SinJim's Reviews

[Planetoid - Original]

Planetoid

Yea, so I too spend a bit too much time in the AP so I apologize for a brief and not so helpful review.

Awesome animation style. The graphics you chose were unique. At first I was all, wtf? Then as the story got going I think that it fit. The animations were smooth but I think the motions of the bodies could have been a bit better (maybe? I dunno just grasping at thin air here).

I think that the end had to be 20 secs more. I know you were constricted to the song and that's not necessarily your fault, but I think the story would have been much more powerful and complete had you been able to add the 20 secs.

Other than that, you hadda great story, animation, and overall flash. Me likey.

~SinJim

Fate responds:

haha, holy moly, this is actually your first flash review. D:
The motion of everything could have been a bit better, so i'll agree with you there.
Damn the twenty seconds.
I'll have another 4 episodes because of that 20 seconds.

You would've been the third musician, in a row, I managed to drink myself into a state enough to request you watch this, and I appreciate that you actually did.
Thanks.

[A Sparkle of Life - Mjattie]

A Sparkle

Wow man, you have really outdone yourself on this one. I love the sidechain bass in there. It really gives it a dirty feel that contrasts with the deliciously clear pads and lead you have going. At first, I wasn't feeling the electric piano type sound (I think that's what it was) that you had sidechained w/ the bass. It was just too ringy for me. I felt, though, that as the song continues, the listener gets accustomed to it. It's just a bit odd in the beginning. It's unique as hell but seems a bit out of place until the rest of the song comes in. Might just be my opinion tho.

I can definitely hear why you put this in trance with the buildups but I think it feels a bit like a house track at the beginning. Again this might just be me. I really like the FX you put in there with the sidechained pad (adding white noise and such). It was really good and definitely keeps you interested.

I think you could do better with the outro. It just feels a bit incomplete right now. It's not terrible but somethings just missing. I dunno, you'd have to experiment with that at this point in time. Something I really liked was the piano breakdown (but hey - I'm a sucker for piano tracks haha).

You could have had a stronger kick, but I think it's ok as it is. Also, I wasn't a big fan of the snare samples you used, but that's basically personal preference.

All in all, great buildups, great pads, great bass, great leads, great structure. Nice job on this one, man. Keep polishing things up.

~SinJim

mjattie responds:

No, you're true about the sound. it's all a bit much for the first listen, I think.

I had quite a lot of work with the effects. That was the first thing I did when I started to make this song. And I haven't done anything similar.

And you're also right about the outro. But I didn't had energy to make a decent ending... :P

Hey I'll keep polishing things up man ;)

[Rose-Coloured Hindsight]

Amazing...

Okay, let me start off by saying the first couple measures of your picking really reminded me of Flight of the Conchord's Foux De Fa Fa. Google it, you'll be pleasantly surprised and I think it will give you a laugh.

Okay, so wow, the guitars in this song are amazing. Simply put. You did an excellent job with the recording and I don't hear any muddyness at this point in time. One thing, though, is that I heard a pop at about 20 and then again at 56-57 secs in. It may have just been the player, but I thought I'd let you know.

I really like the progression you have going throughout the song - it really fits in with what you're trying to tell the listener. When you're hitting the back of your guitar it still sounds good, but I have to wonder if that's a roundback or just a regular acoustic.

Okay, I liked when the orchestra came in, but I didn't really like the timpani (I think that's what it is). Now I can see where you're getting your muddiness from. I think that with all the percussion you already have going, you can do without the timpani. It may have just been me but I thought it detracted from the piece.

I REALLY liked the piano interlude with the triangle/glockenspiel in there. It brought everything down a notch and gave an opening for an ending.

Dude, everytime this loops I can't help but laugh because think of the Flight of the Conchords video, seriously check that out lol.

In terms of what you were going for for the meaning of the song, I think you captured it brilliantly. I really, really dig this song and would love to work with you in the future on a song if you're up for it.

The quality you have hear really supports the story you tell and the mixing could be a bit better but I really like what you have. I think for me it's just the timpani holding it back but that's personal taste. I would just suggest for you to at least take another listen and see what you think.

All in all, this is an awesome song! This is set to place high in the competition, good luck!

~SinJim

curriemaster responds:

Hey cheers for the great review man. I have indeed heard Foux de Fa Fa before and I love Flight of the Conchords, my favourite tune has to be "Most Beautiful Girl in the Room" though. Cheers for the comparison!

I have this habit occasionally clicking my tongue when I play the guitar (usually when I make a mistake - but in this case I didnt -.-) and when I tried to rerecord it, it didnt come out quite right as the solo guitar was pretty much just soloing and I was playing different stuff each time.

I definitely see what you mean about the timpani. I think thats the major issue I had with muddiness, but I couldnt get this doublet beat out of head when I heard the final dramatic section so I decided I needed to leave it in. I think it would be much better with some proper EQing and maybe compression but I already had so many tracks I didnt want to bounce a MIDI one to audio. Maybe I should though, it could help me think this song is pretty good.

Well thanks again for the review its superb. Im going to have another look at that timpani and maybe try and bounce it so I can apply an effect or forty. Oh yeah and Im totally up for doing a project together although I dont know if I have the skillz. Let me know if you have some ideas. Cheers!

[Romantic Impression - Mjattie]

Nice

Damn, dude.

Gotta love those 3/4 waltz times for the love songs haha. Shoot me in the face if that's not right, that's what I felt though haha.

I must ask what you play on because I've been trying to brush up my piano skills but you've obviously been playing for years. Is this recorded or sampled? Also what keyboard are you running with if it's sampled. In a few months I'm going to be looking for a full keyboard with fully weighted keys so I'm open for suggestions.

In terms of the song, you've got a sick talent for improvisation if this was in one take. I'm still working on my Mac09 submission but you've really taken the show with this one.

The feeling of the variation with the piece really comes through. The subtle changes in tempo that you've got really, really put feeling into the song. The violin sample is okay. It could be better, but it's not the focus of the song and it's not so loud that you notice the sample's quality. I'm just nitpicking here since I'm typically composing orchestral pieces.

Good luck in the competition man. With this piece you should be sure to place high. I'm pretty sure that the judges are going to have a tough time this time around.

Let me know if you upload another version!

~SinJim

mjattie responds:

lol, you may be shocked, but the keyboard is sampled and it's a not-weighted one XD (picture: http://www.max.grenkowitz.net/res/Mus ic/Yamaha_PSR-500_1019_50.jpg) From 1992 I think... I got it from my uncle. btw, the samples are from reason and then an expansion pack called "reason piano's"

I'm not that proud either of the violin.

This song was improvised but with some parts more than once, so that's the reason there are no faults...

I hope you're right about the mac9 lol, but I guess no1 knows until you finish your song!

thanks a lot for the reaction again!