Simfile Tips...

[sloshbone]

I need some tips for making simfiles from all you pro's, please. I don't want mine to suck and be off beat. I don't want to hear your preferences though (ie. dont use jackhammers, or whatever they're called). So, gimme some good tips that will help me make better stepfiles, por favor. If you haven't played my first stepfile yet, its in the simfile section...play it (if you havent already) to get a feel for "where i'm at" and what i need help with.

Also, how long do you guys usually spend making a stepfile?

[plasmix]

There's a thing called FAQ's.

[sloshbone]

there's a thing called "i dont want to read a how to, i just want tips (more than whats offered in the faq)" lol

...and a variety of tips, hence why i posted this on the message board, to get tips from more than one person...but thanx for the smartass reply, lol

[Reach]

Well, follow these and you should be fine. really, there isn't alot else you can do, except get better from experience.


1. don't use excessive jackhammer. especially if they're fast. doubles too, don't make the steps retarded aka. really god damn hard and no fun.

2. sync it properly. don't start till you have a proper bpm (as in the exact bpm), and decent gap. when ur done go back and fine tune the gap.

3. find good songs to stepfile. something upbeat and dancable, something with a steady bpm, something that isn't too long and something people will enjoy

4. try and be creative. don't be a robot, try and be unique, and use patterns that fit the song well. slow down the music speed while making it to make sure your file is staying onbeat and you're using the proper notes.

5. don't use excessive turns, or if you're going to put turns/spins, do them properly and have them flow. Do not throw turns/spins randomly like a retard into runs especially at highspeed, like caprice.

6. test your stepfile constantly. If theres something gay and retarded, REMOVE IT. If its going offsync, fix it. If the steps arn't flowing right or arn't fun, remove them and try again.

7. don't rush. sometimes you can pull off a good stepfile in a short amount of time, but the end result is usually better if you take your time and think it out.

[jimerax]

Reach forgot to say..

8. don't steal BG and Banner from other simfiles even if you can't make good ones.

[plasmix]

And don't double the BPM just for the hell of it.

[tnyhwk900]

But you can halve the bpm if the song gets real soft.

[Ridge]

PUT LOT OF SMILEY FACE IN IT

[Snapps]

Use WINBMP.

[Baconman669]

When testing your simfile, pay close attention to the "Perfect" "Great", etc. If "Perfect" isn't Perfect, keep playing awhile. If the rating changes again, you're BPM is off. Otherwise, just +/- 1 GAP per rating, and either way, retest. Also, if the timing changes once, but stays consistant, break up that set into groups of 8 half-beats, and check the spacing.

And seriously, just make the stepsets fun. They don't have to be atrociously difficult, unless you're a glutton for that kind of thing. As far as fun sets go:

-Beat steps for easier difficulties
-Jump patterns
-Runs/Streams
-Skips
-Note-timed/drum-roll timed voltage
-And interesting, unconventional spins (think Sexy Planet Finale/Long Train Runnin' climax)
...are all fair game. In fact, try to mix at least 3 of these types (not at the same time) in your heavy sets. Think of your favorite DDR stages/simfiles, and what their stepsets do. Think of your favorite songs (before you were DDR'ing), and try to apply these patterns to them.

Also, learn to do math in 8's. Seriously, thinking in 8's makes 9/10 songs you do easy to plan steps for. The other songs you can figure just by counting beats.

Finally, don't be afraid to use patterns of patterns. Don't go random, or just c/p 8/16 digits over, and over. C/P entire measures once they reoccur later in the song, but don't use it within a measure. That's also a good way to screw up spacing, BTW.

[Moogy]

Step 1 : Look at Club
Step 2 : Do not do anything that Club does

Heh, but in all seriousness, take Reach's advice. He = <3

[Spazzbite]

Use WINBMP.

NEVER use WinBPM. You will be off on the exact bpm about 99% of the time. Use Beatcounter instead. I forgot what the link was, but it's made by Cubic Carrot Software, so just google search for it.

NOTE: You will need winamp 2.xx to correctly use Beatcounter.

[Moogy]

Winamp5 works too.

[Reach]

I use winbpm if i need to find bpm changes. it works

i get moogy to use some bpm exacto thingie to find initial bpms tho XD