TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[lotus noir]

I like the soulful saxophone solo at the beginning, but I think there’s a bit too much reverb in the texture. The mix, while loud and relatively clear, also feels a little too watery and bloated as a result. The texture is rather minimal, despite the quirky percussion and emotional appeal of the saxophone. The mixing effects on the sax are really cool, too. With such a limited instrumental palette, it’s hard to give the piece a strong sense of direction and compositional variety, and this piece is no exception. My main concerns here include the mixing, lack of textural fill, and weak sense of structuring. Still, it’s clear that you have a great sense of melody and atmosphere, and also a rather creative approach to sound design and production. Keep at it, Elisione!

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.25/10

[Daft_Funk]

Catchy beat at the beginning. The little bass swell at the very start was a bit bizarre, but I like the relaxed vibe of the piece. Some of the panning is a bit extreme. Generally, it’s a good idea to keep rhythmic instruments (like the drums and bass) front and center. A lot of the compositional details here are really nice, though, like the funky riff at 1:48 and the occasional triangle hit and distorted guitar at 2:31 (and other places). While the piece is pretty engaging and fun, it also is missing some more advanced compositional elements, like dynamic melodies and structural variety. The fade-out ending is a testament to the fact that there isn’t a strong sense of direction in the piece. The mix, while clean, is also very quiet, which you can fix with some mastering tools like compression. Overall, there’s a lot to like here - the sound design, mood, rhythmic components, and texture - but the structure doesn’t quite have the ebb and flow that I want it to. It would help if you created a more distinct breakdown in the middle of your piece, or maybe a melodic bridge or something. Either way, it’s only a couple of my compositional parameters that are really holding your score underwater here. The rest - instrumentation, originality, atmosphere, etc. - work really hell in this piece. Keep at it, DjRemedy! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.25/1.5
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
6.25/10

djRemedy responds:

Thanks, TaintedLogic! Best of luck to everyone!

[Electrical Speed - DJ Frank]

I like the pensive mood at the beginning and the gradual build-up into the fun beat at :14. The harmonies are very much in the chords, which wouldn’t be a problem so much if the progression weren’t so cliche, but I enjoyed the melodic content at :44 and the supporting arpeggios. The mixing is also quite solid. The texture seems full, well-balanced, and clean. I liked the bridge at 1:15, but I think you missed a big opportunity to add a more climactic section towards the end of the piece. It never quite reaches the same emotional height of :44, despite the prominent lead playing a pleasant syncopation at 1:28. My main problem with the piece is probably the lack of originality, in the sound design, arrangement, and chord progression alike. Still, the production quality here is top-notch, and I really enjoyed the rich texture created by the arpeggios and the well-balanced frequencies. Keep up the good work, DJFrankMusic! ^_^

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
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.25/10

DJFrankMusic responds:

The best advice I have done in life, I do not speak English, (at this moment I am using the translator), sorry if my words are not coherent. :) Thank you very much

["Wonder" (6/10/19)]

I like the chill mood at the beginning. Good sense of atmosphere and drive to the piece at the same time. The drums are creative and energetic, while the pads and synths really maintain the flow. The progression is a tad slow, but the piece really starts coming together when the bass picks up at :53. I was itching for some more melodic content during this section, though, as I wasn’t sure exactly what the piece was building towards after the 1-minute mark. The second minute of the piece feels really dragged out, although those rich chords at 1:59 help take the track in a new direction. Excellent sense of build into 2:40, although the prominent melodic content I’ve been waiting for never really comes. The emotional height is still pretty sweet, but a really dynamic and full melody would help advance that moment of catharsis. I like how the thrill of the emotional height gradually dies over the last minute, but I still wish you had at least varied that main riff a little more. The strongest element of this piece is probably the production quality - the mix is as clean and polished as a knife fresh out of the dishwasher. The instrumental palette here is really appealing, and complements the structural arc of your piece really well. Most of my complaints here simply point out missed opportunities rather that things I actively disliked about the piece, which is certainly a good sign. Keep up the good work, DJ-Saidez! ^_^

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

DJ-Saidez responds:

Yay

Yeah, a few people told me it was kinda repetitive, and I can see why. But practice makes perfect!

[Son Rise]

I like the relaxed mood at the beginning and the nature FX that fades in and out starting at :13. The drum beat is a little simplistic, but the atmosphere of the piece is great. The progression is slow, though, and by around 2 minutes in I’m wondering if there’s going to be any melodic development in the piece. I like the quirky instrument at 1:36, but I wish you would’ve had a stronger transition before introducing it. Otherwise, it’s hard to anticipate the addition of each instrument as the listener. The layering on the clap at 2:08 is nice, though, and you clearly have a good sense of harmony. The production quality is pretty good. The drums are crisp, loud, and relatively clear throughout, although there were a couple of moments where I thought there was a bit too much reverb in the texture, notably around the 3-minute mark. The breakdown at 3:12 was good for some structural relief, although the stereo clicks there were a bit too loud and distracting imo. I also like some of the compositional details during this part of the piece, especially the slide whistle at 3:51. The transition at 4:16 could’ve been a tad smoother, but the quirky instruments there are really nice, and I like the pitch-bending effects at 5:21 (and other places). Overall, this is a relaxing piece with a fantastic atmosphere, but some of the compositional elements were a bit lacking. I needed a bit more dynamism in this track to raise the score, and the sudden ending leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The main riffs are never really varied in the second half of the piece, and there isn’t really a strong point of resolve or climax either. Great job with the instrumentation and mood, though - the sound design makes it sound like the heat is getting to the protagonist. :) A summery piece indeed. Keep at it, Disorderlys! ^^

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
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[EPIC MOVIE MUSIC/HIP HOP Project]

I like the somewhat medieval theme and progression, but I think some of your samples sound quite inauthentic and cheesy - from the choir and strings to the harpsichord. I also think the mix is a little bass-heavy at times, and completely absent of low-range frequencies at others, which can be a bit jarring. At :30, the drums aren’t quite as up-front in the mix as I want them to be, and I think the bass can also distort the mix at times. One thing I really like about the piece is the melodic content - it’s catchy, dynamic, and fits the thematic content perfectly. Despite the cheesy samples, the track really does sound anticipatory of an epic battle scene. That said, the composition gets very repetitive by the end, even with the fun rhythmic break at 2:30. I wish you would’ve varied your melodies a bit more towards the end, and perhaps also created a slightly different harmonic progression to the piece at some point. Still, I like the full texture, loud mix, and atmosphere of the piece a lot. It’s a fun piece, but the devil’s in the details, especially with the sound design and repetition. Keep at it, DarkTrojanGames! :)

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
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7/10

[Landscapes]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning. The mood is pretty haunting, especially with the pitch-bending on that shimmering synth. It begins to sound a bit atonal at :40 or so, which is actually rather refreshing. The progression is rather slow-paced, though, and I’m concerned that, while the sound design and atmosphere are great, you’re not really demonstrating a good variety of compositional skills with this piece. The dissonance at 1:36 sounds really sweet, and I’m beginning to admire your sense of harmony along with the instrumentation and moodiness of the piece. That said, I think that even an ambient track needs a little more structural variety and melodic content to be competitive in this contest. It’s always pieces like this that I’m really torn about because, while I would absolutely enjoy the piece as background music for a game or movie, I’m not sure it’s quite developed enough to constitute a stand-alone piece in my mind. All of that said, I think you absolutely deserve a spot in the next round, and I hope the other judges agree. Flesh out the composition a little more next time, and you should be well on your way to a 9-range score from me. Keep at it, Dantonsgo! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[Stalker]

I like the cute, videogame vibes at the beginning, but the mix sounds a bit thin and overly contained. I liked when it started opening up a bit more at :29, but I think the stop-start transition there could’ve been a bit more creative. The chord progression is a bit cliche, but I like the melodic content and energy of the piece, especially at the post-chorus at 1:01. The re-intro at 1:23 works well, and the melodic section at 1:47 was another nice touch. The piece comes together well by the end, and definitely feels climactic and conclusive. The use of reverb and filtering at the end is a fun detail. My main complaint with the piece is that it comes across as very generic in a lot of ways - from the sound design to the arrangement to the harmonies. I think this piece would sound a lot more advanced (and also well-varied) if you had gotten away from the same 5-chord progression at some point. Still, solid work with almost all of the other compositional elements. It’s a catchy and cute piece with a fun atmosphere. Keep at it, Dag0! :)

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
.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
7.75/10

[Glitched - War]

Cute riffs and fun rhythmic elements at the beginning. Some of your synths were a bit cheesy, though, and I think there might’ve been a tad too much reverb for my tastes on some of the instruments. The progression is a little slow-paced, however, and after a minute or so the texture remains quite minimal. There isn’t a lot of harmonic depth to the piece, and while I’m glad you put in some melodic content after a while (~1:48), the melodic phrases could’ve been a bit more varied and dynamic. I also really like the delayed transition at 2:04. I think that’s a really effective way of calling attention to the final refrain of your piece. At 2:22 and 2:29, there are a couple of unpleasant popping sounds, first in my right ear and then in my left. That could be any number of things, from peaking/clipping to a misplaced radio effect to a microphone click on whatever recording device you used, but it strikes me as a bit of a sloppy mistake tbh. Overall, this piece comes together well by the end, but I still think the composition is a bit underwhelming, especially harmonically, and elements of the sound design sound like presets. That said, I thought the mixing and mastering here was rather strong, despite the reverb issues and mic popping. Keep at it, Curruff! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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
7/10