midimachine's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Like Wind to a Leaf]

love the atmosphere in this piece, usually i hate foley in these kind of tracks but the subtle windy drone is really perfect for the intro. the melody coming towards the climax is really great and the drums have lots of impact without feeling overbearing. the heavily quantized chords at the start feel very off putting at first, and the arpeggios in the climax need some dynamics carved in as they feel very static. would be good to strip back the arrangement before the "drop" to create more tension coming into the climax also. otherwise, really solid work.

[To The End (NGUAC 2023 KO Round)]

nailed the action theme vibes, with the standard instrumentation used effectively. really liked the section at 1:40 where the constant drone of the tonic subsides and the choir harmonies and flute come out and give hints of thematic development. unfortunately the harmonic repetitiveness and static arrangement hindered my enjoyment a lot, and the melodic ideas don't really captivate me at all either.

NativeNiles responds:

Thx for the review.

[Odyssey of Echoes - MsFluent]

i liked the main melodic theme and arrangement quite a bit! the instrumentation is admittedly simplistic but i think it would work better with a much less cramped mix & master. as it stands i find the piece is very physically tiring to listen to, and that there's not really a break once it kicks into gear makes it really hard to return for another listen.

MsFluent responds:

Thanks for the feedback ❤️

[Scaithe (NGUAC Knock-Out Entry)]

lots going on in this one! i appreciate the musical storytelling; the best parts of this track are in the middle of the song where the LABS instruments meld with the synths and create this really nice atmosphere. the production quality varies throughout though - the final section especially lacks the impact that the distorted tonality tries to imply and the drums here feel strangely weak. the piece also lacks a strong enough melodic motif to tie it all together, and along with the fluctuating production value makes it feel like an incoherent experience.

[// TWEAKING //]

the sound design is really on point for the classic uk sound. the drums are well programmed but i think the kick is too harsh and needs more low-end punch than midrange click, and the shakers are too constant and up front. the vocals are also too forward and not used sparingly enough. would be good if this had a more classic structure with a more atmospheric buildup/drop & longer mid section breakdown.

[Sunshine]

some really nice synths here with a lot of different textures that balance really nicely. i like the main melody, but would maybe play it on a different synth and not alongside the vocal track they slightly clash harmonically and tonally.

i like the way it's structured but wanted a longer break from the drums in the breakdown. mastering is good but the mix is a little bit heavy in the low-mids.

Mauxus responds:

Thanks for listening and for leaving feedback :)

[Glimmer]

great mix/master on this one. a lot of very common & simple sound design choices but used effectively. really liked the lead melody in the ending section, wish it was telegraphed earlier on another instrument maybe?

the middle break part feels a little structurally bloated i think - or maybe it's just that the rise into the chill drop part at 1:49 is way too hype? i think there's a really killer arrangement in there somewhere though.

[Darkness]

really like the overall sound design for the synths, and how the frequency shifted chords sit over the almost arpeggiated squarewave. good chords that sit nicely under the vocal melody also. unfortunately this track seems really unfinished structurally, and the mix/master feels really off with the vocals sitting extremely forward and the chord transients fighting with the kick/snareclap. not enjoying the drum choices - feels like it's missing some layering and lacking impact overall.

[HRT Theory]

appreciate your unique approach to IDM/drill n bass. the chord progression is neat and the drum processing is interesting - great tone on the saturated kick/snare. it definitely sounds rhythmically complex and chaotic, but the overall composition is extremely simple. the drum glitches feel nice in sections when they take a backseat and occasionally provide fills (e.g. 1:27-1:47), but they often seem overbearing and not thoughtfully placed.

[thin layer of dust]

nice spacey synth sounds. love how crisp yet thick the bass is - feels like it loses some of the crispness when the drums come in. the melody didn't really captivate me and the instrumentation needs a bit more development, but the drums are unique and i like their smokey tone. i think the're too boomy overall and fight with the bassline for the low-end presence. i liked the chord changes in the ending section and the aggressive volume cuts are cool, if overused.