Sorry for the late, I caught the flu and spent the week in bed...
my feedbacks
► Show Spoiler
Dasein - Night Peace
This track creates a dramatic ambiance and showcases some nice ideas with excellent sounds for the various instruments. As with your first participation, there’s a spontaneous quality that effectively conveys emotion. However, at times, precision is lacking.
In my opinion, there needs to be a balance between the improvised feel and the accuracy of note placement, as some passages reveal misalignment in timing and tonality between the instruments, which requires at least some editing.
Regarding the mix, there’s a noticeable improvement compared to earlier versions. The addition of reverb enhances the immersive experience, lending the sound a more natural feel. However, the acoustic balance between the instruments remains inconsistent.
In terms of composition, while there are fluctuations in intensity, the piece maintains the same dramatic ambiance throughout.
This can create a sense of heaviness, at least to my taste. Introducing a more positive or epic passage could release the dramatic tension and add greater contrast, opening up the piece.
Overall, it's a good track
Jeroen Zuiderwijk - A Journey
I have to admit, I’m not used to listening to this type of electronic music, it sounds a bit like a retro video game soundtrack. I found the track a bit repetitive.
However, the addition of the section at 1:56 with the guitar solo is an improvement.The solo is well executed with an good guitar tone.
As for the mix, I feel the kick and snare lack a bit of depth; when the drums come in, they don’t deliver the expected impact. That said, this might be a stylistic choice for the genre.
Overall, the mix feels coherent and precise.
Ike H-mope - Stars
A very beautiful chord progression with lovely string instrument sounds. I especially like the key change at 1:22.
There’s a simplicity and effectiveness here, but I think a few additional arrangements could have added even more depth and interest to the piece, as well as a longer reverb.
I’m less keen on SynthV. You can immediately recognize the synthetic nature of the voice, although its use here is quite effective.
Otherwise, I find the vocal placement a bit too tied to the chord changes, but the vocal harmony is really well done.
At 1:59, the silence is a bit surprising, the sudden stop of the cello doesn’t sound very natural. A longer reverb could soften this effect.
Overall, it’s a very beautiful, ambient piece.
Esteve Corbera - L'Exploracio del Cosmos
This track is pure space-inspired sound.
The sounds used are very high-quality and well-mixed, with an intro reminiscent of a sci-fi movie.
There’s a clear progression throughout, with instruments being introduced gradually.
I struggled a bit to identify the rhythmic foundation and the cyclic logic of the chord progression, but this is not an issue overall.
The track could conclude at 3:20, or alternatively, a melodic solo line could be added to these chords to complement what you've already done.
The theme is perfectly respected. Very good track
Paramnesia - Space
A very well-constructed track with a solid prog atmosphere. The intro, blending clean, delay-soaked guitars with synths, sounds fantastic.
This intro transitions seamlessly into the saturated guitar verse.The vocals are well placed and well-paced, leading into a very catchy chorus.
The sections at 1:32 and 2:17 are excellent, and the alternation with clean passages adds a lot of dynamic variety to the track.
However, I think the clean guitar with delay doesn’t seem perfectly synced with the rest on the verse (not fully sure, but something is not synced on the verse).
The riffs are excellent, and the vocals are spot-on,
it’s quite different from what PonyShow usually does, I’m impressed by the adaptation. It fits perfectly with this track and adds originality to this style of music.
Regarding the mix, it’s correct, but the guitars take up a bit too much space. I would have preferred slightly louder vocals and a less massive saturated guitar tone, perhaps due to the four guitar layers or the bass guitar tone.
There’s also an accumulation of low frequencies, mainly in the choruses, that makes the sound a bit muddy.
Producing a track like this with a vocal collaboration, is impressive. Well done!
PonySho - Space
A very beautiful, emotional song. I’m so glad you found the time to post this, it would have been a shame to miss it.
The acoustic guitar part is gorgeous and well-recorded, I love the sound. (A friend of mine has a Seagull guitar, and I absolutely love those.)
The intro is truly stunning.
The track is very well sung. The soft, emotional beginning, followed by the build-up with the backing vocals, is excellent.
I particularly like the closeness of the voice in the intro
It’s genuinely amazing, well-inspired and authentic.
Too bad it’s outside of this month’s contest, it will be for sure in my top 5
Becsei_Gyorgy - Timeless Space
80s vibe, very well done. The sounds used and the structure of the track fit the era perfectly.
It’s a complete and perfectly executed track.
The use of SynthV for vocal synthetis works well for this style and sounds surprisingly natural (if I hadn’t seen the effects used, I might have been fooled).
I particularly like the breakdown at 2:40, it’s very well thought out.
I don’t have much to critique, it’s a superb production.
BenjiRage - Overworld
Mainstream electro-pop/dance vibe, very well done. Good sound, good mix, effective, it’s the kind of track that could play on the radio.
As with becsei_gyorgy , the use of SynthV for vocal synthetis works very well for this style and sounds very natural. Even i'm not so fan about the usage of SynthV I'm impress by the result!
It’s not the kind of music I usually listen to, but it’s a style that could appeal to a broad audience. Great prod!
Koekepan - As The Air Runs Out
This long ambient track features intriguing sound design that complements its space theme effectively.
The melodic lines are minimalistic and slow, making the piece feel somewhat improvised and directionless.
However, this conceptual approach aligns well with the idea of inhabiting a deteriorating space vessel.
The composition feels akin to movie ambient music or sound design, making it a strong candidate for pairing with visual media.
Overall, the track succeeds in respecting its space theme and evokes a contemplative, ambient experience.
Vanilla Puff - Purple World
This is an upbeat and highly enjoyable piece, featuring beautifully crafted sounds and a rhythmically engaging melody.
The chord placement is impressively original, complemented by several breaks and sound variations that add a sense of diversity.
However, despite the abundance of variation, the main theme tends to feel somewhat repetitive. But overall, it’s very cool!
ThomC - Out of Space
This is truly beautiful, with gorgeous harmonies and dissonances that create tension very effectively. It’s very well thought out, with a lovely progression throughout the track.
I particularly like the piano sound accompanied by the choirs, and all the instruments used sound perfect to my ears.
The change at 1:43, introducing deeper tones, releases the tension and transitions beautifully to the end of the piece.
Perfect, Bravo!
Junkett - The Probe
Really amazing, I love this type of drum sound, very polished. I have no idea how to achieve this kind of sound.
I love how all these sonic textures are arranged into rhythm. There is a tremendous amount of sound design work here, and again, I have no idea how you manage to do this.
It's probably thanks to a lot of resampling. On my side, I mostly play guitar, and I’m impressed by the creation of this kind of sound.
I find the mix excellent: whether on my DT990 headphones or my HS7 monitors.
I really like it and it works perfectly for the space theme. Too bad it’s outside of this month’s contest, it will be for sure in my top 5
This track creates a dramatic ambiance and showcases some nice ideas with excellent sounds for the various instruments. As with your first participation, there’s a spontaneous quality that effectively conveys emotion. However, at times, precision is lacking.
In my opinion, there needs to be a balance between the improvised feel and the accuracy of note placement, as some passages reveal misalignment in timing and tonality between the instruments, which requires at least some editing.
Regarding the mix, there’s a noticeable improvement compared to earlier versions. The addition of reverb enhances the immersive experience, lending the sound a more natural feel. However, the acoustic balance between the instruments remains inconsistent.
In terms of composition, while there are fluctuations in intensity, the piece maintains the same dramatic ambiance throughout.
This can create a sense of heaviness, at least to my taste. Introducing a more positive or epic passage could release the dramatic tension and add greater contrast, opening up the piece.
Overall, it's a good track
Jeroen Zuiderwijk - A Journey
I have to admit, I’m not used to listening to this type of electronic music, it sounds a bit like a retro video game soundtrack. I found the track a bit repetitive.
However, the addition of the section at 1:56 with the guitar solo is an improvement.The solo is well executed with an good guitar tone.
As for the mix, I feel the kick and snare lack a bit of depth; when the drums come in, they don’t deliver the expected impact. That said, this might be a stylistic choice for the genre.
Overall, the mix feels coherent and precise.
Ike H-mope - Stars
A very beautiful chord progression with lovely string instrument sounds. I especially like the key change at 1:22.
There’s a simplicity and effectiveness here, but I think a few additional arrangements could have added even more depth and interest to the piece, as well as a longer reverb.
I’m less keen on SynthV. You can immediately recognize the synthetic nature of the voice, although its use here is quite effective.
Otherwise, I find the vocal placement a bit too tied to the chord changes, but the vocal harmony is really well done.
At 1:59, the silence is a bit surprising, the sudden stop of the cello doesn’t sound very natural. A longer reverb could soften this effect.
Overall, it’s a very beautiful, ambient piece.
Esteve Corbera - L'Exploracio del Cosmos
This track is pure space-inspired sound.
The sounds used are very high-quality and well-mixed, with an intro reminiscent of a sci-fi movie.
There’s a clear progression throughout, with instruments being introduced gradually.
I struggled a bit to identify the rhythmic foundation and the cyclic logic of the chord progression, but this is not an issue overall.
The track could conclude at 3:20, or alternatively, a melodic solo line could be added to these chords to complement what you've already done.
The theme is perfectly respected. Very good track
Paramnesia - Space
A very well-constructed track with a solid prog atmosphere. The intro, blending clean, delay-soaked guitars with synths, sounds fantastic.
This intro transitions seamlessly into the saturated guitar verse.The vocals are well placed and well-paced, leading into a very catchy chorus.
The sections at 1:32 and 2:17 are excellent, and the alternation with clean passages adds a lot of dynamic variety to the track.
However, I think the clean guitar with delay doesn’t seem perfectly synced with the rest on the verse (not fully sure, but something is not synced on the verse).
The riffs are excellent, and the vocals are spot-on,
it’s quite different from what PonyShow usually does, I’m impressed by the adaptation. It fits perfectly with this track and adds originality to this style of music.
Regarding the mix, it’s correct, but the guitars take up a bit too much space. I would have preferred slightly louder vocals and a less massive saturated guitar tone, perhaps due to the four guitar layers or the bass guitar tone.
There’s also an accumulation of low frequencies, mainly in the choruses, that makes the sound a bit muddy.
Producing a track like this with a vocal collaboration, is impressive. Well done!
PonySho - Space
A very beautiful, emotional song. I’m so glad you found the time to post this, it would have been a shame to miss it.
The acoustic guitar part is gorgeous and well-recorded, I love the sound. (A friend of mine has a Seagull guitar, and I absolutely love those.)
The intro is truly stunning.
The track is very well sung. The soft, emotional beginning, followed by the build-up with the backing vocals, is excellent.
I particularly like the closeness of the voice in the intro
It’s genuinely amazing, well-inspired and authentic.
Too bad it’s outside of this month’s contest, it will be for sure in my top 5
Becsei_Gyorgy - Timeless Space
80s vibe, very well done. The sounds used and the structure of the track fit the era perfectly.
It’s a complete and perfectly executed track.
The use of SynthV for vocal synthetis works well for this style and sounds surprisingly natural (if I hadn’t seen the effects used, I might have been fooled).
I particularly like the breakdown at 2:40, it’s very well thought out.
I don’t have much to critique, it’s a superb production.
BenjiRage - Overworld
Mainstream electro-pop/dance vibe, very well done. Good sound, good mix, effective, it’s the kind of track that could play on the radio.
As with becsei_gyorgy , the use of SynthV for vocal synthetis works very well for this style and sounds very natural. Even i'm not so fan about the usage of SynthV I'm impress by the result!
It’s not the kind of music I usually listen to, but it’s a style that could appeal to a broad audience. Great prod!
Koekepan - As The Air Runs Out
This long ambient track features intriguing sound design that complements its space theme effectively.
The melodic lines are minimalistic and slow, making the piece feel somewhat improvised and directionless.
However, this conceptual approach aligns well with the idea of inhabiting a deteriorating space vessel.
The composition feels akin to movie ambient music or sound design, making it a strong candidate for pairing with visual media.
Overall, the track succeeds in respecting its space theme and evokes a contemplative, ambient experience.
Vanilla Puff - Purple World
This is an upbeat and highly enjoyable piece, featuring beautifully crafted sounds and a rhythmically engaging melody.
The chord placement is impressively original, complemented by several breaks and sound variations that add a sense of diversity.
However, despite the abundance of variation, the main theme tends to feel somewhat repetitive. But overall, it’s very cool!
ThomC - Out of Space
This is truly beautiful, with gorgeous harmonies and dissonances that create tension very effectively. It’s very well thought out, with a lovely progression throughout the track.
I particularly like the piano sound accompanied by the choirs, and all the instruments used sound perfect to my ears.
The change at 1:43, introducing deeper tones, releases the tension and transitions beautifully to the end of the piece.
Perfect, Bravo!
Junkett - The Probe
Really amazing, I love this type of drum sound, very polished. I have no idea how to achieve this kind of sound.
I love how all these sonic textures are arranged into rhythm. There is a tremendous amount of sound design work here, and again, I have no idea how you manage to do this.
It's probably thanks to a lot of resampling. On my side, I mostly play guitar, and I’m impressed by the creation of this kind of sound.
I find the mix excellent: whether on my DT990 headphones or my HS7 monitors.
I really like it and it works perfectly for the space theme. Too bad it’s outside of this month’s contest, it will be for sure in my top 5
► Show Spoiler
1 - ThomC - Out of Space
2 - Paramnesia - Space
3 - Vanilla Puff - Purple World
4 - Esteve Corbera - L'Exploracio del Cosmos
5 - Koekepan - As The Air Runs Out
2 - Paramnesia - Space
3 - Vanilla Puff - Purple World
4 - Esteve Corbera - L'Exploracio del Cosmos
5 - Koekepan - As The Air Runs Out
► Show Spoiler
I experimented with recording in a different guitar-playing style, starting with a funk riff in the first part and incorporating a solo using a wah-wah pedal.
For the overall atmosphere of the track, I aimed to evoke the vibe of an old Japanese anime about space by using similar instruments of the OST.
For the guitars, I used a new plugin, Neural DSP Archetype Cory Wong, which is particularly well-suited for funk, along with a guitar equipped with a single-coil split. This setup allowed me to experiment with new compressor settings tailored to this style of playing.
Recording was a lot of fun, though it required a great deal of precision to ensure the doubled funk guitars sounded tight and remained consistent throughout the full section. I'm now even more impressed by funk guitarists...
This month, I also paid more attention to the arrangements compared to my previous productions, adding synths, more mixing effects, and other enhancements.
Overall, I’m quite happy with the result.
For the overall atmosphere of the track, I aimed to evoke the vibe of an old Japanese anime about space by using similar instruments of the OST.
For the guitars, I used a new plugin, Neural DSP Archetype Cory Wong, which is particularly well-suited for funk, along with a guitar equipped with a single-coil split. This setup allowed me to experiment with new compressor settings tailored to this style of playing.
Recording was a lot of fun, though it required a great deal of precision to ensure the doubled funk guitars sounded tight and remained consistent throughout the full section. I'm now even more impressed by funk guitarists...
This month, I also paid more attention to the arrangements compared to my previous productions, adding synths, more mixing effects, and other enhancements.
Overall, I’m quite happy with the result.
