Score: 10

"Beautiful"

submission: [DjBjra] - Chaoz Gangsta V2

date: August 11, 2009

One of the few songs that I can give a perfect 10 to.

Worth my time, as well as the time of everyone else in the AP. Recommended.

Score: 8

"Not exactly the real thing, but close..."

submission: Bagel On Rye

date: July 5, 2009

Not bad. Could use some more cream cheese, but you got the cooking time just right. Maybe I could have some chocolate milk on the side?

Anyway, it's just a lil loop thingy, pretty chill. Pretty simple, but there's some nice stuff going on in there.

I like the piano, or whatever the synth in the mids that stands out is... some sort of E-piano, I think. It sounds pretty nice and has a nice vibe, but maybe a bit more release on the synth would help a bit more.

I did like the glockenspiel stuff in the highs, however, at certain points it hurt a little bit. I try to be very careful when working with instruments so high up. Although, I have to say that it was a nice touch when it was layered with the piano.

Drum loop is nice, pretty chill and very clean. No real recommendations there.

Overall, I definitely think that this has use in a video or game of sorts. It does have a certain mood attached to it. Maybe background music in a restaurant? Or a chilled walking scene? Not sure, but I know that some author will find a use for it, and it loops quite well which is nice.

If you were to turn it into a full song, you'd need a bit more variation, maybe more synths for different parts or more chords or simply more content, but it stands pretty well on it's own right now.

8/10, 5/5

Also, where have you been lately?

Score: 9

"Cools"

submission: xKore - Technology

date: May 29, 2009

Dubstep seems to be the big thing as of late, replacing "minimal deep tech"... And quite frankly, this ain't bad, although it's kinda missing the point of dubstep.

Dubstep is a combination of "Step" and "Dub"... Dub is an old genre originating from Jamaica, mostly built around giving elements room, creating a sort of "space" within a tune. Step in this sense implies grimy elements.

Anyway, about your tune. It's definitely got the step to it. Great dirty shit throughout. However, I feel that some parts could be given more room. Sure, there are EXCELLENT little bits throughout, like that part after the big middle build kinda thing, where it drops to the basic drums and the bass... That was just superb. However, I feel like there are too many elements to this (I guess)... It needs more space.

I love how you can hear the highs on the reverb when it's bare, but it's not bare often enough. Maybe you could change up the hat line so it's not playing straight 8th notes? Anyway, cools, I enjoyed it more than most NG tuenz...

9/10 5/5

Score: 7

"Bits of Criticism..."

submission: *Assassin's Call* [IZK]

date: April 15, 2009

Haven't listened to this stuff for a long time, but I'll just say what comes to mind...

1. The drum loop is not loud enough. It's pushed far to the back and covered in reverb, so it doesn't punch through the mix. Do a major mix revision.

2. The bass just keeps going, doesn't ever take a break, even for a second for some cool drum programming tricks.

3. Pad synth doesn't fit for a darkstep song. Leave that stuff for the intro/outro.

4. Arrangement is incorrect: "64 bar intro, 64 bar main part, 32 bar bridge, 64 bar main part 2, 32 bar outro" is the correct structure for a drum n bass tune. Change it up within each part to add interest.

Positives:

1. The intro is pretty cool sounding.

2. The synths are all decent and work.

Overall, not a bad tune for someone just starting this type of genre. By the way, don't use the term "mastering." That is a totally different process. What you're actually talking about is "mixing."

Hope this helps.

7/10, 5/5

Score: 8

"Not bad..."

submission: Fuiste-The Facemelter (NGmix)

date: February 16, 2009

I must say, not bad at all. Let me lay out some criticism, but this is just for your own improvement: You don't have to take it if you don't want to.

First off, the EQing. That's the big problem here. The kick sounds great, but it lacks in punch in the mid-frequency regions. More distortion can help here, or layer with a mid-heavy clap for help.

The synths, though, felt very thin. That's 3xOsc's classic problem: It doesn't sound full or rich like the analog synths it was designed after. Instead, it sounds damn thin, and the odd EQing/Filtering you used didn't help at all.

Next criticism is the structure. It isn't really friendly to DJs like the genre is supposed to be, but that's ok, since this was more of an experimentation song.

Personally, I like the tempo faster, but to each his own.

The positives were that the kick sounds cool... The patterns you used were fine, and you have some good ideas going. Just listen to more hardcore. Try to flesh the ideas out more fully. Download some nice freeware VSTs and mess with patches... fuck around with synth programming... experiment! It will turn out well in the end!

Overall... 8/10, 5/5

Score: 10

"YES"

submission: Mantra

date: December 11, 2008

Dude, perfect timing. Turns out that next week is oldskool week on the internet radio station I DJ on. And guess what I was preparing? An oldskool jungle/hardcore set. This might fit in... it depends on what happens in the next two minutes of the track.

Nice bass stabs. Very oldskool. Straight offa the 808? Or synthed yourself? Amen sounds like the oldskool too, although I would've maybe liked a layered break for variety. I mean, the set is entitled "Pianos, Amens, and 909s". If this can get 2 out of three, then it's in. Otherwise, it's not.

I don't really hear a piano yet XD. Actually, I don't hear much substance to this track at all. It could use a melody maybe, or something other than bass and breakbeats and this vox. Maybe a hoover type thing...? Dunno, that's up to you... Too bad, though. Guess I'm not gonna be playing it :S

Good track though. 10/10 since the style is fairly unknown on NG.

Score: 10

"OMG NO U DIDNT"

submission: teh sp1r1t sawng (banana)

date: December 5, 2008

WOW THIS R AWSOM WHEN DID I MAEK DIS?! IT R KEWL!!!!!!1!1!!!

PLZ MAEK MOAR PLZ PLZ

Score: 9

""Review Trade""

submission: Fuaraya

date: November 26, 2008

Ok, lets take a listen here.

First thing that comes in is the kick. It's fine, no problems with it, sets a nice tone for the rest of the song. Great, wonderful, let's move on.

Next thing I noticed was a melodic portion at around 0:16. I doubt that's enough time to do a full mix into this track, unless you're harmonic mixing. I'd be hard-pressed to do it, even with software. How about some FX instead?

Then a breakdown at 0:40. That's really not giving much mixing time at all. But ooh, everything sounds so nice! :), great synths, I like that sine one that comes in. Bass, however, seems a touch gritty compared to the other synths in the breakdown, but works well in the main portion. Maybe remove it from that little breakdown, and introduce it when the beat kicks back in?

Ok, and the energy falls again at 2:15... Remember, Trance is a genre of Dance music. That's not giving much time to dance! XD, I suggest extending the kickdrum a bit more, lengthening that section a bit.

Now, epic breakdown. Very nice, well put together, nice synths, great harmonies. around 3:00, that bell seems to hit an odd note not in the chord. Maybe attenuate that.

Beat back in at 3:17. Well... that wasn't much of a buildup. No snare roll? No noise? Just some kicks, and then we're back. Nice synths in this next danceable section, great stereo separation too, liking the panning on them synths.

Now HERE we go, I was expecting another full breakdown, but it actually keeps on going, and thank god too, or this track'd be more breakdown than energy :S

Starts to lose elements... bringing back the bare kick at around 5. Bit short, don't ya think? And what's with the 50 seconds of silence? O.O, Dunno why that's there.

Anyway, good song, but quite short. Also, not really enough danceable sections. I'd extend the first breakdown, the intro, and the parts with energy.

Overall, production is excellent. I can crank it up without too many bad things happening, but kick might have a touch too much compression... it distorts a touch on my system, but definitely not bad enough to matter whatsoever.

Good one. 5/5, 9/10 for the aforementioned issues.

Score: 10

"Seriously?"

submission: *DarkMoon Rave* [ZeRo BaSs]

date: November 7, 2008

Did you really just rip the melody from "Dee Dee Wonder - Darkmoon Fighter"? I approve.

Nice remix :P

Score: 10

"Listening."

submission: hoover in j minor

date: November 4, 2008

Yep, terrorcore. But where's that hoover? Have you forgotten about the REAL source of hoovers? Roland Alpha Juno, patch "What The..." Lots o pwm, and all that. Damn nice pad, though. Cool synths, but didn't sound all too much like hoovers to me.

Good job!