Assist Tick Timing Fixes for All Versions of StepMania and SM themes

*** This is a repost from StepMania Forum ***

Due to the inconsistent timing between inputs and assist ticks (except for obvious lag issues), I made an experiment on how to fix the assist tick timing to sync with the inputs, minimizing the tendency to get more GREAT judgment while listening to assist ticks. I fixed them using the default global offset setting together with any perfectly synced simfile (most of my simfiles are synced using autosync method). Here is the table of values you can change in the metric files of all versions of StepMania. Assist tick is very crucial especially for adjusting the song offset.




Just look for "TickEarlySeconds" code in the default theme's mertic of any StepMania versions. NOTE: for SM4 and sm-ssc users, the default fallback metric file is found inside _fallback folder (not default folder). Just use the Find command (or press F3) to find the TickEarlySeconds, then modify the values to the accurate values found in the table above.

And also not just for the default/fallback assist tick between StepMania versions, since there are also Stepmania custom themes who have also custom assist tick and timing too (e.g Cyberia Style series etc.).

The assist tick timing should be updated so everyone can have trust syncing their simfiles through adjusting the song offset while listening through assist ticks... and at the same time if any player prefers playing with the assist ticks enabled, they would at least don't get more great points until the end of the songs. So the functionality and reliability between the assist tick syncing and autosync syncing are equal for simfile makers.

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I don't know... my assist tick and input are dead on. Are you the one, by chance, who's doing some of the X2 beta files? Most of those I've had to adjust because they're way off. I've been able to get a FMC on several songs in Stepmania, so I think my timing is pretty dead on.

@Daiz: Can you tell me what StepMania version, SM theme, and global offset you are using?

EDIT:

it's very obvious that there are some who prefer syncing songs with the global offset altered (those that depend on the sync simfile included in the audio sync feature in SM4, SM-SSC and Open ITG). From what I understand, the audio sync option function is primarily used for adjusting the input's and monitor's delay, but it should not be used as a basis for adjusting every song offset during editing or simfile making.

I tried all versions of Stepmania (even SM4 and SM-SSC) with all set to default global offset... and all DDR X2 simfiles are in sync, even when i'm using HDTV and dance pad. (All X2 simfiles do not depend on the audio sync/ sync simfile then).

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So I got the final SM-SCC one and went to the fallback file and to the metrics to where it says tickearlyseconds, and the value is "0". Do I add the decimal after that 0 and put .04, like: 0 to 0.04?

@SillyBear: You are making some incorrect assumptions. The DDRX2 simfiles are NOT being synched to the SM4.0 Audio Sync feature. Very few people use this feature to sync songs, it is offered as a basis to standardize GlobalOffsets for ALL players no matter what system you are playing on, but unfortunately for several years there was no such basis, so random Offsets is the norm.

If you use the Audio Sync feature, you will be able to play ALL of my simfiles just fine because I also used this to establish my GlobalOffset.

So if everyone used the Audio Sync feature found in SM4.0, then we would all be following the same basis, but this has not happened and even the persons who sync the files for Z-I-V change my offset values (when I submit official simfiles) to meet their own standard which has NO basis other than it's some random persons GlobalOffset. The fact that Diaz has to adjust all the Offsets proves that different PC's will have different GlobalOffsets. I've found this to be dependent on the PC and not the output monitor, I've tried it on multiple monitors, LCD TV's, Giant Rear Projection TV's, even projectors, but the Global Offset doesn't change, however installing the same build of StepMania onto another PC can cause a GlobalOffset problem, even using a different build of StepMania on the same PC will cause a small GlobalOffset shift, but as long as you sync all your machines using the Audio Sync feature you will never have to change the value of your simfiles.

If you have lag on your input device then your screwed, fixing the offset to account for input lag is a BAD idea. For instance if you have a 12ms lag on your dance pad, you would have to change your global offset such that the arrow is 12ms EARLY. This would mean the ARROW was below the target at the beat of the song, so if you stepped on the BEAT of the music it would look like the you were hitting the arrow VERY EARLY but the lag would cause the step to not register until 12ms later. Again, if you have lag on your input device then your screwed.

tl;dr The Audio Sync feature would be awesome if people used it.

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