Whitey's Ice (Deamerai) [6.0/10]
> Permission check good.
> Sync looks good (No changes necessary).
> No issues found within simfile properties.
> No issues found within submission folder contents.

-[00:17.317] Missing 4th. There’s another of the same note missing at 00:18.365.

-[00:22.888] Interesting to not step the swing 8th here that carries into the 16th jump following it. (Same sort of swing utilisation for the 48ths at 00:23.339, and the 24ths following them.)

-[00:24.506] No hand here? :( {Drawing a comparison to 00:24.055}

-[00:37.133 / 01:08.129 / 01:26.194] Repeat missing note of the same caliber from timestamp 00:17.317.

-[00:42.226] Disagree with the minijack usage here given it doesn’t share PR in high or low-end with the [23] jump, but it’s passable.

-[01:25.027] There is some failure in stressing vs. syllable pronunciation in vocals here given that there’s only 4 notes here pronouncing ‘mo-ther-fu-cker’. See: https://i.imgur.com/ppBsXlH.png

-[01:27.865] Missing a whack-ton of notes prior to the jumpgluts starting with the 32nd here. Check the waveform filter: https://i.imgur.com/W13dGad.png
Considering similar patterns have been tackled elsewhere in the file (such-as 01:35.087 or 02:00.812), was kinda expecting this to be filled in with singles vs. what it is now.

-[01:46.308] Properly handled stressing vs. syllable spacing as per note 01:25.027 (just later in the file).

-[01:49.949] Surprised this got left out (starting on the 4th, similar to 02:19.190).

-[02:28.131] Ending it right here is gonna be pretty nasty with FFR’s cutoff. Could’ve probably used some fade-out, so soften the transition between ending of song to results.

-Beyond just being ‘atrociously loud to listen to’, the file itself could use some spruce fixing here and there throughout. Most notable are some recurring singles similar to timestamp 00:37.133, and the 01:27.865 timestamp from me. I personally did not have much of an issue with the ‘loudness’ of it, since in the end of it all, you can adjust the volume level. However, 02:04.000 reminds me just how impenetrably ear-scraping-with-a-shovel bad some sounds in Whitey’s Ice can get, and if it did go in as-is on volume, I would expect some backlash at least from this part without audio changes. Would heavily suggest lowering volume across the song and including Audacity fade-out, and require it if the 2nd judge requires it. Outside of that, it’s a solid attempt but ultimately it is a reject for the number of small fixes required as-is.

-Edit: I wrote this review back in early 2022 hoping I could get it finished a lot sooner than it did, but the OT was a great hold-up and the people that I wanted for this judgement after the OT were not really available. I haven’t changed any of my initial notes whatsoever but worth pointing out that neither of the judge’s notes align with each other. For that, I’m putting my judgement under appeal range, even though we both essentially came to the same conclusion that the file needs a fair amount of small fixes.

Whitey's Ice (Deamerai) [6.5/10]

PERMS OK
SYNC OK

5.725: Missing note. This is very similar to the sound that's on 16.229, but without the added perc (so a single on 2 would fit here). This same thing happens on 17.317, 18.378, 37.133, 1:08.142, 1:26.207 and 1:41.036. Given that many are missing, I'd assume it's a charting decision, but it does feel like it's missing.

10.088: Missing note. There is a clear "12 1" rhythm here, so maybe having the very subtle flams isn't the most appropriate.

23.862: These 64ths are quite rough on the left hand without much justification. Would rebalance this section (23.339-24.055) a bit.

25.434: Inconsistent layering of the crashes here relative to 11.348.

30.103: The roll "buzz" noise actually stops on this note. I would also suggest putting maybe 20ths or slower quantization from 30.176 to 30.434 (with friendly patterning and transition in/out), because there are pretty clear rhythms in these "pauses" and they feel somewhat odd when empty. Might be worth it to slightly tone down the wall after the pauses too.

49.282: PR, doesn't match the three consecutive notes on 3 before it.

53.500: This seems inconsistent with 11.110 and 25.195.

55.337: Same concern as 55.337.

55.522: This is pretty spiky on right hand.

55.595: Here you have a minijack, but why not on 55.914?

57.107: Not sure I understand this patterning decision. Probably fine though.

59.952: Same concern as 30.103.

1:12.148: Essentially the same rhythm as 1:11.856, so should probably be moved to 1:12.121.

1:16.472: Missing note. Pretty much the same logic as 10.088 (also inconsistent with the flams there, should probably just not have them in the early repetition).

1:16.817: Inconsistent layering with 10.420.

1:18.574: Bit unnecessarily harsh on right hand. Could be moved to 1.

1:22.878: Moving this to 2 would feel smoother plus it doesn't really follow 1:22.666's PR as is. However this breaks PR with 1:23.077 and 1:23.236. Needs a bit of restructuring here.

1:28.701: Making this a (12) would improve both playability and PR. The anchor on 4 doesn't carry here, and this would keep the PR of 2 3 2.

1:40.379: Weird PR with 1:39.424 and 1:39.862.

1:44.299: PR again, not the same note as 1:44.670 and 1:44.909. Could be a (14) for example.

1:58.643: This should be on 1:58.603.

2:00.918: The transition into this rough controlled roll burst feels forced and spiky. Would suggest underlayering 2:00.812 to a jump and making the burst a bit friendlier.

2:07.722: Similar concern as 30.103, except the 20ths suggestion wouldn't apply here.

2:16.278: Missing note. Same at 2:17.337. Without these, the (234)'s feel inconsistent.

This chart is interesting and reminds me a bit of Robotomy in how "pure tech" it is. However, on the first slowed down analysis there were already a fair amount of inconsistencies; some more noticeable than others during normal speed playthrough. This song is by design pretty chaotic, but it does have elements of repetition that the listener can hold on to. Some of these repeated elements were properly charted, and they're nice to play (one noticeable fun element for example is the quads at 1:15.252, although a bit spiky but that's besides the point).

My honest opinion on this is that the chaotic nature of this chart makes it very prone to feel arbitrary and random during playthrough, and for that reason I feel like it is especially important to really have solid consistency in how similar/identical sounds are layered. I brought up a few of these inconsistencies, but I'm absolutely certain there are more. One way to add emphasis to some of the many many different sounds could've been to apply slight color theory here and there; wouldn't fault you for not doing so, but in this particular case it would greatly help with bringing the player's attention to some noticeable song elements, rather than just having full on rainbow tech for most of the file.

For these reasons, I'm giving this a borderline Reject status since I truly believe that this could eventually go ingame if it was polished a fair amount and potentially made a bit easier to follow repetitions and/or outstanding sounds/instruments.