{R} Silence in the Sky (DTDsphere) [2/2/2012] [Archive]

Halogen-

03-08-2012, 12:25 AM

(T) Technique - sim author's skills in pattern manipulation
(S) Sync - offset, BPM shifts, no misrhythms (obvious errors)
(I) Interpretation/Expression - creativity and imagination in translating the music, evoking meaningfulness in the file
(E) Engagement - fun, replayable and shows no signs of dragging the player along
(F) Flow - matching scales/chord progression, proper structure to the file, good transitions

KEY:

T/S/I/E/F/(A) = Technique/Sync/Interpretation & Expression/Engagement/Flow/(Additional deductions/additions)
optional notes and not required changes
Serious errors.
Additional deductions.
Minimum acceptance: 12/15

Silence in the Sky (DTDsphere)
-> sync is alright

Hard: 2/2/1/2/2/(0) [9/15]
- 7.416 to 13.816: listen to the synths and pay attention to when they change in pitch, so that you don't have a mess of up arrows.
- watch out for mini-jacks that collide with triples; it happens on numerous occasions
- 52.816: what's all of the jumps for?
- 53.816 to 63.216: this is an area where proper pitch relevancy can help your cause
- 69.416 / 70.216: even though you're directly layering, these triples stick out as incorrect because there are other spots where the triples would need to be placed for this to be consistent (see: 72.216/72.616/73.016, etc)
- 79.116: missing note
- 79.416 to 92.216: this section is pretty bland because the loud synths aren't being represented.
- 92.216 to 105.016: missing some notes for the background melody (listen at 100.216/100.616, as these notes are the typical culprit)
- 105.016 to 117.816: pitch relevance could definitely be improved a bit here - also, there are a few taps that go to non-existent notes within the melody
- 124.216 to 137.016: while this structure seems intentional, it might be notable to point out that the synth playing the melody is actually constant swing and drops in and out of higher and lower notes in the beginning (listen to 128.630, 129.031, 129.430, and 129.831, for example) - there are a few steps that are ghosted here
- 135.697: non-existent within the melody
- 139.430 to 141.031: these quarter note jumps are really awkward visually, because they disappear even though the song doesn't change
- 149.764: the trills are actually only half of the speed of the snares, which is perfectly fine; however, if you're subdividing them, you'll need to add this missing note for the sake of flow
- 149.831 to 175.830: inconsistent structure - starts off well from 149.831 to 153.031 with solid layering, but breaks the consistency at 155.697, and goes in and out of correct structure and awkward structure
- 169.297: proof of a copy/paste
- 175.297: shift this up 1/24th of a note (i.e. land on an 8th note)

Inconsistent structure. Song is a bit long and doesn't offer too much of a difference to be notably fun, unfortunately.

Medium: 2/2/2/2/2/(-1) [9/15]
- 41.016 to 50.216: this section is -very- sloppy with the freezes done this way. All of the freeze tails land on jumps, giving a pseudo-triple appearance
- 53.816 to 63.416: very similar structure and arguably as difficult as the Hard chart, if not slightly more difficult.
- 66.216 to 77.816: also very similar to Hard, although it is noticably turned down when the 16th rhythm in the synths land on top of the bass drum.
- 79.416 to 105.616: structure is understandable with the right arrow carrying the accented synth and the other three carrying the background synth melody, but the patterns might be a bit uncomfortable for a Medium player. Also, when you hit the area without the bass drum, you could mirror the pattern and turn it down a bit to add variation and make it more meaningful.
- 105.016 to 117.816: pitch relevance is actually better here than in the hard chart.
- 124.216 to 137.016: while this structure seems intentional, it might be notable to point out that the synth playing the melody is actually constant swing and drops in and out of higher and lower notes in the beginning (listen to 128.630, 129.031, 129.430, and 129.831, for example); there are notes that are ghosted here
- 140.897: this mini-jack doesn't exist on Hard
- 149.831 to 175.830: structure is better here than the Hard chart, but still has a few inconsistencies as a layered area (see: 152.897/155.697, with a single step when both the bass drum/synth are together); goes in and out of proper and incorrect
- 175.297: shift this up 1/24th of a note (i.e. land on an 8th note)

Better than the hard chart for sure, but still needs more polishing in structure. Can definitely be toned down a bit.

Easy: 2/2/2/2/2/(-1) [9/15]
- 23.416: while you are syncopating the snares to a simpler rhythm, the freezes aren't the clearest of things to the player (even though they are done in such a way so that the freeze head and the freeze tail catches a snare drum)
- 28.216/31.416/(etc): you should try to add jumps or a freeze or something to make the synth an accented note as it should be
- 33.816: ...as well as add any of the notes that could represent this as well - repeating the previous tap isn't clear enough to show the player that this is what you're following, because you're already using intervals of this note and faster
- 41.016 to 53.816: this section is well done - faster pace, but called for, and very easily doable for a player at this level
- 90.816/91.416/92.016: catch these notes to fill in the blank space
- 105.016 to 117.816: essentially copy/pasted from Medium, with only a few notes removed - with that being said, there are also a few ghosted notes in here as well (I don't have a problem with you using Medium as a structure since you're trying to be relevant, but make sure you have proper rhythms!)
- 124.631 to 137.031: also pretty much copy/pasted from Medium, with only a few notes removed - you could have at least mirrored it or done something to add more pattern variation
- 155.697/156.497: missing note
- 161.031: a bit tricky for an easy player, no?
- 168.497/168.897: missing notes
- 149.831 to 175.430: pretty harsh for Easy, and very comparable to medium. You could tone down the jump usage and add the necessary 12th notes to compensate, and it'll give a different/not quite heavy feel.

Somewhat difficult for an easier chart, and takes a good deal of structure from Medium. Granted, it is toned down, but it doesn't seem to be toned down enough.

Beginner: 2/2/3/2/2/(0) [11/15]
First tap: 7.416; last tap: 175.430; total length: 168.014; notes: 281; NPS: 1.67

- interesting step placement in the very beginning
- 28.016: odd place to put a note; yeah, it catches the bass drum, but what's going to be more important to a newer player to follow, an offbeat bass drum, or an on-beat synth/percussion instrument?
- 41.416: 8th notes in a beginner chart! Ballsy. They're actually executed very well, because the player gets to try and hit the same pattern multiple times.
- 53.816 to 60.216: interesting step placement, just like the beginning
- 66.616 to 75.816: large section that runs at 2.5 NPS, but, another section executed well in a beginner chart - fast but simplistic patterns
- 79.816 to 92.216: I'm not sure if I would use offbeat 8ths here in this section, because you can't exactly execute the same thing a second time. Another section that runs at a high NPS, but does well keeping it simple.
- 105.016 to 117.816: remember - low density doesn't always mean simple. offbeat 12ths are something that most beginners will never see, and for good reason.
- 127.430 to 149.430: pretty aggressive, and can be toned down quite a bit. The melody can be followed without straight quarter notes.
- 136.230: what are these jumps here for?
- 149.831 to 175.430: aside from 161.031 to 162.230, this section is alright. although, it runs at 2.5 NPS constant, and this actually switches up a bit more. Possibly too harsh, because it's nearly 26 seconds of straight quarter notes.

This beginner chart has a pretty solid structure, but it's aggressive. Not sure how much fun brand new players will have with this because of some strange rhythms, but that's up for interpretation. Not accepting or rejecting this one.