TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Tenebrarius]

I like the mechanical wind-up sounds at the beginning. The subsequent reverb-infested lead and cello were beautiful. I think the cello cuts off way too suddenly at :29, though. The mood in this piece is hauntingly beautiful and captivating, but I think you change up the texture of the piece too much during the first minute or so. It has a very fast-paced vibe, whereas I thought it would’ve been better to flesh out some of the ideas you had a bit more. The percussion gets buried in the mix at around 1:15. I love the variety of instruments in this track. The soundscape is beautiful. I wish you had simply connected some of the ideas here a bit more carefully, and some of your transitions seemed a bit rushed, like at 1:50. The chant-like male vocal samples at around 2:15 were cool. They offer this neat call-and-response effect with the more legato female vocals. I thought the synth bass at 3:21 seemed a little out-of-place, yet it did help you transition effectively into the coda. The ending was also enjoyable. You might have needed to consider some dynamic contrast at some point in the piece, yet the phrasing and structure overall is superb (if a little convoluted). Nice work! Keep it up, guys. ;)

9.25/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

I've toooootally over used those wind-up sounds by now. I think it's time to take break from them XD
That said, I do love them.
Yeah, dem0lecule is indeed great when it comes to cello magic! Very good catch at 0:29. Though it might feel like a bit of a nitpick, it's very valid. I didn't notice this at all, and I'm sure that many didn't because of that other sound that covers it up, unless you specifically focus on the cello. Maybe you had an easier time finding that as you actually play said intrument :p

As for your next criticism, I think Phonometrologist's review leaves a nice contrast with:
"The Good: I keep going between .21-1:00..."

I think it's more a matter of taste. This track is intended to be pretty fast and straight on point, except for the intro and outro, and looked that way from the very beginning of composing. The sense of climax close to the end comes more from the way the choirs are programmed, and from the more dramatic melodies, which is why I think that the first minute is actually a nice kind of build-up, as it starts of with the base, and adds something new gradually (although pretty fast, I'll give you that).

As for the percussion at 1:15, I pretty much agree. I think it's more that the overall volume feels a bit low for this piece, so if you're using your standard settings, it might give of an illusion of being even lower than it is. But even so, I think the drums should probably be a bit louder at that part, and perhaps the trumpet and horn a bit quiter. Luckily, the drums are not supposed to be in focus at that point (more backing), so it's not too fatal an error. neBSounds commented about the percussion at that part as well, so we will definitely try to note this in the future!

Interesting comment about 1:50, as I actually think it's a great transition (made entirely by dem0lecule). This whole track essentially is built upon the same backing, repeating several of the chord progressions a lot of times, so we've built a lot on top of it to keep it interesting, and not repetitive. But 1:50 is actually a kind of a short breakdown, removing several of the intruments on top, and connecting the track back to 0:36 (if you listen to the backing). Also, I personally feel that this track doesn't need much in way of melodical repetition, as both the chords and the theme stay pretty consistent throughout.

Yeah! I think dem0 did a brilliant job with the choir chants :D I want to learn to do that some day XD

I actually think that the effect firts pretty well at 3:21, as a similar effect was used at 0:28 (although much lighter), and just as you said, because it leads back to the music box. I guess we could've experimented with some other sound designs as well, but I've grown really used to the current one :p

What represents darkness better than something being convoluted? Convoluted = complicated = hard to understand = fear of the unknown = fear of darkness. Yup. Makes total sense...
As for dynamic contrast, I guess that the biggest ones are the intro/outro, as well as the mini breakdown at 1:50, so I guess we could've had some more here, but on the other hand, I like the current pace and intrumentation of the track.

That said, we'll definitely think about your criticism in the future (as we did between Fantasiamaailma and this), and if my vision of the next track we're making is somewhat in line with the end result, I think the track will be much different than this.

Thank you for the review, and great judging work, dude ;)

[Oak - Mobius (NGADM'15)]

I love the mood at the beginning. You’ve left yourself a lot of space for climax and contrast. The vocals are cool, and you did nice work with chopping them up at :23 (and other places). I liked the melodies at :38 too. This piece has a really full texture and clean mix. It does get a little repetitive by the end, though, especially with the bridge-like section at 1:37 that essentially dragged on for 1/3 of the piece. I’m not sure I’d regard this as a truly structurally complete track, either. It only really has one “emotional height,” although I understand it was meant to loop and admittedly it does loop well. I love the upbeat mood and synths. The production quality is really high by my standards. Despite my criticism, I really admire the engaging and energetic qualities of this track. Nice job, LiquidOoze! ;)

9.25/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

[Majestic They Are]

I love the emotion at the beginning, as well as the filter/echo effects. It progresses very slowly, yet you leave yourself a lot of space for contrast and climax. The warm mood is beautiful. I appreciated the melodies at 1:40, but the percussion there didn’t work for me. It added a more staccato-y and almost exotic dynamic to what is at heart a very down-to-earth and organic-sounding piece. The low strings at 2:35 are beautiful. They lead into the arrival point of 3:06 very well. Here, the percussion works better IMO because it adds a dynamic of energy and progression amidst a full texture. The emotional height you created at 3:06 dragged on for a little too long, though, sort of trivializing the beauty in a way. In fact, this piece is a little structurally flat within the emotional height from 3:06 to 5:00. The section lacks much textural change or phrasing. I like how you brought it full circle at the end with the part at 5:00, though. I really like this piece overall. I just think that fixing a couple of structural details would’ve helped bring out even more emotion here. Keep up the good work, Papkee! ;)

9/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

[It is not me]

I love the pensive and relaxed mood at the beginning. It has this awesome, soothing, drone-like quality. The vocals are soulful and emotional, and I love the melodic content in the lead guitar. The lyrics themselves are also pretty good. The rap at 1:17 was also cool. You took a risk by combining the more direct, spoken words with such a smooth, classic rock-style piece, but I think it paid off. I really admire your ability to layer the vocals, like at 1:56. I understand that it can be very hard to do. I love all the little guitar solos, and this piece is well-structured and smooth-flowing. I thought the kick was a little weak, and you could’ve done a little more with the drums in general, especially towards the last “emotional height” with the repeated “not me” vocals. I would’ve liked to see you do a little more with that emotional height than just repeat “it is not me” too. I thought you also could’ve used more of a breakdown/re-intro section towards the middle with some more dynamic contrast and phrasing. Overall, though, this is a strong performance. I love the emotion, the instruments, and the reverb. Keep up the good work, DivoFST! ;)

9/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

[Codename: Michael J Fox (NGADM '15)]

I like the upbeat guitar sound here, although I think you could’ve found a more creative way of introducing the piece than with a fade-in. The drums are a little dry. I think they should’ve been a lot more up-front in the mix, with more reverb too. Compressing them might help. The melodic content in this piece is great, and overall it seems well-structured and smooth-flowing. I like the structural relief you offer at 2:25. However, I think you missed an opportunity to play with the dynamic contrast/phrasing a bit more throughout that breakdown section. I wanted to see a more dramatic crescendo into the next refrain, and also some more interesting mini-phrases so that the entire section didn’t sound so structurally flat. The mood here is really cool. It sounds almost victorious by the end, and I liked your idea of using the tempo automation to wind things down. The very end literally made me groan, though. You should’ve used more reverb and/or echo effects (or at least some sort of volume/filter automation) so that the last chord doesn’t cut off so suddenly. Overall solid work! Hope this review helped. Keep at it, man. ;)

8/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

JDawg00100 responds:

Thank you for the detailed review!

[Setting Out]

I like the soulful mood at the beginning, but that instrument you used for the lead is very harsh-sounding. I think you need to equalize out some of the treble tones in that instrument. This piece is very slow to progress, and lacks some textural fill for much of the first minute or so. You tried to offer some structural relief at 1:29, but the mood there is really different from in the first 1.5 minutes. You go from a bare-bones, raw, and even creepy and mechanical vibe to a dreamy, atmospheric, and upbeat one. I’m really confused as to what you intended to be the main themes/moods of the piece. The part at 2:08 sounds much more like the mood at 1:29 than at 0:00 as well, giving the piece the sense of being structurally incomplete and also lacking some coherence. There are some good ideas here, but you need to flesh them out more and also think more about how you’re connecting them with each other. Right now, this sounds like 2 or even 3 separate songs. I’d like to see you continue to work on this after the competition. As for now, I hope this review helped. Keep at it, man. ;)

6/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

SourJovis responds:

Thank you for the review. It's very helpful to know how I can improve the song.

I will replace the lead instrument (the harmonica) by someone whistling. That gives perhaps more of a western like feel. It also has a less harsh sound. I'll have to see how I'll mix it in when I've recorded it.

The first part sounds a bit empty indeed. I'll think about what instruments or effects to add. I'm thinking about an accoustic rhythm guitar and a jew's harp. Perhaps add some nice percussive effects. Maybe it's best to save some of those instruments for later in the song, and instead bring in the organ earlier. I'll just have to figure out what works in relation to the rest of the song. I'm also considering going double speed at a certain point, for the sake of progression. Perhaps with a nice tambourine.

The part after 1:29 has a different mood indeed. That was supposed to be the wide world. It starts of kind of cold. Like there's a vast plane with a lot of wind. I think I'll add a recording of actual wind from 1:29 to 2:08 to make this point clear, and tom make it sound more lively. From 2:08 onward I'll slowly fade it out again.

The part from 2:08 onward is supposed to be a bit more action driven. Like before you were overlooking the windy plane. Now you're riding through it at high speed. I think this part also needs some additions to make it sound more interesting. Perhaps more metalic percussion. Or some woodwind flutters.

You're right about the song beind structuraly incomplete. I think I can fix this by having the theme from 0:00 to 1:29 return after 2:50, this time with the addition of more orchestral instruments so the part 1:29-2:50 acts as a bridge.

I will indeed continue the song after the competition. Working with a deadline can at times be a bit of a problem for me. I've had a very hectic time. My boss went missing and left with all of the money. Now 45 people are left without a job, and I had to write a letter to the councillor for social affairs and employment to explain what happened. We have an invitation to speak to him in person in a few weeks, so at least my letter was succesfull. Also I thought the deadline for this competition was later. When I received a message I had to upload the song in 30 hours I had to rush. On top of that my internet provider was hacked so I had to ask for a delay, so I could upload it halve a day later from a friends place, right before we went on holiday. I didn't think I would win with this song, but I didn't want to cop out and not submit anything either. I'm glad I at least contributed something for the competition. Competitions like this are always nice to get people to listen to your music and give usefull feedback.

Thanks again for all of the usefull advice. I'll improve the song now I have more time. Good luck with the rest of the competition.

[.: Far Sky :.]

I like the edgy guitar sound at the beginning. The melodic content in this piece is pretty strong. I think the kick was a little weak, though, and the snare could’ve been more prominent in the mix too, especially at :19. I also felt like sometimes the lead guitar was a little too loud. This piece is smooth-flowing, catchy, and well-structured. I thought you could’ve done more with dynamic contrast and phrasing, especially during the breakdown section at 1:54, which dragged on a little long IMO, all the way to 2:52. You needed a smoother transition at 2:52 as well. Perhaps that was a good time to leave some space in the texture and aim for a start-stop sort of transition instead of rushing right into a re-intro. I also would’ve liked to see more melodic development here, especially in a piece that’s relatively long and somewhat repetitive. The last refrain didn’t have quite the emotional height I was looking for. I liked the ending with the last bass guitar chord, even if it was a bit cliché. Overall, this is pretty solid work. Some more structural contrast and variety would help spice up this track, but as I said I liked the melodies, moods, and (for the most part) transitions. Keep at it, Larrynachos. ;)

7.5/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

[Level 01]

I love the ominous mood at the beginning, and how you left yourself a lot of space for climax and contrast. The more hard-hitting vibe you start aiming for at around :20 is really cool. It progresses a little slowly at times, but the mood is great. The breaks at :58 are nicely done. The quirky instruments and effects complement each other well. I would’ve liked to see some more melodic content, though. You kind of use arpeggios in place of melodies, which is not only frowned upon in and of itself but also leaves little room for melodic development later on in the piece. I like that you created some structural relief at 1:36, though. The song is catchy and upbeat, and I admire your sense of harmony and progression, but you still need some more melodies in there. The modulation at 2:34 was effective in channeling the energy, and I like how you capitalized on that intensity by adding an interesting high chord part. Still, the fade-out ending was a bit lazily done IMO (there are so many more creative ways of ending a piece than with a fade-out). The production quality here is pretty high, though. My main problem here is still the melodies. You simply need some that aren’t strictly based on arpeggios. Overall, though, this was a solid effort. Keep at it, man. ;)

8/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

[NGADM'15: Higher]

I like the mood at the beginning. It seems apprehensive, yet the piece is also very energetic. I love how much space you left for contrast and climax. It progresses a little slowly at times, yet I love the melodies you have by around 1:15. I also appreciated how you played with the phrasing and dynamic contrast with the breakdown at 1:56. It was quite welcome structural relief there, and the climax into 2:25 is awesome. The built-up tension in this piece is great, but I think you could’ve gone further towards the end to let some of it go and create a more cathartic vibe. It seemed that just as you were getting to an emotional height at 3:21, you immediately stripped the texture away. Still, I admire your sense of harmony and progression, and I think the ending is quite solid as well. Nice work! Hope this review helped. Keep at it, man! ;)

8.5/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

[Take-off]

Interesting mood here. I think there are some balance issues here, though. I would’ve tried to keep some of the mid-range tones in that bass at the beginning because for several sections of the piece it’s one of the most engaging things going on. I liked the melodies, and I think the 8-bit instruments fit the moods well. The production quality here is pretty high, too. The transition at 1:22 is a little sudden, and you change the pace really dramatically. I would’ve tried using a tempo automation or something, because the bubbly energy of the first 1.5 minutes contrasts sharply with the drone-like pads of 1:22. Speaking of which, I think the pads are distorting that mid-range bass you have at 2:10. I really like the A-B-A structure this thing has. You did a good job of bringing it full-circle at the end. I also think you needed a smoother transition at 2:51, though. The ending was cool, and it probably wouldn’t make a bad loop if you decided to go that route. I thought you could’ve done a bit more with dynamic contrast and melodic development, though. Slight variations can really add a lot to a piece, especially later on, and I would’ve liked to see you play with the emotions of the listener by experimenting with phrasing more during the middle section (i.e., 1:23 – 2:35). Still, this is nice work overall! Keep at it, Mawnz! Hope this review helped. ;)

8/10

This review was written for the Newgrounds Audio Death Match 2015.

Mawnz responds:

Thanks for the review man. I like that you are straight to the point with your criticism, and that you keep it short and in simple terms. I'll try to take what you've said here in consideration to future songs :)

Thanks again and good luck in future judging!