TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[whoomy whom who]

I like the airy percussion at the beginning and the synth riff at :04. The synth bass instrument itself sounds a bit generic, though, and the rhythm of the synths at :19 is a bit hard-to-follow. The piece is pretty slow to progress overall, and the texture is quite minimal for most of the track. Maybe some more reverb or other mixing effects on some of these instruments - especially the synth bass - would help fill in the texture. The pause at :55 was a bit awkward, especially since the atmosphere faded out completely before the next instrument came in. There’s a lot of dissonance in the texture at around 1:15, and I also think that there’s never really a strong sense of development and direction in this piece. The texture sounds rather experimental at times, and there’s also little sense of structuring into distinct sections. The mix is rather quiet, although I’m more concerned about the composition. I think you need to consolidate your harmonic ideas here and focus on making diatonic (i.e., tonal) sounds until you have a stronger grasp of how to use dissonance effectively. Try laying out a progression of a few chords before you start working in your DAW, and then making patterns that fit into that chord progression. That’ll give you a stronger framework for not only a tonal harmonic structure, but also a richer, fuller texture. Once you feel like you’ve written a piece this way, PM me and I’ll leave you another review. Sorry if this review seems a bit discouraging. There are a lot of good ideas here - it’s just you need a bit of help arranging them in a more meaningful way. Keep at it, nonfer! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
0/1
Composite score
3.5/10

nonfer responds:

glad you didn't care for it. pretty good prizes really should go to someone just starting out.

the drums were the worst part of it. i normally don't leave them like that.

thanks for listening and taking the time to offer your critique,
-nonfer

for others reading this, @taintedlogic was the judge from ngadm 2019 reviewing my submission to their contest.
here's his track "Zenith of the Second Sun" : https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/800677 (video game genre).

[distress signal]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the eerie mood. The transition at :24 was a little sudden, and there’s a tad too much reverb in the texture for my tastes. Some of the percussion samples sound a tad harsh, and sometimes the texture is lacking in treble-range frequencies. The rhythmic content is catchy, but I wish there were a few more moving notes to offer some harmonic depth. I thought the sudden relaxed mood at 2:01 was a little jarring, especially since there’s simultaneously a shift in the harmonic content there as well. The gritty synths at 2:23 fit the character of the piece well, and the mixing effects at 2:48 help make the texture sound nice and rich before the final angry refrain. The mix sounds a bit strained at times during the busier sections, but overall I think the production quality of this piece is rather good, and I also applaud your use of atmosphere and sound design. My main complaints are probably the sudden transitions and the lack of harmonic depth. Keep at it, Spoonukem! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[<SHH> Sakura Blossom Bash]

I like the eastern-sounding instruments at the beginning and the airy pads. The drums and bass at :12 are nice too, although I think the drums could’ve been a bit stronger in the mix. In fact, the mix as a whole here is pretty quiet. There’s also a tad too much reverb in the texture for my tastes. There are some sudden transitions in here, like at :36 and at :47. I’m also detecting hints of atonality in the texture at around :38. I like the flute solo at :59, and the middle section of this piece has a steady progression of melodic content that flits between a very diverse selection of instruments. My biggest problem with the piece is probably the lack of structural variety. The piece has a constant sense of energy and a lot of different syncopations, which gives the texture a full and rich feel that might need some shaking up sometime. A bridge or breakdown with more minimal, atmospheric content would help give this piece some shape. Still, I really like the fun, bouncy vibe of the piece and the sound design. It has an upbeat, jazzy feel and some strong melodic content, too. Keep at it, Trixelbit! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[A City Not Forsaken Part I]

I should really try to figure out how to do a username-blind judging process next time, because as soon as I saw that you were participating in this year’s NGADM I got rather excited. I like the atmosphere at the beginning, as well as the sound design. The choir is gorgeous, and the bass at :30 really helps fill out the atmosphere. The panning on the bass at 1:05 is a little too heavy imo, and also fades out a tad suddenly. I like the pensive piano line thereafter, and I like the climax into 1:40 and the subtle use of dissonance at 1:38. You’ve always been adept at combining orchestral and synthetic elements of the texture seamlessly, and this piece is no exception. The percussion gives the piece a distinct sense of drive towards the end, although I wish you had gotten a bit craftier with the ending. The fade-out seemed a tad underwhelming. Still, the sound design, atmosphere, production quality, and emotional appeal of this piece are all fantastic. Keep up the good work, Phonometrologist! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
9.5/10

Phonometrologist responds:

I appreciate your comments on this one. Two thoughts I want to respond to. When you mention how combining synthetic elements and orchestral together tend to work out seamlessly in these pieces, I'm starting to embrace that idea. At first, I started incorporating that dynamic in my writing to compensate the lack of orchestral arranging knowledge and lack of quality sounds in traditional instrumentation. I figured since orchestral samples tend to sound fake anyway when we try to manipulate the original idea to fit our own, I might as well add mechanical devices such as synths into the mix. I don't know if I ever would be satisfied with orchestral libraries as a stand alone merely because it's difficult to simulate the quality that live musicians bring to the music when they listen to each other and how they tend to treat each phrase in the music. Anyway, my main point was that it started out as happenstance that the idea works for me better than if I were to do without. And works like the Tron OST really has been influential for me in that regard as well.
Secondly, you're quite a stickler for endings, and I get it. I think naturally we all enjoy a satisfying conclusion when it comes to movies, books, and music. However, I'll defend my idea here as it is meant to leave the listener hanging. The theme is about something that looks forward to the future as it has not arrived. Moreover as a Christian, our work is never done and we are not to be satisfied with our current state. A fade-out may seem underwhelming as would a flower fading and grass withering, but there's a philosophy in endings that I enjoy where the lack of a bombastic or satisfying conclusion has a purpose. A story thats missing in epic poetry that represents most humankind and that is, as it appears when it happens to others, a disappointing death. As underwhelming one might seem to live at their end, it is their own to experience and say. Just as an ice sculpture will no doubt reach its slow melt, and as sad or underwhelming it is, it shouldn't take away the beauty it once was. This is why I tend to enjoy the realistic endings of a fad-out or soft ending. As disappointing it may be, the reality/truth of the matter doesn't change to our perceptions.

[Flight Rave]

I like the catchy beats and melodic content at the beginning, but I think you could’ve used a more gradual introduction instead of just throwing the listener right into the middle of and energetic and melodic section of your piece. Also, the drum samples and many of the synths sound pretty generic and cheesy. The transition with the drums at :41 works well, although there’s a bit too much reverb in the texture at that point. You could’ve used a stronger transition into the entrance of the synth at 1:03, and I also would’ve liked to see you use more advanced methods of creating variety in this piece besides just adding and subtracting instruments over time. The extended energetic section from the beginning to 1:47 needed some more shape and contrast, such as with phrasing, volume changes, filtering, automation, etc. I like the short bridge at 1:48 and the influx of energy at 1:59, although the bass there is a little too loud and overwhelms many of the other elements of the mix, notably the drums. I think the mix is sufficiently loud, but it also could be clearer with some stricter equalization and less reliance on reverb to fill out the texture. The fade-out ending came across as a bit lazy, but overall I liked the structuring work here too. Overall, my main problem with the piece is probably in both the compositional details and the lack of originality in the sound design and arrangement. Still, I enjoyed the harmonic content, melodies, atmosphere, and rhythmic content. Keep at it, Marclaw! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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
6.75/10

[Sleep In A Burning Car]

I like the quirky atmosphere at the beginning and the gritty guitar riffs that come in shortly thereafter. The piece is a little slow to progress at first, but the hi-hat rolls at :35 are nice, and the drums, while a little loud and harsh-sounding when they first come in, have a nice punchiness and drive. The section at :58 is when the texture really starts coming together, although I think you could’ve done a bit more with the harmonic progression and melodic development of the piece at this point. The hi-hats at 1:48 sound a tad too harsh, although I like the grizzled minimalism of the next section. The transition at 2:19 is pretty sudden, but 2:19 has a smooth and reflective air about it, like the guy who burned the car is coming to terms with the consequences of his actions. The transition into 3:01 was just the right mix of smooth and sudden to fit the character of this piece, and I love the addition line of string harmonies that appears at 3:23. This piece comes together really well at the end, and the stoic outro was a nice touch. I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodic content at some point in the piece, but you really won me over with the intensity, sound design, and atmosphere of this one. Keep up the good work, NugBrodown! ^_^

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

[Fall of Lichtenstein]

I like the dreamy atmosphere at the beginning and the grainy white noise at around :20. At :30, the bass is a little too loud and the rhythm is a little hard to follow. I like the filtering work with the hi-hats at :47, but the clap at :50 sounds pretty generic and the harmonies in the chords and bass clash a bit starting at :58. The phasing vocals at 1:10 sound pretty cool, although they contribute to the dissonance in the harmonies. I also think this piece needs some more structuring. It’s almost 2 full minutes between :30 and 2:15 where there’s almost no discernible change in the energy level of the track. I appreciated it when you took this track in another direction at 2:32 (and also provided some melodic content in the process). I also think the production quality of this piece is rather good overall. The dissonances in the harmonies become apparent again starting at around the 4-minute mark, and I also think the way you gradually turned up the wet reverb on the claps as a method of fading out the entire texture was a little overdone. I enjoyed the prominence of the strings in the texture by around 4:30, but then the riser/effects that come after were pretty unnecessary and bombastic. Overall, despite all my complaints with the compositional details and such, I’ve largely enjoyed the mixing and mastering, atmosphere, rhythmic content, and progression of this piece. I think it couldn’t hurt to consolidate some of your ideas here a little bit and aim for cohesion in your composition, but perhaps a bigger priority should be injecting some creative energy into your sound design choices. Still, the arrangement of the piece sounds pretty unique, but also works well to keep the piece coherent. Keep at it, ThePal! :)

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
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.5/10

ThePal responds:

I thank you for such a well written and thought out review. I'll take what you've written into consideration for future pieces.

Hope you're having fun with the contest so far! :)

[the sky (the lights)]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the sense of climax into :33. The drums (especially the clap) at :34 sound a bit generic, but I like the well-balanced texture. The melodic content at :56 is nice, although the synths sound vaguely murky and unpolished until the arpeggios come in at 1:08. I would’ve liked to hear some stronger melodic content in this piece, though, and I also think the mix is a tad quiet. My main complaint here is that the composition needs a little more fleshing out. There’s very little sense of shape throughout, and the piece lacks a distinct point of climax or arrival that resolves the underlying tension in the track. The piece just needs a stronger sense of ebb and flow before I’m sold on the composition. That said, I think the production quality is pretty good, despite the heavy use of reverb and other mixing effects. Overall, my favorite elements of the piece include the harmonic content, flow, and atmosphere. Improve the bland composition and I think you’d have a rather impressive piece here, my friend. Keep at it, DJLiquidVoid! :)

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
.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

[Twisted Peak]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning. The synths sound a bit cheesy and generic, though, and the texture is pretty thin for most of the piece. I like the ascending synth arpeggios starting at :54, but the pace of progression is very slow here. Also, the mix is pretty quiet. I enjoyed the addition of the harmonies at 1:45, as well as the evocative chord at 2:55. The airy percussion at 3:35 was pretty nice, but had way too much reverb so as to hijack the mix a bit. Even in its final climax at 4:25, the piece feels very contained. While I enjoy the atmosphere and mood a lot here, the composition is pretty drawn-out and underwhelming. I also think the mix could sound both fuller and more distinct. I think it’s nice as aesthetic background music, but I think you needed more structuring and dynamism in the composition in order to brand this as a stand-alone piece. Still, you earned due credit for the ambiance, tonality, and texture. Keep at it, AvapXia! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
6/10

[The Wraith]

You have a good sense of rhythm, but the percussion at the beginning sounds pretty dry and unpolished. I’d suggest taking some treble off of that high-pitched perc, or maybe eliminating the entire first 28 seconds of the song entirely, as the mood at :28 sounds pretty different. The bass sample at :28 sounds a little generic, and the progression is very slow-paced. There was another jarring transition at 1:16. I like the call-and-response action you have going on between that creepy synth and the gritty bass there, but once again you fail to create a sense of development with those riffs before reverting back to the bass riff from :28 at 1:40 or so, after an awkward pause at that. The additional harmonies at 2:07 clash a bit with the existing bass riff, and overall the arrangement of this piece is rather choppy. I think you need to think more carefully about the harmonic framework of your piece before you start working in your DAW, and also aim for more fluidity in the composition. Despite the harsh-sounding effects and percussion, the mix is pretty quiet overall, and I’m not particularly impressed with the sound design either. That said, there are a lot of good harmonic ideas here; they just don’t feel like they’re all a part of the same story yet. The different sections of the piece aren’t very well-connected, and by the end of the piece there’s not a strong sense of conclusion or resolve. I know I’ve been tough on you in this review. I think many of my criticisms boil down to two key points: the disjointed feel of the composition and the discordant/empty feel of the harmonies. I enjoyed the slap bass riffs and drum beats, and I’d encourage you to keep working on this one. Keep at it, Thenoodge! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.75/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
4.5/10

Peepers responds:

Thank you for the review.
Amazing how you'll listen to your own music a bit differently after someone criticizes it.