darthduba's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Syntax - Shadows]

pretty cool

The intro is pretty fun. The synthpads are cool aswell. I like the 8bit like rif that plays now and then. The melodies are creative and everything is layed out very well. Altho I wanna make some suggestions towards mastering and percussion.

The snare sounds pretty flat and too long. I suggest you cut it of a bit. Maybe add some high end and a little reeverb with lowcutoff. Stack the reeverb with your snare and it will sound much better.

The high hats sound pretty boring. Reorder the velocities to create as if it was played by an actual human. There is also a typical DnB rythm for high hats, I can't really explain that in words. its a moment before the second snare of a pattern that the high hat does a quick up and down.

I'd lower the volume on the " uuh " and add some delay to it to make it sound more spacey.

Anyway this is a very good song and indeed it sounds a bit pendulumish. Kudos on this track.

Greetz Duba
Check out my latest aswell if you like :)

DJHustle responds:

thanks for the suggestions!

ill try updating it soon :)

[The No Name Wonder]

Melodic DnB Ftw

We have all been new at some point. And its the reviews that get us better. So here is my review. I'm giving some pointers on bass scince quarl already gave you hints on drums.

For DnB you can create bass trough various synths. IMy personal favorite is the 3osc. You use 3 different waves to get your bass, each wave is on a different frequence so you have low mid and high in your bass. And easy way to make a bass is to layer 3 squarewaves and add a little low. Layer your wave with a pure sinewave to give it extra bass.
When you master you can experiment with tools like FL chorus or Phaser. ( if you are a fruitylooper ).
The one thing you have to use is the parametric eq2 . Cut of a little low add a little mid and high. Then you can create an automation clip to increase or lower the filter from lowrange to midrange to highrange. Automate it over the timeline and you'll have your unique bass with unique reese.

The more sounds you create yourself the more unique your song will sound.

If you don't understand what I mean with the reese bass, listen to my latest song. I used one in that. Plus I might post a tutorial on youtube soon about it.

Greetz Duba

Speedfalcon responds:

I dont use FL, but I think I get the point. Thanks for the tips!

[SkwashBuggrSkwishyPantz]

Dear Mr.WAD

The sounds you create and mix so well together get me on the edge of my chair. This is absolute creative. Self Expression at it's finest.

Greetz Duba

MrWAD2 responds:

!! MY DEEPEST THANKS !!
It's GOOD to Be BACK @ IT!!

~~ MAXIMUM RESPEKT, DUBA ~~
Mr W. A. D2

[Sudden starfall (P)]

How many songs that have starfall in the title :)

I believe you need to work on different parts of the song. I'll start of by typing the things that I would like to hear different.

The melody is a bit boring because you use only low pitch notes. You don't seem to use more then two scales, so not a spectecular chord progression. Try adding a brighter synth and freshen it up a bit.

The percussion were basic fruitloops samples. Look on the web for better samples. The more samples you have, the more variation you will have in your music. Make a folder under documents :) name it samples and start of.

The percussion also seemed a bit boring. You used the same rythm over and over. Because you leave a lot of time between the different percs it sounds as seperate noices rather then fluid music. Add more in between and make it float.

I think you need to check on some tutorials and get to learn some music theory. When you bring up something new (considering this feedback) I'll be glad to review it again, so you can improve more.

Greetz Duba
Keep up the work.
Feel free to return the review. I just brought out a song aswell :p

photosyntesen responds:

Thanks for the review :) i have just got the XXL version of fl studio so i'll get some new packs soon :) And yea maybe i should see some turturials ;D

-photosyntesen!

[RuneScape Sea Shanty]

Not yet buddy

Don't waste your money yet. Keep practicing in FL till you get better. I've worked in the demo for one and a half year.

Greetz Duba

Tankman132 responds:

well im still workign some of the things out all i can do is use piano roll at the moment is ther anything more than that? but thank you for your input =)

[Epic Battle Theme by:TM132]

Review it

To start I'll tell you that this review will be pretty negative. Don't bother about it, it's all about helping you get better.
To start of, the melody is rather dull and doesn't seem to follow any chordprogression. The best way to start a melody is to build around a chord progression. From this track I think you probably haven't learned about them. I believe you should reading up about it.

Second , listen to that rythm. It just goes du-du-du-du. Try using some variation. Keep it from getting boring. try adding a chord. Layering notes. Experiment with velocity.

Third. You really want to add in some percussion. Especially if you want to call your song 'epic'. A good percussion build can make a song much better. Most software doesn't include a lot of drumsamples so I think you should check the internet for some.

You probably didn't use the mastering aswell. experiment with reeverbs, delays and filters. Try creating automation clips.

The lenght is too short. Even for a loop.

Overall this doesn't stand out at all. You need to get some tutoring about music theory. Keep sending in tracks to NG. With some luck you will get more constructive reviews and will learn from it. If they just bomb you without reviewing , contact me and I'll be glad to help.

Greetz Duba
Feel free to return the review.

Tankman132 responds:

Thank ill do that wow its nice that people are actually commenting whith some information i really appreciate it =D

[DPulse/IxON - Electro Therapy]

Mighty fine track

The bass is lovely, and as said chopped nicely. Mass variation keeps it intresting. The mastering was professional. Plus I find it respectful that you answer every review (no matter how lame they are).

Greetz Duba

DigitalPulse responds:

Chopping FTW :) Yea, I only find it fair to answer everyone, even the random ones XD

Thanks for the review,

Digital Pulse

[// swift [loop]]

Read your tread...

... So here is a review :)

The beat is pretty cool. Altho it is compressed badly scince it doesn't stand out above the synths. You need to lower volume on them or filter them a bit. Never add reeverb to your kicks and snares aswell. They need to be clear instead of blury. Instrumental choice of the high hats is a bit weird. Go look on the internet for some typical DnB drumsamples. I'm sure if you got some you'll bring up a sick beat :) JungleHats are fun to work with. I use em a lot myself.

A good way to know if you are doing it right, is checking others people stuff. Remember, someone else his way shouldn't be the right way. Create your music as you like it yourself best.

As said beneath me. The piano sounds a bit dull.
Tho the melody is pretty nice and energetic. The synths layer correct.

I am a big fan of melodic dnb :p

Greetz Duba
Keep up the DNB !
5'd

alertG responds:

Reverb wasnt added to the snares, but i merged the sound more to reduce it. I found some samples that i havent tried yet so I'll try them out. I worked on the piano and removed some synth reverb. Oh, and i changed the volume of the hats so it may sound better.

Thanks for the review!

[Silent fear]

FL Keys

FL keys is fun to experiment with. Altho its hard to make it sound like a real piano. I think its only good to make a dance piano with.

Looks like you took your time to lay out the notes untill you liked it.
It could use a string or pad in the back and percussion.

Overall fun to listen but not exeptionally good. It could do with some more work.
Greetz Duba

4'd

Fiffo666 responds:

Thank you for your review, as i said, it was my second project, so i need every help i can take to make my music better^^

[[Aquatic]]

Loving the Ambience

I always like these tracks in which artist spread the variation. You take your time to spread the patterns which gives a very relaxed feeling. Also it forces you to bring out insane soundquality for the song not to get zerobombed :p

I'd suggest you bring out the sub a bit more. I can only here its there when I use my headphone. And it's still a tad to weak.

Another thing you could do :) you don't have to if you don't want to, is to bring in a silent high pitch melody. Not a main melody, just a subtle one that jumps in now and then, to add to the ambience. It makes it easier for people to remember your song when you add some melody. And they might revisit when you bring one in.

Overall a very nice song. Downloaded but I'd like to see the update with some minor changes.

Greetz Duba

KrawniK responds:

I will look into rasing the sub and adding a little melody.

Good advice, thanks for the review.