Minihold Usage
Miniholds are holds that are short enough such that they cannot be dropped, or are almost impossible to drop. In many VSRG's, there is a small window of time upon after the release of a key by which the hold continues through, and if the length of a hold is shorter than this, it cannot be dropped and is therefore considered a minihold.
Miniholds mechanically do not feel any different from a regular note. The only real difference between a minihold and a regular note in terms of feel is the visual stimulus, and therefore they should be used to enhance the visual factor of the chart. Miniholds stick out a bit more than regular notes, which makes them feel slightly heavier than regular notes and are much flashier, making it a strong choice for accenting notes. Historically in games like DDR, holds have a little explosion at the end, which further enhances the flashy feel.
Because of the way the miniholds burst graphically, they tend to fit well with flashy sort of sounds, such as cymbals, bells, or other high-pitched percussion. Most commonly they are used on cymbal hits at the beginnings and ends of phrases. However, they are not limited to these sounds and can also be used simply for emphasis. Any sort of sounds that stick out can be highlighted with miniholds, such as turntable scratches. They can also be used for effects, such as a section of music using filters or panning.
The miniholds are strictly kept on column 2, following the open hi-hat sound. The open hi-hats are always on an upbeat, which means they almost never line up with the snare that is often followed with [34] and occasionally lines up with the kick drum, which would conveniently be followed using [12].
Here we can see miniholds used on notes that have been passed through an envelope filter, that creates the "muffled" sound. The minihold graphical bursts help acknowledge that there is contrast between the two states.
Miniholds, when used too frequently, become very exhausting on the eye, because they aren't as light as regular notes due to the visual clutter, especially with graphical bursts at the ends. Therefore, minihold usage should be done in moderation. If a notecharter wishes to use miniholds for more than one purpose, especially more than one purpose simultaneously, care must be taken to make sure the application of the miniholds is clear and not confusing. Too many things surrounding the miniholds may cause their intentions to be missed, making them feel heavy on the eye without a real sense of purpose.
Length of the miniholds might not seem like a significant issue because of how short miniholds are by nature, but it does play a significant role. Take into consideration what lengths are appropriate for the particular application. More subtle applications such as panning should try to incorporate shorter miniholds, keeping the tail of the hold as short as possible, preferably with 192nds. Stronger hits, such as cymbals, can also use short miniholds, but they can also use holds as long as 32nds or even 24ths depending on the tempo or sound. Different lengths of miniholds can provide contrast between two different functions of different miniholds and provide different degrees of emphasis. Staggering two miniholds such that they are hit simultaneously but with different lengths can help make the graphical burst feel softer.