HybrisHybrid's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Pico Day Battle Song (0m59s)]

Nice sound!

Nice intro to start the song. Really didn't know what to expect. I love the sounds in this one. It has certain video game music atmosphere. I'm thinking something between Metal Gear Solid, James Bond 007 (the intro at lest) and for some reason, Armored Core comes to mind. None of these work very well to describe the song, its completely original.

I think what you were trying to do with this song is make an intro, then a looping part and then an end. Thats what it sound like anyway. Overall it doesn't loop very well at all, which is what I'd expect if that were the case. I like that idea I think I might do that, but split them up instead of mixing them together. Hmmm...

Well like I said this seems more like a really short song and not so much like a loop, but I still really like it. It was one of my favorites early on in the contest, but now with so many good entries who knows?

The synths are good. I like when they combine this well in one song to support a melody. So many different sounds at once working together.

The drums are cool, especially in the beginning. Theres some sound in there that really sound familiar to Goldeneye, I like it a lot! I like the end where the drums slow down too, good way to end it, but as I kind of mentioned before, didn't help it loop much.

This has been a hard one to review. I wish it looped better but ah well, its still good, in my opinion, overall. You should post some more music some time, its been a while!
-PhybrisPhybrid

[Haunted Preview (MAC 07)]

The longer I listen, the more I like it

Pico feel = 100% with this one. I don't know what Pico feel is, and no one really does (maybe Mr. Fulp...) but anyhow, I listen to this and I just know, this is Pico's theme song.

It's the melody, so crazy and... well basically the tittle haunted works very well for this one. The hight tones drive my ears a little wild. Most of the synth kind of have a gritty synth sound but it doesn't hurt you too much. I like the synth toward the very end that seems to act like a vibraslap. It just spins in and out of nowhere, getting lower in pitch and fading before the song ends. Kick ass.

The bass is nothing special, but strong throughout the song and sometimes thats all you need. Just the perfect ammount when I hit that "loudness" button on my receiver.

Drumwise, again, nothing too crazy. You got some good sounds though, and that's what you need. I don't necessarily like how they start out, but its contrasts well once the better sounds come in. Cutting the drums out at the end was a good idea and worked well.

I wish this looped better, you'd be in good hands if it did. The more I listen to this the more I like it. Definitely the perfect sound for the contest... but the poor looping just throws the entire thing off.

I voted 5 for Haunted Preview (MAC 07), raising its score from 3.83 to 4.00. Plus a 10/10 for me, not out of good sportsmanship, I actually really like this one. Seriously, I stopped it just now (finally after looping 1,000,000 times) and it made me want to listen more. I hope you get this in a game (a little late for pico game... but some other one maybe) and of course looping correctly. It would make even the shittiest game fun to play. I was gonna say make a full version, but I see you did that already - sounds even better than the loop by the way. Well bud, good luck with the contest and keep the tracks coming.
-HibrosHybroid

[Static Call (Full Version...)]

Tappity tap tap goes the higgity hi hat

First of all, you got a real thing for drums man!

I like this song a lot. The drums and the crazy distorted melody go together very well. Then you got that breakdown type of thing on the drums. Sounds great with the string sounds you got going.

For being a full version I'm disappointed. It ends much too soon and the beat is so catchy I wanted to hear more. Indeed, what I would call a musical cliffhanger.

I somehow let this one slip by me - for the MAC that is. I'm listening to it now and I'm pretty much beyond the hopes of winning that thing any more. Way too many good entries and the wait is killing me. I'll review that one separately though.

Back to the full version. Your best feature is definitely the drums. This was true with Antagonist as well (those drum rolls were sick). That catchy synth rhythm goes well with the percussion and the string sound help a lot too. Some parts sound a little too distorted and the drums sound maybe over-compressed a bit, which adds a good feel to them... but maybe just a little too much compression this time around.

The overall diversity is lacking, but its catchy and I like the breakdowns, especially the last that ends the song. The way the high hat taps to that one simply amuses my ears.

I voted 5 for Static Call (Full Version...), keeping its score at 5.00. Just thought I'd let you know.

And for the third time let me emphasize that drums are awesome. Keep the cool music coming, very fun to listen to. I rarely listen to tracks after I download them, but this is definitely one I will. So until my next review...
-HebrewHybrid

Quarl responds:

haha, drummer for 4 years. I understand rhythem, it's melody I usually have trouble with....haha, best review i've recieved yet...wait,...no...one guy said one of my songs was sexy...that was odd, but very amusing.

So far, the two problems I'm finding about this track would be the drums are too distorted and the track in just too short...arrr. Eh.

Thanks for the awsome review. I'll keep in mind that people like it when I play with the rhythem. I think I get better feed back when I work harder on the drums. As for your mac 7 entries, I thought they were awsome. I loved glitch. It was really atmospheric and just so cool. I also loved how slaughter looped. SO COOL! I think you have a chance man. Don't give up hope man :D

[_-={Wrath of a Broken Soul}=-_]

More Timpani!!!!!!!!!!!!

This one seems less "clear" than the others I've heard, but otherwise I like everything about it.

It opens up with a nice violin melody. Brass instruments and more strings. Very nice work. You music provides that rushing-into-battle feeling. I wish you had ignored that pico feel nonsense and entered the MAC with something like this. You could have easily beat most of the contestants (if not all). In other words, its a great battle song but I'm glad I didn't have the extra competition =X

I like the percussion throughout the song. I see you got some tubular bells going in there too - can't go wrong with that! Why not some more timpani here and there...?

At whatever point - the song completely changes into some kind of interlude - the word genius popped into my head. I loved it and the choir sounds nothing less than fantastic. I very much liked the ritardo (i think thats the term) on the violin before the end. Awesome, I don't know how you did it so well without making it sound shitty. I know I've tried slowing down a song and got pretty bad results. Maybe its in tempo and you made some longer notes... hard to tell just by listening. Either way good work.

I very much enjoyed this piece and I'm at the point where I write my criticism... but theres not much to say. I think some parts, especially with in the intro and where the percussion hits, it sounds unclear. Most of your songs generally sound better as well... don't know what exactly it is. Doesn't really hurt you at all though.

When I think about what I would add to this all I could thing of was crash or some other kind of symbols. I don't know how good that would sound... but just a thought. Also, more timpani! Can't go wrong with more timpani (just kidding... or am I...? I don't really know anymore.)

Well, despite my poor attempt to make criticism, its still 100 times better than I could do. Perfect 10/10 here. I knocked one off of diversity and clarity: Clarity I explained already and diversity was not quite 100% but plentiful, nonetheless.

Your work has inspired me much in my Newgrounds lifetime - although I don't believe I have taken time to drop any reviews... Oh look at me getting all serious. But really, I like all of your songs and you always take time to review a few track and post on the forums from time to time. Thats respectin' right there mang, keep it up.

Well anyways, 5 and a download - for personal interest not numbers. Take it easy and keep the god ones rollin' (I think I said the same thing to the last song I reviewed... ha.)
-HibrisHibrid

MaestroRage responds:

ah, thank you kindly for the review Hybris *or Hibris as you signed :D*.

You really wanted to hear more timpani eh? I can't blame ya, I wanted some more punishing percussion myself, but I didn't have much more, and on top of that the lower end of the frequency spectrum was already at it's limits. You thought having this amount of percussion made it unclear, you should have heard it with the other hammer sounds I put in there.

Distortion all around D:!!!

I should have added crashes :/. No excuses for that, simply never came to mind whilst building it.

And to be honest, this song has also a few failed pico loops in it :O!! The beginning was a pico loop revamped, and most of the end was a pico loop, but it was too defiant, and pico doesn't defy, he destroys.

But oh well, next time maybe.

I'm glad you found inspiration in these works Hybris. I hope I can put up more things that invoke new and interesting stories in you, as that is what they are here for.

Thank you for your review, I am glad you liked it!

PS. I just noticed there IS a clarity issue isn't there... maybe I should have exported it at a higher bitrate...

[(_RGH_) Pico Crossing(mixalot)]

Good work and good luck

This is my favorite entry I think. Its just so catchy and diverse.

I like the strings throughout the piece and you got it to loop very well.

The strange drum sounds are awesome. I especially like the sound you got using what sounds like a bp filter on a snare. Some really great sounds in this one drumwise.

And the synths... shit, they're bad. The good kind of bad. See I worked my ass off on my submissions but I think raw musical talent has come up with something much better (not to imply you didn't put an effort through). We'll see when the results come in, but I wouldn't mind losing to this loop.

What else can I say? Well I already sort of mentioned you have a really catchy melody. Melody is one of the things many submissions lacked. The mixtures of sounds supporting the melody killed altogether.

I don't know if it makes a difference but the thing one thing that didn't work out for you, if I'm not mistaken, is that you had this under the battle category. This one would sound much better while cruising the halls of Pico school in the slower moments, if you know what I mean. I don't think it will effect your chances though cause I don't know how the judging works. So anyways, good luck to you! Keep the good ones rollin'.
-HybrosHybrood

RyeGuyHead responds:

Thanks for the review,

Your words go a long ways.... perhaps to Pluto

My other submission was even more unbattle like haha

[[Dud] Adventure Music 6]

good piece

Nice work here Dud. A really well organized piece, which is surprising to hear on something played on a real instrument and not programmed in Fruity Loops.

What really kills you again is that fuzz; the constant stream of static. I don't hear as much background noises and didn't catch any big mistakes, but the static seems louder and more noticeable in this one so it hurt the clarity a little.

Well you've got some talent for piano and an ear for music. I really like the chords you hit, but the melody is something in itself. Definitely fits the title of Adventure Music.

I say get steal yourself some better recording equipment and look into some recording techniques and post production type of shit. If you want I can try to spice up some of your songs. I think I'll PM you about that.

Another great track man, keep up the good work!
-HubrisHighbred

Dudidum responds:

Thanks again!
I think it's the most organized piece I created until now.
And it would be really cool if you could tell me a bit about post processing :D.

Dud

[[Dud] Adventure Music 10]

I owe you a review, good sir.

I thought I reviewed this song already. I know I've heard it before, I must have forgotten to review it.

Well anyways, I'm going to go at this the old fashioned way... so here it goes.

For originality I have to give you 10. You're not the first to do a piano piece on Newgrounds, I know, but this one is very original. I like to think of originality to be only part "originality" and a more so "creativity." So creativity-wise you score a ten with this. Overall, this is because you tell a story with your song and keep it interesting and nice sounding. And thats what its about.

Diversity gets a 8 as well because the song flows into completely diverse sections that transition well. I didn't like one of the transitions very much, so I dropped you down 1 and the song could be just a small bit more diverse. For example, more dynamics and a less repetitive bass rhythm in the beginning and end.

Clarity wasn't the greatest and it kind of goes along with effort in this one. But I tried not to be too harsh on both aspects, so I only dropped you to 8. Theres a constant fuzz throughout the song which is, although pretty quiet, still noticeable. A solo piano part requires little post production such as (better) use of EQ's, maybe some small noise reduction and some subtle compression would have helped. Overall 8 is pretty reasonable for this one, I think.

The clarity I was going to knock you for came out on the effort side instead. A few mistakes and some background noise is what I'm talking about. You get an 9 despite these problems because the song is well written and origninal. Overall, its played better than I could do, although not perfect, so 9 seems fair.

OK, thats pretty much it for my lame old-fashioned review. Seems pretty useless to me, but I don't usually write them like this just can't think straight right now. Few too many swigs of that rum last night, eh?

Oh yeah, almost forgot, overall I liked the song and I usually don't take "clarity" into consideration for my overall score, but instead usefulness which is effected by clarity. This song doesn't seem like it would be very ideal for a flash because of the few mistakes and background noises. Hopefully I'm not being too harsh with that, you really did a good job playing, but even the smallest mistakes can ruin its flash potential. Some people don't consider this, but Newgrounds is a flash site and the AP is for flash audio so I think it makes sense. Anyways... 9/10 for this one just because I liked it so much. Next time around, play it a million times till it is 100% perfect and then go through it with some filters, compressors and effects - whatever makes it sound pretty.

Hope that helps you out and I know I still owe you but I take so damn long to write reviews its hard to do sometimes. Quality over quantity, I say. Keep up the music, its pretty damn saweeet.
-HybrizzleHybrishizzle

Dudidum responds:

Woha thanks a lot for the big review ;) I never expected something this long but it's good that you reviewed it thoroughly.

As for the originality it's more an improvisation than a written piece. I could actually make a music sheet out of it and "repair" the mistakes. After that I could record it a second time.
I always record and post it without any post production because I don't know exactly what to do ;)

Again thx for your great review!

[[TMM43]Jurassic Park]

Good arrangement, not much more :\

I'm sorry for the rushed review but the song is pretty plain. It sounds like a synthesized version of the real song.. theres really not much too it.

I read the last review and your response, so I think I understand what you were doing here. This is something good to have for some kind of Jurassic Park spoof type of flash. Good work, this is the kind of stuff the AP is for. The clarity sounds good and the instrumentation allright too.

For these reason I gotta give you some credit. Usually I vote a 5 or I don't vote at all, but I'm going to drop a 4 for this one. Good arrangement of a good piece, and I hope it is useful for a flash artist.
-HybrisHybrid

[TAA--Piano Improv 1]

oh so very .emotionally compelling

Very beautiful piano work, especially for improv.

I don't know why you would post an improv and I can't give much for effort considering that its not only improved but its very slow and minimal. Still you pulled it together allright and improv or not it sounds really good.

Like I said minimal. Also a little repetitive I might add, but thats not to imply it's a bad piece. A little more instrumentation would have definitely made this much better.

If you're trying to show off your piano playing ability you've done a bad job. Don't get me wrong, but it isn't the most complex song I've heard. However, if you were trying to created a melancholy, dramatic song for a flash, you definitely succeeded in my opinion. Since this is newgrounds, I'm going to assume the latter is true.

The ending cuts off a little too soon. The last review said it was a bad note to end on, I disagree. It was a good way to end it, but the sound doesn't resonate for very long, and thats the only problem I see with it.

I got a shitty setup right now. My comp is plugged into an old ass, cheap ass fender Champ 15 guitar amp, so I'm going to give you a 10 for clarity and just let that be.

Taking originality, effort and diversity into consideration, the song looks bad and my review was a little harsh in some parts, but I very much liked the way the song was able to express the exact emotions I think you were going for. Overall 9/10 and a 5 bomb from me because of that. Keep up the good work.
-HybrisHybrid

TheAmateurAnimator responds:

I'm not a good piano player. I just started in the late summer of 2006. I really don't like writing sheet music at all, so this song basically had to be either improv or just a recording of me playing one of the minute-long songs in my lesson book. I could probably make a song just as complex of this in a sequencing program without a piano, but playing this live had some good points--one, versitality in the note velocity; and two, the pedal.

The more I listened to this song as I was editing out the background noise, the more I felt that it was too long and repetitive. By that time, it was a little too late to shorten things up--what's done was done.

You should have heard the quality of this before I fixed it up. It was dreadful, really. Luckily, some EQing and reeverb fixed it right up.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the longest and most technical review I've ever gotten (and the longest response I've ever gotten). Thanks!

[Quarl - Antagonist]

Drumwork is the best

Whats ups Quarl... I've seen you around and you reviewed one of my songs, but I never returned the favor. Forgive me, kind sir, but I'm working on doing that now so its all good.

Nice intro, but why must the women suffer? Perhaps they are just screaming because you entered the room with your keytar and they're that excited to hear you play this crazy beat.

I like the use of bass in this. I can't elaborate on that... sorry.

The drums are damn near perfect and I hear you've utilized a vibraslap. I like... I like a lot. Really though, the drum fills sound amazing. This is like techno metal. Well DnB isn't far off. Damn them drums are sexy.

I suggest making this into a loop if you get the time, skipping the intro of course. You might even want to considering entering the Mac7, I'm sure this could make top 10.

One last thing before I let this review go. In that little interlude you do towards the end of the song, you hit some notes that just don't work. I know how that is, I often try to hit bass notes way too low. They just sound real muddy after a certain pitch, and I don't think it works. Well, maybe it was the sound you were going for, just consider it.

Keep up the good work and feel free to stop by my page again. Otherwise I'll be seeing you around. Oh and I'll drop you a 5 and a download for this one cause I'm that cool, word.
-HybrisHybrid

Quarl responds:

Hey, thanks for the review, I really appreciate it! I'll make a short loopable version of this track for the comp. It's porbably too late for this get used in a toon for P-Day, but whatever. Really though, this is the best review I've ever recieved. I'll deffinatly considering checking out your stuff again.