TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[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.

[98]

I like the groovy synth riff at the beginning. The synth lead at :08 sounds a bit cheesy, and the harmonies there start clashing a bit with the other instruments harmonically - the dissonance is especially noticeable at :27 and :35. There are a couple of transitions here that are pretty abrupt, like at :23 - some of the initial harmonies suddenly cut out there, which is a bit jarring. I’d recommend using a sweep, crash, or drum fill to smooth it over. You have similarly abrupt transitions at :54 and 1:25.

I’d also recommend giving the structure a bit more of an ebb and flow. Right now, the beat is constant throughout the piece - a brief breakdown where you strip away the beat, or an atmospheric section with a special solo and different harmonies, would’ve helped create some variety.

Still, there are a lot of things to like here, like the individual harmonic riffs and the cutesy flourish at 2:03. You also have a really good sense of rhythm, and I like your use of 9/8 time. For much of the piece, it almost feels like two measures of 4/4 with an added beat, giving the entire piece a really refreshing, almost glitchy vibe. :D Keep at it, Toad-shroom! ^_^

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

toad-shroom responds:

Thank you for your tips! The way you explained things makes a lot of sense and I'll definitely consider those things moving forward. I hope to do more fun competitions in the future :)

[PartySlaughter (May 2022)]

I like the bouncy synths at the beginning and the energetic beats. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture here, which might be compromising the quality of the mix a bit. I might’ve liked the drums to get a bit of a boost, though. Aspects of the sound design are also pretty cheesy, like that acid synth at 1:18, and at some point I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodies. Still, the texture is full and rich throughout, and you clearly have a good sense of harmony, progression, and rhythm. Another compositional detail that might need work is just how constant the energy level is throughout the piece - more ebb and flow in the intensity of the piece would really help keep the listener engaged. There were also a few transitions that were a bit abrupt, notably at 3:03, although it’s probably nothing a sweep/crash combo can’t fix. Overall, solid work here, TNM! The mix could be a bit sharper, but the composition is catchy and well-structured, and the sound design, while a bit generic, fits the mood well. Keep it up! ^_^

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

TheNormalMusic responds:

I think that's a very fair rating for this song. It has a lot of issues, as it's quite old. Next time I will make a brand new song so I'll have more chance. Thank you for rating this song and for running the NGADM this year!

[Death (Horseman) | SynnCloud]

I like the echo-y church bells and heavy guitar riff at the beginning. The drums could’ve sounded a bit more punchy in the mix, although overall I think the mix is well-balanced. The section at :27 has a nice apprehensive vibe, and the progression at :54 is also suitable for the tension that’s building throughout the piece. At times, the arrangement feels a tad formulaic, with regular shifts in the texture every 8 bars or so, but not a lot of ebb and flow in the texture within those 8 bars. I also would’ve liked to hear some of the tension in the piece resolved at some point with a climactic solo or otherwise cathartic section. To be honest, it felt like the piece never quite got there. Still, I love the sound design, atmosphere, mood, and rhythmic content of the piece. Keep at it, Synncloud! ^_^

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
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

SynnCloud responds:

THANKS, ILL TAKE ALL THE TIPS <33

[Bleeding my Time]

I like the tempo automations and quirky atmosphere towards the beginning. The naked synth bass at :24 drags on for a bit too long IMO - kinda disrupted the flow there. The mix is very minimal and bottom-heavy, although I like the moody sound design and percussive texture. I think you could’ve foreshadowed the entrance of the vocals at 1:20 a bit better, and the harsh, distorted sounds by 1:33 or so are not my favorite. There are some other unexpected shifts in the texture, like 2:24, that could’ve been the subject of more gradual transitions. I really like the smooth pads that come in at 2:33 to mellow things out, though. I wasn’t a huge fan of the dissonant harmonies at 3:07 either. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed the stop-start pads during the outro at 3:50.

Overall, I appreciate the experimental approach you took to the sound design here, but the disjointed arrangement and thin, bass-y texture don’t do you many favors IMO. You get a lot of credit for creativity, atmosphere, and instrumentation, but as a listener I wanted some more repetition and depth in the harmonic content to hang onto after a while. Some of your choices regarding structure and tonality worked for me, but others plainly didn’t. Still, you’re clearly a talented producer with a knack for creating dissonant, moody textures. Keep at it, SroSocial! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
5.5/10

sro responds:

Appreciate the review and kind words. Clearly fundamentally we have very different approaches/views for music and that's fine, on some level, but please allow me to puke out a comment from muh soul.

I said something here with this song. Everything on it was intentional. Everything wrong with it's "grammar" was purposeful. Just like the song title, I portray what I'm saying in the song itself. Fundamentally I feel like we speak two different languages, me espiolah and you wagabugoo. Both holding different intentions: I want to be heard, not satisfy you. You want to be satisfied, while not hearing me.

That's my criticism of your review@4am. I accept and embrace the fact that I can't satisfy everyone, but idk this just felt like I was ignored in it all in favor of weird preferences for my song to become something it's not. Looks like you guys judged my song as a WIP to give feedback to, ya know?

;c

[FACUNDO GARDIOL - Airborne ( Future Bounce )]

I like the airy vocals at the beginning, although the way they’re layered over the beat in terms of the pattern of emphasis in the rhythm is a bit bizarre. I like the sense of build into :34, though, and the drop there is seriously catchy. The mix is clean and well-balanced, if a tad over-compressed for my tastes. I also like the synth drone and filtering during the post-chorus at 1:06. The arrangement, sound design, and chord progression of the piece are all pretty generic, and I would’ve liked to see more variety in the main melodies and drop later on in the piece. My favorite element of the piece is probably the production, which is punchy and crisp. The rhythmic content is also nice - this piece is upbeat and danceable, and it’s hard to go wrong with that. :) I might have to pass on the skydiving though lol. Keep at it, SPIRALi! ^_^

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.5/10

SPIRALi responds:

thanks!

[Seeking Light In The Darkness]

I like the waltzy piano riff at the beginning and the pensive, almost introspective mood. The piece could use a bit more atmosphere - reverb on the piano, sharper and more prominent percussion, etc. - but the strings and other layered harmonies as the piece goes on help the texture feel full and rich after a while. The production quality is not bad, but the mix is very quiet. I like how the piece comes full circle at the end with the waltzy piano riff. I also think the arrangement sounded a bit formulaic, with regular changes in the texture every 4 or 8 bars, but not a lot of ebb and flow within those 8 bars. Still, the elegant sound design, melodies, and soothing aura of this piece have really won me over. Keep at it, SomeGuy! ^_^

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
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
8/10

SomeGuyMusic responds:

Thank you!

[Mijn en ambacht]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning. The lead guitar at :07 sounds a bit inauthentic, but a bigger problem is how much it’s drowning out the drums and bass here. I’d suggest adding a bit more compression to the drums, and adjusting the volume levels on the bass as you can. The rhythmic content here is really nice - I especially like the drums at :24 - and the organ lines are also really catchy. The transition at :57 was very sudden, and during that section the drums in particular get very lost in the texture. The mallets at 1:13 were another cool sound design choice, but they don’t quite feel well-integrated with the synth patterns that come both before and after them. The stop-start transition at 2:02 is once again pretty jarring, but I thought it was really clever to slow down the pacing of the main riff at 2:02. There’s a lot of dissonance in the texture at around 2:30. I feel like you were going for a final climax there, but the texture was very muddy and the drums needed to be punchier to sell the sense of urgency given the slower tempo.

Overall, the sound design, rhythmic content, atmosphere, and mood of this piece are really good. The two big suggestions I have are 1) to work on your transitions and 2) to tighten up the mix. There are a lot of sudden shifts in the texture during your piece, and the result is that the arrangement is rather choppy. Instead of adding or subtracting instruments without warning, introducing them more gradually, or even doing a cross-fade with the lead instrument before it, could help keep the listener more grounded here. As for the mixing, the piece needs both some more compression across the board, maybe even on the master track, to give the mix some more sharpness and distinction, as well as some stricter equalizing. There are a lot of muddy, lower frequencies that should probably be filtered out of the harmonic instruments here - as a general rule of thumb, 200 Hertz and lower should only ever appear in the bass and drums.

Still, the compositional details and frantic melodies in this piece are totally cool. I hope you’ll continue working on this - lot of potential here. Keep at it, SirSandman0! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
6.75/10

SirSandman0 responds:

thank you for the feedback! I generally suck at audio mixing, so I'll definitely be making use of this.

[Left To Right]

There are some really neat ideas here, from the rhythmic content to the vocal samples to the effect that sounds like an emergency siren, to the airy synths. I just would’ve liked to hear more of it. You have a lot of pent-up tension in this piece, and I’d encourage you to make an epic build-up and drop cycle that (eventually) releases some of it. Until then, I’m not sure how to evaluate the “structure and transitions” or “melodies” part of my rubric here, because this piece doesn’t have any. Also, the production work could be a bit tighter here - the drums get a little lost in the mix when they’re trying to play over the synths. Sounds like a job for some more filtering/equalizers and compression. But this piece has a lot of potential, so you should definitely keep working on it. Feel free to send me a PM if and when you flesh out the composition more, and I’m happy to leave you another review. In the meantime, keep at it, Seyrnox! ^_^

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

Seyrnox responds:

Honestly I did this for fun (like everything that I do), it's normal that I didn't take into account almost anything so don't expect me to do a reedit or something like that