TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Titan]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning, although there’s a lot of reverb in the texture and I think the pads sound a little generic. The drums at :31 are a little weak, and some of the piano notes sound a tad indistinct. I think the mixing could use a bit of cleaning up here, starting with removal of the excess reverb and some tighter equalization. The melodies at :59 are nice, if a tad repetitive, and I’m enjoying the full, rich texture. The chord progression is a tad cliche, and I think the refrain lasts for a little too long. I liked the new harmonic riff you introduced during the bridge at 2:14, although overall there’s not much harmonic variety in this piece, including in the last refrain. I also thought you could’ve done more with the drums in this piece - especially during the busier sections, it’s a pretty generic kick-snare-kick-snare. The extra mid-range bass at 3:27 was a nice touch, and the atmospheric outro was pretty enjoyable as well. Overall, nice work with the atmosphere, harmonies, rhythmic content, and progression. Aspects of the mixing, originality, variety, and compositional details might need some work, though. Keep at it, HactasticBeast! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.75/10

Benji-G responds:

4 years ago now eh, time flies haha.

Thanks for the feedback!
/ HactasticBeast aka Benji-G 😂

[[NGADM and NGUAC 2019] ẄL - Distorted Dreams]

I like the airy piano at the beginning. The frantic melodic content is a little hard to follow, and then the mood shift at :28 is a little sudden. I like the mysterious vibe of the strings by around the 1-minute mark, and how it gradually morphs into more of a sense of wonder. The drop at 1:54 is pretty hard-hitting, and the reverb on the clap is a bit excessive. The sound design is pretty enjoyable, although I would’ve liked to see you come up with a more gradual transition that foreshadows some of these abrupt mood changes. I like the drum pattern at 3:16, although the second drop at 3:46 overused the distorted bass sounds a bit. I think they would’ve worked better if they didn’t come in so regularly, as they didn’t vibe too well with the square rhythm. It also would’ve been nice if you had more of a proper outro to the piece. Still, overall the production quality in this piece is solid and you clearly have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and sound design. Keep at it, WaterLemonMusic! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[Glitch Gal]

I like the fun synths and crisp drums. The chord progression is a little generic, and the piece is slow to progress. The production quality is solid, although I think the composition could use more variety and dynamic melodic content, especially in the first half of the piece. By around 1:45, it becomes clear that the cute melodies are a mainstay of the piece, and I think the track is better for it. The composition comes together much more in the second half, although aspects of the harmonic progression, sound design, and arrangement still lack originality. I also would’ve liked to see more structural contrast in this piece, with a more distinct breakdown where the bass line gives way to more atmospheric or alternative content. That would help give the structure of the piece a little more shape. The strongest part of this piece is probably the production, although the atmosphere, rhythmic content, and flow are also enjoyable. Keep at it, ZtpRapheephat! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
7.25/10

ZtpRapheephat responds:

Thanks for your feedback :3

[NicoN - Cookie Dough | Kawaii Future Bass]

I like the cute synths at the beginning and the rhythmic content at :28. The drums at :40 are nice and crisp, and there’s a good sense of climax into :51. The melody at :51 is a little bizarre - it sounds like it has a couple notes that weren’t in the key signature. The more minimal section at 1:45 is nice for some structural variety, although I was a little thrown off by how different the melody was during the second refrain. I think there are also some mixing issues in this piece. The sidechaining on the kick is very heavy, and the melodies don’t always come through the mix very well. Overall, I like the blissful mood, sound design, and harmonic content, but some of the production details might need cleaning up. I also thought the arrangement of the piece was a little generic. Still, the riffs are catchy, and the piece has a cute mood and refreshing instrumentation. Keep at it, DjFluxArmada! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10

[Deepminded - Cyberdjent Album - Synthwave Metal]

I like the smooth guitars and atmosphere at the beginning. I like when the texture fills out a little more at :29, and the rhythmic content at :48 is really cool. The riff at 1:18 is really catchy, although at some point I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodic content in this piece. There also aren’t a lot of gradual transitions, although the final climax into 2:22 is nice. I feel as though you didn’t quite give this piece the epic finale it deserved, but it still feels conclusive enough. The production quality is fantastic, btw, and I love how you’ve fused electronic and electric elements here. Strong work overall. Keep at it, NahuPyrope!

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Artificial_Intelligence]

I like the gradual fade-in of the atmospheric synths at the beginning. I think you left a little too much of the mid-range tones in the sub-bass, though. It takes up too much of the mix there, especially relative to the harmonies. I also thought the transition at :54 was pretty sudden. The composition comes together pretty well by the end, and the production quality is solid here. That said, the piece needs a bit more emotional contrast, and the sudden ending leads me to believe that it isn’t quite finished. I’m also a bit concerned by the lack of originality in the sound design and arrangement. The sub-bass sounds like it’s straight out of 3xOsc, and the synths are a bit cheesy, too. That said, the mixing and mastering, melodies, atmosphere, and rhythmic content are all keeping this piece afloat. Keep at it, AsgoreD! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7/10

[Master From Hell]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the sound design. The synth at :29 almost made me think it was going to be a hip-hop track. :) This piece is a tad slow to progress, but things fall together quickly at :57. I’m loving the crisp drums, rhythmic content, and hi-hats. The melodic content could be a little more dynamic, although I enjoyed the return to the atmospheric creepiness at 1:46 and the vocals samples. The hard-hitting bass at 2:05 was a nice touch. I would’ve liked to see more variation on the melodies by the time the second refrain rolled around, and I can’t help but feel that the piece needed a little something extra to hit it home at the end. The vocals, pads, and production are very strong here, though. Keep at it, Nextdux! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[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.