================= ==SMWC IDOL ROUND 1: NORTH== ================= Judging by Supertails ==Submission 1== Song: Badlands Author: S.N.N. Quality - 9/10 It's difficult to remember this is an original composition and not just a port which is a testament to the song's quality. It has a solid background melody, good percussion, and most of all, a catchy and upbeat melody that actually changes in mood as the song progresses. The track certainly invokes the feeling of an upbeat or athletic area while maintaining a wild, desert-like feeling. Use of odd numbered instruments is clever, especially for the percussion. I am left a little underwhelmed by the @9 though, since the instrument is a bit rigid and isn't the most effective for blips. Given it's a custom composition, it's difficult to give a substitute, but something with a bit more range (even a distorted @5) may have helped. Lastly, some instruments and areas sound a little basic without distortion, including the pan with @14, which is a little harsh. Otherwise though, a fantastic composition. Complexity - 3.5/4 Custom compositions tend to be on the shorter and simpler side - not the case here. This one utilizes all 8 channels and is nearly a minute and a half long. While the background melody is simple, the main melody and percussion has a lot going on. Apart from the piano blips, there isn't anything in terms of ADSR, which hurts the score a bit. The tune would've been pushed to new heights in SMW with more distorted and unique sounding instruments. Functionality - 6/6 Proper echo buffer and v0 echo fix is here. Since it uses all 8 channels, there's a bit of instrument cutoff in-game, but it's pretty minor and mostly reserved for percussion. OVERALL: 18.5/20 ==Submission 2== Song: main theme from Ufouria/Hebereke and Sunsoft Special from Lemmings Author: Kipernal Quality - 8.5/10 As a surprisingly complex song, the quality of this with (limited) SMW instruments is downright stellar. The harmonies, especially around :45 are pulled off very effectively and the use of both @13 and @17 is fantastic. Referencing both of the original tracks, this retains the retro feel of the original. I can't help but feel the @1 could've been manipulated a bit more with ADSR to sound a little more 8-bit though, and the bass is a little dominating. Other than that though, very well done. Complexity - 4/4 8 channels, lots of ADSR and nearly 2 minutes in length, this is a deceivingly complex song and demonstrates a large amount of work. Functionality - 4/6 Proper header and echo is here, but not the v0 fix. There's a bit of instrument cutoff, which is to be expected. It's frustrating though that again, this only works with AddmusicM, and given that it does not use samples and the commands aren't overly complex, it hurts this rating a bit. OVERALL: 16.5/20 ================= ==SMWC IDOL ROUND 1: SOUTH== ================= ==Submission 1== Song: Yellow Fever Author: Kadyastar Quality - 9/10 Hey - this is a really interesting and nice composition. At first it appears simple, but uses some nice counter-melodies and pitch bends with the flute. What's especially nice is some of the harmonies at places like :28 and :44 - in the former, I didn't even realize it was with SMW samples at first. I do think the very end of the loop at 1:05 is a bit awkward and abrupt. Additionally, the song feels a little simple at times and may have benefited from some bass and more channels going on at once. All in all though, this is a very well done, very oriental-sounding theme - simple in places, but when it's good, it's very good. Complexity - 3/4 As mentioned, the song feels a touch empty in places, but it uses all 8 channels, has some varied ADSR, and pitch bends for the flute which helps the score. Functionality - 6/6 Some instrument cutoff but it's reserved for percussion and the channels with the fewest notes. Uses the proper header, echo and the v0 echo fix. OVERALL: 18/20 ==Submission 2== Song: ThinkOneMoreTime Author: Lunar Wurmple Quality - 6/10 Quality's a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, there are parts of the song I really like, like the way the percussion is silenced at 1:05 and the melody instrument. But on the other, things like the @2 instrument honestly detract from the song. This is a limited round - but the instrument choice seems pretty poor. Perhaps @16 or something a little softer would've worked. As-is, @2 has difficulty giving clarity to each note. Additionally, the bongos are a little dominating over the other percussion channel, and the strings may have benefited from stronger, more gradual ADSR. Otherwise though, not bad. Complexity - 2.5/4 Over a minute long and 7 channels. Some parts, like the percussion, are a bit repetitive and are looped a lot, and the nature of the song repeats verses. That being said, while there's ADSR here, it didn't do too much to alter the instruments and as I mentioned earlier, may have been used to better effect to make more complex instruments. Functionality - 5/6 Proper header and v0 fix, though an eight note is a bit dodgy compared to a quarter. Minimal instrument cutoff that's reserved for the percussion. OVERALL: 13.5/20 ==Submission 3== Song: Star Shock Author: ThinkOneMoreTime Quality - 7.5/10 Interesting custom composition here: at first it felt a little inconsistent and wasn't sure what it wanted to be but starting at :23, it picked up substantially. :43 sounds great, as do the background notes later, and combination of channels at :55 was clever. Rather than empty, there are many instruments and a lot going on here. The ADSR for some portions like the lead sounds a bit sharp and the use of & rather than $DD makes the pitch bends a bit inflexible. Other than these observations and a bit of a rough start, this is an interesting and enjoyable piece. Complexity - 3/4 Uses all 8 channels and is over a minute in length. As mentioned, it doesn't feel empty, but parts, like the pitch bends and percussion, tend to be looped a lot leading to quite a few repeating segments in the song, bringing down the rating a bit. Functionality - 5/6 A bit of instrument cutoff in-game, but reserved for more minor channels: it is a shame to hear the @3 get a bit cut off though. Uses the proper header, but not the echo fix. OVERALL: 15.5/20