VicariousE's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[He's not a Potato]

Way to be ahead of the linguistic curve man. Nowadays old computers, simple people and bad internet connections are also called 'potato'. OK, there's a bad meme and video that came a year or so after this song did, but if the shit fits, wear it yo

[Podcast #1: Everything You Should Know About Sound]

Interesting approach, I like it. Usually when one reads someone else's words, really isn't much need to distance you yourself from the material, though I found the occasional asides referring to the author a thoughtful touch. Bopping around, looking for specific passages seemed slightly unprepared, but it didn't matter in the slightest (since radio hosts end up doing the same). You seemed to hit all the most interesting points of the article quite fluidly, and that's like 90% right there... and you added a bit of your own perspective to it as well, bonus points.

Compelling read, pacing was thoughtful, the intro into the material could've been tightened up a little, if that. Excellent first podcast of course, has all the hallmarks of a consummate producer at work. How about the effect of sound on organic entities, as a future podcast? Ya know, singing to plants, mating calls, gas... idk

BenTibbetts responds:

Thank you very much, I really appreciate it! Good suggestions I will take to heart the next time I do this.

[Unholy Skies]

Good song, bad situation. Guitar work and mixing was fantastic, but rly man, bring your voice up! If you're worried about the tin-can effect (well done btw), maybe dull the treble down, gate the high pitch or something.

Sound better than Bobby Dylan, so inch your voice volume up a lil bit. Used to work w/ a guy who used to re-remaster hip-hop and rap, biggest pet peeve was: killing his hearing while trying bring instruments and/or vocals up properly. Last I heard he was going into the drapery business.

[The Conspiracy]

Nicely laid out, quite compelling words and instrumentals. Funk track was note for note good, just needed some 2Fnky4ubrutha organics in the tones, smooth in/out can effect, echo on the bass, idk, still quite solid.

[Lord Loud - Storyweaver]

Damn, that's impressive.

[Devil In The Mirror ft. Megurine Luka]

Best aspects of metal, all jumpy and diverse, very diggable! Robot voice was (I guess thankfully) somewhat muted, apropos, but it's hard to enjoy the lyrics. Sure would be epic if a golden throat belted out the lyrics, which are perfection.

What sort of headphones got smooshed? I used to use the cheapest Koss titanium headphones RadioShack sold, served me well in the field and in the chair, looking for a new standard that doesn't add artificial bass.

ADR3-N responds:

I'll answer the headphones first -- I had a pair of Sentry HM960's, which are cheap 10 dollar headphones I got on clearance, 2 pair. Well, they served me through all sorts of punishment, including workouts, until a 4 year old jumped on them and my laptop while they were plugged in (I had never been around this kid to know about his war on electronics or I would have had this stuff put up) and within the week, one of the ear muffs came unscrewed and fell off, and then the jack shorted out. They worked fine for the whole week up until point though. I preferred them for their very crisp but very flat response. Lots of clarity, no extra bass, 40 mm driver, etc.

Thanks for the review, by the way. I'm trying to work on getting some singing of my own going on, maybe even growls, but have had no space to sing in. After this, I'm working on seeing about revamping Crown of Thorns, and I also have more pieces coming out in this style. Vocaloid is of course, an acquired taste. For right now, it's just the easiest medium for me to get my ideas across quickly and clearly.

[VicariousE at the Crossroads]

Saw your name at the bottom of the BBS, and wondered what could be compelling to go you there, went to your profile and before I could check your stat page.... AAAAAaaaaahhhhahaHHaH!

Do love me some Hammond tones bruh, did you do the guitar in the middle, could've been brought forward then, but do like the mixing fore and aft. The riffing was above average, almost sounds like an artists impression of a glum weekday in NYC, still busy, just less stark than usual. Audio reviews are not my forte yo

S3C responds:

your reviews are better than most ;)

glad you found this track! wanted to make it a self-discovering surprise. yeah I did the 'guitar' in the middle- everything here was played on a keyboard routed through soft synth patches (except the drums). It's got a wet, distant reverb to mask the synthy artifacts and to a certain, small degree to mask my sloppiness ;)

thanks for the review dude! glad you like it

[Origami Heart]

Everything's nice and clear, but yeah, I'm sure you'll find a way to bring the vocals forward a bit, so the lyrics are more clear, though in this (allegedly) unmastered state, it sounds marvelous and natural, easy on the ears.

ADR3-N responds:

One of these days I will sit down and master the art of Vocaloid. I admit it's way harder in English than Jap. The consonants and vowels are much more sonically complex. Getting there though!