Digital Kecak No.5 (bmah) [5.5 & 6.5 = 6/10]
> Permission check good.
> Sync looks good (No changes necessary).
> No issues found within simfile properties.
> No issues found within submission folder contents.

-[00:16.121, 00:17.172, 00:17.873, 00:19.625, 00:20.676 etc] Sure you aren’t missing jumps throughout this intro section here? Feels like drums are attempting to follow drum snares but are only half there, with some of them not following it at all and I can’t see what else to follow in that section.

-[00:45.552 -> 00:57.815] Missing A LOT of 16th background filler, for the difficulty that this file sets for itself in other sections.

-[01:38.107] This type of section, imo should’ve happened 1 measure sooner (starting at 01:36.355) with the dampening of instruments attributing to 16th stream here.

-[02:11.041] 16th megatrill runs, kind of a pattern turn-off 2 minutes into the file with another minute and a half to go. Could be much more pattern-friendly, like anchors. Players will likely resent this in the middle of the file.

-[02:21.902 -> 02:27.859] This is not filled in, but 00:28.384 -> 00:30.837 is filled in.

-[02:51.508] Extremely rough minitrill transition on right hand into 4321 32nd rolls. Should swap out to reduce unnecessary strain.

-[02:59.391] Repeat of 00:45.552.

-Needs fixes for whole sections in 00:45.552 & 02:59.391, as well as once-over for 00:16.121. Couple other notes here involve whole sections, so it’s pushing into overhaul territory for me (too many fixes to be suitable for CQ).

file is being rating appealed, assigned to trumaestro to look through. Response just so info doesn't get lost in DM's:

Digital Kecak No.5 (bmah) [5.5 & 6.5 = 6/10]
Permission check good.
Sync looks good (No changes necessary).
No issues found within simfile properties.
No issues found within submission folder contents.
-[00:16.121, 00:17.172, 00:17.873, 00:19.625, 00:20.676 etc] Sure you aren’t missing jumps throughout this intro section here? Feels like drums are attempting to follow drum snares but are only half there, with some of them not following it at all and I can’t see what else to follow in that section.
-[00:45.552 -> 00:57.815] Missing A LOT of 16th background filler, for the difficulty that this file sets for itself in other sections.
-[01:38.107] This type of section, imo should’ve happened 1 measure sooner (starting at 01:36.355) with the dampening of instruments attributing to 16th stream here.
-[02:11.041] 16th megatrill runs, kind of a pattern turn-off 2 minutes into the file with another minute and a half to go. Could be much more pattern-friendly, like anchors. Players will likely resent this in the middle of the file.
-[02:21.902 -> 02:27.859] This is not filled in, but 00:28.384 -> 00:30.837 is filled in.
-[02:51.508] Extremely rough minitrill transition on right hand into 4321 32nd rolls. Should swap out to reduce unnecessary strain.
-[02:59.391] Repeat of 00:45.552.
-Needs fixes for whole sections in 00:45.552 & 02:59.391, as well as once-over for 00:16.121. Couple other notes here involve whole sections, so it’s pushing into overhaul territory for me (too many fixes to be suitable for CQ).
responses:
00:16.121: there’s no missing jumps here. It’s pretty simple: the right 8ths are just the hi hats, and the remainder of the arrows are the high-pitched screechy sounds + occasional drums. Drums do not necessarily qualify as a jump on their own. To me this makes perfect sense.
00:45.552: So I listened to this section (and near the end too) and I hear what you’re saying but I argue that these are pretty minor and barely audible during play. This should be considered OPTIONAL and not MANDATORY. In this case I’m not going to step difficult to hear sounds just to flatten the song’s overall nps graph. Would I consider putting any of these sounds? Perhaps. But being pretty optional in terms of audibility this shouldn’t be counted against me
01:38.107: this section was stepped for intensity purposes but I suppose the climax could be cut short a bit. I can change this because I see what you mean in regards to the intensity starting to fade.
02.11.041: this is a really easy section and I’m not sure why you’d think people would complain over this. It’s not even one-handed trills. Should not count against me on this
02.21.902: doesn’t need to be filled in. Just because some voice samples were stepped doesn’t mean the rest needs to be. This is sort of like a resting point here.
02.51.508: yeah I can change this. It shouldn’t be a problem for people with the skill level to play this song but it’s no biggie.
—
Overall there’s like two areas I agree with: 1.38.107 and 02.51.508.
The end result of the currently existing file is one that isn’t perfect but should not have been out of contention for at the very least a CQ. I’m willing to fix some things but I would prefer not to submit this in a new slot because I inherently disagree with some of these points, especially the two sections where you wanted me to fill in pretty minor sounds.

Therefore: APPEAL

Digital Kecak No. 5 (bmah)

Normal review
—Without looking in depth at the previous judgment or the stepartist’s response

Playtest Impression, 0.9x Rate – Definitely feels a bit strange (unconventional), which is mostly down to layering. This file uses it pretty in a very loosey-goosey manner which might give an impression of either inconsistency or just flat out jank. I’ll need to look at this closely, as I’m going to assume the confusing layering structure is what led to this situation.

My notes will basically just run down perceptions of this layering structure, other notes sprinkled in if needed.
14.019 - 28.034 – It’s.. fine and consistent. The word I would use is “non-intuitive,” I had a hard time picking this apart in a playtest.
—23.829 - 26.282 - Player (or at least I) expected 16th triplets to the vocal sample, which would likely also require adjusting the structure 26.282 - 28.034
30.837 - 45.552 – Holy crap there’s a lot going on here. Somewhat more conventional structure so easy enough to parse out.
45.552 - 57.464 - the only consistent thing I can find here is the layering increasing and decreasing to the driving synth. Neat little touch.
57.464 - 1:41.610 - hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh stamina drainer, but it works well, and is somewhat conventional despite holy cow density
Similar structures for the rest of the file.

There is some definite perceived jank in this. Primary concern, and I shudder to suggest it, is the second half (after the break) can use a slight buff somehow to bring it more to the level of the first half. Would give this an accept rating, as I don’t really see much that I can call “wrong.” Will probably get some interesting community responses.

Response to Appeal Notes

16.121 etc. - Falls in with my notes on the first section. Expectation is there for the drums to be the only source of actual layering. Additive layering can be confusing sometimes, it took me a few re-watches to figure it out.
45.552 - Pretty subjective note, I’m in the “take it or leave it” camp on this one
1:38.107 - I agree with this note too
2:11.041 - Think as-is is mostly fine. I take more issue with some of the 32nd patterns – might be more effective for the last one to be the split trill but not a huge deal.
2:21.902 - Pretty subjective note, I’m in the “take it or leave it” camp on this one
2:51.508 - Agree here
2:59.391 - Same subjective note as 45.552

Moving this to a CR rating, this just needs a few tweaks that you already agree with plus maybe my 23.829 note.