TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Tax Extensions]

I like the somewhat thin drum beat at the beginning. The snaps are a bit too loud relative to the rest of the beat, but that becomes less obvious once the other instruments come in. I like the bass instrument at :07, although its line seems a bit meandering. The sound design overall is pretty cool, although the brass samples don’t sound very authentic. The progression is a tad slow-paced at times, although my main problem with the progression is that you didn’t have a lot of creative ways of creating variety in the piece. Techniques like volume changes, automation, filtering, drum fills, etc. are all way more advanced than just adding or subtracting instruments over time. I liked when the texture starts to fill out a little more at 2:18, though. The harmonic aspects of the piece are a little repetitive, but the melodies are cute. You might have wanted to incorporate a little more structural variety here, whether that be via an atmospheric breakdown, climactic solo, or something else. The energy level and mood just feel very flat and consistent in this piece; I would’ve liked to hear a stronger sense of ebb and flow over time in the composition. Still, the sound design is fun, the production quality is good, and I like the atmosphere and rhythmic content of this piece. Keep at it, Shima33! :)

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
.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
7.25/10

[Keys for days]

The production quality is solid, and the instrumentation is quirky, especially at :06. The riser at :12 sounds a little dissonant with the rest of the harmonies, and the atonality continues at :18. There’s a fun sense of build into :57. The melodies at :57 are pretty wonky, and by 1:27 the texture is pretty dissonant. The melodies get very repetitive after a while, and the church bells continue the atonal trend, which I’m starting to think is a little over-the-top. The texture is pretty well-balanced, but you overuse some of your risers here (like the one at 2:13). Harmonically, this piece sounds a little incoherent, yet the arrangement is still pretty generic and the melodies are repetitive. The ending is pretty sudden as well. Overall, the track is just a bit too experimental for my tastes, but I do applaud the instrumentation, mixing, and structuring. Keep at it, DjGrahnstetto! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.5/10

DjGrahnstetto responds:

Thank you so much for your response.

[After Vibes]

I like the hard-hitting bass and foreboding mood at the beginning. The mix is a little over-saturated, with some heavy compression and reverb. The progression is pretty cool, but some of the synths sound pretty generic, like the one at :44. I like the melodic content at :44, though, and the build-up into 1:14 is nice. The texture is pretty minimal for a lot of this piece, although the rhythmic content and sound design are both engaging. I like the breakdown at 1:46, too. The arrangement of this piece is a little cliche, as is the transition at 2:06, and I would’ve liked to see a little more harmonic variety. The second drop was cool, albeit very similar to the first one, and I also think you could’ve done a bit more with the drums in this piece. Overall, my main concerns are the lack of originality, minimalism throughout, and excessive repetition. That said, the mix is clean and loud, the piece is both catchy and atmospheric where appropriate, and the harmonic content, while not fleshed out a ton, is pleasant. Keep at it, T0NIT0RMX! :)

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

[TI:.Robot OrchestraRD2012]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the chord progression. The synths sound pretty quirky and refreshing, too. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture, but the mix holds up pretty well. The heavy pads at :41 are a bit cheesy, and at times this piece is very slow to progress. The drop at 1:25 is pretty cool. I like all the vaguely orchestral-sounding hits, which you made sound pretty creepy with some modification. This piece lacks some strong melodic content or harmonic variety, but the structuring is well-done. At times, I wanted the drums to be a little louder, especially with the crashes at 2:53. The second drop is also cool, and I appreciated the short post-chorus at 3:43. The end cuts off a little suddenly, but overall this is a strong piece. The quirky sound design, solid production quality, and rhythmic content of the drops are all highlights here. My main concerns are the lack of variety and lack of dynamism in the composition. Keep up the good work, TIMarbury! ^_^

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Virtual Memory (feat. Viki Hopper)]

I like the cute synth plucks at the beginning and the gritty mid-range bass. The rhythmic content here is pretty sweet, although the chord progression is a little cliche. The mixing effects on the lead vocals are a bit heavy, and I think the male voice sounds a little generic and artificial. The sense of build into 1:18 is good, and the drop itself is pretty catchy and full-textured. The breakdown at 2:12 is nice for some structural relief. I think the sound design in the piece overall is quite good, too. The vocal lines get a little repetitive, and the arrangement of the piece is a bit generic. I think the content of the drops and vocals need more variation, which is probably my main complaint here. The production quality is strong, the sound design is refreshing, and the composition is catchy and engaging. Keep up the good work, SevenChakras! ^_^

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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Agente.001 - Cataclysmical Solar Eclipse]

I like the ominous mood and atmosphere at the beginning. The bass drone sounds a tad harsh in my ears, but the orchestral elements at :40 are valuable additions to the texture. I like the percussion and the sense of build into 1:06, too. The drop is really cool. The rhythmic elements are enjoyable, and the texture is full and rich. Reminds me a lot of Xtrullor, actually. The emotional appeal of the piano solo at the 2-minute mark is nice, too. You have a great sense of atmosphere and melody alike. The breaks at 2:53 are nice, if a bit more minimal than the more atmospheric content earlier. The sound design is even reminiscent of Xtrullor. I like the sassy string line at 4:13 and other harmonic details during the extended drop here, but I wish the atmospheric/melodic elements came through the mix a little more during this section. That said, the vocal samples at around 4:45 are pretty sweet, and the composition falls together nicely at 5:04. I love the cinematic vibe of this piece overall. The production quality, sound design, emotional appeal, atmosphere, and melodic content are also top-notch. This is a fantastic piece. Wow. Good to see a new face competing at such a high level in the NGADM. Keep up the good work, Tomhson! ^_^

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

[Memories]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning. There’s a good sense of climax into :27, and the mood is uplifting and refreshing. The melodic content at :27 is nice, and the production quality is solid. The build-up into 1:22 is a little drawn-out, but I like the heavier bass and rhythmic components of the drop. The chord progression, arrangement, and to some extent sound design of this piece are a little generic, but I’m enjoying the emotional appeal of the breakdown at 2:04 and the pitch-bending at 2:30. The bright pads at 2:31 are also a valuable addition to the texture, and overall the atmosphere and instrumentation in this piece are very pleasant. I wish you varied the drop a little more the second time around, but overall the melodic content helps keep things engaging. Overall, very strong work here! The production, atmosphere, and melodic content are all top-notch. My main concerns are the lack of originality and lack of variety towards the end. Keep it up, Ligiarathalos! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Never Happened]

I like the emotional piano line at the beginning and the atmosphere. The funky synths and chopped vocals at :16 are both valuable additions to the texture. I really like the clarity of the lead vocals and the lyrics themselves too. The sidechaining is a little heavy at :55, but the additional harmonies during the second vocal phrase are really nice. The piece really starts coming together compositionally at 2:20, though. The melodies there feel really cathartic, and the chopped vocals at 2:47 enhance that sense of emotional release even more. The repetition of the first two lines of vocals towards the end works well, too. The vocals are really good, btw. The only complaint I have with them is that you can sound a little more confident. Still, the sidechaining is honestly the thing that bothers me the most with this piece. The structure, sound design, atmosphere, and mood are all really enjoyable here. Keep it up, icantpronouncethis! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

icantpronouncethis responds:

Thank you for the in depth criticism for this song. It's one of my more serious song I've worked and it means a lot to me to receive those words. My vocals definitely needs a lot of work, and can easily be improved by practicing. There's definitely rooms to improve and hopefully I can fill those rooms during the competition. Thank you once again.

[Scorpia]

I like the bright piano riff at the beginning and the crisp drums. The atmosphere and bass at :14 are nice, although the drums are a little loud. The vocals at :27, although I thought the pitch automations on them at :33 were a little cheesy. Same thing with :53. The production quality and rhythmic aspects of the piece are really good, though. At some point, I wanted to hear some stronger melodic content and structural contrast. The composition of the piece just needed a bit more shape - adding an emotional breakdown, atmospheric bridge, or minimal piano solo all would’ve helped. The harmonic content gets very repetitive towards the end, and there isn’t a strong sense of climax or resolve either. Still, the production quality and sound design are top-notch here. Keep at it, Snakewine! :)

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8/10

[Coat Check]

The bass riff at the beginning is catchy, although the vocals are a little too quiet. I also would’ve liked to see you do more with the mixing effects here. The clap at the beginning also sounds a bit cheesy and generic. The piece starts coming together more at :28, and I like the crisper drums and intensity of the vocals there. The rap part at :46 was really good. The lyrics are pretty clever, and the melodic content in the vocals at 1:05 is nice. I like the intensity at the end. Overall, I think my biggest problem here is the production. The mix is very quiet, and the recording quality is not great. The vocals keep getting lost in the texture, which is likely a combination of a subpar mic and poor enunciation. That said, you’re clearly a talented vocalist, and this piece is catchy, fun, and engaging throughout. Keep at it, ChessPiece19! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.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?)
.75/1
Composite score
8/10

ChessPiece19 responds:

thanks for the in-depth review. I think the final mix on the album is slightly better.
I'm working a lot more on production for my next project, experimenting with all the effects on Reaper.