TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Rosemary Dreams]

I like the cute synths at the beginning. The kick is a little on the heavy, and the panning/delay effects on the vocals threw me off a bit. I like the content of the lyrics themselves, though, and the more transparent vocal content at :32 worked better for me. That said, I didn’t like how the vocals at :32 sounded so distorted in the mix. The clipping/distortion there is quite noticeable, and the “shut up” at the end of that phrase came across as a bit cheesy. I like the solo/post-chorus at 1:05, and the progression from there is also pretty enjoyable. The pitch-shifted vocals at 2:23 also came across as pretty cheesy. I think you tried to do a little too much with some of the mixing effects here, but the clipping/distortion is the major mixing issue here that remains unaddressed. There are a lot of good compositional ideas here, and the sound design is okay, but the production quality is what’s really holding the piece back in my mind. Getting more creative with the automations or filtering could really help “shut up” get the punchiness and impact that it deserves, and the other ornamental vocals could be relegated to a more atmospheric/coloration effect. The lead vocals need some volume control measures right away - try lowering the volume knob in the mixer track and then filling out the rest of the space with a little reverb or compression. You also might try turning down the gain on the compressors you already have in there, especially on the vocals. Sorry if this isn’t a very positive review overall. The peaking/clipping problems are easily fixable, and you’re clearly a talented vocalist and composer. Keep at it, Jackbliss! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
6/10

jackbliss responds:

Thanks so much for the detailed review. This really helps me produce better music quality. Cheers! :)

[Sky Gardening]

I like the spacey vibe at the beginning. The progression is a little slow-paced at first, but the texture comes together well later in the piece. The vocals sound a little over-processed, and I’m not sure that the heavy use of mixing effects fits the down-to-earth and introspective nature of the lyrics, or the rest of the sound design for that matter. I like the lyrics themselves, but I also think the other instruments are a little quiet relative to the vocals sometimes. I like the flute solo at 1:25 and the cutesy back-up harmonies there. I like the more passionate tone the vocals have at 1:46, but it’s very hard to understand what they’re saying through all the mixing effects. Later in the piece, I feel as though the harmonic framework of the piece needs some shaking up, although the novel solo at 3:34 was a step in the right direction. The piece might also need some variety in terms of energy level, dynamics, and instrumental hierarchy. Overall, I like the sound design in the instrumental tracks, the mixing, the rhythmic content, and the mood/atmosphere. I think the composition could’ve been a bit more inspired at times, and the robotic-sounding vocals also detracted from my enjoyment of the piece. Still, solid work in almost every other regard, especially the production quality. Keep at it, SourJovis! :)

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
7.75/10

SourJovis responds:

Thanks for the review back then. I've removed the vocoder from the vocals so they sound more natural. Other than that I didn't change anything but I think this may have removed the main issue with the song. Hope you like it better this way.

[...And Then There Was Light]

I like the structural arc of the piece. Definitely a well-crafted climax. A lot of the orchestral samples sound really fake, though - especially towards the beginning - and some of them sound indistinct in the mix during the busier parts (e.x., :59). The harmonic framework of the piece is pretty simple, although I really like how crisp and prominent the drums sound in the texture. The choir chords later on are nice, and overall the piece comes together by the end. Perhaps I would’ve liked to hear a tad more structuring and harmonic variety, though. I think it could help you get the most out of the dramatic flair of the piece with a more fleshed-out composition and some more gradual transitions. Still, nice work with the mixing, progression, compositional details, and mood overall! Keep at it, CloakedSoup. :)

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
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.5/10

CloakedSoup responds:

Hey, thanks for the review! The samples in the beginning sound fake, because they’re from an electric violin, which is both fake in the sense that it’s sampled, but also has a synthetic 'fake' kind of sound (along with an EQ filter to make the whole beginning sound like an older recording). I had the idea of going from a lo-fi sound with just the electric violin to a really high quality sound that was more organic when it first climaxed. I wish I could have written more, but I started this the night before it was due. lol

[Strange Bliss (NGADM)]

I like the quirky sound design, but the rhythm is a little hard to follow at the beginning and the progression is a bit slow-paced. I think you could’ve done a better job at transitioning into :44, and the pads there sound a bit generic and dry. I like when the texture comes together more at 1:23, but some of the instruments sound a little harsh in the upper register, and the harmonic progression remains pretty simple, despite the heavy use of ornamentations. The melodic content at the very end kinda felt like too little, too late in terms of giving this piece some stable, climactic content. I would’ve liked to see you flesh out the composition a bit more and add some complexity to the structure. Still, the quirky instrumentation and solid production quality definitely give this piece a lot of potential, and I’d encourage you to keep working on it. Keep at it, Pulvite! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
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
7.5/10

Pulvite responds:

I friggin love your feedback for whenever I do any NG contest, thanks a ton! :D

[Burning The Body (NGADM Group Stage Entry)]

I like the atmospheric intro and the heavy sub-bass. The cute synths that start fading in at :25 are nice, and the creative percussion here is another big plus. The texture doesn’t really fill out very much, especially in the mid-range, until about 1:05. Still, I liked that climactic section, and the production quality here is really sharp. I couple of the stop/start transitions are pretty jarring here, especially 1:20. I like the spacey breakdown at 1:47 and the more gradual transition back into the emotional height at 2:05. I think the arrangement of this piece is a little choppy, with a lot of sudden pauses that detract from the flow. The over-saturated texture at 2:43 also didn’t work well for me. I think the piece has a very fast pace of progression towards the end, and I wanted to see you hit the piece home with a more stable, prolonged climactic section. Still, I like the energy, sound design, mixing, and rhythmic content here. Keep at it, BurneMusic! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

LittleFaith responds:

k cool

[Abendmusic - Wilderborn]

I like the majestic and tranquil mood at the beginning. The flute solo at :18 is really lovely, and the soft reverse crash at :32 was a nice way of transitioning into the more Celtic-sounding section thereafter. I think the melodies are pretty simple, but the variety in the sound design and texture of the piece keeps me engaged. The arrangement is a bit choppy during the middle minute of the piece; it felt like a battle for the soul of the piece for a while there. Eventually, I think the adventurer turns to a volatile life on the run to soothe his aching soul, but he doesn’t forget his regal, cloistered past. It says a lot that this piece can place such a vivid image in my head. You really told a story with this one. The composition, sound design, and production quality are all strong here. Well done! ^_^

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

Abendland responds:

Thank you a lot for sharing your thoughts and giving me such a thorough feedback! Your words mean a lot to me!
All the best, Chris

[Stellar]

I like the smooth pads at the beginning and the sense of tranquility that pervades the piece. There’s a good sense of build into :30, and I like the blissful mood there. The finger snap sample sounds cool, and I like the upbeat vibe and melodies a lot. The production quality is solid, too. My main problem with the piece is probably that it sounds pretty generic, between the synths that could easily be Nexus presets to the arrangement and chord progression. I also think you could’ve hit the piece home a little more with a bolder final refrain and a proper outro. Still, this piece has a nice sense of atmosphere, solid sound design and mixing, and catchy melodies. Keep at it, SnapskiMusic! :)

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.5/10

SnapskiMusic responds:

Yo! Thank you for the surgical dive into this piece.
While there wasn't any instances of Nexus, I'd agree that some of the sounds had a generic feel. I'd also admit that the second phrase could have had much more energy, but there was this subconscious fear of ruining the serenity of the whole composition. Should've been bolder, you're right! All the more reason not to disappoint during the next round.

[endK - Resonance]

I like the pensive mood at the beginning and the catchy synth riffs. The injection of intensity at :22 is nice, and I like the bass-y snare sample tom-toms at the transitions. The melody line at :44 is also nice, and the piece is pretty downtempo for a track of yours. The piece doesn’t have a lot of structural variety, but rather a constant sense of energy. I also think the piece gets a bit repetitive after a while, especially with the tom-tom transitions, crashes, and lead synth riffs. I also think it would’ve helped create some more contrasting energy and dynamics levels if you had fleshed out the breakdown at 2:48 without re-introducing the other harmonies so quickly thereafter. Still, the production quality is crystal clear here, and the modulation at 3:49 really helps hit this piece home towards the end. I still feel like this piece sounds like a danceable piece trying to be a slow jam, but otherwise you nailed the mood, atmosphere, mixing, and melodies. Keep at it, EndK! ^_^

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

endKmusic responds:

Totally agree with every word you said, eventhough it's structured of four different parts in total that repeat with few changes now and then.

I had the same thought about 2:48 as you mentioned, maybe if I had few days more I would've made a proper breakdown or something like that.
'dancing piece trrying to be a slow jam' - This is so well described, maybe it could be kind of a trademark? ;D
Even if I try to stay within the boundaries of a genre there's always something that kinda 'betrays' me. I don't mean that as a bad thing. I GUESS.

Thanks for the amazing review as always TL. ^_^

[Inevitable]

I like the glitchy content at the beginning and the punchy drums. The synths at :19 are cute, and the production quality is really high here. The rhythmic content is nice, and I like the sound design as a whole too. The piece is very slow to progress, and probably needs more structuring and some more prominent melodic content in places. I love the airy choir chords at 1:05, although the string samples at 1:23 sound a bit cheesy. You really take this piece in a different direction by the end. I like the sense of climax going into the end, but I wanted a stronger point of resolve after you built up all that tension. There are a lot of good ideas here, but I think you could capitalize on the groovy intro and the cinematic flair alike with a more fleshed-out arrangement. Overall, though, your experimental composition definitely paid off. Really cool sound design and atmospheric elements here. Keep at it, Vocaloutburst! ^_^

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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

vocaloutburst responds:

Thanks so much for the feedback and review!!

[Broken Souls]

I like the ascending scale pattern at the beginning and the vocals. The rimshots at :08 were a little too loud imo, but the texture comes together well by :13. I’m not a huge fan of the kick at :32 - it has a bit too much treble imo. At :50, the vocals don’t blend super well, and the drums are struggling to come through the mix a bit. I like the lyrics themselves, and I also think you both have nice voices, especially your friend. The composition could be a bit more dynamic in terms of energy level and harmonies, though. I would’ve liked to see some more structural changes in the piece before the breakdown at 2:19. I like the glitchy content there, and you transition pretty well back into the last refrain at 2:47. I think the recording quality of the vocals isn’t great, and I think the two vocal parts don’t always sync up so well, which is especially noticeable towards the end. I think the composition of the piece is really good, but you didn’t necessarily execute it very well between the recordings and production. Still, I like the mood, progression, harmonic content, and atmosphere of the piece. Keep at it, SirQuebi! Best of luck at college. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.5/10

Quebi responds:

Yeah, I noticed the things you mentioned, and it really is unfortunate I couldn't execute it all better. Perhaps with different circumstances it would've been a different story.