Codefreq's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[No turning back - Magnetic pull]

Definitely could be in a Kirby game. Not sure if it's specific to magnetism, but the "boss battle" vibe comes through nicely.

Mixing-wise, I recommend using normalization to increase the volume so the listener doesn't have to change the volume when listening to this song specifically.

Over all, nice job. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

Pheanir responds:

I'm glad the vibe comes through, thanks for your feedback! ♥

Funny that you'd mention normalizing to increase the volume, because I do that with every composition; it's my regular mixing that sucks. However, unfortunately, this is mostly due to software and hardware issues because the stuff I use to compose is super old and outdated and my technical setup is bullshit. To top that off, I cannot afford to buy anything new and it has been like this for years.
And, to be completely honest, I am too lazy to adjust every single of these thousands of notes in a composition. ^_^'

[Drop Point]

Very interesting. I could see this as a level in Cuphead.

It's got a hustle-and-bustle vibe to it; makes me imagine moving really quickly in a bar from an era when jazz was in the mainstream.

I wish you put in your description what your thought process was like when you made this, That way I can judge the piece based on how well I thought your intent came across rather than strictly my own taste. If you add this info the description, I may change my rating.

For example: Why is it called Drop Point? What's the story behind that?

The mixing is well done, and overall I think you did a great job. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

[Wacky War]

Interesting concept.

In the beginning, I can see it: A buddy-cop movie where the two protagonists sneak into a warehouse.

It's about to get going, but 56 seconds in the atmosphere turns anticlimactic. I think the action-oriented feel would be better served if the sounds became more aggressive and there was more to the instrumentation.

I also think the song is a bit quiet; you could probably find some included compression/limiting plugins somewhere in Logic Pro, I can imagine.

Overall, not bad.

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

knightspear responds:

Oh man it’s great to have a fresh pair of ears! Thanks so much for the feedback, I can see much clearer where I could have done better now.
And those are some great review guidelines, hope you do the mind if I start practicing them!

[Time Flies(Loop)]

Time flies a lot when I listen to this piece on loop. I forget it's there. It's almost a minute long, but feels like different lengths depending on how much I'm paying attention.

I think the mix could use some compression/limiting plugins, and/or normalization to boos the volume. It's a little quiet as it is right now.

I'm curious: What were you trying to accomplish by making this? I'd love to give this a proper review by judging how effective your intent comes across rather than simply by my own personal taste.

I hope you find this useful. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

ScottJacob responds:

Hey thank you for the review! The original intent was to be used in a video game but it didn't end up seeing the light of day. The game was supposed to be kind of a quirky 8-bit space story named "Marsbound"

[Waiting for the Meteor]

When I see the title, I think of dread. I don't feel dread when I hear this song. In terms of getting that feeling across, I don't think it effectively communicates it. It's an early attempt, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

I wish you had more information in the description about your creative process; what you were thinking when creating this piece and its title. That way I can give a more accurate review that isn't just based off my personal taste but is also based on how clear your intent came across.

Personally, I like this song. The writing style reminds me of some of my early work, before I created my current NG account, which is also why I'd like to know how you made this song.

I hope you find this helpful. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

Bansheebutt responds:

Hi! Sorry about the description, I've never really though about, much less how, to put this kind of thing in words before.

With the title and overall tone, the themes I had in mind were more about Inevitability, Change, and acceptance thereof.

Change can be scary, whether it's in the form of a literal meteor that will end life as we know it or otherwise; but it's something that can't be stopped, whether we choose to accept it or not.

I like to think humanity's collective last-week-on-earth-maybe wouldn't just be everyone hiding in their basement in fear, but a time of reflection and release; very emotionally-charged, not completely negative or positive. A chance to come out, free of the consequences that no longer feel like they'd be "the end of the world" now that the world is literally ending.

The latter bit of the song is kinda representative of that last bit of catharsis.

Hope any of that made sense!

[Insatiable Lust for Power]

This piece is a bit quiet. I suggest using some compression/limiting plugins and/or normalization to boost the volume so the listener doesn't have to change the volume for this specific song.

The mood of the piece is pretty consistent with the title; what starts out as yearning for more gets more and more out of control as the piece goes on.

Impressive. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

[Becoming]

To me, this isn't bad.

I wish you put up your thought process so I can see what your intent is while you were making this song. That way I can base my rating on how well your intent comes across in your music. Without that, I have to resort to my subjective opinion.

I'm curious about the title. What's the story behind it?

Again, not a bad piece. I just need to know your thought process so I can provide better feedback.

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

[Nocturne for Flickering Purple Orbs (Piano-only version)]

Personally, I like this piece. I wish you provided more info on your thought process when making this. It could influence my score, and more importantly, I could provide better feedback..

I'm curious about the title. What's the story behind it?

I think the loop of vinyl scratches is a bit too obviously a loop, both visually and aurally. You may want to cut the loop (if that's what you did) more irregularly to disguise the "loop" sound, or use a different plugin if you used a plugin.

I hope you find this helpful. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

[Vibe Check]

It does seem stream-of-conciousness oriented.

That said, there is a moment from the 19 second up until the 38 second mark where it feels like either found footage horror or, more so IMO, it evokes the similar unsettling feeling I got when I watched Petscop for the first time. This moment has potential. I'd like to see you run with that concept in a future piece.

I don't get why you think the piece is funny. I'm open to hearing why.

I'm curious about the title. Why is it called "Vibe Check"?

I also think you could use compression/limiting or at least normalization to increase the volume. That way the listener doesn't have to change the volume for this specific piece.

I hope you find my feedback useful. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806”

SirHadoken responds:

Yeah, I kinda shot for horror vibes in some of this so I'm glad a little made its way through. The transitions aren't that fluid because I approached the song in a really whatever way lol, in a way it kind of IS my stream of conscious.

That plays into why the piece is so funny to me. It's just so NOT a song to me. Funny isn't the theme of the song but it's moreover its existence as a whole that I find hilarious just for being something bizarre that I'd never do traditionally.

I couldn't think of a good title for this because it wouldn't be right to call it something totally serious and it wouldn't be right to call it something totally stupid either. There's this meme where this oddly disturbing looking emoji face that turns red and gets closer with his hands out saying "you didn't pass the vibe check" and I imagined this song as having a similar feeling of just chilling at first and then going straight to Hell.

I was really worried about the volume of this; I was overly worried about it clipping because it screws up the atmosphere, so I overshot and made it super quiet. I could try to fix it later.

Thanks a ton for your feedback, I always enjoy considering other people's perspectives of my work. Cheers!

[Farewell to Winter]

First, I appreciate that you put some real effort in the description. It meanders a bit here and there, but it does a pretty good job of explaining your thought process.

Second, here's my interpretation: the message of a farewell to winter is subtle, but it's there. some of the synths, specifically in the middle section to me sound very fluid and liquid smooth, if that makes sense.

Here's another example: in the beginning, before the rest of the instrumentation starts to kick in, there isn't a lot in the way of mids, which to me acknowledges winter. As you add instruments that contribute to mids and bass, the piece begins to feel warmer, like acknowledgement of Spring.

I'm not sure how many others will see it my way, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

It's certainly peaceful to listen to.

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806