Regarding 29JAN15 15.2 beta build (Version 1502.0056.1276.4047)

Upfront Verdict: The 15.2 beta music system is not ready for a live release. The dropped note issue is the most upfront dealbreaker. Also, with the new build, none of the off-timbre notes have been addressed (See: https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthr...06#post7306606) and several new ones are now audible.

Upfront Recommendation: Keep the 15.1 system for 15.2 and delay release of the update on live until at least the dropped note issue is addressed. For me, regarding this current beta build, the threshold of "worth adjusting ABC files" has not been reached. And generally speaking, my bar for that is a lot lower than many.

Positives: While I could nitpick -- and I do think more refinement is needed -- the overall dynamic balance of this beta build is in my opinion better than the live system. Which does mean it is different than the live version, but I'm solidly in the camp of welcoming a system with more uniform dynamic balance rather than attempting to recreate the poor balance that is currently in place.

Timbre Details: To repeat, none of the off-timbre notes (See: https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthr...06#post7306606) have been addressed and several new ones are now audible. The exception is Flute D#4 seems to be in much better dynamic balance with the rest of the flute notes. The additional off-timbre notes are annotated below:

Clarinet
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A3 - Has what I would describe as an odd warble on the attack
A4 - Has a metallic "trumpet-like" timbre that sustains throughout the note

Flute
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B2 - Noticeably breathy compared to the other notes
C#3 - Same as Flute B2

Theorbo
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C#3 - Now has the similar "pitch shift" issue other notes have; as if a finger vibrato has been applied to the note.
F3 - Same as C#3
A#3 - Same as C#3
C4 - Tone is "cut off." The sustain is noticeably short compared to the other notes and the tone ends abruptly rather than the natural fade the others exhibit.

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I would again like to thank the community team for their excellent communication with everyone. I'd also like to thank the development team for continuing to try to make the music system better. I think, given one more beta testing cycle, we can nail this thing proper.