BenTibbetts's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Son of the Wind God]

great track

I can see why this has been well-received! I like the way you use only two chords. Rather than limit you, it frees this music to change really effectively through different instrumentation and tempos.

Tainlorr responds:

Yes, i found tons of ways to manipulate that one very simple chord progression (and some parts use three, but yeah.) Thanks a ton!

[Solidarity (IntSmp)]

great.

What a cool texture, 0:30. Great variety of sounds, and catchy to boot.

IntricateSimplicity responds:

Thank you for the review

[Spatially Shifted]

What a trip.

Nice work, although this might be too adventurous for this particular community. :) Which free programs do you use, exactly?

IntricateSimplicity responds:

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I've been playing around with sounds a little bit, and I've really just been trying t find my own sound and style, so there is still a bit of an unprocessed feel to it I think.

As for the software, I used Audacity for all of my music because it allows me to build basic sine, square, and saw waves, and allows deeper control of audio samples. I also use various iPod applications via a line-in connection for more complex sounds. I've used lite versions of NLog Synhesizer, Virtuoso Piano, and Hammerhead drum machine, as well as Speak EZ, which is completely free.

[The Mapmaker's Tale]

good experience

Big piece! Congratulations. This must have been a lot of work. Very interesting choice of instruments. Were those actual windchimes? You do a nice job of suggesting a story.

Tainlorr responds:

Yes, windchimes! Thank you. This one, I poured a LOT of time into it. Thanks. I used a Santur, (the plucky thing,) a Ney Flute, and Taiko drums with some synthetic and metallic percussion.

[Summer Blockbuster]

Popcorn

Nice work. I particularly enjoyed the harmonies you use, which are not quite generic although repetitive. Is there any way to make the low strings clearer?

Tainlorr responds:

Yes, I've been working on the strings and the repetivety. My goal here wasn't quite to make a great song, but rather, see how easy it is to score a movie like "Dark Knight" or "Inception." Listen to those and you'll know exactly what I mean.
Thanks, though!

[Magic of the Wind]

Magical

I like this a lot. I'm not sure about the title--the driving, short notes by the strings seem to suggest mechanical imagery. I agree about the bells which seem a bit overpowering here. Good luck with your studies.

Tainlorr responds:

Thanks again!

[Take It Slow, Bro]

Disagree with Fizzyfox

I disagree with much in Fizzyfox's review. I don't find these sounds to be grating or unpleasant. The moments when you played with the tempo were quite imaginative. I'd love to see the score if you have the time.

Esn responds:

Thanks Benjamin. You can read my reply to Fizzyfox below where I explain some things about this piece. I do respect his point; this piece is really me entering an area which is not my forte.

[Falling off the Planet]

Review!

Hi Phil,
The melody you've written here is really lovely. Hearing it repeat many times in different instruments, I couldn't help feeling I might have liked you to vary it a little bit more. Even some small, almost arbitrary changes might make for a special moment which stands out.

The harmonies seem unsettled, ambiguous, and anxious. All the suspensions make me feel nervous and excited, although you linger (beautifully I might add) on some very lush chords for your strings. As none of the harmonies ever seem to reach consonance this track has the ability to loop easily. But you've marked this as a "miscellaneous song" which suggests that you want it to stand alone as a piece--if this is the case, I think it might be very satisfying to end with a slow, deliberate Eb major chord (which I more or less came to expect... and never got!). Also, I agree with what David said about the low end, and want to add a suggestion: perhaps you could save the really powerful low notes until the second half of the track. I think this might give the ending a sense of purpose and inevitability... two attributes from which I think this music could benefit!

PhilVille responds:

Hey man thanks thanks for your advice man, very useful information. Hmm I never thought of the misc tag like that haha I didn't think it mattered too much. I feel like i'm making a bit of progress hopefully my next song will be better ^^. my computer crashed so I can't write anymore for a while 3=

[{Heim} Mystic Light]

Lovely

Beautiful sounds and chord progressions. Great juxtaposition of the low, slow strings with high, quick mallets. Sublime.

JeffHeim responds:

hoo rah!

[{Heim} Mystic Night]

Awesome

Certain moments in this piece stand out to me. The flute's gliss at 1:02, and that whole section, is really exciting. For me, hearing the flute flit and dance above the low strings there is the best part, and the harp adds some much-needed motion that makes it sparkle. Trash-Man-1 is right about the intro as well, great work.

JeffHeim responds:

Hey Ben! Thank you- this was real fun to write, although I don't think Mike A. would approve lol. I keep procrastinating when it comes time to "think outside the box"