TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Paradigm Shift (NGADM 2023 Round 1)]

I like the dramatic flair of the beginning and the eerie howling in the background. The strings at the beginning sound a bit indistinct in the mix, especially the ones in the lower register. At :24, I would’ve liked to hear a little less kick and a little more of the other aspects of the percussion. The texture comes together well by :48, with the soulful guitar/string melodies and the piano ornamentation. The more laid-back section at 1:12 is good for some contrast with the high-octane section earlier, and I really like the transition with the descending piano line at 1:46. The second half of the piece doesn’t offer much in the way of novel content, though, and I also think the composition could benefit from some more gradual transitions and dynamic melodies. I would’ve liked to hear a more creative ending than a fade-out. Still, the sound design, atmosphere, energy, and rhythmic content here are really good. Keep at it, ET16! ^_^

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

[Floating]

I like the crisp percussion and pulsating string line at the beginning. The beat at :21 sounds really punchy, and the vocal sample of the girl laughing is a nice touch. The open hat sounds a bit cliche, but otherwise the sound design here is great. The harmonies could use a bit more depth and variety, but I really like the distorted guitar riff at 1:25 and bongos/vibraslap combo you use as a transition a couple of times. The composition could use a bit more fleshing out, but you nailed the instrumentation, mixing and mastering, and rhythmic content here. Keep at it, Semzaiy! ^_^

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
8/10

[Ryzmik - "Time Lapse" (NGADM)]

I like the pensive synths at the beginning and the dramatic sweep at :16. There’s a good sense of build into :31, and I like the energy and variety in the sound design there too. The mix could’ve been a tad sharper in places, and there’s a lot of reverb in the texture that’s probably not helping matters. I had to replay 1:33 several times because I thought my ears were deceiving me, but YES there is a bit of dissonance in there, probably layered onto one of the sweeps with a stray oscillator. It’s really subtle, though, and actually helps contribute to the underlying tension in the piece.

The drop at 1:46 was a pleasant surprise - the rhythmic content there is especially creative, but it’s also the section that lays bare the production issues. The drums could be a lot more punchy there, and are seriously struggling to stay on top of the mid-range bass and airy pads. I like the injection of energy at 2:31 and the return of the string synths at 2:47, although it also would’ve been nice if you had switched up the main melody the second time around. Pacing-wise, the end of the piece felt a tad rushed - even if you had copy-pasted the post-chorus at :47, that might’ve helped wind down this track in a more satisfactory way.

Overall, I really like the melodies, vocal samples, instrumental sound design, and rhythmic content here. The mixing remains my biggest concern, although a tad more variety later on in the piece couldn’t hurt. Also, I didn’t find a place to mention it earlier, but that little snare roll thing you do at 2:42 and a couple of other places is awesome! Keep at it, Ryzmik. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

Ryzmik responds:

Thank you for the great review!
My intention for the final was to make an even more melodious chorus and some calm break but due to all the stuff I had to do to make that chorus full, I felt very lazy to be honest and left it as when I uploaded. Also I was so nervous and rushed cause I actually misread the deadline date thinking it was on August 16th as the last year. Regardless, no excuses lol.

[Matching Lives]

I like the quirky texture at the beginning. It’s a bit difficult to follow the rhythm at first, but once the beat comes in at :25 it gets easier. The texture sounds a tad thin, but the energy level and catchy rhythmic content help keep me engaged. I appreciate that you switched up the instruments at 1:10, but at some point I would’ve liked to hear some more harmonic variety here. The glitchy bridge at 1:44 is probably my favorite part of the piece, although the part between 2:07 and 2:35 feels a tad disjointed with all the stop-start transitions. Still, I really like the added harmonies at the final refrain at 2:32. The drums could’ve used a bit of a boost in the mix there, especially after the higher-pitched atmospheric harmonies came in at 2:54. Overall, I like the catchy beats, atmosphere, and sound design here, but the harmonic patterns could use a bit more variety and depth at times. Still, you’ve already succeeded in getting the main riffs stuck in my head. :) Keep at it, Bassclefff! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8/10

["WHEN CALLING"]

I like the dreamy texture at the beginning with the airy vocals and mallets. The instrumental tracks sound a tad quiet relative to the beat. The vocals sound very clear in the mix, but also a little undecorated - a little more reverb might help fill out the atmosphere, especially during the verses. The added harmonies and increased vocal range at the chorus at 1:10 are really nice, and I also like the vocal layering during the pre-chorus at 2:09. The distorted breakdown at 2:42 was a good idea, although I wasn’t a huge fan of the pitch slides at 3:10 and 3:16 - they just sound a bit cheesy. Also, during the last minute or so, the vocals could use a bit of an extra boost in the mix amidst the extra distortion and harmonies. The synth solo at 3:51 was a great way of hitting the piece home, though - its jumpy contour captures a lot of the conflicting emotions that you’re expressing through the lyrics. Overall, I really like the sound design, atmosphere, vocal editing, and progression of this piece. Sometimes, the texture feels a tad bare, and the mix could use some more careful balancing out between the vocals, drums, and harmonies. Still, you’ve made an evocative and heartfelt piece here with a strong atmospheric appeal. Keep at it, xxxZigZagxxx! ^_^

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
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
8.25/10

xxxZigZagxxx responds:

Thank you so much for the feedback! I always have quite a bit of trouble with mixing, but this is one of the best mixed works I've done, so I think I'll have to talk to a great mixer I know to see what they have to say about mixing it :) I'll just show them some of these words and he'll be able to sort it out, and maybe I'll learn a thing or two!

Thanks for taking the time aside for valuable and well-thought-out feedback <3

[Lordant - Eönwë]

I like the Celtic sound design and majestic melodies. The little scoop/glissando at :41 sounds a bit unnatural, but I like the crisp percussion and authoritative string lines thereafter. You blend in some electronic effects, like the jittery bass at 1:12, into the texture quite well, and the texture here feels quite loose, organic, and well-humanized. The melodies at 1:46 serve as a great “point of arrival,” and I also like the approach you’ve taken to balancing out the texture, with no one instrument serving as the lead melody by itself for very long. The breakdown at 2:18 with the string melodies is absolutely gorgeous, and you transitioned very smoothly into the key change at 2:50. The production quality is absolutely flawless, by the way - just a crystal clear mix with rich textures and punchy percussion throughout. The vocals and brass taking the lead on the melodic content towards the end was another wise compositional choice. I thought the transition into the outro at 3:58 was a tad sudden, but the outro itself was also rather beautiful. Amazing work, Lordant! By all means, keep it up. ^_^

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

[Finnsfolks - N0VA]

I like the synth arpeggios at the beginning and the dramatic reverse riser at :09. Sound design has a nice 80s vibe. The piece is a bit slow to progress at first, and the percussion at :43 is very heavy in the mix for my tastes. The drop at 1:03 is cool, if a bit minimal, and it could use a bit more atmosphere to fill out the texture there. I like the double-dip drop model - it’s a fun take on an otherwise pretty generic arrangement. The echo-y piano melody at 2:00 is a nice point of contrast from the energetic breaks, and I like when the lead melody comes back in full force at 2:32. The build-up into 3:27 was a bit drawn-out, but I like how you layered the melody synth onto the drop the second time around. Overall, the compositional details here could’ve been a tad more fleshed out, although I really like the atmosphere and production quality. Sound design is pretty cliche, but fits well for the piece. You’ve put together a catchy and energetic track here with a strong atmospheric appeal. Keep at it, Finnsfolks! ^_^

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
.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
7.75/10

[For The Love Of Tax]

I like the upbeat and energetic mood at the beginning. The vocals sound very inauthentic, but otherwise the sound design is enjoyable. The lyrics are pretty clever, but it’s also really hard to make them out with the weird articulation the vocaloid has. I like the stripped-down bridge at 2:16, although the final refrain at 2:39 could’ve used some more variety compared with the earlier refrain. The outro at 3:10 hits the piece home nicely. The arrangement of the piece is pretty generic, and at some point an instrumental solo or something would’ve helped break up the relatively long vocal phrases. Still, I think you nailed the 2000s-era rock/electronica hybrid sound design, and the energy level and rhythmic content help keep this piece engaging. The production quality is rock-solid too. Keep at it, 3xBlastMx! ^_^

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
8/10

[Toy Soldiers]

I like the wind-up sound at the beginning and cutesy synths at :08. The mix sounds very top-heavy, but the percussion keeps the energy level up and the melodies are really nice. The rhythmic content is great, and the compositional details like the accordion solo at 1:30ish and the richer chords on the downbeat at 1:47 really make this piece what it is. The wind-down sound effects at the outro were integrated very well, signaling closure in the piece without bringing down the mood. Overall, I’m thoroughly impressed with this track. Keep it up, ZaneLittle! ^_^

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?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Battle of Mind]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the eerie lead at :12. The transition into :26 could’ve been a tad smoother, but the punchy drums and heavy guitars there are great. At :43, the rhythm of the minimal synth harmonies kinda trips over the gritty guitar riff a bit, and for the first couple of minutes the piece could use more depth in the harmonies as well. The choir at 2:02 provides a nice break from the high-octane guitars, although the distorted percussion in the background could’ve come down in the mix a tad. The solo at 2:40 is probably my favorite part of the piece - passionate, dynamic, and creative - but the transition into it also could’ve been smoother. I’m loving how you integrated the atmosphere back into the texture at 3:20 along with the lead guitar, and the chaotic energy at 4:17 is also really nice. I wish the choir and the lead guitar came through in the mix a bit stronger during that section, though. The glitchy content at the end seemed like a fitting way to end the piece, although overall the structure feels rather disjointed here. There are a lot of sudden transitions and a couple of extended rhythmic sections that feel a bit stagnant (1:00 to 2:02, as well as 3:47 to 4:17). Still, I really like the sound design, energy, melodies, and variety here. Some of the disparate aspects of the texture just could’ve been integrated better into a cohesive whole. Keep at it, Trunotfals! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
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
8/10