Hello bossimusic, I am writing this comment to provide some feedback, and information on the rating of your NGUAC Knockout Round submission. I will structure this response in the same manner as my judging criteria. This might be a bit long, but I am trying to give as much feedback as possible, and possibly some tips and tricks on music production :) The final score of your track is the overall score below divided by 2.

# Score: 13/20

## Sound Choice: 2/3

Explanation: The sound design is alright, it fits the ambient, dark nature of this track pretty well. However, I was really expecting something more from this track in terms of instrumentation. This is a bit related to this track's composition, but I wish there was either something more melodic, or something more creative in terms of sound choice. Also, I think the amount of low-frequency heavy sounds is a bit overpowering at times, and I think that some high-end would make this track sound a lot more clean.

## Production Quality: 3.5/5

Explanation: Pretty good, but I think this track is mainly missing some high-end. The track would have been much more clean-sounding if there was some slight noise, or if the already present guitar noise was a bit more sizzling to give contrast to the really dark swells and instruments. Other than that, well done!

## Track flow / composition: 3/5

Explanation: For a dark, ambient track, this submission's pacing is pretty slow. There aren't really climaxes, and some new instruments / volume spikes come in rarely. The track makes the listener wait, but doesn't really give the listener many new thing after the wait has ended. This track just seems pretty static and monotone in terms of structure and instrumentation...

## Creativity / Uniqueness: 2/2

Explanation: ... and that's the part where I was conflicted about the most, since it really matches what you wanted to achieve with this track. Even if I feel that this track could have used some more melodies, maybe some chords and a heavier bass at times, and more variety in terms of volume just to achieve some climax, I also think that what you did with your track has a purpose. This track feels like standing in the middle of some gigantic, dark, convoluted space, while the space around is moving. This track feels like thinking about nothing, or at least that's how I would have interpreted it.

## Catchiness / Complexity: 0.5/3

Explanation: I can't really judge this track on catchiness, since there aren't really any melodies. In terms of complexity, I can't say much either, since I can't find any structure in this track, and the submission revolves around the same mood and similar sounds throughout the entire runtime.

## Vibe / Emotion: 2/2

In overall, a pretty cool track! I just wish it had something more going for it. If you have any more questions, or want some more feedback, feel free to PM me :D

Best regards!
ALGO

Hello Barwinklz, I am writing this comment to provide some feedback, and information on the rating of your NGUAC Knockout Round submission. I will structure this response in the same manner as my judging criteria. This might be a bit long, but I am trying to give as much feedback as possible, and possibly some tips and tricks on music production :) The final score of your track is the overall score below divided by 2.

# Score: 15/20

## Sound Choice: 3/3

## Production Quality: 4.5/5

Explanation: Your submission is pretty well balanced and mixed. The one thing I don't really enjoy is the heavy sub noise in 1:58 - I don't know what causes that, but it reduces headspace by a bit and it makes the mix more muddy. The sub sounds alright until this part comes in - if you put a low-pass on master on 120Hz, you can hear how incoherent the sub in this section is.

This track could also use a bit more stereo width in my opinion, however I am not taking this factor into account since the stereo use is alright.

## Track flow / composition: 2.5/5

Explanation: Unfortunately, I feel that the pacing is one of the main drawbacks of this submission - for an almost 3 minute, really fast and uplifting track, this track is actually pretty slow in terms of pacing, hence I had to be a bit harsh for this rating.

For clarification, the track builds up from the start until 0:24, then has a fast, rhytmic section for 10 seconds. The track then builds up from 0:34 to 2:00 (while having one faster segment from 0:57 to 1:07, but it seems more like a buildup than a climax). At 2:00 it seems the track reached it's climax, but the tracks builds up even more, and finally gets a drop at 2:17. The drums end for a bit at 2:27, losing some of the momentum, and then come back again for about 7-8 seconds, and the track ends.

So in conclusion, for me the main issue is how the track just doesn't seem to end the buildup. I feel like the entire track until 2:17 is essentially that - a buildup to a drop. And for a high-pace, uplifting track, 2:17 seconds just to get a drop is a bit long. What would work better in my opinion, is to have the climaxes be a bit longer, and also...

## Creativity / Uniqueness: 0.5/2

Explanation: ...introduce something more inside each section. This track gets pretty repetitive: it revolves around similar melodies, the same chord progression, and is pretty predictable in overall. With the amazing sound design and good mixing knowledge you have, I was expecting something more - some more variety from the already well made track.

## Catchiness / Complexity: 2.5/3

Explanation: The track is pretty catchy, but the half a point drop is highly related to what I mentioned in the previous section.

## Vibe / Emotion: 2/2

Explanation: You are really good at creating uplifting, happy atmosphere in your track. The track just screams "happiness" - I really appreciate that.

In overall, you are really knowledgeable when it comes to both sound design and mixing - the balance and sound choice are near perfect. However, I think that your submission could have used some more variety in both instrumentation, structure, as well as some improvements in pacing. But outside of this, it is a really well made track :D

If you have any more questions, or want some more feedback, feel free to PM me :D

Best regards!
ALGO

Hello AveragePhoe, I am writing this comment to provide some feedback, and information on the rating of your NGUAC Knockout Round submission. I will structure this response in the same manner as my judging criteria. This might be a bit long, but I am trying to give as much feedback as possible, and possibly some tips and tricks on music production :) The final score of your track is the overall score below divided by 2.

# Score: 16.5/20

## Sound Choice: 3/3

Explanation: I appreciate the instrumentation in this track, however I found myself not enjoying the snare / lo-fi clap sound, and how resonant this track is in the low-mid / middle frequencies. On louder volumes, it is a bit irritating...

## Production Quality: 4/5

Explanation: ...and I think you could have used some EQ there, or maybe lowered the sounds a bit in volume. Maybe even compress the sounds there. Because the track revolves around bells / plucks, the middle frequencies are just really heavy for me.

And though I pretty much enjoy the sound choice in this track, I think this and the really sizzling vocals set this track back a little bit.

First of all, did you use a de-esser for the vocals? If so, it might not be set to the perfect settings for this track, since the vocals are really treble heavy, and often really sizzling, while having some issues in presence and high treble. If not, I recommend either using some de-essing program (I used to use Spitfish VST, it is completely free), or:

- using a Dynamic EQ (so boosting the high frequencies, then compressing them to your liking), my recommendation for this would be TDR Nova plugin
- using a multiband compressor, and compressing / limiting a desired frequency range and bypassing the rest (unless you want to compress the rest too)
- setting up your own de-esser with a compressor / limiter and an EQ yourself.

If you're using FL Studio, Maximus plugin already has a de-esser preset with easily modifiable bands, I would highly recommend to try it out.

Stereo space use is alright, however I think you could have spaced your track out even a bit more. I think this track could have been even more impactful with more stereo depth. For some simple stereoization, I highly recommend checking out Ozone Imager 2.

## Track flow / composition: 3.5/5

Explanation: The track is well composed but just seems... unfinished? I didn't really notice any climax - personally, I felt that 1:05 was the buildup to something even bigger, but the track kind of fizzles out after that. This track left me a bit disappointed, since I was really expecting a lot more. If you ever plan on extending this, maybe remastering this a little bit, I would be glad to listen to something longer.

## Creativity / Uniqueness: 1.5/2

Explanation: This track is unique, however really short, and also really simple in structure. There aren't many things that subvert my expectations, but what elevates this track for me is the instrumentation.

## Catchiness / Complexity: 2.5/3

## Vibe / Emotion: 2/2

If you have any more questions, or want some more feedback, feel free to PM me :D

Best regards!
ALGO