Standardized OFFSET / GAP

I strongly suggest that official files follow a standardized offset / gap (those two terms are practically identical, offset is used in .sm and gap is used in .dwi). StepMania 4.0 provided a standard that we all should be following, we all should modify our GlobalOffsets so that our machines are synched to this standard. I would also like to point out that the synching that I provided for UltraMix 3 is based on this standard, so if those files seem to have issues, download this sync test, change your GlobalOffset until this is on-beat and enjoy UM3. If anyone wants better sync data for the any of the other official simfiles, I have data for everything so as long as your GlobalOffset matches this standard, you will enjoy my work.

http://best-mix.net/downloads/sync%20test.zip

Currently many of the official files found here and at DDR:UK are not very consistently synched and do not match the standard offset. Also this standard is included with StepMania 4.0 and is intended to be used to sync your GlobalOffset, if you pick a machine sync option it will play this very simfile and modify your GlobalOffset based on an autosync.

If this is going above your head: 1. download this file 2. play it with autosync (F6) 3. change your GlobalOffset by the OPPOSITE value that the .sm offset changes by (perhaps it goes from -0.012 to -0.028, change your GlobalOffset from 0.00000000 to 0.01600000, or if it changed from -0.012 to 0.033, change your GlobalOffset from 0.000000000 to -0.045000000).

---

I don't understand the final paragraph. To be honest, it confused me more. And can this be used in 3.9?

---

I will make this very straightforward, and yes it will work in SM3.9 or any version of StepMania for that matter.

1. Download the file
2. Place the song in your library so it is playable
3. Choose the song in normal game play mode either on light or standard (preferrably light)
4. When the song begins press F6 to begin autosync
5. At the end of the song you will have a message: "You have changed the offset or BPM of... Would you like to save these changes back to the song file?..." Select YES and press enter.
6. When you open the new .SM file the OFFSET value will have changed, let's assume it is now #OFFSET:-0.034
7. Open up the DATA folder and Stepmania.ini, press Control+F and search for GlobalOffset, press enter
8. You should see a line with "GlobalOffsetSeconds=0.000000" go ahead and change 0.000000 to 0.002200*
9. Done, all the UltraMix 3 files should be perfect, and you are now synched to a proper standard (FYI In The Groove uses this same standard so if you wanted to make files to play on an ITG2 AC machine you won't have to worry about adjusting the offset).
*0.002200 is calculated by NEW OFFSET - OLD OFFSET, [so -0.012 - -0.034 = +0.022]

---

So basically sync it to the assist tick (for example) and adjust the global offset to yourself?

---

Working on a standard globaloffset will be very useful. I remember I've synched a lot of simfiles (long long hours ^^'') before using them for our animations/DDR promoting with my association.