mutty99's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Tea Cup Massacre Epsilon: Descent Into Madness]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

The beginning leaves much to be desired: the different synths come in too abruptly, making difficult for the listener to adapt gradually to the atmosphere. From 0:45 onwards, the track becomes much better, evolving in a more complex and balanced sound. The best aspect of your song is that you’ve organized it in a pretty original way; every part is quite different from each other, making it more interesting as time passes. The section that begins at 3:18 is the most solid and appealing: powerful and decisive section with a lot of strong appealing synths, especially at 4:11 where I got quite some goosebumps. This track gets better while listening to it, making a sort of “journey” effect which I found really interesting. You did a really great job!

Originality: 2/2
Composition: 2/2
Structure: 1.9/2
Tecnicity: 1.5/2
Impact: 1.8/2
Total: 9.2/10

WolfgangMiakoda responds:

Oh wow, I gotta be honest, I really didn’t expect such a positive response, especially given how great the discrepancy between the first and second drop is, and the vast amount of silence used. I’m honestly at a loss for words. Thank you so much! Really nice to hear the journey idea paid off!

[Nebula (Official Release)]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

I’m absolutely in love with this piece! The mix is not too bright neither too deep, and you did an awesome job with EQ and bands balancing. The title is appropriate as well, since this track, just like a Nebula, may seem simple but it’s actually really complex and full of many different things. There are a pair of constructive suggestions I want to give though: even if the sounds you used are quite captivating, some variations on the main chord progression could have made it just a little bit more original; also I think that the snare which comes at 0:51 and 2:34, while still being good the way it is, could have been improved by making it more open and impactful, to give more power to the build-ups in particular. The transitions are original and dynamic and there are no sudden breaks, therefore the track flows really nicely; I can tell you raised the stakes for this final round, so props for that. Podium or not, you’ve finished your journey in this competition with a banger!

Originality: 1.75/2
Composition: 2/2
Structure: 2/2
Tecnicity: 1.85/2
Impact: 2/2
Total: 9.6/10

[Rainwave]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

The beginning is so-so: panning the guitar to the left and the drums to the right in the first seconds, unfortunately isn’t a good start. The vocals, even if a little detuned at first, are pretty good, even if they could have been more impactful and a little higher in volume in the sections at 1:21 and 2:50.
I found the final section starting at 3:21 way too long, to the point of being overwhelming: if you were looking for a conclusion in it, I think it should have been much shorter. If you were trying to make a different section, you could have alternated calm sections with strong ones, maybe with the electric guitar you used in the drops, which I enjoyed quite a bit to be honest. The drums were really nice as well. The concept behind the mix is promising, but it feels like it’s kinda rushed: just a little more tweaking, and it could’ve become an even more interesting piece of music.

Originality: 1.6/2
Composition: 1.8/2
Structure: 1.8/2
Tecnicity: 1.2/2
Impact: 1.5/2
Total: 7.9/10

[10 Pieces of Bread]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

What a nice orchestration we have here: I really like how you made the violins notes short on purpose, to give that feeling of “Fairy tale” like ambience. The lead strings, even if they could have had a little more reverb, are pretty good as well. At 0:28, the transition feels quite out of place; maybe a sort of “marching percussions” pattern would have connected better the related two segments of the track. The rest of the first half of the track flows nicely, almost like something you can hear in a Disney classic, till the bridge at 1:25, which I found well-composed. Same goes for the “Egyptian” section at 1:50, brilliant choice. The cymbals at 2:12 are too wet, you could have made their sound a little drier and brighter, and maybe stereo-pan them to give more impact to that section in particular. Summing up, I think your submission is quite the piece, well done!

Originality: 1.8/2
Composition: 2/2
Structure: 1.7/2
Tecnicity: 1.5/2
Impact: 1.7/2
Total: 8.7/10

[The Beginning]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

The beginning is indeed the best part of the track! It gives the piece an excellent start: I liked the piano notes as well, with a correct amount of reverb. The next segment is solid too, and shows clearly that you are pretty good when it comes to create “ambient-ish” parts: however, the track falls a bit lower when the synths come in, and becomes less appealing as a result. This makes a strong influence on the strong structure, and it’s clearly audible. The drums department is not bad, even if the kick is very loud on the low frequencies: eQ-ed like that works well at 1:42, but not as well at 0:52 where it becomes a little overwhelming. Try to make it more punchy and less “bass-ish”. Despite the tweaks here and there, I enjoyed this track quite a bit.

Originality: 1.53/2
Composition: 1.7/2
Structure: 1.42/2
Tecnicity: 1.3/2
Impact: 1.75/2
Total: 7.7/10

[Be Gay Do Crime]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

This is a rather strange track, with an even stranger title. The sounds are pretty unique as well, and the composition is interesting enough to motivate us listening till the end. This mixing technique is uncommon but more than valid, and I had a decent time listening to the piece; the concept that rotates around the track is also solid, and doesn’t get out of control, which is a good thing. I don’t understand why did you choose “synthwave” as a genre though; even if it slightly resembles the atmosphere of synthwave music, i think this is a more “miscellaneous” kind of composition. The track lacks a bit of depth as well; a synthwave bass could have worked out pretty well if mixed and eQ-ed properly. Despite my complaints, you still did a good job on your entry, and props for taking the risk of producing something unusual among the finalists.

Originality: 2/2
Composition: 2/2
Structure: 1.55/2
Tecnicity: 1.55/2
Impact: 1.6/2
Total: 8.7/10

zybor responds:

Thank you for your review. :)

Being original and unique is the whole point of my living.

Fun fact, I recently discovered that I'm an INFP, despise I didn't believe in all those thing, it fits me so well especially resonate with the work I did here. No amount of criticism can change what I do but my own, I'd just keep getting better with non-conforming approaches.

[Amazona NGUAC 2020]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

Bringing Trance in the final round is a bit risky, yet you did a pretty good job with it. I don’t understand why you panned most of the mix to the left… Also i think the rising vocal chop at the very beginning is too loud when it ends and the instruments roll starts; on the other hand, the sound design is really solid and bright. While the technical and structural aspects are more than spot on (apart from the left pan of the mix), this track lacks virtuosity. It is big, full or rich sounds and ambitious indeed, but develops too slowly as time passes; 7:00 minutes of trance require a lot of different stuff, but also a heterogeneous chord progression as well. I wish you could have experimented more with notes, and maybe created a more intriguing melody. Still, I’m really fond of the part at 2:39, great and powerful emotional flow. Overall, the track stands up for itself and it’s pleasant to listen to. What a way to go out!

Originality: 1.45/2
Composition: 1.5/2
Structure: 2/2
Tecnicity: 1.47/2
Impact: 1.88/2
Total: 8.3/10

TerraNation responds:

Hey thanks for review, Risky indeed but trance something i been doing since i was 12 years old.
Yea notice that on my mastering process, Idid not upload mastering version so it wasent intentionally going left, "Vocal chop" Its acctully simpel fx chord from sylenth 1 i like to have alot of sounds going on beacuse make song more flow with energy. yea i could sure cut down few 1 or 2 min on the song. Trance is very easy to fail with alot elements trust me i like 5 different melody for this track and match them together is hard. But again for me take few extra weeks would have make song different for sure.

[Ataraxia]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

The beginning is quite strange: there is some sort of tempo change which i have some doubts on. Still, props to you because that’s a risky choice. I don’t understand why you left an empty gap at 0:12, it kills the rhythm completely…
The rest of the first half of the track from 0:27 lacks a bit of “impact”: maybe you could have put some reverb in the kick and turn it off later on with an automation, or blend it with a proper snare (+ reverb) to make it louder. The second half, on the other hand, starts really well: I particularly liked the way you mixed the bass at 1:57. Here the drop is powerful and solid, making up for what came previously. My only complain afterwards is that you could have used a crash cymbal in the transitions (for example, at 2:30 and 2:37). Despite the criticism, this is a pretty good submission for the final round. Good luck!

Originality: 1.46/2
Composition: 1.56/2
Structure: 1.52/2
Tecnicity: 1.51/2
Impact: 1.65/2
Total: 7.7/10

[Happy people want to dance]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

I remember how this track was when I first heard it; I think you’ve updated it changing a few things at some point, improving some aspects here and there.
The lack of originality of this submission (Since the same chord pattern repeats itself over and over) gets backed up by the structure, which is pretty good and well written. About the sounds you used, you’ve chosen nice synths and made a good use of the phaser function in the beginning and in the end of the song; they give all together a really pleasant Synthwav-ish sensation, to the point of relaxing the listener quite a bit. Like I already said, this piece could have been better if you’d made some variations in the chord progression; still, good job for making it this far in the competition!

Originality: 1.2/2
Composition: 1.6/2
Structure: 1.77/2
Tecnicity: 1.6/2
Impact: 1.63/2
Total: 7.8/10

retrize responds:

No, I didn't change anything

[Hand In Hand- NGUAC 2020 Final Round Submission]

-Official NGUAC 2020 Final Round Review-

Welcome to the Final Round! You’re the first contestant I’m scoring.
Your piece is pretty interesting, not something you see on Newgrounds really often: I really like the direction you decided to go into with your concept, giving some Springteen/countryroad vibes. The guitar is well chosen and mixed, I wonder if it’s real of from a VST; either way, brilliant execution. I like that you updated your track in the meantime as well; beforehand your voice was a little detuned in the beginning, but now the intonation is correct, and that is going to benefit your score a lot!
The instrumentation is solid and blended properly as well, with various and originally blended drums, despite the mix having a little downside; in the chorus sections at 1:09 and 2:44, I think that the vocals are a tiny little downpowered. To be clearer, I struggled to hear the lyrics a bit. Everything else seems more than alright to me: the mastering and balance are spot on, the ending is very well done, and I overall had a good experience with your track. It’s nice to begin scoring with a good note ;)

Originality: 2/2
Composition: 2/2
Structure: 2/2
Tecnicity: 1.7/2
Impact: 2/2
Total: 9.7/10

ConnorHeather responds:

damn! what great feedback thank you! much appreciated! To answer your thoughts, it is real guitar, everything is recorded with live instruments, This one in particular uses no midi.

Again thank you i really appreciate the time you take to go in-depth about the 'how and why' behind the score!