put together that I can't help but fall into it. Well done.
I'm curious, what's your setup? Were the voices sampled, or were they synthesized?

LawnReality responds:

Glad you like it! I used Mixcraft 6 as my DAW. The voice was sampled. The orchestral elements of this track are a mix between Garritan Personal Orchestra and Miroslav Philharmonik. The synths and guitar were part of Alchemy Player.

[The Forestland]

Not too shabby. I will say one thing though, I'm not sure why there's the sound of the ocean at the beginning and end; I don't typically associate that with the forest, although I suppose there are types of forests that grow next to the sea. In general, though, I never really thought forest when I listened to this. Maybe throw in some bird tweets or something. That's just a minor gripe though, I'll move on.
The biggest issue I had was that the electric bass line was somehow off, and kept getting forward on the beat. I'm not entirely sure what went wrong or how you could fix it, but try to make sure that that sound loop or midi file fits perfectly into 1 measure of time in your song. If you copied and pasted it, and the box was slightly shorter than 1 measure on the display of your DAW, over time that would cause a major shift in the song's timing. Maybe it's intentional, and if it is then it's your choice as an artist. Even so, my brain doesn't like it.
As far as things I liked, the drums were tight. I love the use of tambourine, it adds a really groovy feeling, and the snare sample you used was the perfect choice for this type of groove. Also, the synth line that starts at 0:53 sounds great.

Domenstain responds:

Yeah, I have noticed the bass swerving place from time to time, and i kind of got used to it. I suppose i shouldve fixed it, but overall i appreciate your advice :) and thank you as well for your compliments, it really keeps me going :)

[Get Busy!]

Well done. I enjoy the overall feel of the song, everything works well together and creates a coherent image. It's very complex, but everything manages to fit together really nicely to produce a sound with a lot of depth to it. The song does end kind of abruptly, but other than that this is a solid piece of work.

[Memories]

Hey, pretty cool! I can't say much for trance as a genre, but this piece in and of itself is one that I kind of like.

BCCB responds:

Wow, I'm not really active on Newgrounds very much, so I really appreciate you taking the time to leave me a review! Thanks, and I'm glad you enjoyed the song. :]

[Liquides - The Passing Time]

Cool! It's like Stellardrone on acid. But I do have to agree with jafurcha, the transition into the drums seemed kind of sudden/unplanned. However, as whole it's a pretty great song. Well done!

[Freezeburn]

Awesome and original as always! I do have to agree with DjGubkafish about having buildups that kind of don't lead anywhere. But overall it's still a pretty cool song full of great ideas.

[Shelter]

Incredibly atmospheric and engaging piece. I've never been a huge IDM fan, but I REALLY like this! The song really pulls you in.
Well done!

Can I ask what synthesizers you're using?