Ace's Simfiling Process

Ace Of Arrows Simfiling Procedure

---Picking Phase---
The song doesn't have a place in StepMania for me yet.  No folder.

1) Pick
As in, decide I want to do a song.

2) Acquire Song/Video
Find the song somewhere such that I can get my hands on it.  If it comes with a video, I like to get that also.

---Element Creation---
The song gains a folder, and prep work begins.  StepMania is never actually opened during this phase, as it wouldn't yet recognize any of the collection of items as a usable simfile.

3) Make Folder
Song and video go in it; the folder sits on the Prep Table (one of my workbench folders).

4) Format
Song is converted to .ogg (most compatible), and video is transformed to .avi (so it lags cabinets very little).

5) Find Images
I search for images that may be suitable for use as a background, or as a banner backdrop upon which to place text.  This phase can take a while, depending on how I think the elements need to feel.

6) Make a Banner
Depending on the image and the text that needs to go on it, this can potentially take upwards of an hour or more for some banners, believe it or not; I pick fonts, colors, positions, rotations, all sorts of things, and the more I decide I need to do with the text, the longer making the banner takes.  This tends to be when a lot of material elements (project files and mid-step images) get made; I try to remember to put them in my Archives to keep the main folder clean once I'm finished with creating the banner.

7) Claim
At this point, my claims begin going into the simfile; I put my CDTitle in, and stick an .sm file template in it so that I can begin charting work.

---BPMing and Syncing---
I have all the elements I want, and have begun placing my marks upon it; at this point, it's pretty likely the simfile is going the rest of the way to release at some juncture.  StepMania finally gets opened at the end of this phase.  Before arrows are placed, however, work must be done to set the song's main numbers.

8) Determine BPM
I get on the internet and, using a Tap for BPM tool, I discern the song's main BPM.  This is always written down in my notebook for reference in case I want to use slowdowns or speed-ups in the chart.

9) Write Basic Tag Form
An .sm file has some basic tags at its start that have nothing to do with the arrows, but determine very basic information StepMania needs to read to recognize it properly, so at this point, with the BPM in hand, I fill out the tag form with things like the song's title, artist, BPM, and other info StepMania will want.  Once I do this, StepMania will be willing to read the folder as a usable simfile, and it will show up in the program.

10) Move to Main Workbench
The song needs no more prep, so it's moved to the Main Workbench for charting.

11) Synchronization
With the correct BPM in hand, the other important thing to do before starting with actually charting a song is to synchronize the beat of the song with the 1/4 note arrows.  A few are placed, then I turn on the assist tick to listen to where the arrows are falling in comparison to where the song is.  I change the song's main offset in a positive or negative direction until the song's actual beats are falling in line with where I've placed red arrows at.  I attempt to synchronize the song within 1/100 of a second of where it needs to be.  Once the song is properly synchronized, work on charting can begin.

---Charting---
The song is fully ready to actually be charted, and the interesting work begins.  I don't do good work unless I'm in the mood to chart that song, so when I feel inspired and think I have some idea how I want to approach charting the song, that's when I begin.

12) Charting
What most people tend to see the most of - StepMania is open, and arrows are being placed in an attempt to write a stepchart that makes sense, and that people will enjoy playing.  Expert charts tend to take the longest, as they're more complex (especially anything rated 12 or up), although special care must be taken on Medium, Easy, and Novice to assure that new players can complete the song on those difficulties without undue trouble.

---Bonus Extras---
If I want to go extra miles with the song, this is when it happens.

13) Synchronize Video Starting
If there's a video, I make sure it starts spot-on.

14) Lyrics File
If I intend to write a lyric file, I yet have to listen to the song a bunch more times now, with a Notepad open, keeping a close eye on the timer, so I can tell the file when to display each line in the song.  The lyric file is done when all lines in the song are correctly input, and they're displaying at the right times while the player is playing the song.

---Release---
Everything's done!

15) Cleanup
I delete the .dwi file (nobody uses Dance With Intensity anymore).  I do one more check for any material elements that don't belong in the song's folder; if I find project (GIMP/PhotoShop) files still hanging around, or any other mid-step work, I move it to the Archives in case I need it some other time.  I assure that the only things that are in the simfile's folder are things that need to be in it.

16) Move to Pack
The song no longer belongs on the workbench, because it's DONE.  So I move it to the actual pack it's going in to signify that it's finished and is now officially part of the pack.

17) Release
I zip the folder and stick it up for release on my website as a finished simfile.