DarkBlueFX's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Piano Improv #29]

Wow, you are a very talented pianist. I like how seamlessly you transition to new 'ideas' especially considering it's improvised. I used to play jazz guitar, so I know difficult it is to incorporate musical intuition with theory, both of which you clearly have down. I'd like to hear you play with other people but in the meantime this is awesome!

FinnMK responds:

Thank you very much! I agree with you; the theory/natural instinct is a tricky balance. I've found the key is getting to the point where the theory is second nature. When I improvise, I'm never really thinking about theory. It just gets passively put in to my playing.

I certainly jam with other people in real life, but never typically at home where my recording setup is. I might see if I can work something out though...

[Chiptune - IrishSoul]

I'm actually pretty impressed by this, not bad at all especially as your first try! I haven't listened to this genre very much but it sounds like it would fit in an 8-bit game very well. Hopefully someone uses your music for such. What I like most is that even though you're just starting out you've seem to have picked up on how to reuse patterns (which you don't really do much here) without being repetitive. That takes a certain level of experience to get a feel for. 1:24, I love those bells.

Props, 5'd

Irish-Soul responds:

Thanks so much for the kind words [and the five stars]! I have actually tried my best this time instead of just throwing random notes and drums together. The beautiful bell I had at 1:24 was a glockenspiel. Thanks once again for the praise!

[Azure]

Love the variety in the sounds and your ability to stick to your theme. I'm also very impressed by your ability to nail every style you try (at least from what I've heard of your music). How long have you been making music?

Cursedsnake responds:

Thx :3
I've been making music for almost 3 years now

[The Dream - IrishSoul]

I like the percussion you decided to use at 0:50, also the instruments and chords you chose fit the theme suggested by the title well. I'm doing four stars mostly because I can hear that you are improving and I actually liked the chords you used for this. I still think you could do better.

Irish-Soul responds:

I think I can do better too. There is actually a refurbished version of this song. It may come out, or it may not. I think my newest song will be a simple chord progression, and my first attempt at chipstep... Wish me luck! :D

[Circuit Bored - Abbreviated]

Staying true to your style, I like it. Simple and weird. I have been listening to Samurai Dance Party btw, but in chronological order. Trying to pick off when you transitioned into your weird style.

BoredMusic responds:

What happened is I realized I only enjoyed making EDM stuff with my friend in Samurai Dance Party. So I think when I decided to do these side projects I wanted to focus on stuff I couldn't do with the Samurai Dance Party name.I mean Samurai Dance Party's style also does things i couldn't do under the Circuit Bored handle, so its a two way road. I would say more widely listenable is Samurai Dance Party and less audience friendly is Circuit Bored. Plus the other member of SDP "Arapahoe" keeps the SDP flavor intact. Earlier when we were starting, our music was way too dark and people let us know, and thats since I didn't give him tons of control originally since it was his first time making music. I will not give away my old Newgrounds account since it has some bad bad bad music and embarrassing phases haha.

[BOLD HEAVENS - Noedig]

I really like the ambient sounds and growls in the beginning, did you make those from scratch? I'm definitely hearing improvement in your sound design. I've also noticed you're playing with your percussion and you are using filters a lot more. My favorite parts are right after 2:24 and 3:33, I like what you've done with the sounds in your transitions in these sections, and throwing in sub-drops always works. I've noticed you're using the Slayer generator for your leads. That generator doesn't offer very much control. Maybe it's just cause I've heard that thing so much (I think it sounds kinda cheesy), but you should try some other sounds. For a lot of electronic grungey basses or leads, the 3x Osc can be pretty good if you make some shapes for it. You are definitely making progress, you keep doin you!

Syzion responds:

Thank you!
Yeah, I've used the FL Slayer and it really does suck... it can only work decently if it isn't used for shredding.
I'll see what I can do with the x3 Osc as a guitar thing. Thanks for the advice!

[Circuit Bored - Reversal]

I just generally like your music now, it's very unique in the newgrounds landscape and it's really chill. I see you know how to use After Effects too though. I'm biased in my ratings now due to Stockholm syndrome. I've been working with your song, and I'm realizing it is kind of difficult to mix my style with yours, but it's getting somewhere. Keep doin you

BoredMusic responds:

Hey no prob man. I actually do a bunch of heavy stuff under another account if you wanted to mess with some the files. The band is called Samurai Dance Party. I love Stockholm syndrome in this case haha.

[TEMERARUS CAELUM (INCOMPLETE MESS, WORK IN PROGRESS)]

I really like the sounds in the beginning, compared to most people I've been hearing, I don't think it sounds very repetitive. Seriously though, the ambient noises here are definitely cool. Take Karmakosm's comment seriously, he sounds like he knows what he's talking about. I know you separate your instruments, but just take the time to give them different EQ profiles to make them stand out. I have the same issue with my music and reading his comment made me realize that it is an issue people notice.

Syzion responds:

I only meant to say that because I do have it under control on this project.

And this, "You should put more time into it though." This isn't finished. He didn't read the title thoroughly or especially the description either.

Also, the EQ on most of the instruments in FL project have already been improved after I published this and BEFORE he posted, which took an hour to figure out.

It's not that he didn't say anything useless about his review, not at all.
It's how he began the sentence in his criticism, which was simply incorrect.

[Bona - The Quickening (no voice)]

Cool stuff. Good use of modulation in the intro and I like the sub drop in the intro. I can definitely hear the video game theme, the instrument playing the chords definitely sound like something from an 8-bit RPG game. Don't be afraid to deviate away from the start-up percussion, I know they sound good but being that so many people use FL now they are fairly easy to recognize. What generator do you use to make the sound in your drop?

sakesensei responds:

I appreciate alot your comments. I'll keep that in mind - time to make my own kick and snare.
EDIT: The drop is Harmor and Sytrus. I think that's what you're asking.

[Circuit Bored - Shingles]

I like the 'emptiness' with this one, the effects you added to percussion worked well to go with that as well. Btw, when you have the backwards guitar strumming, do you play that entire section with the notes in reverse order, then reverse the recording or do you play the notes, section that out and reverse them individually?

I'll likely play with some of your tracks at some point cause this shit's cool.

BoredMusic responds:

I encourage all use of my tracks unless its for a porno and or a hate group haha. Thanks and feel free to mess with any of it.

For this track in particular I i played them normal then cut them and re-arranged the notes to the way I liked it. For this track I didn't really focus on that aspect as much so most of it was just either played forwards and or reversed and left in the order.

Best way I found is to play them backwards and then reverse them, but sometimes it sounds nice to get that tail cut off by slicing and rearranging them.

If you want I can send you a zip of all the audio clips for a song that you want to mess with. Most of my songs are just audio clips since I record everything, then add effects and record again.