TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Project Fate - Termination!!]

I like the creative percussion and quirky synths at the beginning. The mix is loud and punchy, but the drums still sound pretty dry and flat. Some more reverb and other mixing effects might help them pop a bit more. Some of the synths here are pretty cheesy, like the lead at :41, and I think the bass line could also stand to get a boost in the mix. At some point, I would’ve liked to hear an extended breakdown or bridge or something that stripped away the beat. Otherwise, the piece has a near-constant energy level, which is not very conducive to maintaining listener engagement. I also think the ending could’ve been a bit more creative than a fade-out. Overall, you clearly have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and progression, but some of the production details and sound design choices here could use a little more polish. Keep at it, MastaPowa7! ^_^

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
.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

MastaPowa7 responds:

Thanks for the constructive feedback. Just a quick note on the ending, I usually fade out my songs as most of my songs don't usually have an ending as they're meant to loop indefinitely, so fading out the song is usually how I end the songs. I don't know how else to end my songs that are meant to always loop other than fading out.

Also, because I use Rytmik Ultimate, I can't really add many effects as it doesn't have many of the common cool effects. On top of that, Rytmik Ultimate also has some limitations that makes it a hard sometimes to make and polish the songs the way I want to, but regardless I can still try to make an effort to try and make it as good as I can.

Again, thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it.

[Death to Ye Three]

I like the airy choir at the beginning. It even sounds like they’re even singing in Latin, which is pretty cool! The minimal, atmospheric part at :18 with the whispered vocals is just haunting, and I love the melancholy violin solo at :37 too. The enormous jump in pitch it takes at :54 is both incredibly graceful and reflective of the abruptness of death. I like the injection of energy at 1:11 and the more frantic string lines at 1:30. The tempo automations at 1:50 are nice, but I’m not sure I quite liked the mixing effects that made the vocals sound more hollow there - sounds pretty artificial. Still, the choir’s call-and-response action with the frantic string lines at 2:00ish are really nice, and the last vocal phrase hits the piece home well. I especially like the gong at the end. Overall, this is a really neat track with some killer sound design that would make any real-life violin player drip with sweat. :D Let me know if there’s somewhere I can download this, and in the meantime keep up the good work! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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
9.75/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

AHA! I knew there was some other review I hadn't replied to yet.
Thank you for the very high score! I too think this piece is one of my better ones :D

I suppose the downloads are disabled, because I have used this in a demo-reel somewhere. That said, there is a secret trick to downloading it using ctrl + shift and I, so feel free to do so! :3

Hope you're doing well, btw! Make sure to enjoy the summer!!

[AIM - Harmonic Dispersion]

I like the quirky pads at the beginning and the crisp hats at :10. The percussion that first hits at :17 sounds rather harsh in the mix, and also appears two more times later on, but once the texture evens out at :18, I’m loving the bright-sounding synths and joyous melodies. The breakdown at :55 was good for some structural contrast, but the distortion on some of the synths there was also a tad heavy, especially in the treble range of the frequency spectrum. Otherwise, the production quality here is solid throughout, with a full texture and well-balanced mix. The minimal “echo section” at 2:34 was a nice touch that helps add some variety before the final refrain. The final refrain at 2:54 is probably one of my favorite elements of the piece - just different enough from the ones that came before it to offer a strong sense of overarching progression and conclusion to the piece. Overall, I really like the sound design, melodic content, and mixing here, although I think a couple of small aspects of the production could use some cleaning up. The arrangement of the piece also seemed a bit formulaic at times, with regular changes to the texture every 8 or 16 bars, but not a lot of ebb and flow within the phrases. Still, between the cute, upbeat mood and dynamic melodies, you have me sold on this piece. Keep at it, LordAndiso! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

LordAndiso responds:

Thank you sooo much! I couldn't agree more. This is very helpful for me! I will take and learn from this!

[Link]

I like the relaxed mood at the beginning and the funky sound design. The crisp beats at :20 are especially nice, especially with that prominent hi-hat. The blissful piano line at :53 is also nice, but might’ve used a boost in the mix, since the E-piano pads seem almost as loud as it is. At some point, it might’ve been nice to switch up the harmonic framework or otherwise do more to create some variety. The melodies could’ve been a tad more dynamic here, and at times the arrangement felt a bit formulaic, with regular changes every 8 or 16 bars, but not a lot of ebb and flow within the phrase. Still, I really like the blissful tone of the piece, the sound design, and the production quality. Keep at it, Kitschy! ^_^

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
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
8/10

Kitschy responds:

Thank you for your valuable feedback! I really appreciate it!

[Epic of the Hero]

The flute melodies at the beginning sound graceful, but the instruments playing them don’t sound particularly authentic. Some reverb on the flutes might help enrich the sense of atmosphere, but the strings at :16 also accomplish that purpose pretty well. I like the sense of build into 1:01, but the cello there is also rather clearly fake, as is the guitar at 1:23. Sometimes, if you don’t have orchestral samples that sound real, it’s better to replace them with instruments that are meant to sound synthetic, even if you’re going for a cinematic vibe. It’s also fairly easy to get free or low-cost orchestral samples that sound decent. I’d suggest PM’ing @LD-W and joining the NG Audio Pub on Discord. The Resources tab there is full of great sample libraries and tips on where to find more.

Instrumentation aside, I really like the melodies and rhythmic syncopation in the drums. It did throw me off occasionally that the strings were playing dotted quarter-eighth-quarter-quarter instead of quarter-quarter-quarter-quarter when accompanying the guitar solo, but that’s a small detail. The harmonies were occasionally dissonant here, notably at around :55 and 2:40, but it bothers me less at 2:40 since that section is very transitional. Another compositional nitpick I have at 3:13 is that the cello solo seems a bit “over-decorated” - it’s squeezing in a lot of frantic notes that don’t always add a ton of interest to the melodic contour. I appreciate how you varied the guitar solo at 3:47 compared to the first one. The outro with the church bells and string arpeggios also works well.

Overall, there’s a lot to like with the melodies, progression, and rhythmic content here, and the mix sounds pretty clean and well-balanced. Work on beefing up your sample library, and this could be a top-notch track. Keep it up, Joel! ^_^

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

Joel-Phelps responds:

Thanks a lot for the review!

I'm glad you liked the atmosphere and melodies, and I will definitely look into getting better instruments.

[Double Flavored Femboy Smoothie]

I like the quirky percussion and the eerie organ synth at the beginning. The mix is a tad harsh-sounding for my tastes, but the rhythmic content is neat and the rich atmosphere. The harmonic content could use a bit more depth variety at some point, although the moody breakdown at 1:04 was a nice touch. The second half of the piece gets pretty repetitive, though, and overall I’d suggest fleshing out the structure a bit more. Despite my compositional complaints, the experimental texture is really cool, and you also get full credit for sound design and atmosphere. Also, this doesn’t factor into my scoring rubric, but the title is really creative too. :) Keep at it, JarJarZoinks!

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
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

2keg responds:

thanks for the review Mr.Logic bruv, gonna come back harder for next year's NGADM

[Challenged By The Captain]

I like the bubbly synths and blissful mood at the beginning. I might’ve liked to see a bit more of a hierarchy in the texture, though - it seems like the harmonies are as loud as, if not louder than, the melodies here. Also, the drums could’ve been a tad stronger in the mix, perhaps with some more compression. The melodies themselves are really enjoyable, and I also enjoy the flow of the piece. That said, there’s more you could’ve done to create an overarching sense of dynamism here. Right now, the energy levels are nearly constant throughout the piece - at some point, stripping away the beat or having a synth phrase that was softer in volume might’ve helped create some variety. Still, you’ve put together a catchy and compelling track here, Interloping! Keep it up! ^_^

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
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

Interloping responds:

Thank you so much, I am still learning how to use FL Studio, so a lot of the mixing and compressing qualities are a tad out of my reach at the moment. I will continue to experiment with features and hopefully place a higher ranking in the future

[Poprocket]

I like the blissful mood at the beginning and the triumphant-sounding lead at :32. Aspects of the sound design and chord progression are a bit generic, but the atmosphere here is engrossing, and your cadre of melodies really helps me stay invested in the piece. I like the more minimal breakdown at 2:10, and the warm pads and heavily reverberated synths during the next 30 seconds. I think my favorite aspect of the piece was the mixing - the instruments are just crystal clear, loud, and well-balanced throughout the track. If I had to complain about one thing, it might be that the piece never quite returns to the energy level it had during the first minute or two - I think that was a bit of a missed opportunity. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this track - it’s full of memorable, dynamic melodies, energetic beats, cutesy instrumentation, and a rich and soothing atmosphere. Keep it up, Hypervolt! ^_^

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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

Hypervolt responds:

Thanks for the feedback and kind words! Looking forward to keeping it up ;)

[Asteroid]

I like the dreamy synth riff and string pads at the beginning. The piece is a little slow to progress at first, but the crisp drums and added harmonies at around :40 are really nice. The oscillating pad that fades in at :38 sounds a bit too loud, and the way it was panned at :51 was a bit jarring tbh. The texture comes together well by 1:08, but the descending line the lead is playing still doesn’t seem very melodic or dynamic. I like the fat, grouchy synth bass and a lot of the other sound design elements. I also like the added harmonies during the second refrain at 2:35.

Overall, this piece is well-structured and smooth-flowing, with solid production quality and a killer atmosphere. Some of the compositional details could’ve been fleshed out a bit more, but honestly my biggest problem here is probably the extreme panning on that one pad - it’s just very distracting and unpleasant. Stereo widening is probably a better way of having an instrument like that blend in with the rest of the texture more - that’ll simultaneously pan the pads to both sides so that they sound more well-balanced. Otherwise, this is a catchy piece with a nice, soothing atmosphere. Keep at it, GlaceonDash! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.5/10

GlaceonDash responds:

This was made during a period when I discovered panning existed, so yeah!

I'll try my hardest the next time I make something similar, hopefully avoiding it sounding too harsh

[Sonic speed]

I like the bouncy beat at the beginning. The synths are a bit cheesy, though, and the mix sounds seriously distorted here. Notice how the drums sound a lot quieter at :32 than they did during the first 20 seconds? That’s a sign that the texture is getting distorted because you have multiple instruments playing at the same frequency range. You can fix it by adding a compressor to the drums, and then using an equalizer to filter out the bass tones (less than 200 Hertz or so) in the harmonic instruments (i.e., everything besides the bass and kick). I’m sure you can look up “how to use a compressor” or “how to use an equalizer” and then add the name of your DAW to help you navigate the technicalities of mixing in your specific program. You also might already be familiar with these mixing tools - you should use them way more often, is the point.

Production aside, I like the frantic arpeggios at :32, but I think the additional layering at :43 is a bit too much. I’m also enjoying the melodies at :53, although the transition at 1:15 came on a bit suddenly. After the breakdown at 1:15, the piece got pretty repetitive, and also has a pretty generic chord progression and arrangement. Overall, I think you have a good sense of rhythm, song structure, and harmony, but the composition needed more variety here and the mix could’ve been a lot tighter. Still, I enjoyed the house-inspired outro and the final build-up at 3:26. Keep at it, GEYXOR! :)

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
.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
6.75/10

GEYXOR responds:

tysm ill try to get better :D