TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Saying Goodbye]

The synth at the beginning is cute, and leaves you a lot of room for climax and dynamic contrast. The chord progression is a textbook cliche, and the progression is quite slow. Some of your drums samples (like the open hat and clap) are also pretty generic. I liked the blissful, climactic part at the 1-minute mark. That said, you seem to have arpeggios in place of melodic content in this piece, which doesn’t quite satisfy my criteria. I liked the re-intro at 1:45, although I would’ve liked to see the progression work a bit faster than in the first half of the piece. I think you could’ve done a lot more to vary the piece during the second half, as structurally the two halves of the piece are VERY similar. Overall, it’s a cute piece with some solid mastering and a decent atmosphere, but it needs more prominent melodic content and a more creative arrangement, sound design, and progression. Keep at it, Gawne!

6.5/10

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.5/10

jagiak responds:

Thanks for the feedback!
Although I don't have a whole lot of time for music anymore, I'll try to remember what you said for future tracks...

[Conscience]

I like the airy piano and melodic content at the beginning. There could be a stronger sense of climax into :29, especially because of all the different instruments you added at that point. The sweep is a bit like patching up a bullet wound with a band-aid, so-to-speak. The melodic content at :29 is really enjoyable, though. The build-up at 1:01 was a bit cheesy, but leads into 1:14 really well. I like the strong rhythmic components and synths there. The song is pretty repetitive after that, at least with regards to the chord progression, but you do have a variety of melodies to help keep the piece engaging. The section at 2:45 was a bit bizarre with the constant drone of that one synth, but it leads into the subsequent build-up quite well. I rarely say things like this (because usually people have too little variety), but I appreciated how the second drop at 3:14 was so similar to the first one as a point of catharsis. The ending of the piece with the abrupt clap/sweep combo at 3:59 was a bit lazy, though. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. You clearly have a strong sense of melody, harmony, and rhythm, and the production quality was rather good throughout. Keep it up, GamerthoFR26!

9.25/10

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
9.25/10

Olindel responds:

Yayyyy thank you so much! It makes me sooooo happy! I don't have the words to say thank you... \(^_^)/

[There's always a way]

I like the dreamy atmosphere at the beginning and the instrumentation. The progression is a tad slow, and the transition at :45 could use some smoothing over. That said, I really like the prominent arpeggios at :45, despite the fact that they’re a bit too far forward in the mix once the melodic content at 1:16 comes in. It’s a feel-good track, albeit a bit generic. I also think you could’ve done a lot more creative things with the drums, especially during the refrain. Speaking of the refrain, I think it lasts too long without much variety. The breakdown section at the 2-minute mark was a welcome change, and the transition back into the refrain at 2:45 was solid. I think there are some balance issues in the piece. For example, the refrain at 2:45 feels jarringly louder compared to the earlier climactic content. In a way, I’m tempted to commend you for creating a strong sense of directionality and resolve by saving the “best for last,” so-to-speak. But I’m afraid the volume levels are a bit too extreme for it to mirror the feel-good vibe the piece gives off. At the same time, I think more subtle changes in the volume levels and automation/filtering alike would help fix some of these abrupt transitions. Overall, though, I was captivated by the blissful mood and melodic content of the piece, and my compositional complaints (other than the transitions, perhaps) are mostly small details. Keep up the good work, Dukebartje!

8.5/10

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
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

dukebartje responds:

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback! I mostly like rough transitions, but I understand that some of these could have been better to compliment the piece. The volume is an issue, I'll adress that in my future music. Thank you very much for the help so I can grow!

[Lost Forever (Official Remaster)]

I like the somewhat foreboding piano chords at the beginning. The beat is kinda the main feature of the texture for a while, but the synths are pretty cool. Despite the slow progression, you kept a strong sense of directionality throughout the first minute or so. Unfortunately, the intro (as I see it lasting until 1:26) doesn’t really lead anywhere. The piece has a nice shape and phrasing, but is quite minimalistic throughout. The arpeggiated content at 1:51 also doesn’t offer a satisfying substitute for melodic content, which this piece badly needs more of. I didn’t notice any particular problems with the mixing besides a lack of thickness. Even sections like 3:32 lack bass, before devolving into a section like 3:43 that doesn’t really blend well. Overall, I can tell you’re a talented producer, and the sound design was proficient. That said, the composition is seriously weak here. I think you should consolidate some of your ideas (the piece doesn’t need to be 6 minutes long) and focus on offering the listener some more harmonic depth. Also, I personally don’t mind the atonal sections too much, but that’s certainly something to watch out for in the future as well. Nice job with the atmosphere, instruments, and flow. Keep at it, DJTECKIE!

6.5/10

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.5/2
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?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.5/10

DJTECKIE responds:

Thanks a lot for the feedback! :D I revised the track and making the proper improvements. I appreciate the feedback it's just what I need to improve for my future tracks ^_^
-TECKIE-

[Artificial Imagination]

I like the creepy atmospheric elements of the beginning. The texture sounds pretty distorted and experimental for a while, and the transition at :33 comes on pretty suddenly. The beat at :45 is really cool. You have a great sense of rhythm and harmony, although I think the progression needs some work. The piece has a lot of abrupt entrances of instruments. I’d encourage you to consider doing more with phrasing, cross-fading, automation, and maybe even more generic things like sweeps/risers. The frantic energy of the piece is quite captivating, however, and the mastering quality is impressive. The texture is both thick throughout and cleanly mixed. Despite the rich texture, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of strong melodic content in the piece. That said, my main problem with the piece is still the transitions. I think it’s especially rueful that 3:12 (a rather exposed spot) is such a non-transition. Still, the other compositional elements are strong, and the production and sound design are top-notch here. Keep it up, DjCrystalux!

9.25/10

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?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

CrystaluxX responds:

Thank you <3

[Rotten Star]

I like the retro-sounding pads at the beginning, even if they sounded a tad generic. The mix is VERY loud, and the guitars really take over the texture by :31. I guess I would’ve liked to see a little more room in the mix for the drums there. I was a little confused by the role of the panning at :51, especially since not much is going on besides the guitar riff there. After that, the energy is nice, and the guitar riffs are quite catchy, but the progression is much slower. The texture is oscillating between the guitar-heavy section and the more synth-based refrain for quite some time, but within that paradigm there’s not much structural variety. At some point, I would’ve liked to see the piece get some more shape and contrast. The section at 3:13 is a good start, and I really liked the solo at 3:35, but the intensity of this piece is near-constant throughout. I feel like you may have needed a more tranquil section to refocus the energy earlier in the piece. Overall, the composition sounds much more dynamic by the end, which is a huge plus. The octave transposition with the synths for the final refrain was also a smart move. It really sold the emotional climax as the piece wrapped up. Overall, this is undeniably strong work. My detail-oriented compositional complaints amount to little in the midst of some strong instrumentation, production quality, and passion. Keep up the good work, Denza91!

9.25/10

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
9.25/10

MisledSatellite responds:

Thank you for such a detailed review. And thank you for inviting me to NGUAC 2018.)

[Swerve]

The gritty sitar sample at the beginning complements the punchy beat well. The sub-bass is scrumptious, and the production is both loud and clear. I think the sitar sounds a bit harsh at times. It might need some more careful equalizing. That said, my main complaints here include the lack of harmonic depth and the lack of dynamism in the composition. The minimalism wears on me after a while, and I would’ve liked to see some more phrasing, automation, and other forms of variation. That said, I appreciate the additional layering of synths during the second half of the piece. The strong rhythmic elements, mastering quality, fun sound design, catchiness, and dark mood are all huge pluses, though. Keep at it, Delitescentaria!

7.75/10

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

DelitescentAria responds:

woo! thanks for coming back for a second year dude :)

it sucks that I probably can't make a track for knock-outs but I sure am proud to have made it there this year! here's to hoping i can make it even further next year :)

cheers mate

[Cs - 'Risen']

I like the fade-in at the beginning and the powerful chords. The drums are a bit cliche, and the frantic bass line at :10 takes over the mix a bit too much imo. It just sounded pretty harsh. The production quality is generally quite good here, though. The piece doesn’t have that much melodic content in the texture. Other than the breakdown at :48, it’s mostly just chords and some supporting harmonies. The tempo automation at around 1:20 was a creative idea, but ultimately I don’t think it leads much of anywhere. Your production has improved considerably as I recall, but I wanted to see you flesh out the composition a bit more here. The chord progression is really cool, but I don’t think it should be the main attraction in the texture for so much of the piece. I’d suggest that you try crafting some melodic content that supports the chords, and then integrating some rhythmic content that complements the melodic content. Right now, the drums are well-mastered, yet the pattern usually only falls on the strong beats of the measure and could be more creative. Overall, this is strong work on the production side, but the composition is not quite as rich and dynamic as I’d like to see. Keep at it, Cusukskos!

5/10

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

Csucskos responds:

Now the tempo change seems a little lame, but it felt very spot on during the making...so... I don't know what happened... Anyways, I agree that the song is lacking something...
OK, I finally should look into melody making, since I haven't really made progress on this front in the past year. (From your last years NGADM review: "...Overall, I’d strongly suggest creating a piece centered around a stronger melody next time. ...")
Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely consider making a move towards more melody centric music... In the near future... Maybe. ;) (I mean I'm not very good at it, so it's hard to make myself even try it.)

P.S.: I don't know how you do it, but even with a 50 % score I feel like I got an A because of the wording. Magical!

[Flight]

I like the cute synths at the beginning and the build-up into :15. The instrumentation is occasionally a bit cheesy, especially the 3xOsc sweeps. That said, the progression is quite satisfying and the mix is loud and pretty clean. The drop at 1:00 was pretty good, although I think that mid-range bass is hijacking the mix a bit too much. You might consider equalizing it a bit more strictly. I also appreciated the more tranquil section at 1:45. It was nice for some structural variety. I’m really enjoying the pulsing pads and floaty arpeggios by around 2:30. Perhaps I would’ve liked to see a bit more variation on the main melody by the end of the piece, but at the very least I like how you brought it around full-circle with those square-sounding stabs. Overall, I’m particularly impressed by the structuring and the thick texture throughout. Great work, ChrisTheGamer!

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
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

CrisTheGamer responds:

Thank you!
Yeah, now I realize the track needs a melody change or variety at the ending...
And the bass at the drop hijacks the mix, I understand, so EQ would have worked better than loudness. Got memorized!
I'll also try to learn more about musical theory and mixing!

[You're the Same]

Woah...hitting the listener right away with the sensual violin line, I see. The progression at the beginning sounds so romantic and wistful, and then the piano really comes down hard at :45. The violin sample is pretty good too, and the quality doesn't really deteriorate too noticeably in its higher range, which happens in a lot of other samples in my experience. The progression is beautiful, and the melodic content is too. The piece had a very similar phrase structure from :43 to 2:00 or so, but it still felt pretty dynamic in terms of volume and harmonics.

I'm curious what the title means to you. "You're the same" almost sounds disappointed, like the protagonist's idyllic memory of a lover doesn't quite hold up. Or maybe...he (the lover) is the same amazing man he's always been and it's just because he wasn't with her that he fell back into a monotonous and empty life. My literary inclinations aside, the layered violin section at 2:26 was gorgeous, and I also really like the part at 2:51 with the rapidly ascending lines. As the piece ages, the violin line almost sounds like it's wavering rapidly between emotions and registers, much like our protagonist. XD Okay, I'm done with that now.

I also really liked when the piece took a more slow-paced and somber tone at 4:10. You resolved the thematic content of this piece really well with the leapy ascending lines at around 4:25 and the subsequent return to the highest register. If you happen to have a sheet music adaptation of the piece (which is a long shot, I know), I'd love to show it to some of my friends who play the violin. I'm curious to see if the double stops hold up as actually playable. :) Also, where did you get that violin sample, might I ask? I've probably asked you where you get your samples before, but I'd like to invest in some myself.

Fantastic piece overall, Ale. I feel like I've doubled the size of my favorites list recently between AIM, NGUAC, and now the NGADM, but people on this site are just so damn talented (you included!). I know I still haven't responded to the PM you sent me a while back. I'll fix that soon. But until then, best of luck in the ADM and keep up the great work!

Also, this is my 2,500th audio review on the site, so consider that a good omen. ^_^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

I was contemplating whether I should bring in the violin later or not. Jordi told me I should probably have it come right in at the start, and then take a break for a few bars when the piano gets more intense at 0:45. That made a lot of sense to me, so props to him for the suggestion!!!

I experimented a lot with the highest of high violin notes (a few harmonics too, but I kept them to a minimum, as that could have gotten insane had I allowed it to, haha) at the start, and throughout the piece. As you say, the quality doesn't really drop with this VST even in the high register. The classical musician and virtuoso Joshua Bell recorded more than 20.000 samples for Embertone, with his Gibson ex Huberman 1713 Stradivari violin. Then the team programmed it insanely well, so that it could be incredibly expressive in a number of different styles. It's seriously the best VST instrument I've seen. It costs 199$ though, but you can get a "20% off" student price:

https://www.embertone.com/instruments/joshuabellviolin.php

The title means a couple things to me, though I didn't want to point it out in the description, as I enjoy having the listener interpret the piece themselves (like you did). One interpretation is that the piece is about someone's continuous refusal to change their destructive behaviour. Another is a warning not to be so quick to blame others. I basically imagined a scenario where two people are accountable for having done something terrible, but they both blame each other ("You're the Same" then implying, that both people bear the same burden).
I enjoyed your interpretations too!

The layered violin section (2:26) is still only one violin. Since three notes are playing at once, it'd be incredibly difficult to play it that cleanly for real. Should be possible though! The high notes are probably difficult to play in a manner that sounds this clean as well, but I'd like to pretend that I have Joshua Bell himself performing the piece, haha :'D
Unfortunately I don't have sheet music for this. I would generate some for you, but the entire piece is off-tempo, meaning it's not quantized (and thusly, the software doesn't understand it that well).

I totally messed up while playing that slower section at 3:31 on the piano, and I didn't have time to re-record, so I ended up fixing it in post. I feel it was necessary after all the bulding up and the climax. 4:10 is like a sort of rerun of the beginning of the piece, but with a slightly different feel. I'm glad you like that part. Good catch on the ascending lines (the violin actually plays the main piano melody at that point)!

Thank you for the review! And WOW!! :O
That's a lot of reviews xD
I feel lucky to be the 2,500th one ^__^