TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Laser]

I like the upbeat mood at the beginning and the cute synths. The texture is bouncy and melodic, but there’s also a lot going on, so I’d take some extra precautions to make sure the drums really pop through in the mix. Make sure every harmonic instrument (so, everything besides the drums and sub-bass) has the frequencies below around 200 Hz cut out with an equalizer. That should make your mix sound a bit cleaner.

Despite the riser leading up to it, 1:10 is a pretty abrupt switch-out of most of the instruments in your piece, and by the added harmonies come in at 1:27, the mix once again sounds a bit strained. I can barely hear the harmonies that come in at 1:46. At some point, it’s really hard to make each instrument sound distinct in the mix when multiple ones are competing for the same frequency range. Stereo widening is an advanced tool you can use to physically keep some backing harmonies out of the middle of the stereo space so that it’s more audible in each ear, but you might need to get stricter on the equalizer ranges of some of the harmonies in the second half of the piece to make this work. You might also consider transposing the harmony that comes in at 1:27 up an octave, just so it’s not competing too much with that mid-range bass.

Overall, I like the composition and sound design here a lot. The mixing is my big concern, and to a lesser extent I’m also concerned about a couple of abrupt transitions. Not only is the big instrumental palette switch-out at 1:10 a bit jarring, but the very end of the piece is very abrupt as well. Still, this is a fun, catchy, and blissful track with some great melodies. Keep at it, Keratrock! You’ve earned a scout. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
7.25/10

[kayyht ultra]

I like the bright pads at the beginning, the sample of the girl laughing, and the wave-like synth pattern at :13. The prominent bass and pitter-patter of hi-hats at :24 are also cool, but unfortunately this piece doesn’t progress too much beyond that. I like the ascending synth line at :48, but rhythmically it was a bit square, and the piece is still missing some prominent melodic content. The minimal bridge at 1:12 is good for some contrast, but was a little bland. The short clip of the vocal sample that plays in rapid succession starting at 1:36 came across as a bit spammy, and overall I would’ve liked to see a stronger sense of overarching narrative in the composition here. The piece needs to feel like it’s “going somewhere” all the time, and you can really sell that with some more volume and filtering automations, build-ups, gradual changes to the instrumental palette, etc. That said, the production quality is very good, with a loud, crisp mix and well-balanced frequencies throughout, and I also really like the sound design here overall. Keep at it, KayYht! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.5/10

KayYht responds:

Thanks for having me brotha🙏 next year gon be my year trust

[Everlasting]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning. The creepy pads cut out a little suddenly at :03, but I like the smooth, pensive ambiance at :04. I’m not a huge fan of the distorted vocals at :18 - they’re both unintelligible and a bit too grating to contribute to the tranquil atmosphere of the piece. The percussion at :48 is a bit over-compressed, but I like the combination of the quirky rhythmic elements and smooth string pads. The vocal samples continue to be a little unpolished-sounding, and frankly I don’t think it was the best mixing choice to have the robotic-sounding effects overpower the harmonic instruments at 1:18. The bridge at 2:17 struck me as having a better balance of effects and harmonic content. This piece also has a lot of rough transitions, like :44 and 1:48, that could benefit from some filtering automations, sweeps, crashes, or other elements that help smooth them over. The tranquil outro at 3:16 was a nice way of hitting the piece home.

Overall, I like a lot of the harmonic aspects of the sound design and the upbeat mood that pervades most of the “body” of the piece. The production quality is pretty good, despite how thick the texture is and the overuse of the robotic effects. The piece is well-structured, but the choppy arrangement undercuts that a bit. If this track were more smooth-flowing and reined in the grating effects a bit, it would easily earn a point or two back from me. Keep at it, jonahwalkermusic! You’ve earned a scout. ^_^

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

[BloodshedsShepherd]

I like the regal mood at the beginning. The string instruments sound very inauthentic, though, unfortunately. If you aren’t already on the NG Audio Pub on Discord, I’d recommend joining and checking out the “resource” tab for some better-quality string samples. PM me and I’ll send you a link to join.

I like the energetic beat at :34 and the dramatic layering that goes on at :58 and other places. The guitar solo at 1:07 is pretty cool, although it becomes really hard to make out the drums in the mix at that point. It might help to use an equalizer to remove the frequencies below 200 Hz or so in the harmonic instruments.

The ominous breakdown at 1:40 is cool, and helps add a nice overarching sense of structure to the piece. I would’ve liked to see some more variation on the main riffs during the final refrain at 2:15, but overall you tie the piece together well at the end.

Overall, the sound design and mixing are probably my biggest concerns here. Usually it’s better to use an instrument that’s meant to sound synthetic rather than one that does a bad job of mimicking acoustic instruments. And especially for a piece like this, it’s critical for the rhythm section to come through and add some punch to the overall texture in a way that the weak drums don’t quite manage during the busier sections of this piece. Still, the mood, atmosphere, progression, and melodies are all compelling here. Keep at it, Jokyles! ^_^

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

[Diamonds Suit]

I like the powerful piano chords at the beginning. The brass instrument at :15 sounds pretty inauthentic, but I like the melodies it’s playing. The prominent sub-bass at :41 is cool, and the piece starts coming together nicely at around the same time. Unfortunately, neither the melodies nor the structure really develop much beyond that. I would like to see some more variety later in the piece - variations on the main melody, a bridge or breakdown for structural contrast, and in general some changes in the volume/energy level. Also, maybe the piece is intended to loop, but the ending is pretty abrupt. Still, the mixing is really good - the instruments sound loud, clear, and punchy in the mix, and the reverb and other effects create a nice sense of atmosphere. Overall, I like the sound design, production quality, and flow of this piece. But the composition could be a tad bolder and more well-varied, especially towards the end. Keep at it, Jokadsr! You’ve earned a scout. ^_^

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

Jokadsr responds:

Hey! Thanks for the review and the scout :3

[Darth Ayder]

I like the ominous piano chords at the beginning. The piece is a little slow to develop, and the texture is pretty minimal throughout. The transition with the hi-hats you use at :38, 1:32, and again at 1:53 sounds cool. This is a good start to a track, but I’d like to see some additional harmonies layered on and also a more fleshed-out structure. A more prominent melody would be a good place to start, and maybe some atmospheric elements (pads, or just reverb on the existing instruments). The track flows smoothly, and you clearly have a good sense of rhythm. I also like the dissonances at 1:39 (and other places). I’d encourage you to keep working on this. Once the texture is thicker and there’s more variety in the harmonies, this could be a total banger. Keep at it, JoH37! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
6/10

[5 Big Booms]

I like the crisp percussion at the beginning. The vocal samples in the first 10 seconds were a bit bizarre, but I like the tranquil groove at :10, even though the sub-bass is a bit too loud. The otherworldly synth at :35 is a nice touch, and I like the prominent hi-hats at :52 too, but after that the piece is a bit repetitive. I would’ve liked to see some more melodic development and a more fleshed-out structure here. Still, other than the scream samples, the sound design is enjoyable, and this piece also has quite a bit of rhythmic appeal. Keep at it, JerrySwisher! ^_^

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.5/10

[No Time]

I like the chill pads and airy vocals at the beginning. The open hat on every off-beat at :24 is a bit excessive - I’m not sure the four-on-the-floor beat really fits with the otherwise tranquil mood of the piece. The sighing string line was a nice touch, but the vocal phrases get a tad repetitive after a while. An instrumental bridge or atmospheric breakdown might’ve helped add some structural variety here. Some more gradual transitions would also help channel the energy of this piece a bit better - build-ups and filtering automations and the like, not just adding and subtracting instruments over time. The mixing is pretty good overall, but during the busier sections the drums struggle to stay on top of the vocals and harmonies a bit. It might help to remove the sub-bass frequencies from the harmonic instruments (below 200 Hz or so).

Overall, I like the melancholic mood and atmosphere of this piece. Besides the generic drums, the sound design here is enjoyable, and this piece also has a nice rhythmic appeal too. Keep at it, Jengamon! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
6.75/10

[Waltz of the Confused]

I like the eerie synth at the beginning. The song is a little slow to develop at first, but by :24 it’s certainly living up to its title. The vocals at :47 sound a bit indistinct in the mix, probably because they’re so close in pitch to the instrumental tracks. I like the pleading delivery of “I wonder…” at 1:11. The lyrics definitely hit me hard. Later on, there isn’t much variety in the harmonies or energy level of the piece, so it begins to feel a little stagnant. I think the piece needs some stronger melodic development and probably also a more diverse instrumental palette, with more mid-range and treble frequencies on balance. It also might help to do more with the percussion to give it a stronger sense of energy and drive in general. Overall, I really like the melancholic tone of the piece, and it has a good sense of flow throughout. The composition could’ve been a bit bolder, is all. Keep at it, jeffbeard! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
6.25/10