TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Mortal]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning and the smooth synth bass. The build-up into :25 was enjoyable, and the rhythmic content at the drop was enjoyable. The texture at the drop was a bit thin, though, and I think it couldn’t hurt to take some treble off of some of the squeakier synths there. The harmonic content is a tad bland here, although the conga during the middle section, as well as the metallic-sounding snare and crisp hi-hats, added some level of interest to the texture. I also think the drop needed some more variety the second time around to contrast it with the previous one. Overall, the production quality is probably my favorite aspect of the piece. Elements of the sound design, rhythmic content, and progression are also enjoyable. The compositional details could’ve used a lot more fleshing out, though, and some more harmonic depth and variety later on would also have been welcome. Regardless, thanks for coming out to the NGUAC this year, DDI! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
6/10

[DatCat - Daunting Presence (NGUAC 2022 Knockout Round)]

I like the bass drone at the beginning and the echo-y synth at :13. The rhythm at :26 is a bit square, but I like the build-up into :53. The drums, especially the clap, and some of the synths (like the lead at 1:18) are a bit cheesy, but the mixing and mastering are really solid here. The melodies felt a tad stale at first, but by 1:40 they’re more dynamic and loose. The kick gets a little lost in the mix at around the 3-minute mark, although overall everything sits nicely in the mix, especially the lush synth bass. The chord progression is pretty cliche, and the arrangement of the piece also was a bit formulaic. I would’ve liked to see you vary the melodic content more for the second refrain at 3:17, although the transition leading up to that with the strings was a good idea. The outro winds down the piece nicely, giving a conclusive flourish to the piece. Overall, I’m impressed with the flow, rhythmic content, production quality, and sound design here. Some elements of the composition are a little generic and might benefit from some more automation, effects, and variety to loosen up the arrangement. Still, it’s going to be stuck in my head for a while. Keep at it, DatCat11! :)

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
.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

[Heuristic]

I like the quirky effects and percussion at the beginning. The atmosphere at :17 is nice and rich, and the heavy bass and brass help balance it out really well. I’m usually not a big fan of sudden shifts in the sound palette or energy level, but the abrupt transitions here fit the character of the piece rather well IMO. Ditto for the slow pacing. That said, I think the much more downtempo section at 2:08 could’ve been more well-integrated with the busier beat from earlier. The jazzy harmonies there help keep me engaged, and I like how you bring back a more mellow version of the quirky percussion and effects from the first half. The melancholy brass line was a great way of giving closure to a piece that, in retrospect, does seem rather reminiscent of a dying computer, both with the sound design and the mood. Evocative work here, Crescince! 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
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
9/10

Cresince responds:

Thank you as always for the detailed review, I am very glad you liked it!

[Critical Hypothesis]

I like the cute ascending piano line at the beginning and the rhythmic syncopations. The piece is a tad slow to progress at first, and I wish the drums took up a bit more space in the mix. Right now, they sound a bit thin and dry. The more melodic section at around the 1-minute mark is nice too, but I think the piano melodies could pop more with some reverb and other mixing effects. Also, some of the background synths here are a bit cheesy, like the main harmony line during the refrains. The melodies later on are also nice, although I think it would’ve made them feel that much more impactful emotionally if you had a stronger point of structural contrast somewhere in the middle (i.e., a longer breakdown where you strip away the rhythm section or at least switch up the instrumental palette more). That said, I’m enjoying the progression, rhythmic content, melodies, and mood of this piece, and despite the potential for more mixing effects, the mix is loud and clean as it is. Keep at it, ChaoticBou! :)

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
.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

[dynamism]

I like the bassy atmosphere at the beginning and the chilly pads. The crisp hi-hats at :20 and ghostly lead shortly thereafter are great, and the texture really comes together at the frantic breaks at :40. The rhythmic content is top-notch here, and the mix is also really clean and well-balanced. Frankly, ⅓ of the way through this piece I’ve already put it onto my favorites list. The quirky melodies and atmospheric details sprinkled throughout really make the piece what it is for me, and I love the vocal samples at 2:32 too. If I had to complain about one thing, it’s that by 3:29 this piece is long overdue for a change-of-pace or breakdown in the texture. That said, I appreciate you subverting expectations by putting the breakdown/bridge towards the end of the piece. In a way, this piece really comes full-circle by descending into this pensive tranquility. Keep up the good work, Cade! :D

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

[Dream, Run, Fly]

I like the quirky synth pads at the beginning and the cutesy arpeggios that fade in at around :12. The blissful melodies at :20 are really great, and the mixing is solid as well. Later on, the piece gets a tad repetitive, and also didn’t really feel structurally complete. That said, the guitar outro was a great idea, and the upbeat mood and rich atmosphere really won me over on this one. I’d encourage you to keep working on this one. It doesn’t quite scratch all of the itches (i.e., for melodic development, structural contrast, variety in the instrumental palette, etc.) that a full-length track probably would, but you already have me tapping my foot and bopping my head. Keep at it, BAOWZ-Tobass! :)

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

BAOWZ-Tobass responds:

Thanks. I'm agreeing with you. This is repetitive but quite addictive imo. I'll finish it if ever i find some new ideas for it

[OpenGain]

I like the quirky synths at the beginning and the cutesy riff at :10. The harmonic content is a bit bizarre here, with a lot of “jumps” and “runs” in the contour of the lead riff that make it a bit disorienting to listen to. At the same time, there isn’t much variety in the main riffs later on, and the entire composition feels a bit aimless and chaotic. I can tell you ran out of time to work on this, but I think the beats, quirky sound design, and cool use of echo and filtering effects are a good start. Keep at it, AnnieHer! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
5.75/10

[PROJECT - 20]

I like the staticky atmosphere at the beginning, although the synth pads and piano at :12 sound a tad unpolished. I might take a bit of the treble of the pads. The key change at :40 is a tad bizarre, but the beats are nice and crisp, and I like the warm sound of the bridge at 1:05. The spacey drops at 1:18 were also a good idea, and the added arpeggios at 1:43 help sell the blissful and triumphant mood and hit the piece home. The minimal outro felt a bit excessive - more of a breakdown than an outro, and not as conclusive as the climactic section that came before it. I think my main problem with the piece is with the cheesy sound design, but I enjoyed the harmonic content, progression, rhythmic elements, and atmosphere of this one. Keep at it, AniGlebGD! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.25/1
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

[The Mirror]

I like the mysterious mood at the beginning and the spacey pads. The cinematic quality of the piece is great, but the progression is a tad slow-paced and the mix could be more distinct in places. The string lines start to get a bit buried at around 1:30, for example. I love the pent-up tension of the piece, and the melodies at 2:08 help create a sense of resolution to the tension. That said, I couldn’t help but feel like elements of the piece were a bit dragged-out and underwhelming. I think you craft the narrative arc of this piece so well that you could’ve made the final climax much more dramatic, hard-hitting, and ambitious. But that’s less a critique and more of a missed opportunity. The sound design, progression, melodies, and atmosphere are all great as they are. My main complaint is that the mastering could be a bit tighter, but I think that’s a pretty straightforward matter of toning down the reverb and getting stricter with the equalizers. Overall, you’ve done a great job of channeling the emotion, creating full and rich textures, and reconnecting the piece with its mysterious origins towards the end. Keep it up, Ana! :)

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
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
8.5/10

[The Bell of Death - NGUAC]

I like the eerie church bells and spoken word vocals at the beginning. The rich synth bass at :14 and organ stabs fill out the texture nicely, although I thought the drum samples were a bit cliche. The texture is pretty reverb-heavy, and I think the drums get a little overwhelmed in the mix after a while. The groovy bridge at 1:42 has some great rhythmic content, though, and the quirky melodies at 2:15 further add variety to the harmonic framework. That said, I do think a lot of the chord progressions and arrangement elements of the piece were a bit generic here. The sound design and melodies are top-notch, though, and the thematic cohesion with the bells and vocals give the piece a strong narrative appeal. Keep at it, amishpimp! :)

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
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.75/10