TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Bones]

I like the groovy synth riff at the beginning and the sense of build into :12. The oscillating low-mid synth at :13 and robotic-sounding synth at :25 are also nice. The drums sound a tad flat, and could use some more compression. In fact, the mix as a whole is pretty quiet and bottom-heavy. I wanted to hear some more upper-mid-range frequencies early in this piece, especially melodic content. The mellow breakdown at 1:04 was good for some variety, but also felt a tad undecorated. Filling out the atmosphere here with some reverb, delay, and/or other mixing effects could help add some pizzazz.

Nonetheless, I like the renewed sense of energy at 1:45, and the key change at 2:21 also helps keep things interesting later in the piece. You might also consider shaking up the instrumental hierarchy (i.e., which of the instruments is the lead vs. mid-range harmony, etc.). Still, the dreamy arpeggios were a good way of wrapping up the piece later on, and I also enjoyed the rhythmic syncopations during the final refrain at 2:21.

Overall, the composition here is decent, but could use some bolder methods of creating variety and more well-balanced frequencies. The sound design blends well together and fits the mood of the piece well, but is also a bit cheesy and generic at times. The mixing is a bit quiet, and could have been sharper in places, but otherwise is pretty clean and clear. I admire your sense of harmony and progression above all else - the piece is well-structured and, with a little more reverb, would also have a really full and rich texture. Keep at it, TimeTravelleR54! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
7/10

[SeeDs of Pandora - "Existence Still Denied" (Short Edit / Cut Version)]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the creative sweeps shortly thereafter. The creepy, circus-like riff at :09 is nice, and the vocals at :30 further cement the dystopian mood. The texture is pretty minimal, and the pace of progression is pretty slow here for the first couple of minutes. I like the warm strings at 1:06 and the demonic vocals at 1:26. The entire piece has a very cinematic flair to it, and the production quality is strong. Early on, it felt like the piece was being pulled in a couple of different directions, with a lot of different elements of the sound design introduced back-to-back that didn’t feel well-integrated into a cohesive whole. There are also quite a few stop-start transitions, which gives the arrangement a disjointed feel. The very end of the piece (last 30 seconds) has a number of stop-start moments, too, such that I actually thought the piece was over twice, before it kept going.

There are a lot of awesome individual riffs and textures here, though - I really like the frantic, spidery synth line at 4:46 and the ominous percussion at 6:08. At 6:23, the vocal line “welcome to hell” cuts off a bit towards the end - I’d suggest at least letting the reverb die off a bit so the transition into 6:30 feels smoother. Also, the undecorated vocals at 6:43 caught me off guard a bit, especially given the demonic-sounding mixing effects you layered on the vocals earlier. The instrumental sections both before 4:45 and after 7:25 have some really catchy and fun synth lines, but also feel a bit meandering at times. I find myself wondering where some of the distinct sections fit in with the overarching narrative of the piece.

Still, I really like the wrench-tightening sounds at 8:07 and the VGM sound design at 8:25. The sheer amount of effort you’ve put into the composition here is really impressive. The vocals are also really well-recorded and well-produced, although aspects of the lyrics are a bit cheesy at times, as is the echo effect on the “denied” line at the very end. I think my favorite element of the piece overall is the mixing and mastering - the instruments sound very clean and well-balanced with each other throughout.

That said, I think you may need to consolidate some of your ideas here. There are a lot of distinct riffs, melodies, and instruments that went into this composition, and it’s hard for me to digest the piece as part of a cohesive whole. I constantly feel disoriented about the direction you’re going in in the composition. A good example is the “welcome to hell” part, which seemed pretty climactic, except it was followed by the pretty mellow beat at 6:23 and the rap part at 6:42, which was stylistically very different from the rest of the piece. By the end of the rap verse, you’re clearly playing up the drama again, referring to violent battles and crushing the “pitiful seeds,” but the extended pause at 7:17 and somewhat cutesy synth riffs at 7:25 didn’t really capitalize on that dramatic energy.

Overall, your stellar sense of rhythm, harmony, mixing, and atmosphere are all on full display here. The composition might’ve just been a bit too ambitious for me to be to be completely along for the ride as the listener, if that makes sense. Still, I commend you for the enormous effort you put into the sound design, mastering, and vocal work here. Keep at it, TheVodouQueen! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[It's Gonna Be Great]

I like the bubbly piano line at the beginning and the Latin-inspired beat at :09. The quirky lead at :21 is nice, and the blissful melodies at :39 also hit the spot. The crisp drums and prominent hi-hats really keep the party going, despite the relatively minimal texture in between the solo sections. The sound design is probably my favorite element of the piece. The mix is well-balanced and pretty clean, but also a bit dry at times - some more reverb and other effects could help fill out the atmosphere more.

The arrangement also feels a tad formulaic at times, with regular changes in the texture every 8 bars or so, but not a lot of ebb and flow in the texture within those 8 bars. There’s enough repetition in the main riffs to keep the listener grounded, which is good, but making the entire soundscape feel a bit looser and more humanized (i.e., vary the note lengths, volume levels, etc. - use MIDI, not plugging things into the piano roll) would hopefully make the arrangement less formulaic.

Still, the synth melodies at 1:55 are among my favorite parts of the piece, along with the sax solo at 3:12, of course. :) Overall, the instrumentation, mixing, melodic content, and flow of the piece are all really good. Filling out the texture a tad more and integrating the different solos into a more cohesive whole would really help take this piece to the next level. Keep at it, TheRiskster! ^_^

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

[Song for the Masses]

I like the airy pads at the beginning and the atmospheric details that sound like heavily distorted vocals. The vocaloid at :23 actually sounds really nice, and blends in with the rest of the sound design really well. The contour of the melody the vocaloid is singing is occasionally very jumpy and jarring, like when it’s high-pitched and nasally at 1:52 and then gets really low-pitched and rich at 1:55. The mix at :43 could’ve been a bit sharper - I would’ve liked to see the drums be a bit more prominent, especially at the chorus at 1:03. The post-chorus at 1:25 is cool, and you transition back into the second verse-chorus cycle well. The bridge at 3:06 is nice too, although it could’ve had a bit more variety in the harmonic content compared to the rest of the piece before it. Bit of a missed opportunity for a killer solo or something IMO. The filtering and distortion effects at 3:45 are cool, and overall the piece is well-structured and smooth-flowing. Still, I really like the sound design, atmosphere, and mood in this piece. Very catchy, quirky, and spacey sort of track. Keep at it, ThePal! ^_^

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
.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

[PartySlaughter (May 2022)]

I like the bouncy synths at the beginning and the energetic beats. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture here, which might be compromising the quality of the mix a bit. I might’ve liked the drums to get a bit of a boost, though. Aspects of the sound design are also pretty cheesy, like that acid synth at 1:18, and at some point I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodies. Still, the texture is full and rich throughout, and you clearly have a good sense of harmony, progression, and rhythm. Another compositional detail that might need work is just how constant the energy level is throughout the piece - more ebb and flow in the intensity of the piece would really help keep the listener engaged. There were also a few transitions that were a bit abrupt, notably at 3:03, although it’s probably nothing a sweep/crash combo can’t fix. Overall, solid work here, TNM! The mix could be a bit sharper, but the composition is catchy and well-structured, and the sound design, while a bit generic, fits the mood well. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.25/10

TheNormalMusic responds:

I think that's a very fair rating for this song. It has a lot of issues, as it's quite old. Next time I will make a brand new song so I'll have more chance. Thank you for rating this song and for running the NGADM this year!

[Funk You]

I like the heavy sidechaining at the beginning and the groovy sound design. The texture really comes together nicely at :16, and I even think you could’ve pushed the snare up a notch in the mix. The lead synth also sounds a bit quiet here, which is a shame because it’s such a neat, quirky synth. You totally nailed the rhythmic content and atmosphere of this one, although the composition feels a bit stale after a while, with the oft-repeated sweeps and near-constant instrumental hierarchy for the first 1.5 minutes. I like the prominent pads during the bridge at 1:47, and also the dreamy synth line at 2:05. Throughout the piece the arrangement feels a bit formulaic, with regular changes to the texture every 8 bars or so, but not much ebb and flow in between. I kept waiting for the really ambitious and cathartic solo to hit the piece home, but it never quite got there. Overall, the mixing and instrumentation are solid here, but you could’ve done a tad more with the composition. You still got my foot tapping, though! Keep at it, TeffyD! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[AIM - Final Frontier]

I like the robotic-sounding effects at the beginning and the descending pad line at :08. The drums could’ve been a bit sharper in the texture, and the mix in general is a noticeably quiet here. I really like the mysterious and whimsical sound design, and by :56 the texture feels full and rich. I think it could’ve been even punchier with a bit more compression, though.

The melodies are cute, but also could’ve been a bit more dynamic - a lot of the same contour patterns are repeated 4 or so times in close succession. After a while, the piece also seems a bit aimless and stagnant. The energy level and instrumental hierarchy of the piece is almost constant until the breakdown at 2:48, and even then some more dynamic contrast or a prominent solo or something would’ve been welcome.

During the busier parts of the piece, I can barely hear the snare, which might be part of what’s making the composition feel a bit low-energy and lackluster. Don’t be afraid to push up the gain knob a couple of notches on the snare’s compressor. You have a lot of room left in the mix here - adding atmospheric details or more mixing effects seems like a good use of that space.

I like the mellow outro at 4:16, but the very end of the piece came on a bit abruptly. Overall, the piece is pretty well-structured, but could also use some stronger contrast between the “highs” and “lows,” if that makes sense. Still, I enjoyed the sound design, pensive mood, and harmonic content of this one. Keep at it, Teby! ^_^

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
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.25/10

[Death (Horseman) | SynnCloud]

I like the echo-y church bells and heavy guitar riff at the beginning. The drums could’ve sounded a bit more punchy in the mix, although overall I think the mix is well-balanced. The section at :27 has a nice apprehensive vibe, and the progression at :54 is also suitable for the tension that’s building throughout the piece. At times, the arrangement feels a tad formulaic, with regular shifts in the texture every 8 bars or so, but not a lot of ebb and flow in the texture within those 8 bars. I also would’ve liked to hear some of the tension in the piece resolved at some point with a climactic solo or otherwise cathartic section. To be honest, it felt like the piece never quite got there. Still, I love the sound design, atmosphere, mood, and rhythmic content of the piece. Keep at it, Synncloud! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.25/10

SynnCloud responds:

THANKS, ILL TAKE ALL THE TIPS <33

[My World's on Fire, How About Yours [NGADM 2023 Auditions]]

I like the ominous mood and frantic drum patterns at the beginning. The sound design has a nice, quirky and distorted veneer there, although the piece is a tad slow to progress, with a minute-plus-long intro. The texture sounds seriously distorted at 1:09 - there’s some hard clipping here, and I can barely make out the vocals. At first, I thought the volume levels were just seriously out of control, but I think it’s mostly the distortion added in post-production that’s the problem. I can tell you have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and progression. But the mastering flaws detract from my enjoyment of the piece a lot. In isolation, the vocals at 3:45 actually sound pretty soulful and apprehensive. But even in this relatively downtempo section, the distortion is a bit too strong for my tastes and the mix feels a bit strained. The drum samples and other rhythmic elements help keep me engaged, but the composition is also pretty repetitive after a while, and the mastering issues don’t get any better during the second half of the piece. I’d suggest turning down the volume levels and distortion across the board, and also maybe adjusting the gain on the compressors as needed to ensure that there’s no more clipping. If you have some room in the mix then, it couldn’t hurt to fill out the texture with more atmospheric elements like pads and reverb, just to play up the eerie and dystopian sound of the vocals and synths. Honestly, I’d encourage you to keep working on this piece. Fix the production elements, and this piece could be a total banger. Keep at it, Synami! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.5/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.5/10

[The Promise]

I like the busy string riff and elegant melodies at the beginning. You transition seamlessly into the haunting atmosphere at :27 and the mysterious lead at :43. I love how you weave the underbelly of that frantic string line through all of these moods too, and even then the atmosphere and melodic content make this piece sound so calm - metaphorically, the promise itself brings a deep-seated sense of security, but maintaining it still takes a lot of work. If I had to complain about one thing, it might be that the lengthy middle section of the piece might need a tad stronger of a sense of direction - it has a near-constant energy level and the same instrumental hierarchy throughout. Still, this is another tapestry of sound with a strong cinematic appeal and fantastic instrumentation and production, Syamori. My goodness. 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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.5/10