TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Aestrul - Hopeful Day]

The synths at the beginning are cute and airy. I wasn’t a huge fan of the drums at :22, though - the clap is very heavy, and the kick has a lot of upper-register tones. In fact, the entire texture has a bit too much reverb IMO, and the piece is also pretty slow to progress. There’s a good sense of build into 1:22, but the texture there is rather distorted. The call-and-response action between the acid bass and quirky pads was a good idea, but the harmonies they’re playing could’ve been more dynamic. The tranquil breakdown at 2:33 is nice, although it was also a bit of a missed opportunity to introduce some novel harmonic content into the piece. During the second drop at 4:12, the claps take up a lot of space in the mix, and the acid bass also distorts the mix a lot when it comes in. The texture would sound much clearer and more well-balanced without so much reverb on the synths and drums. The piece is also pretty repetitive after a while. At some point, it would’ve been nice to switch up the chord progression or add a new, more variational melody on top of the existing harmonies. Still, I really like the atmosphere and sound design of this piece, and the transitions and rhythmic content are also good. Clean up the production quality, and this piece could be a really banger. Keep at it, AstralJam! ^_^

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
.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

AstralJam responds:

Thanks!

[Alone in the light]

I like the airy piano line at the beginning. It threw me off a bit that it stops and re-starts again at :06, but the detuning work at :27 is pretty cool. From :28 to :46, the continued detuning coupled with the white noise filters and drum fills sounded pretty cheesy, though. The drop at :46 is catchy, and the chords on the down beat sound nice and rich, but most of the drop is pretty minimal and bottom-heavy in the mix. The transition into the breakdown at 1:21 is a bit abrupt, but I like the creepy piano riff at 1:29 and how you integrate the busy beat of the drop and the piano and atmosphere elements of the intro at 1:38. I still think the mix sounds a tad thin here - you might consider giving some of the harmonic instruments a bit more room in the EQ if possible. Still, the soaring piano lines and demented bass riffs towards the end really help this piece come together nicely. Keep it up, Artackni! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

Artackni responds:

Thanks for the review! This song was a big milestone for me, as I finally (almost) got the sound I wanted to get. Definately will be doing melodic neurofunk for NGUAC, and gotta say, I improved a lot since then, in, well, everything, but most importantly, mixing and mastering. Excited to see if I make it to the final round, or, perhaps, even win the competition!

[epic drop]

I like the catchy synth riff and crisp beats at the beginning. The lead synth sounds a tad distorted in the mix at :16, and you can tell the higher-pitched synth is getting distorted by the heavy bass underneath at :27. You might try getting a bit stricter with the equalizers - really make sure that none of the harmonic instruments (i.e., everything except the bass or drums) have frequencies below 200 Hertz or so. I also think there are a couple of sudden transitions here, like at :51 and 1:03. That said, I like the cutesy instrumentation and more upbeat tone to the piece by 1:20 or so. The open hat at 1:27 is another element that seriously gets buried in the mix - that might be a good candidate for some stereo widening or something. During this middle section (1:20 - 2:30 or so), you also overuse the stop-start transitions, like at 2:01 and 2:14.

I like how you brought back the riff at the beginning at 2:19, although the vocal bridge didn’t quite work for me. It kinda disrupted the flow of the rest of the piece - it would’ve been better if you had kept the beat going while delivering the vocals at the same time. Again, the hat at 2:50 needs a bit of a boost in the mix, and much of the content during the next minute felt a bit repetitive. I like the transition with the arpeggios at 3:27, and the bass-y breaks at 3:47 are also cool, but the mid-range pad you layer on there at 3:51 needs to poke through the mix more. Towards the end, I would’ve liked to see you vary some of the main riffs a bit more, especially the one at 4:05. That said, the melodic flourish at the very end of the piece was very well done.

Overall, I like a lot of the compositional elements of the piece, as well as the sound design, but the mixing could use some cleaning up, and the arrangement is a bit choppy at times. Still, I really enjoyed the rhythmic content, creative drum lines, and rich atmosphere of the piece. Keep at it, AndrewCr! ^_^

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
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

AndrewCr responds:

I just noticed this, sorry for replying late!
Thanks for the criticism, I can tell you really looked into it and brought up every single mistake. Still, I'm not changing anything, I want to keep the original here

P.S.: Btw, I actually didn't know about that 200 Hz thing, thanks for that!

[Onslaught]

The synth at the beginning is cool, and by :12 or so I’m really digging the rhythmic content. Most of the instruments here sound pretty dry, though. Have you considered adding some reverb or other mixing effects to fill out the atmosphere a bit more? The texture is pretty thin and bottom-heavy, with not a lot of atmospheric or melodic content to counterbalance the prominent rhythm section. I also found the stop-start transition at 1:35 to be a bit jarring. The strings during the second half of the piece were a good idea, but by 2:00 or so I can barely hear them - I think the bass is overwhelming them. The piece has a lot of pent-up tension, but not much in the way of a “point of arrival” or climax that helps release some of that tension. With a little more effort, I could see this piece making a really good loop, but in terms of a stand-alone composition I also wanted to see more higher-pitched tones and and more memorable harmonic riffs. Still, the sound design is really cool - reminds me of some soundtracks @ConnorGrail has made. I’d encourage you to keep working on this, though - with some additional harmonic layering it could be a total banger. Keep at it, AdmiralEnsin! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
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
6.5/10

AdmiralEnsin responds:

yeah i made this a long time ago when i wasn't very experienced. thanks for the feedback though

[Shine Bright]

I like the bassy groove at the beginning. Really refreshing sound design throughout this piece, and the drums are nice and crisp in the mix, which is great to see. The melodies at :19 could use a serious boost, though - the bass and pads kinda overwhelm them right now. Otherwise, the piece could use a tad more structuring - a bit more ebb and flow over time to really sell the narrative aspect of the piece. I’d encourage you to keep working on this. You already have the instrumentation, atmosphere, and melodic content nailed. You could do a lot more with the composition, though. I want to hear those melodies take it to the dance floor at some point, not just hide in the back of the party by the punch bowl (or, to be more literal, I’d suggest using some more compression on them and push up the gain knob a bit). Still, you’ve already got a great sound brewing here. Keep at it, Xanaxo! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
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

xanxoepico responds:

Ayyyyy thank you very much for the detailed review! I'm still working on my composition aspects, trying to get better every time, hell this song in particular was a bit of a step forward compared to my previous stuff, but I still get too comfortable with repetition me thinks.


Also it's xanxo not xanaxo! XD

[Ritualistic Alchemy]

I like the foreboding atmosphere at the beginning, the storm sound effects, and the percussion that sounds like a ticking clock. The demonic vocals at :35 and the cinematic flair of the rest of the sound design are really great together, and the sense of build into 1:07 is nice too. The drop itself is a bit minimal, though, and I might’ve filtered out some of the high-end frequencies on that atmospheric screeching. The majestic breakdown at 1:54 is absolutely gorgeous, and I like when you integrate the orchestral sound design with the energetic beats at 2:24. The string arpeggios at 3:00 are a good way of re-introducing the listener to the ominous overtones of the piece, and I like the way the drop at 3:30 leads with the bass this time, as opposed to the upper-register content. I really like the jittery vocals during the outro at 4:47.

Overall, I think my favorite element of this piece is the production quality - everything sounds really loud, clean, and clear in the mix - although sometimes the harmonies could’ve used a bit more room to fill the atmosphere (the synth guitar at 3:54 comes to mind). The composition is enjoyable, despite the minimal drops, and the sound design is top-notch. The arrangement and harmonic framework are a tad generic, but otherwise you really made this piece your own with the apprehensive mood and instrumentation. Keep at it, WingsOfAsh! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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
8.25/10

ESHRR responds:

Thanks for the review! I’m excited to start the next round!

[[unfinished] behind us]

I like the soothing, mellow synth at the beginning. The bass at :10 is a bit too loud relative to the other elements of the texture, although maybe the distortion on it is what’s really bothering me. The drums at :19 are a bit dry, and could use some more mixing effects (especially reverb) to help them contribute more to the atmosphere of the piece. The quirky synths at :38 help fill that void, but at some point in this piece I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodies. The reverb automations at 1:10 or so are pretty sweet, and I like the re-intro at 1:17 too. The spoken word vocals at 1:35 are also a tad loud, and don’t blend in with the instrumentals quite how I want them to. I also would’ve liked to hear some more variety during the refrain at 1:55 compared to the first time those riffs appeared. Still, overall I enjoyed the sound design and atmosphere of this piece a lot. Also, the mix is loud and clean, despite my complaints about certain elements of the texture being too loud at various times. Overall, I enjoyed this piece a lot - it’s spacey, catchy, and smooth-flowing. A good combination of attributes to have for a song about moving on. :) Keep at it, VirtuaLI! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
7.75/10

VirtuaLIkimono responds:

OH AH THANK YOU!!! I am very glad that you liked this track. I spent a lot of time on it. I'll take your comments into account. It was difficult for us to work on the sound, as we are not very experienced musicians yet.

[Tankmen's Hotrod]

I like the gritty texture at the beginning - sounds like the Devil is sharpening his pitchfork. The guitar riff at :08 is a bit muddy and indistinct - I can’t tell if the recording quality is bad, or you tried to add distortion or other mixing effects, but either way it could be a lot sharper. The orchestral sample at :23 feels a bit out-of-place, and then the distortion and indistinction on the second round of guitar riffs at :28 is even worse. Admittedly, I’m a little confused about what’s going on here. Which of the sounds I’m hearing are samples. Which were recorded. Which were manipulated in your DAW and which are fairly “raw.” Either way, it doesn’t really sound like a cohesive or structurally complete piece yet. Sorry. I think integrating the gritty synths at the beginning with the guitar riffs might make for a compelling grunge track, but first the guitars should definitely be re-recorded or otherwise polished up in your DAW. Seriously, please let me know how the different elements of this piece came together so I can offer you some more constructive advice. But for now, keep at it, VoV! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
3/10

VilestOfVile responds:

I think the same thing about it, actually. No need to apologize, criticism is what I'm always looking for :3
Yes, samples were used and I think this one could've been better. I'm currently in the middle of saving for FL studio because fuck Bandlab.

[Collar]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the jazzy organ-sounding thing at :03. The drums are a bit soft in the mix throughout the piece, and could use some more compression. The transition at :29 really throws me off - you replaced a rich atmospheric, and pensive texture for a minimal and cheesy one. The jazzy atmosphere and bass blend well together at :48, but I think you may have been better off just layering the bass on top of the rest of the atmosphere at :29 as opposed to giving it its own interlude. The transition into the section with the new bass line at 1:20 was smoother, although having two competing bass lines at 1:25 probably wasn’t the best idea. Each would stand out more if you transposed one of them up an octave or two.

The bass riff at 1:44 is catchy, but also doesn’t seem very interconnected with the texture that came beforehand. The entire mix is especially bottom-heavy during this section (until 2:55), and could use some upper-mid-range harmonies to balance out the competing bass lines. The re-intro at 3:12 is a bit drab, and at this point in the song I would’ve liked to see you shake up the harmonic framework or even introduce a new instrument or melody, just for variety. Instead, the entire second half of the piece seems to be content that I’ve already heard earlier, or at least doesn’t do much to give the track a sense of overarching narrative or progression.

Overall, there are a lot of good isolated ideas here, from the groovy bass riffs to the rich atmospheric textures to the jazzy harmonies early on. You clearly have a good sense of rhythm and melody. Now I just want to see you integrate the different harmonic ideas in this piece into more of a cohesive whole, while creating more variety in the energy level and sound palette to maintain interest over a long 6.5 minutes. It’s doable, and I’d encourage you to keep working on this piece. Also, a relatively easy fix is slapping a compressor on those drums and using the gain knob and maybe a little reverb on the snare to ensure that they pop through the mix throughout the piece. Feel free to send me a PM after you incorporate the judges’ feedback, and I’ll leave you another review. Keep at it, TVP06! ^_^

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
.75/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
5.75/10

TVP06 responds:

Thanks, I'll keep your advice in mind as I was planning on fixing up Collar sometime due to its rushed nature.

[Xeveir and Xeron vs. XH (ft. JinoBeats) - Eternal SubconsciencƎ]

The breathy vocals at the beginning have a nice, haunting vibe, and the frantic percussion helps enhance that feeling too. The vocals at :15 are good, although it’s a bit unconventional to pan them to one side like that, and in general it’s very hard to make them out in the mix. The loud, distorted, and heavy drop at :38 was not my cup of tea. The atmosphere there was pretty creative, but the spammy rolled percussion took away all sense of rhythmic appeal, and the pads and other harmonic elements are really hard to make out in the mix. I might’ve actually used 1:01, the post-chorus, as the full drop. The harmonies come through a bit better at 1:26, but the rolled percussion is just a little too prominent and distorted in the mix there for my tastes. The vocals also get fairly repetitive after a while.

The breakdown at 2:34 was a nice relief from the harsh mastering of the previous 2 minutes of content. I like the dreamy synths and warm strings there a lot. The soulful vocals at 2:57 add a great, emotional appeal to the texture. You also integrate that soulful verse well back into the harsher refrain at 3:50. The guitar solos at 4:14 are nice, although they overwhelm the vocals in the mix a bit too much IMO. The breathy vocals at 4:40 are good for some variety, too, but the “eternal subconscious” vocals that follow are seriously overused at this point.

Overall, the composition and sound design are solid here, but the mastering seriously detracts from my enjoyment of the piece. The volume levels are seriously out of control, and the level of distortion in the texture obliterates most of the harmonic content. Still, I can tell that you’re a talented producer, and I think it would’ve take much to rein in the volume levels, limit the distortion on the drums, and make this piece a well-balanced and still-catchy banger. Keep at it, TurbonicZ! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.75/2
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
7/10

TurbonicZ responds:

Most of the "Distorted percussion" wasn't on my end, it was by XH/Nari's since his speedcore style is MUCH more distorted than mine.