TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[McSpeedster2000 - Heatrave]

I like the catchy beats at around :13 and the melodic contour in the lead. The mix is loud and pretty clear, but also appears to be brick-wall limited, which can create distortions in the texture if you’re not careful. I’m not a huge fan of some of the sound design choices here, notably the screechy descending sample at 1:22.

A bigger problem is that the harmonies frequently clash with each other. I’d double-check to make sure that all of the notes that are playing at a given time are in the chord that you want to use, and I’d suggest avoiding tones that are less than 4 spaces apart in the piano roll. I’ve never used BandLab, but in most audio production software you can highlight all of the tracks that are playing at a time and then open the piano roll to see them layered on top of each other. In the future, it might even help if you write one series of chords that covers what you want to do with the harmonic framework for the entire piece, and then assign notes in those chords to different instruments. While it’s a bit strict, that method will ensure that you’re only using harmonies that sound good together, and you can still create different rhythms and patterns as long as you’re using the same notes from the chords.

Still, you have a lot of individual riffs and ideas here that are pretty cool. I like the rhythmic content, blissful mood, and the main melodies. I’d caution against using too many of the repeated tones (for example, the melody at the very beginning often plays 4 of the same note in a row before moving on). It just sounds a bit spammy and cheesy after a while, and you do the same thing later with the drums (at 1:09).

Later in the piece, I might’ve liked to see some more variety in the riffs that were playing. It’s a good way of creating a dynamic composition to slightly vary the note patterns you used earlier, even if they play a slightly different rhythm or start on a different pitch. Again, just be careful that if you’re changing the pitch of one instrument, the others still match with it harmonically.

Overall, sorry if this isn’t a very positive review. You already have a good sense of rhythm and progression. Harmony is just a piece of composition that’s especially crucial. When you feel like you’ve better aligned the harmonies of this piece, or have created another one, send me a PM, and I’ll give you some more feedback. Keep at it, McSpeedster! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.75/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
3.5/10

McSpeedster2000 responds:

Thanks for the feedback. I will look over this to enhance my future songs although I don't fully know how to work chords. Incrementally improving each aspect song by song is my move from basic to technical.

[Closer]

I like the minimal rhythmic synth at the beginning and the breathy vocals that come in shortly thereafter. The crisp beats and synth arpeggios pair well with the vocals, although the transition into :56 could’ve been a tad smoother. The echo-y vocal sample at 1:28 is also a nice fit. You’ve concocted a dense rhythmic texture from the vocal samples and synths here, which is both catchy and has a strong atmospheric appeal. I think the part at 1:44 with the added vocal layering is my favorite part of the piece. The build-up into 2:56 was a bit too dragged-out for my tastes, but it did indeed provide a smoother transition into the post-chorus. In fact, I might’ve liked to have the more gradual build-up into the first refrain, and the more abrupt transition into the post-chorus during the second one. The vocals get a tad repetitive by the end of the piece, and I would have liked for you to vary the refrain and post-chorus a little more the second time around compared to the first one. Also, a proper outro would’ve helped wind down the piece a little more. Still, I enjoyed the sound design, production quality, upbeat mood, rhythmic content here, despite the composition needing a tad more variety and flavor at times. Overall, you’ve made a catchy and fun track with a strong atmospheric appeal, Mauxus. Keep it up! ^_^

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
.75/1
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

Mauxus responds:

Precious feedback, thank you!

[Azimov]

The sweep at the beginning was a pretty evocative way of starting the piece, and I’m really liking the sense of build into :22 and the gritty lead synth. The compression is pretty heavy for my tastes here, but I like the ominous tone of the atmosphere and the sound design. The vocals are a bit over-processed IMO, but the lyrics themselves are really creative. At some point, I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodies or otherwise something that broke up the dense rhythmic texture and frantic beats, just to create some structural contrast. That said, you’ve certainly captured the dystopian feel of the lyrics in the instrumental tracks, all with some cool rhythmic content and crisp beats to boot. The mix does sound a tad strained during some of the busier sections of the piece, and it may help to dial down the reverb at times. Still, you’ve put together a catchy, dark, and compelling track here, Matt! Keep it up. ^_^

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
.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
7.75/10

[MattMG - Horizon]

I like the bouncy piano lead at the beginning. The chord progression is pretty generic, but I like the string pads too. Not sure I liked the idea of using pitched drums at :36 - they kinda clash with the rest of the instruments here. The crisp beats at 1:04 are nice, although I might’ve liked the pads to come through the mix a bit stronger there. You could look into mixing tools like stereo widening to help you accomplish that. There’s a good sense of build into 1:51, and I like the blissful melodies there and the filtering at 2:11. The transition at 2:29 is a bit abrupt, but the string and piano re-intro there was a good idea. The melodic variations at 3:06 are nice, but at some point I would’ve liked to see you switch up the harmonic framework, especially since the one you’re using is so cliche. Still, the extended melodic section at 4:02 is nice, and the key change at 4:42 is a good way of adding a sense of progression and climax towards the end of the piece. I might’ve liked to see you come up with a more creative ending than a fade-out, but overall the narrative arc of the piece comes together well. Overall, my biggest problem with this piece is probably how generic it is - from the chord progression to the arrangement to the sound design. Finding ways of creating variety and “surprising” the listener a bit with your instrumentation, progression, and the overall structure of your song would really help take your composition to the next level. Still, I admire the strong production quality, blissful mood, and solid melody writing here. Keep it up, Matt! ^_^

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
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.25/10

[Project Fate - Termination!!]

I like the creative percussion and quirky synths at the beginning. The mix is loud and punchy, but the drums still sound pretty dry and flat. Some more reverb and other mixing effects might help them pop a bit more. Some of the synths here are pretty cheesy, like the lead at :41, and I think the bass line could also stand to get a boost in the mix. At some point, I would’ve liked to hear an extended breakdown or bridge or something that stripped away the beat. Otherwise, the piece has a near-constant energy level, which is not very conducive to maintaining listener engagement. I also think the ending could’ve been a bit more creative than a fade-out. Overall, you clearly have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and progression, but some of the production details and sound design choices here could use a little more polish. Keep at it, MastaPowa7! ^_^

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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.25/10

MastaPowa7 responds:

Thanks for the constructive feedback. Just a quick note on the ending, I usually fade out my songs as most of my songs don't usually have an ending as they're meant to loop indefinitely, so fading out the song is usually how I end the songs. I don't know how else to end my songs that are meant to always loop other than fading out.

Also, because I use Rytmik Ultimate, I can't really add many effects as it doesn't have many of the common cool effects. On top of that, Rytmik Ultimate also has some limitations that makes it a hard sometimes to make and polish the songs the way I want to, but regardless I can still try to make an effort to try and make it as good as I can.

Again, thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it.

[RIT-6RAV3]

I like the rhythmic content at the beginning. The instrument at the beginning itself sounds a bit muddy and distorted, but the pads at :07 are nice. The bass and the lead synth at :23 are tripping over each other a bit - just very different emphases in the rhythms they’re playing. I like the tambourine at :38 and the more melodic synth line there too. The extended pause at :56 is a bit awkward, but I like the furtive synth line that comes after it at :59. The synth at 1:13 sounds a bit harsh - maybe you could use an equalizer to filter out some of the treble-range frequencies? I like how you brought the piece full-circle at the end with the second refrain at 1:37, and the added melodies at 1:52 are a nice touch. During the section at 1:52, it’s a little hard to make out the drums and bass in the mix. You might try adding a compressor to the drums and eliminating the bass frequencies (200 Hertz and lower) in the melodic instruments. Overall, this is a cute piece with some nice compositional elements - you clearly have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and progression. That said, the sound design is a bit cheesy, and the mix sounds pretty quiet and indistinct at times. Still, I think the piece has a great charm about it, and I hope you keep working on it. Keep at it, MaskHeroe! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
6.25/10

[Equilibrium]

I like the spacey atmosphere at the intro. Pads sound like they’re from Nexus - a bit generic. I like the crisp beats at :40 and the filtering work on the bass and pads. The production quality is strong, with a loud and well-balanced mix throughout. The synth lead at 1:20 is nice, although at some point I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodies or some other shake-up to the instrumental hierarchy. As it is, this piece is very repetitive, and aspects of the arrangement and sound design are pretty cliche, as alluded to earlier. I also would’ve liked to hear a more proper outro to the piece, although a bigger priority should probably be breaking up the texture in the middle of the piece with a bridge, breakdown, or solo. Still, I like the atmosphere, 80s influence, and filtering work here. Keep at it, M1ndbreaker! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7/10

[Hovering over rain]

I like the relaxed mood at the beginning. The static is a bit loud in the mix, even for lo-fi, but the beat is catchy and the rest of the sound design has a bright, airy feel. I like the jazzy chords too. The texture is very minimal, though, and despite the addition of the string pads later on, I felt like the piece could’ve used a lot more variety and fill. Maybe some vocals, or brass solos, or basically anything that balanced out the mix with some more upper-mid-range tones. The mood, atmosphere, and production here are all solid, but I really would’ve liked to see you put more effort into the composition. Still, the piece has potential with the sound design and progression, and I’d encourage you to keep working on it. Keep at it, Lumiflag! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
6.5/10

[Death to Ye Three]

I like the airy choir at the beginning. It even sounds like they’re even singing in Latin, which is pretty cool! The minimal, atmospheric part at :18 with the whispered vocals is just haunting, and I love the melancholy violin solo at :37 too. The enormous jump in pitch it takes at :54 is both incredibly graceful and reflective of the abruptness of death. I like the injection of energy at 1:11 and the more frantic string lines at 1:30. The tempo automations at 1:50 are nice, but I’m not sure I quite liked the mixing effects that made the vocals sound more hollow there - sounds pretty artificial. Still, the choir’s call-and-response action with the frantic string lines at 2:00ish are really nice, and the last vocal phrase hits the piece home well. I especially like the gong at the end. Overall, this is a really neat track with some killer sound design that would make any real-life violin player drip with sweat. :D Let me know if there’s somewhere I can download this, and in the meantime keep up the good work! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
9.75/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

AHA! I knew there was some other review I hadn't replied to yet.
Thank you for the very high score! I too think this piece is one of my better ones :D

I suppose the downloads are disabled, because I have used this in a demo-reel somewhere. That said, there is a secret trick to downloading it using ctrl + shift and I, so feel free to do so! :3

Hope you're doing well, btw! Make sure to enjoy the summer!!

[Midnight Run [Extended] ★]

The intro with the pitch automations was pretty cool, and I like the rhythmic content and crisp beats by :13. The airy pads at :38 were nice, but also a bit quiet in the mix relative to the drums and bass. The second half of the piece is pretty repetitive, and overall I would’ve liked to hear more variety in the harmonic content, with more melodies, atmosphere, and/or a switch-up in the instrumental hierarchy. Still, the rhythmic content, sound design, and mixing are all really strong here. Keep at it, Lucasberry! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10