TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[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

[Hyper Fern]

I like the crickets at the beginning and the quirky synth that fades in shortly thereafter. The section at :26 has a great, upbeat and carefree vibe, although the drums are struggling to stay on top of the mix a bit. The wonky meter at :59 and frantic drums at 1:10 are great, and overall the sound design and mood are easily my favorite elements of the piece. The melodies during the second half of the piece have a great sense of dynamism, and bringing in a new melody instrument at 1:53 also helps create that variety. The pause at 2:14 also threw me off a bit, especially since you entirely cut off the reverb. That said, overall it’s hard to go wrong with a piece with such a blissful mood and whimsical sound design. Keep at it, Supermelon! ^_^

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
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

[INTERFERENCE 5]

I really like the energy and frantic synths at :23, but honestly a lot of the synths here are pretty cheesy, and the chord progression is a bit generic. The kick at the very beginning has a lot of upper-mid-range frequencies in it for my tastes, and the clap at :23 could use some more reverb and layering for interest and atmosphere. The lead at :49 sounds very indistinct in the texture, perhaps because of an excess of reverb this time, or maybe just because of a lack of compression or general balance in the volume levels. I also think you’re overusing the sweep-down at 1:21.

The arrangement of the piece is a bit choppy in the way that it oscillates suddenly between the frantic, high-octane sections and the downtempo, atmospheric ones. The piece starts getting better when you start integrating these two sections a bit better, with notably with the frantic riff playing at 1:23 after you strip the beat away, and then transition well back into the synth lead solo at 1:45. The little screeches you threw in there (like at 1:51) weren’t my favorite, but the warm, elegant pads at the breakdown at 2:08 help to offer some contrast in the structure.

The key change at 2:31 felt a bit abrupt at first, but I like the bubbly synth at 2:33 and the sense of apprehension in the texture by around 2:55. You also have another effective key change at 3:20, although you may start overdoing it a tad by 4:05. Relying on key changes alone to create variety in a piece is hard to pull off, especially in a 5-minute piece.

That said, you have a lot of really creative and fun compositional details here. I just wanted the mixing to be a bit sharper and the sound design to be more polished and original. Also, the arrangement was a bit choppy, especially early on in the piece before the texture was as rich and full as it was for most of the second half. Overall, this was a fun and catchy piece with a strong atmospheric appeal. Keep at it, StormLight93! ^_^

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
.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
7/10