SuperTonic64's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[A Day In August (Piano)]

Overall,

There are a lot of good things about this piece. You pay careful attention to the melody line, and it is continuously developing into full phrases and thoughts. I do have some constructive criticism however:

Your harmony is also good, but sometimes it one good chord would go to another strange/out of place chord. Also, there is a strange break in the bass harmony in the very beginning. Since you are using a lot of mixture and applied chords, any out of place rests or stops will break up the harmony and sound strange.

I like the amount of detail that you are putting into your dynamics and expression. It helps this through-composed piece flow seamlessly from one thought to another. I like the style, very jazzy, but still light and thoughtful.

Good work! I hope to hear more of your work! :)
~Smartpoetic

[FFX - To Zanarkand (PianoRmx)]

Good, however...

However, this is not a remix; a remix involves changing the source melody/harmony in such a way to causes some sort of variation of the original theme (or instrumentation). A remix may also be in a different style (along with key) as well.

Now as far as the piece goes, you did a good job with the voicing of the melody, however, the piano sample you are using could be a little better. ;) It sounds a little dry in the recording. Also think about using more of the pedal while performing/writing this.

However, you did a good job regardless! ^_^

[The Legend of Zelda: NES Mix]

This review will naturally be biased...

Because Zelda is my favorite series, ever. :D

However, compositionally, you did an excellent job. You managed to maintain the original material, as well as keep the listeners' interest.

Great job! I can't wait to hear more from you! :)
~smartpoetic

[Melodic Harmony]

Very interesting. :)

However, at 1:07, the guitar goes VERY flat. Did you purposefully do that, or was the guitar having tuning issues?

Anywho, fun mix. Just fix the pitch problems, and you'll be set! ;)

Good work!
~smartpoetic

[Video Game Menu #1]

I liked the first couple of seconds of it...

But it can get kind of repetitive after awhile.

My suggestion would be to add some chord changes every other bar or so, and maybe some kind of soft melody line. I think that will keep the interest going.

The sound effects sound cool, however, I don't think they are fitting to the piece, especially if sound effect doesn't fit thematically with what is happening in the menu.

Good job though! I can't wait to hear more! ^_^
~smartpoetic

totojimbob responds:

Thanks for the review,

I'll take into account what you've said when making future pieces like this.

Cheers
--totojimbob

[Sunny day!]

Not bad...

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. Very lighthearted and creative.

Great job!
~smartpoetic

[Unforgotten Realms - Season 2]

Though this is awesome...

This is not classical. This sounds more like rock with some big band trumpets and a choir. :D

However, this is still a great piece with good balance, and instrumentation. (And I love Unforgotten Realms! :D)

Great job! ^^
~Smartpoetic

nathanallenpinard responds:

Well, the classical section is more so for orchestral works. There isn't really a TV/Film Score section anyway.

[French horn and strings]

I...

Don't know what is going on harmonically and structurally. I hear parallel 5ths and octaves everywhere, and the horns are making impossible leaps.

My suggestion to you is to rework this composition. Look up the ranges for the french horn, as well as study a little bit of theory as well as other music to help you refine your work. :)

valrog responds:

to be honest, I dont know a single thing about music, I just click randomly around on finale get something that sounds good, and then rework from that.

[Last Promise (Kinen Menu)]

Nice work. :)

I have a few suggestions:

That opening motive: do something more with it. The listener hears that slow violin crescendo, and the clarinet/bell enters. Yet, the clarinet is not following the violins lead. Make sure that each individual voice follows with or against the other. (This creates true expression in music.)

The piano is nice, but tone it down. I can't hear the other individual lines that well. I like the arpeggiation and expression. It keeps the music flowing in a certain direction.

However, though very expressive and pretty, try to do something more with it. Not to be mean, but it doesn't seem to loop very well. Try to tie the ending better into the beginning.

Also, write some motives/themes that can be used not only in this piece, but in the other pieces you are writing for this RPG. That way, you can make musical references throughout the entire soundtrack, and the listener will say, "huh, I heard that before. I wonder why?"

Good job! I hope to hear more! ^_^
~smartpoetic

[The Nintendo Concerto (Part 1)]

I have a few suggestions/comments:

Though I am a huge fan of the works of Koji Kondo/other Nintendo composers, you--the arranger--can do some things to really improve this piece.

1) Dynamics really help express the overall feeling of the piece. However, this piece just remains at a mezzo forte the entire time. I would revisit areas in the piece where you could improve the dynamic contrast.

2) You could also improve the overall sound of the piano by adding reverb to make it less dry. It's kind of choppy and in there is no use of the pedal on the piano where it would be desired.

3) Since you are arranging from the original orchestral tracks, it is impossible for ONE piano to play all of the voices within the music. In the orchestral version, the composer would ideally have 16 violins, 12 violas, ect playing certain voices. I would recommend going back and improving the instrumentation. If you want this concerto to be on piano, then take out some of the unneeded voices or fix them so that it is *possible* to play on the piano. This will also improve the clipping, and the static that you would get during the big climaxes.

4) The transitions also need improving. Though you transition in interesting places, the bridges are so surprising that it actually takes away from the piece. Add a lead into each transition or slow down and hint that a transition is coming. I believe that this will also improve the musical quality of the piece.

I hope I helped! :)
~smartpoetic