Audio file setup

The natural first step to start working on a new chart is setting up the audio file of the song in question. Check the Quick Start steps for a quick summary.

Quick Start

1. Install Audacity
   • If your source file is in a .m4a or .aac format, you may need to install the ffmpeg for windows addon
2. Find, or calculate, your songs’ BPM. This will be necessary for Tempomapping.
3. Export your song as an .ogg (or obtain an .mp3) file.

A note on song selection for beginners

The following are purely recommendations on picking a track to chart for those starting out on their charting journey. The intention is to ease you into the process, as dealing with variable tempos or lengthy tracks can lead to frustration.

• Choose a track that has a clear leading instrument (or vocal!) to follow. Given SRXD’s nature, electronic music is a generally easy recommendation here.
• Choose a track that has a steady tempo. Variable BPM/live plays present another layer of complexity that’s better to tackle after grasping the basics of charting.
• Choose a track that you’re willing to listen to many, many times during the process. But also, a track that’s not your all-time favorite. Save it for when you’ve got some experience, so you can do it justice later.
• Lastly, choose a reasonably short track (up to 4 minutes), as it’ll be easier to finish before hitting the point of frustration or burnout. It’s also easier for other potential playtesters to go through it quickly and give you feedback.

No one should stop you from charting a 30-minute megamix or medley on your first try if you’re determined though. More power to you!

Audio quality

Hey!

Consider, whenever possible, purchasing the track you’re charting. By doing so, you’re both supporting the artist and improving your own experience when it comes to Tempomapping. This is especially important with tracks on the lengthier side.

Your best bet here is to look for it on services like Bandcamp, Beatport, OTOTOY, etc.

Ideally, the source file of your track should be of the highest quality available, as it’s going to unavoidably get somewhat downgraded before importing into the game. As a general rule of thumb:

• Prioritize obtaining a .flac or .wav format file of your track.
• Alternatively, a 256Kbps bitrate or better .mp3 file can work, as it’s the only format other than .ogg supported by SRXD.
• Heavily discouraged, unless the track is quite literally not available anywhere else: YouTube rips.

Exporting with Audacity

Note

This step is only necessary if you’re exporting from a FLAC or WAVE source file. If your’re working with an .mp3 source file, you can move on to importing the file.

File ➜ Export Audio… ➜ Format: Ogg Vorbis Files ➜ Quality: 8 ➜ Export

Importing the audio into SRXD

By default, SRXD stores custom content at the following path:

C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\LocalLow\Super Spin Digital\Spin Rhythm XD\Custom

You can easily access this directory using the Show files button in the Custom side panel in-game.

Once your audio file is ready, move it into the AudioClips folder.

You’re set and ready to move on to Tempomapping!