TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Ghost Warriors - Zero Chance]

I like the pensive piano riff at the beginning and the low strings. The vocals at :20 are wonderful - they really blend in well with the atmosphere. The kick drum at :56 sounds a little too sub-bassy for a piece like this, but once the snare comes in I’m acclimated to it. The uplifting piano chords at around the 2-minute mark were nice, and the guitar at 2:14 was a pleasant surprise. The drawn-out, atmospheric outro was really neat too. I think some more melodic content later on in the piece would really help hit it home, but this piece still has a nice narrative arc to it. Good job with the sound design, mixing, and progression. Strong work, GhostWarriors! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

GhostWarriors responds:

Thank you very much for such a detailed assessment!
I am glad to hear that you like this composition

[00FF 1u]

I like the ominous atmosphere at the beginning. The percussion at :24 sounds a bit dry and unpolished, and the mix is pretty distorted. There’s very little in the way of mid-range or treble tones in the texture, which would make the piece sound much more balanced. Instead, the kick drum and a number of bass riffs dominate the texture for most of the piece. I think you could do a lot more with harmonizing here - right now, the harmonic content is pretty minimal and bland. The piece also didn’t really have any meaningful overarching structure to justify its being 13 minutes long.

The excess of bass tones and riffs is something that could more easily be fixed using the “slot” method. Ideally, you’d assign one or two instruments each to the bass range, mid-low, middle, high-mid, and treble range. That way, the texture comes out sounding more balanced and full. Otherwise, it’s hard to make out all the individual bass riffs you have playing at once. Higher pitched riffs might also sound more melodic, which is another thing that’s missing in this track: melodic content. Overall, I want you to consolidate your ideas and focus on harmonizing. With a minimal texture like this, your tracks just won’t keep listeners engaged for 13 minutes.

It’s certainly not all bad, though. You have a good sense of rhythm and atmosphere, and a lot of the individual riffs here are really cool, like the sub-bass at around the 10-minute mark. Keep working at it, man! Feel free to PM me if you’re ever looking for feedback on one of your projects. :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.75/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
4/10

geonb responds:

Thanks I will try that I also posten the wrong track thanks

[Elise of the East]

I like the nature sound effects at the beginning. The guitar riff at :07 sounds a little overly contained, which dampens the easy-going vibe of the beat and vocals. Maybe it’s the recording quality? Or the acoustics in the space where you recorded it? I really like the soothing vocals and smooth pads at :23, though. The chorus at :57 is well-written, but the production sounds a little indistinct and the main guitar still sounds like it needs more breathing room in the mix. If you used a DAW to put this together, I’d suggest slapping an equalizer on the guitar and making sure that all the frequencies are coming through on the recording. Something sounds off there. Anyway, it was nice to hear you break the verse-chorus structure by 2:43, although the different vocal passages don’t really blend super well together there - again, it’s more of a mixing problem than a compositional one. Either way, I like the drum fill at the end and the overall mood of this one. I can tell you’re a talented singer and songwriter, and you’ve definitely earned a scout. Keep at it, Gald! :)

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.5/10

Gald responds:

Thank you for the very detailed and honest response!
This is the kind of response that makes me feel good about what I'm doing.

[Epic Celebration]

I like the bright-sounding strings and atmosphere at the beginning. Sound design here is really interesting, actually. The vocals at :16 are super cool, and the rhythmic content gives the piece a fun danceable flair. The harmonic content is really repetitive, but the mixing is strong. The ride cymbals you use at times, like at 1:46, were another good choice orchestration-wise. Overall, my main problem with the piece is the repetitive riffs. You did a good job of varying the instrumentation and energy levels, especially with that furtive-sounding breakdown at 2:40, but the entire structure is basically the same 15-second riff on repeat for 5.5 minutes. Especially in such a long piece, I really wanted to hear some new chord progressions, melodic ideas, and rhythmic patterns at some point. Still, you’re clearly a talented producer with a good sense of sound design, rhythm, and progression. Keep at it, FLAVOUR-STAR! :)

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
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
7.25/10

FLAVOUR-STAR responds:

Thanks for the detailed rating. You're right, a little more melodic variety would have done the piece good and was responsible for the narrow failure. Cheers. :)

[EverythingYouWish - Divided]

I like the ominous synth riffs at the beginning. The mix sounds a bit muddy by :17 - maybe there’s a bit too much reverb in the texture? You might also need to get a little stricter with the equalizers - seems like a lot of the distortion comes from the bass range. The sound design at :45 is pretty cool, but the compression is a bit too heavy for my tastes and the harmonic content is a little repetitive and bland, which only continues in the second half. Overall, I enjoyed the rhythmic content, mood, and the catchy riffs, but I think the mixing needs a little more attention and the composition is pretty underwhelming. I think it would help the listener to stay engaged if you tried to contrast these apprehensive beats with a section that was more melodic, or maybe just atmospheric, at some point. That way, there would be more variety in the arrangement. Still, I think this piece is worth a second version. PM me if you ever get around to it, and I’ll drop you another review. Keep at it, EverythingYouWish! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.75/2
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
4.5/10

EverythingYouWish responds:

Thank you TaintedLogic! You opened my eyes to what was not obvious before, and now that I am aware I can make better music. Glad you had the chance and time to review me. ;)

[Electro H House]

Really creative percussion at the beginning. There’s a bit of dissonance in the texture, but that in turn helps enhance the mood. It’s a pretty minimal piece, especially towards the high end of the frequency range. The flow of the piece is pretty smooth, although sometimes there are sudden changes in the instrumentation that have a crash as a kind of “Band-Aid” way of smoothing it over - good example is 1:50. I’d also like to see a little more variety in the energy level and instrumental hierarchy at some point. A breakdown or bridge that was more atmospheric or melodic would help provide some contrast to the gritty texture and rhythmic nature of the rest of the piece. I also want you to think more about the arrangement - it doesn’t really feel like the order of the phrases or the way they’re connected is building towards something. It leaves the piece feeling more like a tapestry of sound than a coherent narrative. That said, I really enjoyed the rhythmic content, mood, and mixing here. Keep at it, EODTC! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.25/10

EODTC responds:

Thx bro I'll work hard next time, I appreciate you writing this for me cause it's going to help in the long run cause I know my music needs some help and this is the perfect explanation thx bro 👌👌♥️

[Embyeee-The Adventures of Scott and Embyeee]

I like the airy pads at the beginning and the sub-bass. The synth at :15 is really cute and quirky, and the chromatic tones in the melody add a pleasant air of mystery to the piece. The build-up at :45 almost felt superfluous, as there was already a pretty emphatic transition at :44. That said, I like the bright tone of the drop. The transition at 1:46 was a tad sudden, but that section is effective at creating some dynamic contrast. Later on, I would’ve liked to see you vary the melody a bit more. Otherwise, the piece sounds pretty repetitive and stagnant. The chord progression and arrangement are also pretty generic. That said, the sound design and mixing are definitely highlights for me. Production quality is really high, and the synths all blend together really well. Overall, the main area of focus for you going forward should probably be creating more variety, but you’re clearly a talented producer with a strong sense of harmony, rhythm, and progression. Keep at it, Embyeee! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8/10

Embyeee responds:

Wow, I never thought I would make it in, thank you for this opportunity and thanks for the feedback. (:

[How to train your cat]

I like the majestic strings at the beginning and the creative use of percussion. The melodies are fun and the phrasing is great. There’s also a great emotional quality to the track at :39. At times, the pace of change is a bit fast, especially towards the beginning, but it’s all very flowing and well-shaped. If I had to complain about something, it would probably be the mixing - there might be a tad too much reverb, or maybe just some more filtering work to do, but the harmonies get a little lost at times, and the percussion could’ve had a bit more punch throughout. Overall, though, the composition and sound design are fantastic here. Really fun piece, Elias! ^^

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

Santi-Montali responds:

Thanks! Yes, you are absolutely right about the reverb. It's amazing you noticed since there was clear guilty, a reverb in the premaster bus. By the time I made this I didn't care much about it hehe.

[Dalmatrix - woodrose windows (Saidez Remix)]

I like the airy synths and crisp beats at the beginning. The sidechaining on the vocals at :25 sounds pretty cool, but I think you overuse this effect over the course of the piece. I think a more legato vocal sound would be especially impactful in a place like 1:30, where there’s more of an emotional height. Sometimes, the progression here is a little slow-paced, but it tends to pick up as the piece goes on, which is nice. The mixing is one of the best elements of the track imo, with well-balanced frequencies and clear instruments throughout. I like the contrast provided by the lower-pitched vocals at 2:38. It seems like it’s sampled from Blink-182, but also that it’s been modified so that it’s hard to recognize. The energy, flow, and sound design towards the end is also really nice, and I like how you returned to a more stripped-down texture featuring the vocals prominently for the outro. The main melodies might’ve needed a tad more variety, but at least there’s that cute new riff at 4:54. Overall, this is really solid work. Most of my complaints are pretty detail-oriented, and I especially like the sound design with this one - very smooth and trance-like, with great blending. Keep at it, DJ-Saidez! ^_^

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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.5/10

DJ-Saidez responds:

The Blink-182 sampling (along with vocals from another song) was from the original song (not my choice), and the original artist has since stopped that practice. Other than that, I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's still one of the works I'm most proud of to date, even though I was worried that towards the start of the second climax I had way too much going on (like 7 different sounds competing for the spotlight, not counting drums)

[Frigid Dreamscape]

I like the majestic arpeggios at the beginning and the rich atmosphere. The beats at :25 are also cool - nice and crisp drums really create a nice sense of drive despite the flowy, trance-like atmosphere. Personally, the bass at :53 didn’t work quite as well for me. It sounds a bit too heavy given the character of the rest of the piece, and also dominated the mix too much. I’d suggest scaling back the reverb a bit on it and maybe filtering out some of the bass’s higher-pitched frequencies with an equalizer or something.

In fact, once the texture gets busier at 1:50 or so, the reverb and lack of balance in the frequencies is really distorting the mix. I can tell because the drums sound way fainter here, and I’m guessing it’s not because you lowered the volume. An important step towards fixing that is cutting back on the reverb, but the main thing you need to do is use more filtering. You shouldn’t really have any frequencies beneath 100 Hertz or so in the melody synths, or anything besides the bass and kick drum, really. Ideally, you’d select your instruments before composing a piece, keeping “slots” in mind - assigning one or two instrument each to the bass range, mid-low, middle, high-mid, and treble range. That way, even if the 2 instruments belonging to the same frequency range are playing at once, you can keep them sounding distinct in the mix using tools like panning, sidechaining, and stereo widening. In reality, most producers don’t usually do this “slot” technique, but while you’re learning how to mix and master your tracks it can be really helpful.

Anyway, back to your piece: sometimes, the rhythm is a bit square (a lot of straight eighth and quarter notes in the harmonies of individual instruments, notably at 4:55). This wouldn’t be a huge problem if it was just the harmonies or arpeggios that did this, but it also occurs in the melodies, which makes them significantly less memorable or interesting.

That said, the progression is enjoyable here. Very dream-like and evocative. The flow of the piece is really smooth overall, but it’s also hard to make the one-climax model work well over the course of 6 minutes. I’d suggest aiming for a little more ebb and flow over the course of the piece - if, after listening to your piece once, I can pretty easily draw a line on my notepad that represents the “energy level” of the piece over time, especially a really long one like this, it could probably use a more interesting arrangement. Also, the piece lacks a strong sense of “arrival” at any one point, which is probably related to the somewhat linear structure.

I’ve been really tough on you in this review, but I want to emphasize that the main criticisms I have boil down to a couple of core issues: mixing and structuring/arrangement. In fact, mixing is probably the main one for me. I can tell you have a good sense of harmony and progression. The square rhythm is a relatively small problem, and you’ve done a lot of other things to keep the piece interesting besides the arrangement (sound design, atmosphere, etc.). Keep at it, DiamondEnderman! And let me know if I can help point you in the right direction on filtering/mixing techniques. ^_^

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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.25/10

DiamondEnderman responds:

thank you for the feedback! Greatly appreciated