update as of 01/15/11THM = take-home message
Amen Iraq (bob bob)
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> When making difficult drum'n bass/breakcore songs, it is very tempting to step to every buzz noise. Brrp! Vrrp! Zap! However, this often does not translate into a fun file, especially if they're frequently 48th notes that are difficult to combo. Refrain from using those - they're often better represented with a single arrow or ignored altogether.
> Consider the tempo of the song. At 203 bpm, fast rolls and buzzes are quite hard to pull off.
> Also consider the patterns of these 48ths. At m5 for instance, the 48th pattern is far more complex than simple rolls, and this pattern also has a jump on top of that. This may be accurate, but not fun to play at all. Another example is m24, where a 32nd jack is tec
hnically present.
> Many sounds that are reasonable to step are missing and resulting patterns feel incomplete. Some examples include beat 7, 26.50, 66.25, 67.50, and so on.
> At m100-108, there are several arrows that do not go to any sound - this is not one long 16th stream.
> Minor things: Even sounds without a melodic component, such as percussion sounds, can have pitch relevancy. For instance, beat 50.50 is better off as a down arrow. An example is m82, where we hear percussive sounds lowering in pitch - the jumps can reflect that.
THM: Refrain from stepping 48ths altogether, and focus on the missing sounds that create incomplete patterns. Some other tough spots that do not involve 48ths can be stepped to more comfortable patterns as well. 48ths + awkward patterns are unfun and increases difficulty inconsistencies.verdict:
DAnimus Intorqueo No.1 (MarioNintendo)
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> Impressive sync! Nice pitch-relevancy as well.
> A few areas have arrows that do not go to any sound, such as beat 24.50 and beat 48 (single arrow only).
> at m19-21, the main melody can be included along with the continuous 16th melody (i.e. "running bass"), because it's a relatively simple melody.
> Pitch relevancy at m23-24 will eliminate the left-hand trill and will partially eliminate the right-hand trill.
THM: The only thing I noted were a few "ghost" arrows, an area that can be layered more, and an area that can change its patterns a bit. Other than that, it's an enjoyable piano file. verdict:
AAnimus Intorqueo No.2 (MarioNintendo)
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> Another excellent piano file with decent sync and pitch-relevancy.
> Jump at beat 68.50.
> Like
Intorqueo No.1, there are areas you can easily layer with the treble melody when the melody is simple - it would stand out from a long and continuous 16th stream. Examples include m22,23,34,35,41,42.
> Optional as you're probably aware, but the 12th note section at m25-29 can be slightly more varied if you step both the treble and bass melodies. It seems like you've opted in for this partially at m28-29. Preferably, you should choose one or the other path.
> Very minor pitch relevancy issue in the slowdown section at m50.
THM: Very minor and optional suggestions, with the biggest one being increased layering of the treble melody at a few places. Nicely done.verdict:
AAnimus Intorqueo No.3 (MarioNintendo)
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> m1-2 may be better if there were some more jumps to reflect the chords.
> Should be same jumps at m4.
> The treble melody often plays 16th notes in groups of three, which would feel great if you stepped these places as such. For instance, a jump at beat 26,50, 38.50, 231,50, 234.50, etc.
> Optionally, a few areas can be layered with jumps such as at m15-19.
> A few arrows should complete a continuous melody at beat 27.50, 39.50, etc.
> The piano plays a chromatic scale at m30-31, which is best represented with roll patterns.
> The trill in m31-32 is one-handed and fairly fast. I recommended changing this to a two-handed pattern (e.g. down+up/left+up/etc.). The trill can also be layered here reasonably when it's two-handed.
> A few areas have questionable jumps according to your current layering scheme, such as at m42,43,etc.
> The 8th jumps at m49-51 are probably placed for emphasis, yet the piano is still playing only one note, while playing chords in other areas. It's better to be consistent with the chords here.
> Ghost arrow at beat 267.25.
THM: The file would probably feel a lot better if you layer a bit more, especially when the treble plays 16th melodies in groups of three. The trill may need to be changed. Still a fun file with good sync. I'll admit I'm on the pickier side this time, so consider this a B+ if you will.verdict:
BBattle Without Honor or Humanity (~Zero~)
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> Intro and ending melodies could be more varied as opposed to just groups of five 16ths plus jump and possibly jacks. Seeing how the drums layer in a more complex manner than you're stepping it, you can use some climax theory, particularly when this melody repeats at the end of the song (m34-37). Actually, this pattern is pretty much the basis for the whole song, so do try to vary it (e.g. drums in m21 before 32nds).
> a few ghost notes/notes you shouldn't
bother stepping (beat 18.00,50.75,146.25 to name a few)
> for the sound provided, I don't think 32nds are warranted in m21
> PR for some jump (should in part be jacks) at m23
> check your 32nd trill in m25; there are some unnecessary 32nds right at the beginning and the end of your trill; also check sync to guitar
> m38 has some drums you could've stepped
THM: The five 16ths basis for the song is constant throughout the whole file, and I believe you can do more in regards to layering and patterns to make the file more interesting. Don't forget to check that 32nd trill.verdict:
BBeautiful Arrhythmia (iironiic)
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> Not going to go over the whole file, because I only have one comment here that applies throughout the song: what's your methodology to determine which buzz noises to step, and how to step them? It's often a subjective thing to determine which buzz noises are warranted for stepping, but since this happens all the time in this song, your inconsistency greatly increases. I suggest being more discriminate in which sounds you step.
THM: Tone down on the buzzes. Most short two-arrow bursts should be removed altogether and replaced as a single arrow for instance. Be more consistent in what sounds you choose to step.verdict:
CBells (Xx{Midnight}xX)
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> I know you're stepping jumps in the beginning from m2-12 to emphasize the piano notes and to make the pattern look more than a simple 4th stream, but it's just "one" piano note each. Plus that, you'll be stepping this same sort of 4th note + jumps later on, so you might as well leave single piano notes as single arrows.
>
missed jump at beat 50.00
> some bad PR, such as around m22 and 24
> also at around m24, it's not simply 8ths anymore
> what's with those 43 23 and 12 jumps at m31-32? There also should be some 8ths here.
> m36-43: don't be lazy with the PR
THM: PR is more apparent in songs with less instruments and more of a focus on the melody, such as this song. Use better PR. Also minor layering issues, but not so much of a deal for an easy song.verdict:
CCarol Of The Bells (wc)
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> Pretty freestyle chart might I say, pattern-wise. Not a fan of the randomness of several 16th/8th patterns, but they're mostly drums that can be stepped with various interpretations I suppose.
> Several misplaced jumps (should be 4ths not 8ths) at around 33, 35 sec for instance (check this general area).
> Obvious jumps during 16th streams missing at 56.50 sec, 58.50 sec, etc.
> The section starting at around 87 sec isn't necessarily all one big 16th stream. The guit
ar strums to some quieter 16ths, but I don't think it's entirely that. Also, you've got drums and other things going to 16ths as well...see if you can mix things up a bit.
> Jump at around 100 sec., 119 sec.; ghost 16th at 118.80 sec.; ghost jump at around 22.20 sec.
THM: Decent. Personally not into the sort of random patterns you utilized but that's not a biggie. A bunch of misplaced jumps and such.verdict:
BChik Habit (AlexDest)
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> Doable file - good that you didn't go nuts over every buzz noise.
> The beginning section from around m7-10 with the synthesized vocals is offsync, due to your assumption that they can just be stepped as simple 16ths.
> Some bursts are probably questionable, but I'm not going to worry over that. You didn't go overboard at least.
THM: Minor stuff? Probably not much more than syncing the vocals in the beginning a bit better. Plays well.verdict:
AColibri (Niala)
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> Your gap is offsync by a fair amount. Try something like -0.118 secs.
> check the end of m34 for syncing of 8bit synth
> some areas you add more jacks than necessary (e.g. entering m39, end of m46, etc.), a few areas missing jacks (e.g. end of m45)
> As you enter the jumpstream in m35, you instantly begin to step jumps to some weird sounds that are more or less syncopated. W
hy not start with jumps on 4th beat drums, then utilize your more syncopated jump rhythms, for sake of a better climax?
> second half of m58: NO
> second half of m90: NO
> m92 slightly off-sync
THM: Some jack issues; try some different layering schemes, because this song is basically a simple loop that increases tempo...gets repetitive after a while. And you better fix those nutty measures with jump jacks. I'd really love to see people playing this file, but please try to fix up these things first. I know this will be a super fun file soon enough.verdict:
C