TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Stay with Me]

I like the chopped vocals at the beginning and the atmosphere. Elements of the sound design are a bit cliche, though (like the pads), and the vocals get a bit repetitive after a while. The lead vocals at :58 are nice, although the lyrics are pretty generic. I think you could have some smoother transitions in this piece, like at :57 and 1:36. I also think the piece gets rather repetitive after the second verse is simply a repeat of the first. That said, the production quality is strong, and I like the rhythmic components of the piece. The piece comes together well with the variations on the chopped vocal section at 3:52, although the ending was a bit sudden. I also would’ve liked to see you add a breakdown or bridge at some point to add some more shape to the composition. Overall, though, solid work with the mixing and mastering, melodies, and atmosphere. Keep at it, DoctorNoSense! :)

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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

DoctorNoSense responds:

Woooow thx for your feedback <3
I still have many problems writing lyrics, but I keep working on it :3

[Unfreakinbelievable (Melodic Dubstep)]

I like the ominous sound design at the beginning. The synth bass sounds a little generic, but there’s a good sense of atmosphere here. I think the texture is missing some higher-pitched frequencies for a lot of the piece. The kick drum doesn’t come through the mix that well as a result of the bottom-heavy mix, and I’d be tempted to recommend transposing that mid-range atmospheric synth up an octave, although maybe not with that sample. I like the sense of climax into 1:08, but I think the lead there sounds a little harsh in the mix, and also drowns out some of the other instruments. I think you should apply a high-pass filter to nearly everything, and also equalize the lead and pads more carefully. During the busier sections of this piece, the texture sounds pretty muddy. The vocal samples at around 2:15-2:30 add some flavor to the piece, although I think the sidechaining on the pads and leads are a little heavy. In the second half of the piece, the melodies and harmonic progression get a little repetitive, and it would’ve been nice to hear a breakdown or bridge that shook up the atmospheric pads’ pattern and the bass line. The last melodic section is also rather dragged-out, although the melody itself is pretty catchy. Overall, solid work with the harmonic content, atmosphere, and progression. The mixing needs some cleaning up, and the sound design/arrangement of the piece could be more original, but otherwise you’re on the right track. Keep at it, 8LayneTech8! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.75/10

[Period Piece]

I like the relaxed atmosphere at the beginning and the creepy ambiance. Good sound design and use of mixing effects here. The mix is very quiet throughout, although the elements of the texture sound clear. The pace of progression is pretty slow, and at some point I would’ve loved to hear some more melodic content or textural depth. There’s a lot of empty space here without much development. I think you missed an opportunity to maximize the emotional appeal of the piece with some sort of big climax or escalation of the tension, despite the great sound design and atmosphere. Given the underwhelming composition, I think this piece would serve better as a soundtrack or background music rather than a stand-alone track. Still, nice job with the production, ambiance, instrumentation, and flow. Keep at it, Asserter! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
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
7/10

Asserter responds:

Thank you so much, I'm really glad to see a review laid out like this.

[The Calm Before The Storm]

The chord progression at the beginning is pretty unique. The synths were a little cheesy and dry, and didn’t vibe that well with the distorted beat at :13. This piece doesn’t have a lot of harmonic variety or a strong sense of direction. The sound design can be really harsh (example :44), and the harmonic content is minimal. Relative to the synths, the drums are way too loud, and the arrangement of the piece consists of a series of distorted drum patterns and similar synth patterns connected weakly by sweeps and crashes. The awkward pauses starting at 2:09 are jarring, and I would’ve at least let the reverb do the work of bridging the gap there. The drum beats are cool, and you have a good start on the harmonic framework of the piece with the synth patterns, but overall this track was missing a lot of the compositional components that I look for: harmonic development, strong melodic content, phrasing, smooth transitions, good structuring, etc. Sorry if this is a pretty negative review, but I think the drum beats and synths you have now would fit nicely into a more fleshed-out track. Keep at it, TheBeginnersEnd! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
0/1
Composite score
4/10

[Chipy]

I like the catchy synths at the beginning and the crisp drums. The more relaxed, atmospheric section at :23 is nice too. There’s a great energy and blissful vibe at :43. You have a good sense of harmony and progression, although it still seems that 1:28 is the only prominent example of melodic content in the piece. The production quality is solid, and the piece comes together well by the end. You could’ve had a more creative ending than the fade-out, although overall the arrangement of the piece is really nice too. Not much to complain about here! Keep up the good work, BasiatordeCoronatus! ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.25/10

Basiator responds:

Cool and Thanks for review, i appreciate it very much.

[The Unexpected (NGADM AUDITION)]

I like the groovy guitar part, although the string pads sound a little inauthentic and cheesy. The piece is a little slow to progress, and has a bit of a choppy arrangement. I think the transition at :58 works well, but I was a little confused when the piece was absent of harmonic content for so long, and the harmonic content only comes back after another fade-out and re-introduction of the drums at 1:32. At 1:40, the panning is a little excessive, and the drums don’t come through the mix so well. The extended pause at 2:40 is awkward, and overall my main problem with the piece is the disjointed structuring. The piece has a lot of great harmonic ideas and funky riffs, but not a great sense of connectivity and flow over time. Still, you’re clearly a talented guitarist, and the rhythmic content and melodies here are enjoyable. Keep at it, ambivalentinquire! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
6.5/10

Soundslave responds:

Thanks I agree with everything you have said here, was trying something a little different with the tuning I wasn't used to and it was rushed, probably should have went with something that wouldn't have been a challenge for the Audition but live and learn, Thank you for taking the time to review respect!

[Expurgation]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning and the energy. The synths sound a bit gritty and unpolished, and some of the drum samples are a little cliche too. The piece is also a little slow to progress at the beginning, but I like the more legato elements of the texture by around 1:30. I think the mixing effects on the drums, especially the reverb, is a little excessive, and negatively affects the clarity of the texture. There’s a good sense of climax into 2:22, and overall I like the indistinct synth riffs and foreboding mood here. That said, I would’ve liked to hear some more structural variety, melodic content, and gradual transitions. Right now, there’s a lot of high-impact rhythmic material and angry synths in the texture. The composition might have a bit more shape if you had a couple of extended atmospheric sections or something. The piece is also long enough that it’s hard to stay grounded in any structural repetition after a while. You also overuse the echo-y effect at 7:09 (and plenty of other places). I appreciated the extended moment of thinner texture at 7:25, and also the somewhat sleepier end to the piece, even if I typically regard fade-out endings as pretty lazy. It seems like the thrill of the great battle scene you’re portraying has subsided in the midst of all the cries of the injured and dying. Overall, solid work with the sound design, mood and atmosphere, and harmonic content. The compositional details and mixing could both use some tightening, though. Keep at it, Cheshyre! :)

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7/10

cheshyre responds:

Thank you so much for taking the time to write out a solid review. This is constructive and I can and will learn from these critiques. Again, thank you so much for listening and for your time!

[Kamzang (take 2)]

I like the cute synth riff at the beginning and the emotional appeal of the strings at :17. The mix is a little quiet, and the synths don’t always come through clearly during the string-heavy sections. The melodic content here is great, but at times not quite prominent enough in the mix. For example, at 1:19, I wanted to hear more of the violins and less of the lower strings playing the chords. I also would’ve liked to see some more structural variety in this piece. After the intro, the energy and dynamics level here is almost constant, despite a good sense of climax towards the end. The piece would benefit from a little more shape via an atmospheric breakdown or something. The ending also comes on a little suddenly. That said, I like the energetic yet majestic mood here and the sound design. Strong work with the composition overall! Keep at it, Mrcoolisimo. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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
8.75/10

[Fly]

I like the blissful mood at the beginning. The sound design is a bit cheesy, although I like the melodic content at :30 and the sense of climax into :45. The sidechaining is a bit heavy, and I think the reverb is a bit excessive at times, especially on the pads. The arrangement of the piece is a little cliche, although the progression is smooth. Mixing-wise, it’s clear that the the kick is distorting the lead and pads at 1:45, although I can hear most of the other instruments clearly throughout. I liked the little fake-out transition at 2:30, and the composition comes together well by the end. Some more variation on the main melody would’ve been nice, especially towards the end, and the ending was a little sudden. Overall, I like the harmonic content, mood, atmosphere, and rhythmic components. The mastering, composition, and variety might need a bit more work. Keep at it, Vatriox! :)

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7/10

[DJN4T - Vortex]

I like the funky synth riffs at the beginning and the reverb on the lead. The progression is pretty slow-paced here, though, and the mix is very quiet. The sound design can be a bit cheesy, and the composition needs a stronger sense of development over time, especially during the first 2 minutes. I like the beat at 1:54, and the texture does come together well at these more energetic sections, although I would’ve liked to see more harmonic variety in this piece. The arrangement and instrumentation are pretty cliche, and I also think you need some more compression to enhance the richness of the texture, especially in the verses. That said, you clearly have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and progression. Keep at it, Nactl23! :)

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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10

Natcl23 responds:

Such an elaborate comment, thanks a lot ^^