TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Breathe]

I like the tranquil atmosphere at the beginning. The chord progression and sound design are a bit cliche, but the sound design is enjoyable, and I like the melodies at :42. The production quality is pretty good, with crisp drums and a well-balanced mix throughout. I also like the filtering work at around 1:45. The transition at 2:05 was a bit sudden, but overall I like how the piece comes full-circle with the soothing E-piano line at the end. I might’ve liked to see a little more variation on the main riffs later in the piece, but otherwise the piece is well-structured. My biggest problem here is probably how generic the arrangement, harmonic framework, and instrumentation are. Still, you’ve made a catchy, well-mastered, and smooth-flowing track here, JaceyBear. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[Tower of Tech - AIM]

I like the furtive and eerie mood at the beginning and the variety in the sound design. By :37, the synth riffs are seriously catchy, and the orchestral elements really help fill in the atmosphere around them. The drums get a little lost in the mix, but there’s great sense of build into 1:10, and the watery sound effects at 1:30 are a nice touch. Love the return of the creepy ascending line at 1:44 too. It seems 2:10 is another place where the drums would have benefited from some more compression, and the equalization on the other instruments probably should have been a bit stricter. That said, the rich texture and engrossing atmosphere by 2:30 or so is great, and the glissandos on that one synth lead really help hit the piece home. At first, 3:04 almost sounded like the start of a different piece to me, but it also adds a fitting air of mystery and whimsy to the content that came before it, like the ruins of the tower are slowly being overtaken by nature. Really cool piece overall, Irish-Soul! Focusing on tightening up the mix is a good next step for this, but the composition has a great sense of storytelling here, and the sound design is really effective at telling it. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
8.75/10

[GETTING 40 LETTERS A DAY FROM SOMEONE I DON'T KNOW]

I like the mellow pads at the beginning. The drums are a bit dry, though, and might’ve used some reverb or other mixing effects to create a sense of atmosphere. The sound design is definitely really nice overall, though, between the funky synths and groovy guitars. The texture is pretty minimal and repetitive, though, and after a while I would’ve liked to see you add a bit more melodic development and variety to the piece, especially during the second half. Still, it’s hard to deny that this got my foot tapping and my head nodding. The mix, while not particularly ambitious, is also clean and well-balanced. Keep at it, InventoryObjects! ^_^

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
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
8.5/10

[Challenged By The Captain]

I like the bubbly synths and blissful mood at the beginning. I might’ve liked to see a bit more of a hierarchy in the texture, though - it seems like the harmonies are as loud as, if not louder than, the melodies here. Also, the drums could’ve been a tad stronger in the mix, perhaps with some more compression. The melodies themselves are really enjoyable, and I also enjoy the flow of the piece. That said, there’s more you could’ve done to create an overarching sense of dynamism here. Right now, the energy levels are nearly constant throughout the piece - at some point, stripping away the beat or having a synth phrase that was softer in volume might’ve helped create some variety. Still, you’ve put together a catchy and compelling track here, Interloping! Keep it up! ^_^

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

Interloping responds:

Thank you so much, I am still learning how to use FL Studio, so a lot of the mixing and compressing qualities are a tad out of my reach at the moment. I will continue to experiment with features and hopefully place a higher ranking in the future

[You're finally free]

I like the dreamy pads at the beginning and the rainstorm sound effects. The piano riff at :23 has a great emotional appeal, as does the choir pad throughout the intro. At :44, the frantic beat and graceful melodies contrast really nicely. The transition at 1:29 was a bit sudden, but I’m digging the dynamic contrast between the refrain and breakdown. The brighter tone the piece has at 1:50ish is a nice touch, and I appreciate you shaking up the harmonic framework during the middle of the piece like that. That’s an advanced compositional skill to have. By 2:15, the mood of the piece is decidedly triumphant again, although the lead synth there was a bit cheesy IMO. During the busier sections of the piece, the drums struggle to pop through the mix a bit, but otherwise the production quality holds up well. Overall, this piece is really strong - great sound design, with a balance of synthetic and orchestral influences, a solid composition with some memorable melodies, and a loud and crisp mix. Keep it up, IndexatioN! ^_^

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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[Spiral Fracture (feat. jon)]

The vocal samples at the beginning are really neat. It’s hard to discern the rhythm of them in a way, but they set the mood well. The kind of frantic pace of them set up my expectations for something a bit more uptempo once the instrumental tracks came in, but the rhodes and piano lines sound strangely melancholy and heavy by comparison. The production quality is really good - I love the crisp, acoustic drum kit and the well-balanced, full texture. The distorted synth lines at 1:27 help inject some life into the piece, but the transition at 2:02 is rather sudden. The return of the vocals during the re-intro is a good idea, but I would’ve liked to see you do more with the composition during the second half. There were some added glitches and mixing effects, but the harmonic content feels a bit stagnant. Overall, I really like the sound design, mood, and atmosphere here, and the mixing is really good. The composition feels a tad bland by comparison, though, and more variety in the harmonic framework or instrumental hierarchy may have helped. Still, really evocative work with the experimental texture and mixing effects. Keep at it, I-C! ^_^

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

[Heimarmene]

I like the apprehensive tone at the beginning and the eerie drone that kinda sounds like a slowed-down version of a race car passing by. I like the subtle build-up into :48 and the subsequent downtempo section. The mix is pretty clean here, but also a bit quiet, and at times I wanted the drums to be more up-front, especially at around 1:10. That said, by the 2-minute mark, the drums are indeed punchier, and the gradual swell of intensity through 2:24 was really smoothly done. The rhythm of the melodies sounds a bit square at times, although the drums did a good job of providing some syncopations. I thought the choir at 3:33 was a bold compositional choice. The choir kinda hijacks the mix there, and it becomes very hard to hear the drums while it is playing. Maybe it’s worth scaling back the reverb there. I appreciate the choir as a way of adding some closure and “point of arrival” to the piece during its final climax, but I think it felt a tad forced given the otherwise very gradual ebb and flow that the piece had. Still, you’ve clearly displayed your knack for cinematic tapestries of sound, with crisp string riffs and a strong emotional appeal. Keep at it, IglicaV! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[Guardian]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the medieval-sounding string melodies shortly thereafter. The generous use of reverb and the minimal beat here fit the character of the piece quite well, and the dynamic bass riff at 1:00 is a nice touch. The production quality is really strong here, with a clean and well-balanced mix. The little breakdown at 1:48 is another nice touch, although the shift in tone and instrumentation at 2:12 was a bit sudden. The texture is pretty minimal throughout the first half of the piece, although I really like when you start balancing the heavy, electronic elements with the melodic, orchestral ones at 3:00. By 3:24, the piece has a very triumphant tone about it, but you transitioned seamlessly to the eerie bells and vocals at 3:36.

The extended vocal sections at 4:12 definitely added to the sense of narrative, but also dragged on for a bit long and disrupted the flow of the piece IMO. You transitioned well into the energetic section at 5:00, although it was a tad difficult to follow the rhythm there at times. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the brief pauses in the atmosphere at transitory moments, like at 5:41. In fact, towards the end the entire composition feels a bit disjointed, despite the killer sound design and rich textures. I especially like the brass solo at 6:55 and how it dovetails nicely with the synth melody shortly before 7:15. I also liked how you brought the piece full-circle with the string melodies at the end, but I was also looking for something a tad more creative than a fade-out to serve as the ultimate conclusion of this epic battle.

Overall, I think you tried to do a tad too much with the composition here, and at times you could’ve done more to help the gritty electronic elements and graceful orchestral ones blend together more. That said, the production quality is top-notch, and the cinematic quality and variety in the sound design is great. I can tell you put your heart and soul into this track. Keep it up, iamwontolla! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Poprocket]

I like the blissful mood at the beginning and the triumphant-sounding lead at :32. Aspects of the sound design and chord progression are a bit generic, but the atmosphere here is engrossing, and your cadre of melodies really helps me stay invested in the piece. I like the more minimal breakdown at 2:10, and the warm pads and heavily reverberated synths during the next 30 seconds. I think my favorite aspect of the piece was the mixing - the instruments are just crystal clear, loud, and well-balanced throughout the track. If I had to complain about one thing, it might be that the piece never quite returns to the energy level it had during the first minute or two - I think that was a bit of a missed opportunity. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this track - it’s full of memorable, dynamic melodies, energetic beats, cutesy instrumentation, and a rich and soothing atmosphere. Keep it up, Hypervolt! ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

Hypervolt responds:

Thanks for the feedback and kind words! Looking forward to keeping it up ;)

[She Rained Down]

I like the jazzy piano chords at the beginning and the acoustic kick drum. The rhythmic syncopations at :26 are great, as are the percussive instruments and the atmosphere. The vocals are nice and soothing, but could also use a boost in the mix and a bit of “decoration” - reverb, echo/delay effects, etc. The drums also get a tad buried in the mix at times, especially during the busier sections.

That said, the lyrics themselves are really haunting, and I absolutely love the solos at 1:34. The second refrain was great, especially with the chromatic progression at 2:45, and overall you hit this piece home really well. The production quality is easily my biggest concern here. The composition, sound design, and atmosphere are all fantastic. Keep it up, Glassedhouse! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10