TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Dimensional Tunnel - The Passage of Hopes and Dreams (Temp. NGUAC 1-loop upload)]

I like the quirky synths at the beginning, but the choir sample sounds a bit cheesy and inauthentic. The rhythm of the beat at :09 is a little hard to follow, and the synth that comes in at :15 might sound a bit better with a more rounded, legato sound (as opposed to short and pizzicato-y). I think there are a number of sudden transitions in the piece, like at 1:03, and also that the syncopations are a bit overly complicated. Part of the problem could be that the mix is a bit too muddy to make the different instruments sound distinct. I’d suggest cutting back on the reverb at times and getting stricter with the equalizers. The panning you used for the string samples was a good idea, but equalization should usually be the main method for making sure each instrument comes through clearly in the texture. The piece might need a stronger sense of shape and structuring. Gradual transitions, more volume automations and phrasing, and other compositional techniques could help with that. I also think there are multiple melodies at the refrain (e.x., 1:18) that play over each other, which sounds a bit jarring. I was also a little thrown off by the eerie sound effects at 2:16 and 2:30. Still, I think you did a great job overall with the harmonic content and atmosphere here. I’m more concerned about the arrangement, mixing, and sound design, although the instruments do blend well together. I’d encourage you to keep working on this piece. It sounds like a really cute VGM track in the making. :) Keep at it, OddaSykes!

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.25/10

[alone]

I like the sharp drums at the beginning and the heavy off-beat emphasis. Some of the drum samples seem a bit over-saturated in the mix after a while, though - there’s a bit too much compression and reverb in the texture sometimes. At the same time, the texture of the piece can be really minimal, with not a lot of mid-range tones (listen to :32 to :57, for example). The mix is clear and loud, but the texture needs a bit more fill to keep me engaged after a while. You clearly have a good sense of harmony, progression, and rhythm, but the energy level is pretty flat throughout the piece, and at some point I think you needed some more atmosphere (not just reverb) to balance out the frequencies. The piece also lacks melodic content and variety, and the arrangement feels pretty cyclical after a while, without a strong sense of direction over time. The variations at the second drop at 3:12 are nice, but the drums could use more complexity to give that point a stronger sense of arrival and finesse. Overall, I think you needed a bit more creativity with some of the compositional elements here, but I’m enjoying the mood, mixing, atmosphere, and catchy riffs. Keep at it, Molotow! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.75/10

[Decade]

I like the spacey atmosphere at the beginning and filtered drums. The synth bass at :20 is a bit cheesy, but I like the volatile feel of the texture and the volume automations. There’s a great sense of climax into :46, and the phasing synths there are really catchy. The beat pattern is a bit generic, but the synths keep things super engaging. The piece also has a great sense of flow, and I like the subtle vocal samples too. I think this piece needed some more melodic content or a stronger sense of climax to really hit it home towards the end, though. There’s a lot of underlying tension in the piece, and it doesn’t quite feel like you resolved it (or escalated it either) by the end. Still, strong work with the instrumentation, production quality, and phrasing of this one. Despite my complaints about the melodic content, you’ve shown off some advanced composition skills here. Keep it up, JRTH! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[Eye Drops]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the distorted percussion samples at :16. The extended pause at :24 was a little awkward, but I like the intensity and glitch-y vibe at :28. The harmonic content is a little hard to follow, and sometimes the static-y effects sound a bit harsh in my ears. That said, the mix is loud and crisp and, while a bit over-saturated, fits the mood of the piece really well. I would’ve liked to hear some more distinct and extended patterns of moving notes, especially during the first half of the piece, but the atmospheric section at 2:15 is nice. The structure of the piece feels a tad disjointed, with a lot of sudden transitions and a bizarre duality of pacing (i.e., the first half has a lot of distinct sections in a row, and then there’s a drawn-out, flowing section between 1:58 and 2:55). The section at 2:55 also doesn’t sound very harmonically connected to the energetic sections earlier in the piece, making for a bit of an incoherent arrangement to the piece. I think you have a lot of good harmonic ideas here, and the production is very sharp, but the composition feels a bit thrown-together right now. I think there could be a stronger sense of connectivity between the different sections of the piece, and it would be a lot easier to keep the listener grounded if there was some more repetition. Overall, though, you’re clearly a talented producer. This piece sounds like you were very rushed during the composition process, is all. Keep at it, ISMCataclism! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.5/10

[Mid-Station]

I like the chill guitars at the beginning and the static-y atmosphere. There could’ve been a bit more reverb or other mixing effects on the sweep at :20, but otherwise I really like the moody vibe here and the sound design. The texture still feels a bit minimal, with the mid-range tones a bit thin here, but the rhythmic elements are pleasing and the hi-hats help fill in the top end. The distorted samples at 1:21 didn’t really serve a clear compositional purpose in my mind, especially since the section thereafter is largely the same as before. This is a great chill-out groove, but I think you could’ve done a lot more structuring here. I would’ve loved to see some more prominent melodic content and a strong sense of climax towards the end. Overall, you nailed the mood, atmosphere, instrumentation, and mixing. There could be a tad more variety here, and a more creative arrangement, too. Keep at it, Introverse! :)

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

Introverse responds:

thank you for awesome feedback. Hope to see you next year!

[fuck fuck fuck fuck]

The sound effects at the beginning sound a bit gritty. I think they would’ve been nice for some atmosphere if it weren’t for the rapid wavering effect. The piece is a little slow to progress, and the kick at :53 is really over-saturated and distorted. I’d suggest lowering the volume levels on the kick at the very least. The beat is catchy, if a bit simplistic, but the harmonic content takes a long time to develop and ultimately needs a lot more depth to keep me engaged throughout. I like the arpeggios at 2:04 and the smooth solos at 2:24, as well as the spacey outro. I think the composition still needs a bit more variety and dynamism, but the piece certainly has a lot of potential and I’d encourage you to keep working on it. Keep at it, infinitepowersource! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
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?)
.25/1
Composite score
5.5/10

[Incise ~ Aqua Regia]

I like the gritty bass and air of mystery at the beginning. The mix is a little over-saturated, with a lot of reverb and compression overwhelming and distorting the texture at times. The instrumentation is pretty good overall, but the piano at :29 sounds like a bit of a cheesy sample. There’s a good sense of climax into 1:13, although I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodic content. The piece also goes long stretches without a lot of phrasing or structural contrast. I think the frantic piano riff loses its edge a bit after so many repetitions. The chord progression and arrangement of the piece are also pretty generic. I enjoyed the variations at around 3:10, and overall the piece comes together well. The main things I’d suggest working on here are the mixing and mastering (less reverb, stricter equalization, lower gain levels on the compressors) and the originality. The risers and bass riffs sound especially generic. That said, you clearly have a good sense of rhythm and harmony, and I enjoyed the ominous mood and energy of the piece as well. Keep at it, Incise! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.25/10

Incise responds:

Thanks for the review! Can you give me some advice on how to make this piece better? I can use some tips to improve my music.

[Oceans Flow From It's Mouth]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning. It sounds calming, yet also has a grainy, weathered edge to it, like it’s depicting an old, wise traveller. I think you could’ve foreshadowed the entry of the lead guitars at :51 better, and the guitars there don’t always sync up well with the minimal drum beat. I think it would’ve helped this piece to have a thicker texture. Once the guitar became too dominant in the texture and the atmospheric elements faded into the background, the piece lost its sense of direction a bit. I really like the solo at 2:07 and the call-and-response action between the lead and the 3-note repeated chord riff. The sense of wonder is great by around 2:30, but I also think the structure of the piece is a little disjointed. The sudden transition works a bit better at 3:31 where there’s a noticeable fade-out of the atmospheric elements before the guitars come back in. I think you could’ve gone for a bit more emotional appeal/climax by the end, as there isn’t a great sense of engagement for me by the end. Overall, the things you do well here - atmosphere, sound design, production - are really good, and I honestly think this piece has the potential to be a top-tier track. Unfortunately, the composition didn’t quite live up to my expectations by the end. I think you need to find more effective ways of channeling the underlying energy of this piece into some distinct point of arrival. Right now, the structure doesn’t tell enough of a story for me. I know that might seem like really vague criticism, but some gradual transitions, more dynamic contrast and phrasing, and more saturated/well-balanced atmospheric elements can all go a long way towards improving this piece imo. I’m excited to see your future projects, Greyvoice. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[Descent]

I like the smooth pads at the beginning. The drums and gritty mid-range bass are a bit over-saturated in the mix. I’d suggest turning down the gain on the compressors a bit, especially on the drums. The pause at :17 is a bit awkward. I’d suggest adding a bit of reverb or atmosphere to bridge the gap there. The beats thereafter are catchy, but the harmonic content isn’t very engaging. The structure sounds pretty disjointed between the pause at :59 and elsewhere. The texture comes together a little more at 1:18, but the chord progression and a lot of the drum samples sound a little cliche and undecorated. I think you needed to spend a little more time getting a better sense of overarching direction for this piece, and some more harmonic depth and melodic content would also be welcome additions. The balance of the piece also seems a bit bizarre here - the main melodic riff in the piece at 2:28 sounded pretty thin and quiet compared to the drums, for example. The punchy hits at 2:46 also seemed a bit jarring and dry. Some reverb or minimal pads throughout that last section would probably help the piece feel a bit more connected. Overall, I like the synths, energy, and rhythmic content of this one, but I think it needs a bit more creative energy put into the composition and a stronger sense of balance with the mixing. Keep at it, FeniXNova04! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.5/10

[En Gee]

I like the fun rhythmic elements at the beginning and the cute, airy synths. The crashes and some of the other percussive sounds are a little too hard-hitting, though, especially on the downbeats. Over-compression is a likely culprit. The progression is enjoyable, but very slow-paced. I was itching for some more melodic content and textural fill at times. The riff at 1:32 is catchy, but could use a little more variety in the rhythm department. I also think the kick could’ve been a bit stronger there. There are several awkward and extended pauses in the piece, notably at 2:05. The vocals at 2:27 sound a bit cheesy, and the structure of the piece is pretty drawn-out. During the drops, there isn’t a lot of bass in the texture, and I wanted to see you incorporate more harmonic variety in the piece, especially towards the end when the piece gets quite repetitive. Overall, the arrangement of the piece could be a little more coherent, and there were times when I wanted the harmonies to have more depth, but I do like the rhythmic components, instrumentation, production quality, and melodic content. Keep at it, EppuJoloZ! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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
7.25/10

EppuJoloZ responds:

Thanks for letting me have to opportunity to move even further :D
Next year I'm GOING further! >:D