TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Runa - Lemonium]

I like the quirky synths at the beginning and the gradual fade-in. The mixing is really solid, and the rhythmic content is great. The chopped vocals that become really exposed at :30 are really cool, and I’m enjoying the build-up into :52. The drop is pretty minimal, but also catchy and feels saturated with the compression and reverb. The more mellow, atmospheric bridge at 1:45 is a nice point of structural contrast, and I love the crisp hi-hats in the upper register there. Some of the elements of the arrangement here are a little cliche, though. I also might’ve liked to see you vary the drop a little more the second time around. Overall, I think the production quality is probably the strongest element of the piece, even if the compression is rather heavy at times. The composition has some catchy riffs, but the melodic side could be a bit more compelling, especially after the intro. Still, the sound design and atmosphere really won me over here. Keep at it, Runanova! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8/10

[A Random Arrangement of Sounds]

The beat at the beginning is solid. The kick is a little heavy, but the harmonies are catchy at :24. Production quality is strong - instruments are loud, clear, and well-balanced. The progression is pretty unimaginative, though. Seems like the main source of variety is the addition and subtraction of instruments, which occurs regularly every 4 or 8 bars for pretty much the whole piece. Phrasing, filtering, automation, dynamic contrast, etc. are all more advanced tools that can be used in a more creative way. I also thought a lot of the individual synths sounded a bit cheesy. The piece could also use some more dynamic and memorable melodic content, especially in the beginning. The part at 3:06 certainly fits the bill, but that also doesn’t feel as much like a point of arrival as it could with a proper build-up or other element of structuring. Overall, the mixing is definitely the strongest element of this piece. You also have a good sense of harmony and rhythm, but the arrangement felt a bit robotic and the sound design didn’t really help refute that latter point. Still, I can tell you’re a talented producer, and I hope you take some time to give this track a stronger sense of ebb-and-flow. Keep at it, RevoXOfficial! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10

RevoXofficial responds:

Thank you! I'm glad that I was able to compete, and I'll hopefully bring something better if there's a contest next year

[the end of pluto (shot in 4k with a .50 cal) - a travesty we're sure]

I like the sharp percussion and gritty bass at the beginning, and the dynamic bass line at :16 combined with the airy, ominous pads is really nice. The synth that enters at :48 sounds a little indistinct imo, and probably could do with a dial-back on the reverb. I like the melodies from 1:23 on, and it was a nice touch that the piece came full-circle at 2:27. Seems like this would even make a nice loop. That said, I think the composition could’ve been a bit more dynamic at times - after :16, the energy level and core harmonic framework rarely changes. Most of the variety in this piece comes from adding or subtracting instruments over time, whereas I think it would’ve helped channel the emotion more if you had some more phrasing, automation, and/or volume changes. Still, the piece comes together well by the end. The mixing is solid, and the progression and melodies are enjoyable here. Keep at it, Rat9352! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[Way to the Freedom]

I like the echo-y vocals and relaxed guitars at the beginning. The clap sample is a bit cheesy, and the vocal editing isn’t perfect, but I like the lyrics (thanks for the translation!). The vocals sit well in the mix, but could also blend better given all the layering. Reverb could do a bit of that work, but in some cases you might consider re-recording, especially in places where the backing vocals seem to have a slightly different inflection as the lead. There are also moments when the calibration is a little off, like at 2:53. I like the mellow, spacey breakdown at 2:15, and structurally the piece works pretty well. I was also a fan of the melodic “yah-yah” flourish at 3:35 and other places. The production quality is also solid overall. I think my main complaint here is that the vocal editing is a bit rough around the edges, but the instrumental tracks could also use some more variety at times. Still, solid work with the mixing, atmosphere, and progression. Keep at it, Ragkul! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
7/10

[Tango Elysium]

I like the emotional quality at the beginning and the deliberate pacing of the progression. There’s a great sense of build into :44, and the jazzy harmonies during the following climactic (e.x., 1:02) really help add some flavor to the piece. I’m also a fan of the bright tone of the piece by around 2:10, and the return of the prominent melodies at 2:53 really helps hit the piece home. The ending felt a tad rushed vis-a-vis the extended flourishes at the end of some earlier phrases, but overall the progression here is really lovely, with a lot of fun twists and turns that contribute a lot to the narrative feel of the piece. While often minimal, the texture stays engaging with all the lovely phrasing and harmonic details. Strong work here, Pandaguru! Keep it up. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Serenade for the Stars]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning. The progression is a little slow-paced, but the harmonies at :35 have a great emotional quality. The transition at 1:45 could’ve been foreshadowed a tad better imo, but I like the quirky percussion at 1:49. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture, but the mix holds up pretty well. The piece could use a stronger sense of direction after a while, though. The harmonic pattern gets pretty repetitive, and I think some more phrasing and dynamic contrast in the middle of the piece would help heighten the emotional stakes here. That said, I really like how you returned to the furtive, minimal texture at 4:06, even if the transition there was also a little sudden. Overall, the lack of variety in the compositional elements is probably my main concern here. You nailed the atmosphere and mood, and the progression would be perfect with just a little smoothing over at some choice spots (1:45, 4:06). Also, I’m really sorry to hear about your struggles recently. If you ever need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to send me a PM. I’m really glad you’ve found a good outlet for your feelings in music. Keep at it, PackMan3!

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7/10

[Final Goodbye]

I like the atmosphere and the pensive guitar arpeggios at the beginning. It would’ve been nice to humanize the guitar a little more, though - otherwise it feels very square. I think you could’ve maximized the emotional quality of the piece a little more with some more dynamic contrast, subtle tempo changes, etc., especially since the texture is pretty similar throughout. That said, the sound design, mixing, and mood are really good here. I also like the progression - it flows very smoothly. It’s just that the piece needs a bit more structuring and shape to really sell the wistfulness inherent in the instrumentation and title. I think it would help if there were some more advanced methods of creating variety besides just adding and subtracting instruments over time - again, volume changes, phrasing, etc. Still, you won me over here with the sound design and production. Keep at it, Naval76! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[NaNo - Virtual Time]

I like the blissful melodies at the beginning, and the portamentos (slidey things at :01, :07, etc.) are really fun. The piece kinda throws the listener right into the middle of the action, without much of a proper intro, but the entire piece is very fast-paced, so it seems fitting. The vocals are fun, and the drop at :38, while very minimal, has some engaging rhythmic content that keeps things moving along. The airy vocals at the 1-minute mark were a nice touch, and I really like how dynamic the middle section is. The mix here is loud and crisp, but the heavy compression is a bit much sometimes, with some moments sounding really distorted in my headphones (notably 1:02). Structurally speaking, it’s a bit generic, and the ending threw me off a bit, but overall the flow is smooth, and I like what you did with the build-ups and bridge in the middle. Really enjoyable piece overall, with some cool rhythmic content and refreshing sound design. Keep at it, NaNoOficcial! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Heavy Light]

I like the ominous pulsing sounds at the beginning and the gradual fade-in of the drums. The percussion and bass riffs at :30 are cool, but the texture is a bit minimal. I really would’ve liked to see some more harmonic depth here at some point. The sound design isn’t bad, and you clearly have a good sense of rhythm and progression, but some of the compositional skills I usually look for in scoring tracks - melodic development, structural variety, ebb-and-flow, dynamic contrast - are a bit lacking here. The production quality is strong, but the composition is pretty bland at the end of the day. I’d encourage you to keep working on this, though, because the rhythmic content is really compelling and the creepy atmosphere at the beginning sets the stage really well. Keep at it, Michamadman! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.75/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
5.5/10

Michamadman responds:

I admit that its not so good because of repetitiveness but I tried to make some different dnb however this isnt turned so good but also not so bad. I like your honesty and thanks for this constructive review!

[S1LENT GHO5T - Mechanically Alive]

I like the pulsing pitter-patter of a synth riff at the beginning. The dreamy melodies at :19 and the build-up into :34 also work really well. The lyrics are nice, but I would’ve liked the vocals to sound a bit more authentic, as I think it would’ve fit the smooth, blissful instrumental track better. The repetition of “-live” at 1:05 was also a little much, especially when you continued to play with the chopped vocals for the remainder of the phrase. The re-intro at 2:00 or so is strong, but the content gets pretty repetitive in the second half. The production quality is really solid here, though. All of the instruments are really well-balanced and clear. Overall, I think my biggest problem is the lack of variety later on in the piece. I wanted to hear a little more of a sense of direction, but instead it’s almost like the piece just loops twice before a brief outro. Still, you clearly have a good sense of harmony, progression, and mixing and mastering. Keep at it, LordJabeebus! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
8/10

LJTLegendaryL responds:

Thanks for the feedback Tainted! I was running short on time due to university starting again and a few other projects in progress. So, I had to settle with the scope I was able to reach with this track. I had a plan to get my vocalist friend to help but it wasn't a great time considering he already sang for my next project.

Long story short: Time isn't always your best friend, but it was still good to get something submitted ^^!

Also, I go by S1LENT GHO5T now, Lord Jabeebus is my old username. I would change it but I have to be a supporter to do that.

Another long story short: Thanks :)!