StepMania Help

[Floyd10]

I want to know if it is possible to create a DWI from scratch? I tried to edit one that I dld and its too ---smurfing--- annoying. Any help would be appreciateed.

[SirPoonga]

Yep, back when stepmania pwas pretty much exclusively DWI (not many people made sm files) I made my own.


It takes patients.  The hardest part is getting the bpm.  For that I had a beat calculator, in which you hit the space bar for each beat and it would give you the bpm.  Then I made a file that on each beat it had and arrow, like
<
<
<
<
     >
     >
     >
     >
alternating

Then I would use DWI (the program) in edit mode to play around with the settings until the arropws landed ont he beat towards the end of the song.  Then from there it is the tedious task of making the steps.  Though once you get the BPM you can then use Stepmania's editor to make step graphically, that will save to sm files.      

[MrBond]

Forgive a newbie to the stepmania world, but where is a good place to look for packages to download?  What is the best format to download?  Tutorial somewhere?
And if I really get into this thing, what is the best dance pad to get?

Thanks a bunch!

[SpamMe]

I want to know if it is possible to create a DWI from scratch? I tried to edit one that I dld and its too <auto-censored> annoying. Any help would be appreciateed.

You might try auto-generating one:
http://www.monket.net/wiki/dancing-monkeys

I've had about 50% success rate with that, so worth a shot as it's very easy to use.

Here are some dwi tutorials:  http://www.bemanistyle.com/tutorials.php

Forgive a newbie to the stepmania world, but where is a good place to look for packages to download?  

Stepmania's main site has good selection of links and downloads.

And if I really get into this thing, what is the best dance pad to get?

It's my understanding that the best pad, other than one you build yourself, is the cobalt flux pad, but they're rather expensive.
Roundup of a few (less expensive) soft pads:
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Games/Roundups/ddrpad04/index.html

[SirPoonga]

MrBond, check out www.ddrfreaks.com forum.

[Howard_Casto]

bpm calculations and stuff arent really required anymore

Stepmania has an interactive mode.... you play the song and press the arrows when you would like them to be pressed and it records them.  Then if you wish you can go back and tweak the file a little if your timing wasn't good.  

Now for dwi the simulator it's quite hard to make files.  I believe your terminology is confusing everyone.  You wish to make a file to use in stepmania right?

[SirPoonga]

Errr, I meant ddrmaniax.net (or .com, can never remember which).


Anyway, I tried that Dancing Monkey.  Well, 4 out of 6 songs it found the bpm and gap correctly.  1 of those songs it made some weird free, it did the hard part very well, finding the bpm and gap.  Making steps after that is easy to do manually.  You could easily do that inside of stepmania.

[Floyd10]

bpm calculations and stuff arent really required anymore

Stepmania has an interactive mode.... you play the song and press the arrows when you would like them to be pressed and it records them.  Then if you wish you can go back and tweak the file a little if your timing wasn't good.  

Now for dwi the simulator it's quite hard to make files.  I believe your terminology is confusing everyone.  You wish to make a file to use in stepmania right?

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. I have started on my first one: Talk to Me, Dance With Me by Hot Hot Heat. It should be good when Im done. Ok, cyas

[abrannan]

Acid has a feature that can import an MP3 file as an instrument, with a wizard to help determine BPM and such.  Works pretty well.  The other tip I've heard is once you've gotten to the point SirPoonga mentioned with the alternating arrows, play the song on 8x arrow speed, and you'll be able to tell if you've got it right.  

[Floyd10]

okokokokokokokokok!!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH JARGON!

[SirPoonga]

What jargon?

[Floyd10]

What jargon?

....
shutup

[GGKoul]

Is there a site that hosts these homemade Stepmania files?

[abrannan]

Is there a site that hosts these homemade Stepmania files?

Do a search for DDR tournamix.  It's a homebrew DDR file "competition" and you can get packs of the files that people have submitted.

[Floyd10]

coolies

[MrBond]

I checked out Dance Dance Revolution 1st Mix just to see what the fuss is about.  (Incidentally learned about bit torrent).  Stepmania seems pretty cool- but once again, you need the right controls for the correct experience
What pads are YOU using?  I would definately want 2 for multiplayer.

[SirPoonga]

You can find originals all over the place.  Frieza, one of the stepmania devs, has some.
http://frieza.stormwerks.net/stepmania/

[abrannan]

I checked out Dance Dance Revolution 1st Mix just to see what the fuss is about.  (Incidentally learned about bit torrent).  Stepmania seems pretty cool- but once again, you need the right controls for the correct experience
What pads are YOU using?  I would definately want 2 for multiplayer.

I use the DDR Deluxe 2.1 pads from www.levelsix.com with a super dual box adapter from www.electricquarter.com

[papaschtroumpf]

is the $6 pad good enough for a "starter" setup? I'm probably not going to get into it but my kids might so I'd like to give it a try so I'd like to find the cheapest setup possible. Looks like you can get a $20 USB adapter, so total cost would be pretty low.

[SirPoonga]

you (and your kids) might find that you will want better pads later, but to start out sure.  The problem with most soft pads, though, is that they drift around so as you are playing the song the pad moves out form under you.  That makes it hard to get the steps.

[papaschtroumpf]

I suppose I could put some non stick rug padding under it, maybe even glue it on some hard foam or plywood?

any recommendation on a XBOX->USB adapter that would work with this pad? (or a PS2 "starter" pad + adapter combination).
I have seen some XBOX->PS2 adapters but I'm already using the PS2 port for my KeyWiz and I'm worried about having daising chaining issues, so I
d rather use USB (since I have a built in USB hub below my CP).

[MrBond]

Any body use this dual PS2 converter?  I linked to it from a stepmania page.
http://www.electricquarter.com/ps2dualcont.htm