johnfn's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sunset Highwave]

this mix is really good. i would love to see how you did it.

track is awesome too, but it like... seems to lack a melody of any sort? :/ which makes it seem weirdly empty, like its just a succession of chords. COOL chords mind you but yeah. kind of a bummer cuz you usually write nice melodies.

also it could do with a breakdown?

its still good.

EvilRaccoon responds:

Thanks johnfn. Information like this is vital to really nail my issues. I still believe I have a long way to go. The melody produced for this is heard at 1:03 - 1:26, that was my intent, anyway :P. I think a counter melody may have helped, with a different instrument to really bring the track to a more interesting state. So you hear one theme, then another and back to the original.

Tbh, this is an on going problem with me, and something I am actively working on to fix. I believe prominent and confident melodic themes are one of my weakest areas, as my simplicity approach to themes can be my downfall. This is partly because I've been learning trailer music, which themes are not to really be evident, because people become attached to them.

I think because Chris and I were learning something new, it was a scramble to cram electronic production and learn a lot in a short space of time, so maybe melody took a hit. But what we both felt was that no matter who doesn't go through to the next round, we both won a lot, and I was forever laughing at Chris's production which had me in it!

Mixing techniques and general production work is something people seem to mention with me, which is always nice to hear because I put a lot of effort into it. I've changed my entire approach over the last few years, so it's a refined production.

It's also something people always ask about. So I might make an audio podcast just talking general production, which covers my approach.

Thank you for your comments, I will take them on board. :)

[Colossal Encounter]

i know exactly what you mean about the anxiety. for some reason it only goes away in the last 6 hours =p

nice track. make the drums louder!

[Shadow Steps]

WOW THIS MAY BE MY FAVORITE NGADM TR hold on my caps lock was stuck sorry but yeah this might be my favorite ngadm track. really really good even keeping in mind your excellent track history.

DEM0NW0LF responds:

That caps lock key sure is on a hair-trigger, huh

[toil]

i like the direction you are going in

which is to say i like moody pianos

probably one of my favorite NGADM pieces i've heard so far if not my favorite. JUST FIX THE MIX

midimachine responds:

i might have time to fix it tomorrow, fingers crossed :v
(update: i fixed it)

[Peachymaiden & Javier Anibarro Z - Hidden Lines (Original)]

Wow great job! Your mixing has gotten better and your composition is still amazing. :D

Jabicho responds:

Hi man! Thanks so much, it means a lot :D

[Reveries]

make vocals louder. also try drying up the mix a little in the verse sections. other than that, another really nice piece! i guess 1f1n1ty vs you is like the battle of the round by the audition round so all eyes are on you guys... seems pretty close to me ;-)

bassfiddlejones responds:

Why don't you make YOUR vocals louder johnfn??? lol I will stop by and listen to your tune soon as well, thanks for the review

[Seres]

i really respect your transitions

and sound design

and arps.

uh but im not sure if you can just paste a section from the beginning into the end and say "ha ha its coherent now!!" i dont think that works outside of a contest =p

P.S. unexpected homestuck at 1:58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8GVlwRrXC8

Onefin responds:

I made a full circle in key changes so I slapped a part from the beginning at the end there :P

And like I said in the description I don't think coherence was a thing that existed too much

so whoops

[A Little Older, A Little Wiser]

amazing vibe. if the mix was a little better this would be even more amazing somehow.

larrynachos responds:

Hey john, if you have some time, do you think you could go a little more in depth as to what I could have done with the mix? I really didn't do anything extravagant for it, but I'm sure some of the levels are off.

Thank you for the review!

[-Starfight-]

pretty fun, sounds a lot like waterflame when the vocals come in.

you should really spend more than 10 hours on it though. i can tell =p

Preds responds:

It does? Lol ty, I should have spent more time on this, but I have proyects and collabs going on so, this was all I could do for now :)

[Timekeeper]

Wow that was pretty epic.