Blazen! ~ BB:AM Abridged - Episode 04 (RELEASED)

[Lucalibur]

Absolutely delicious. The lack of music was really the only noticeable problem to me but it wasn't REALLY huge. It ain't like there wasn't any music at all. Other than that, it was great humor in a surprisingly decent length episode. Hype for future episodes.

Also I suggest everyone watches this with youtube autosubs on. Some of the stuff it comes up with is hilarious. I even took a few screenshots of what I found to be key moments but I have no idea how to properly link them here on Dustloop so I will just leave it for you guys to see them for yourselves.

[TheYukianesa-01]

I need moar of this in my blood.

[Daggertail100]

].Also I suggest everyone watches this with youtube autosubs on. Some of the stuff it comes up with is hilarious. I even took a few screenshots of what I found to be key moments but I have no idea how to properly link them here on Dustloop so I will just leave it for you guys to see them for yourselves.

[ATTACH]2753[/ATTACH]

I hope all these show up. I'm new to the technical stuff in posts here lol

[HoudiniJr100]

Loved the episode! Especially jins mr freeze puns.

[Lucalibur]

Did I do it right? Does it work? These are way too good not to post lol.

Edit: You frosty rusher is pretty amazing too lmao. The first pic doesn't work for me though, Dagger.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Lucalibur

[NeoStrayCat]

Well, I found no problems with this, everything went smooth as...(insert pun here), but other than that, it went fairly well and kinda funny, so...Troll Booth when?

Kidding aside (I know it'll eventually happen), will wait for the rest of it soon for that "quality"!

[Shadow Draygon]

It's not your fault, don't worry, it's the fault of that guy over there who puts the vid together.

Yeah I didn't quite get all the vocal tracks normalized, I'll try to improve that in the next installment. Not a bad attempt though for someone who hasn't touched video editing in over 16 years.

The lack of background sound is is also something that I found to be a bit of a weakness.

Yea, everything else was fine but the lack of music was really noticeable.

The lack of music was really the only noticeable problem to me but it wasn't REALLY huge. It ain't like there wasn't any music at all.

Which parts specifically do you guys feel were lacking? I tried to put as much music, BGM, and sfx as I could but didn't want to overdo it in some places. The only scene that doesn't have a music track is Noel meeting Ragna.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Really helps me fine tune and improve.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Shadow Draygon

[Lucalibur]

Actually, the first Noel and Jin scene doesn't have music either...I think. Could just be my laptop and it's disturbingly low volume limit. Regardless, both this and the Noel meeting Ragna scene didn't really need music so there wasn't any harm done. The Ragna VS. Jin scene could have really used some music, though.

Anyway, way I see is that most scenes really should have some background music that is not really extremely noticeable, but still keeps the background from being in complete silence. Kind of like the scene where Ragna and Tao eat together. The following scene with Noel and Hazama also seems to have music, but the volume is much lower and I had to force myself to hear to actually notice anything.

To be honest, I would say practically all of the Ragna and Tao scenes handled music perfectly(it doesn't ALWAYS have to be there, but when it is, it's easy to notice while not getting in the way of the dialogue). Meanwhile most Noel scenes seemed to be lacking in that same 'music quality', so reviewing those scenes should give you a good idea of what I mean. That is just me though, so take it with a gran of salt.

[Shadow Draygon]

Huh really? I have music for those parts, maybe its too quite to be picked up on my some speakers. I have good headphones so its possible I put it at a volume that cheaper speakers can't pick up. That would suck. If that's a case I might have to remix and upload a new version. Would give me a chance to balance the Noel/Tao's tracks if I do.

[Luminos564]

The Ragna VS. Jin scene could have really used some music, though.

Basically yeah, this would be the one place you'd sort of expect battle music. Particularly since you were playing it semi-straight (read: serious) and have the characters act, for the most part, as themselves.

Anyway, way I see is that most scenes really should have some background music that is not really extremely noticeable, but still keeps the background from being in complete silence. Kind of like the scene where Ragna and Tao eat together. The following scene with Noel and Hazama also seems to have music, but the volume is much lower and I had to force myself to hear to actually notice anything.

This too. Actually, do you know what Room Tone is Draygon? Basically, it is 30 or so seconds of recording in a room without (much of) any sound. It may sound weird when I explain it, but in general it helps to eliminate the "empty" feeling you get between each line. Looking at it after a 4th time, it becomes really noticeable when you have long pauses between each line the character say. Try it out. It can definitely help and it doesn't require you to use music that might get you a copyright strike. You don't absolutely need to have music everywhere, but you would need background noise (like people chatter for instance) though not so strong as to overpower the actor and foley sounds (things like footstomps, landings, metal clashing etc).

As a final observation, you could try to see where you can trim your running time. For instance, you didn't need to show Noel getting down the stairs of that ship in its entirety. You could have shortened it because in an abridged episode, you don't need to show everything to the audience and they can fill in the blanks themselves since they do not ultimately care about everything making sense. That's all I can think of for now.

[mAc Chaos]

I lost it at the end with Hakumen.

[Lucalibur]

Huh really? I have music for those parts, maybe its too quite to be picked up on my some speakers. I have good headphones so its possible I put it at a volume that cheaper speakers can't pick up. That would suck. If that's a case I might have to remix and upload a new version. Would give me a chance to balance the Noel/Tao's tracks if I do.

Guess mine are cheap ones then lol, because I couldn't really hear any music on those scenes. The voices were fine for the most part though, only stuff I couldn't understand wasn't because of the volume, but simply my inability to understand standard English speak sometimes(not a native speaker). You should probably get more feedback on this to check if others couldn't hear any music as well, just to make sure.

[Nemesis]

He gets back on the fucking elevator lol ....

[mAc Chaos]

Yeah the music was barely audible at all. You should make it more like a normal show with the music there in the background.

Actually you should check out DBZ Abridged by Team Four Star. They have that whole format down perfectly.

[Vulcan422]

Holy shit that was amazing. All those references to the comics. Naturally everything involving Hazama were my favorite parts.

Daggerfall as Ragna and Jin sounded a bit off at the beginning but then gradually got better towards the end of the ep.

Emma's performance is too divine for words.

SD's Hazama is already the best English Hazama. Hakumen was OK I guess.

And even though it was only for one scene, Kuraudo's Jubei is already damn good.

All in all, it's a pretty good start. Can't wait for the next ep.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Vulcan422

[HoudiniJr100]

He gets back on the fucking elevator lol ....

don't wanna fight haku in abyss mode? do a goddamn fucking u-turn back to the elevator and look at your cash. :3 t the elevator music

[proxy psi]

Stereo Format - 24 bits - 48000 Hz (Analog)

heard ever background noise, just fine.

The only obnoxious occurrence was Jubei's voice... though, that only lasted for about 4 sentences.

(it was RADICALLY static compared to all other voices)

---

I can admit, I would have preferred to see Tao in a more vocalized role than just a low-town whore.. but, I guess thats how it is in the actual anime.. so... meh, I guess.. it's fine.

Also, in a final regard...

JAAAAAA~

*shlick*

Bingo!

[Shadow Draygon]

This too. Actually, do you know what Room Tone is Draygon?

As a final observation, you could try to see where you can trim your running time. For instance, you didn't need to show Noel getting down the stairs of that ship in its entirety. You could have shortened it because in an abridged episode, you don't need to show everything to the audience and they can fill in the blanks themselves since they do not ultimately care about everything making sense. That's all I can think of for now.

Yeah, I used a few room tone sfx for quite parts like where Hakumen and Ragna are just staring at each other.

The next episode will probably be shorter, just had a bunch of stuff I wanted crammed in to this one and even had a few scenes/exchanges cut out due to running as long as the original episode.

As for the audio problems, it sounds like Noel meeting Jin, Jin and Ragna fighting, and a few minor places have the music audio too low. If anyone can point out more specific points like that (or even time stamps on specific points where the audio seems too loud/quite) I can try to get an edited copy uploaded sometime this weekend. It'll give me a good idea on what audio levels I need to be running for a general audience since my headphones are more sensitive than what most people have.

[DEEsidia97]

I should've put my series on Dustloop as well xD

Imma keep my eye on this for open roles ^^

[Luminos564]

As for the audio problems, it sounds like Noel meeting Jin, Jin and Ragna fighting, and a few minor places have the music audio too low. If anyone can point out more specific points like that (or even time stamps on specific points where the audio seems too loud/quite) I can try to get an edited copy uploaded sometime this weekend. It'll give me a good idea on what audio levels I need to be running for a general audience since my headphones are more sensitive than what most people have.

Honestly, other than the audio of you mentioned, there isn't much that needs to be said. I mentioned it earlier, but you really don't need to show everything. Like say for instance, the Noel and Jin introduction went on just a tad too long with Noel being stuck behind the door, and though it may be just my imagination on this, but the dialogue felt a little "slow" (maybe it's just how the actors spoke), even though the payoff of that scene was genius. Following that, you also could have trimmed or even maybe sped up Ragna blowing up the NOL branch right after. That's really all I can add to it.

Good luck Draygon. I can't wait to see what you'll do in the next episode.

[Shadow Draygon]

Fixed the audio and re-uploaded the episode, hopefully that improved some of the problems people had with it:

Blazen! ~ BB:AM Abridged - Episode 01

Edit: I'm a moron, link will be fixed in about an hour.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Shadow Draygon

[Myoro]

Was episode 1 funny? yes.

Funny like that taste in your mouth after you wake up from being blacked out in the ball pit of a Chucky Cheese's. Funny like the subsequent realization that you live nowhere near a Chucky Cheese's and didn't actually do any drinking the day prior. That kind of funny.

Suffice it to say I enjoyed it immensely, please keep up the good work!

[Rhiya]

tbh, I think the sex jokes are a little overdone. I say this not because they weren't funny (the very beginning was great, for example), but just because the scenes that had nothing to do with sex were the funniest. Like, the scene where Hazama is just screwing with Noel after he gets off the ship is probably the best part, tied with the ice puns -- and those were the cleanest scenes in the whole thing, pretty much.

That being said, when it's funny, it's goddamn funny. And the syncing is -noticeably- better than most of the professional dubs on my shelf. I'm rewatching the ice puns, and god, it's so good.

EDIT: Oh, and like some other people have mentioned, this feels noticeably unlike an abridged series and more like a gag dub. It's not really rapidfire nonsense; it's more extended jokes. I'm absolutely okay with this, and it seems like everyone else is too -- a lot of the best parts wouldn't actually work in the traditional abridged format -- but it's more a warning against labeling it a TAS and then having people get confused when it's not like DBZ abridged, YGO abridged, etc.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Dusk Thanatos

[Luminos564]

Excellent job Draygon. Everyone now sounds like they're on the same volume intensity so it made it a lot easier to hear Taokaka's lines and Noel was not spiking when calling Jin after his stone COLD thrashing. Using the Persona social link music for Tao and Ragna was a nice touch. I was halfway expecting to hear "RANK-UP!" near the end of that scene.

Oh, and like some other people have mentioned, this feels noticeably unlike an abridged series and more like a gag dub. It's not really rapidfire nonsense; it's more extended jokes. I'm absolutely okay with this, and it seems like everyone else is too -- a lot of the best parts wouldn't actually work in the traditional abridged format -- but it's more a warning against labeling it a TAS and then having people get confused when it's not like DBZ abridged, YGO abridged, etc.

To be honest though, it seems a lot of people also forget that when both YGOA and DBZA started, they weren't exactly amazing (YGOA only got a pass because it was the only abridged game in town). They too had issues like the actors just starting out, humor wasn't as rapidfire or downright clever and just the overall quality wasn't anywhere near what it is now. As they got more into it, they got much better at it. It'll likely be the same here and I very much look forward to what is in store.

[Master Of Chaos]

Episode 1 was a pretty good start. I look forward to seeing how this progresses.