TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Ecarsa (Part 2: The Redemption)]

I like the funky bass at the beginning, even if it’s a bit dry. I’d encourage you to be careful about putting so much reverb on the kick at :08. It can make your mix sound pretty muddy if the texture is thick enough. That said, I didn’t notice any huge problems with the mixing, besides it being a tad quiet. I think the texture is a little bottom-heavy at times, without a lot of mid and treble-range tones. The texture also consists of a lot of catchy, albeit repetitive, riffs that don’t have a lot of forward motion to them. Perhaps fittingly, there are a couple of jarring transitions here that you use to bridge the gap between sections, like at 1:32.

I like the frantic harmonies and the rhythmic content, but I wanted to see you give the piece some more shape - ebb and flow over time will help maximize the emotional appeal of your piece, which is especially important for keeping your audience engaged with such a long piece as this one. Nevertheless, I like the gradual build in intensity with the percussive instruments at 2:05. I think that’s a good start towards establishing the kind of dynamic composition I’m looking for. That said, the transition at 2:05 only really served to introduce what I thought was a pretty clunky snare sample at 2:18, instead of taking the harmonic material in a meaningful new direction.

I’m beginning to think that you should try consolidating some of your compositional ideas here. I think it’s helpful to envision a story while you’re making your piece. If your story is a movie, and I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the movie, I might choose to go somewhere in this middle section of 1:32-4:13. I think there’s very little sense of direction for most of that section, especially in the harmony, and even during transitory moments to the sub-sections, there isn’t a sense of gradual build and flow but of sudden entrance and interruption. Try to think about the “going to the bathroom during a movie” analogy when you’re making your piece, and cut out repetitive or structurally flat content as necessary.

One thing I like about this middle section, though, is the creative drum beat at 3:43. It has a great sense of drive about it, and while 4:13 is another abrupt transition, I feel like the piece has come together more so at around the 4-minute mark than anywhere else. What’s still missing is some strong melodic content (I think the melodies in here now are a little too frantic and fleeting to satisfy my melodic craving) and smooth transitions.

I thought the two-part fade-out ending you had in here was a little bizarre. I momentarily appreciated the idea of a “return to the solo bassline” like you had in the beginning, but I think it would’ve worked better if you had cut off the bassline on the downbeat after the melodic instrument fade-out and ended the piece like that. It probably also would’ve sounded smoother if you had some more reverb or delay effects on the melodic instruments, so that the first fade-out feels more gradual atmosphere-wise than it is note-wise.

Overall, there are a lot of good ideas here. The melodic riffs are catchy, the production quality is solid, and the sound design, while a bit cheesy, fits the thematic content well enough. You just needed a bit more of a “flexible” feel to your composition and arrangement that wasn’t quite there, and some more mixing effects could really enhance the sound design and atmosphere of the piece. Keep at it, PanBat! :)

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
.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
6.25/10

PanBat responds:

thank you for this critique. very constructive and helpful, really helped open my eyes to what i could have done better

[Lemon Cake]

I like the cute synths at the beginning and the atmosphere. Some of the instruments are a little cheesy, like the shimmering pads and the snare, but the texture is well-balanced and full-sounding. I like the sitar sample at :44, and how you pair it with the groovy synth bass and dreamy pads. The melodic content in this piece is also pretty nice, although not quite as dynamic as I would’ve liked. In other words, it often consists of 2-measure patterns that are then repeated continuously over an 8-measure phrase. The higher-pitched pads at 1:37 have a great cathartic vibe about them. Really nice job with the emotional appeal there. I also like how that fades into the more mellow section at 2:13. At times, I think you could’ve done a lot more with the drums in this piece. The hi-hats don’t quite feel crisp enough to make an impact, and the toms/bongos are used pretty sparingly. That said, overall the drums are mixed in pretty well, along with most of the other harmonic instruments. The piece comes together really well by the last refrain at 2:50, and I like the gradual stripping away of the texture back into this kind of atmospheric paradise. Sounds like the entire piece takes place in a mystical dreamland, where cute little aliens are adding the frosting to their giant new temple. After all, if I were a toddler tasting lemon cake for the first time, I’d imagine a refrigerator as a mystical dreamland myself. Sugary fantasties aside, this piece is really cute, and has a great sense of atmosphere, solid production quality, and a well-organized composition that helps you maximize the emotional appeal and storyline vividness here. Keep up the good work, OddaSykz! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

[Velocity]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning. The synth at the beginning sounds really thin, but I like how the filtering gradually makes it sound richer. Nice job with the automations throughout this entire piece, actually. The drop at :45 is catchy, if minimal, although the sound design here is pretty generic, between the drum samples, plucked synths, and hardstyle mid-range basses. I think the composition is lacking for melodic content and variety, and elements of the arrangement and chord progression also seem pretty cliche. That said, the production quality is pretty strong overall, despite the texture being a little bass and reverb-heavy during the drops. This piece needs a more creative and climactic section at the end to hit it home more, though. The unoriginal and underwhelming composition here is my main concern. You’re clearly a talented producer with some cool samples and a good sense of rhythm and atmosphere. But the breadth of compositional skills needed for this competition also include melody writing, advanced ways of creating variety, and more creative arrangements and progressions. Keep at it, No1seFactory! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.5/10

[Algebra]

I like the glitchy percussion at the beginning, but the kick at :14 sounds way too heavy and over-saturated in the mix. There aren’t a lot of moving notes in the texture at all, and the transition at :44 is very sudden. The section at :44 is catchy and pretty well-balanced (despite the kick), although there still aren’t a ton of mid and upper-range frequencies in the texture. The piece as a whole has very little melodic content, phrasing, or shape. Despite the coarseness of the texture, I like the murky bass at around 1:45. It has a really gritty, industrial vibe that, while still needing some cleaning up, definitely has potential. The mix is also pretty dry, with little use of reverb, delay effects, or other mixing tools that could keep the sound design refreshing as the piece grows more repetitive towards the end. I like the rhythmic components and instrumental palette to some extent, but I think you could’ve done a lot more with the composition here. It lacks a strong sense of direction and variety over time, and also needs more atmosphere to round out some of these crude samples. Still, nice work with the industrial feel, mood, rhythmic components, and (besides the choppy transitions) progression. Keep at it, NNmusic! :)

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
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
5.75/10

[pretend]

I like the relaxed mood at the beginning and the rippling effects. The quirky pads and pensive arpeggios at :15 vibe well together. I like the sense of build the piece has into :59. The drums are pretty heavy - the piece might be a bit over-compressed - but the catchy melodies and hiphop-inspired drums are valuable additions to the texture. The tempo of the piece is pretty slow, but the atmosphere keeps me engaged throughout. The transition at 1:58 is a little sudden, but I like the re-intro. By around 2:15, you start to really overuse the rippling effect, especially since it’s so up-front in the mix whenever it pops in. The ghostly harmonies at 2:45 are really nice, though, and you did a good job at balancing the texture and increasing the intensity at the bridge at 2:58. The last couple of minutes of the piece sound a bit too drawn-out, but the automations on the synths and the rhythmic content keep things sounding relatively fresh. I also wanted to hear some more melodic development later in the piece - it seems like you rely mostly on arpeggios to fill in the melodic space in the texture later on, as opposed to more dynamic content. Really fun sound design and mood here, though. There were times when I thought you could’ve done more with the composition and arrangement, but overall this piece is very strong. Keep up the good work, Molotow! ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

[Peace of Sky (demo)]

I like the smooth guitar at the beginning and the roots rock vibe. The mixing effects on the vocals are a little bizarre in contrast to the acoustic instrumental tracks, but at least they share the same languid fluidity. It’s hard to make out the lyrics, but I like the injection of energy at :42 and the progression. The texture is pretty minimal here. I think you could’ve gone for some more compositional risks, like a guitar solo or the introduction of an organ later on or something. The production quality is clearly strong here, though. I can hear the instruments clearly throughout, and the drums sound especially crisp and sharp. Soothing piece overall. Again, a tad underwhelming compositionally, but the tasteful instrumental palette, soulful mood, and strong mixing and mastering make up for that in my mind. Keep up the good work, MeinGumna! ^_^

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
.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
8.5/10

[LPS - Deep Dark]

The piece has a distinct sense of atmosphere at the beginning and some fun instrumentation. The drum beat is nice, and helps move the piece along despite a relatively thin texture. The pads at the beginning outline the harmonies nicely, but then the progression goes in a different direction by around :32 with that soft, shimmering synth. I think the minimalism and oscillation between a few different riffs don’t do a lot for me here. I wanted to hear more variety and shape in the composition. That’s my main concern with the piece. There just aren’t a ton of moving notes here besides a couple of riffs that - while cool in isolation - don’t feel like they’re a part of the same story compositionally. The drums give the piece a sense of fluidity that harmonically it certainly lacks. Still, the production quality isn’t bad and the sound design has potential as a sort of lo-fi funk piece. I like the atmosphere and mood overall, but tbh the composition is bland at best and the harmonic content lacks depth and originality. Sorry to be harsh, but I think you clearly have the talent to put more effort into your tracks than this. Good luck with your future projects, LPSounds! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
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

[Ayyyy-liens]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning. The glitchy bass and pads are fun, but the dance pads get to be a little much imo. I also would’ve liked to hear a proper intro to the piece, as opposed to it throwing you right into the middle of the action here. The effects are pretty cool, although the percussive elements aren’t very strong in the mix until about :45. The glitchy mid-high range instrument is a little overwhelming; perhaps it would sound less jarring if it was meant to serve more of an atmospheric purpose, rather than being so up-front in the mix. While the rhythmic content and sound design are creative, the piece doesn’t have a lot of harmonic depth, melodic content, or structural variety. It’s lacking a sense of ebb and flow over time, instead opting for a constant, frantic energy. After a time, this makes it sound pretty repetitive and compositionally underwhelming. Still, the instrumentation and flavor of the piece are really strong here, and the production quality is above average overall as well. Flesh out some of the compositional elements a little more, and this could be a really fun piece. Right now, it has a lot of potential with the cool mood and rhythmic content, but it’s lacking on some other notable parameters, that’s all. Keep at it, Legodarthbatman! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.75/2
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
6/10

[Welcome To The Matrix]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning. Some of the synths sound a bit murky, like the low-mid pad at :05. I can’t tell if that’s just the sample quality or the mix is making it sound watery. There’s a good sense of atmosphere here overall, the drums are a bit dry and could probably use a little more reverb. The progression is pretty bizarre after a while, and the texture remains quite minimal for most of the piece. There are more cheesy synths at 1:01, and the snare at 1:12 sounds way too over-saturated in the mix. The progression here is pretty haphazard, and doesn’t feel like it has a very strong sense of direction. A lot of the individual riffs are catchy and neat, but I’m not getting a strong sense of storytelling or climax and resolve from this piece. It needs a little more harmonic depth, gradual structuring techniques, and tighter mixing. Next time, I think you should try considering the way your piece is arranged - both structurally and harmonically - before you start composing the notes. Try to create richer textures by thinking about several chords that sound good together in a progression, and then constructing riffs and patterns that connect the harmonies in those chords over time. Still, this piece certainly has its merits. I like the mood and atmosphere, as I mentioned before, and on their own, the synth patterns you have here sound good. Keep at it, Kyuki! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
4/10

Kyuki responds:

Thank you for giving some detail on the scoring of the piece. This was actually my first piece (song) ever originally created. Thank you for your input!

[Daylife (NGUAC 2019)]

I like the swirling pads at the beginning, and the melodic content at :03. Some elements of the texture can be a tad generic, especially the piano lead and chord progression, but overall I like the blissful mood and flow of the piece. The climax at :21 is nice, and the texture sounds really full and well-balanced there. I think you could’ve done a bit more with the drums here, but the rhythmic content gets more creative as the piece goes on. The mix sounds a bit distorted at around the 1-minute mark. The piano lead keeps ducking under momentarily, and there’s a bit too much reverb in the texture. You change up the melodies nicely throughout the middle section of the piece, but at some point I would’ve liked to hear some more harmonic variation - a different chord progression or modulation, perhaps. The second refrain at 2:17 is fun, although I think you could’ve more effectively hit this piece home with some more variation in the melody here. Still, the piece overall is well-structured, smooth-flowing, well-balanced, and has a cute, uplifting mood. Despite my complaints about the lack of harmonic variety and mixing issues, this is solid work! Keep at it, KylGilbs325! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
8/10