The complete C3 tutorial for new authors
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C3 Tutorial for New Authors
First of all, this isn’t a flashy video tutorial featuring Nyx’s sassy voice or pksage’s handsome face. This is an interactive PDF with no picture, much like the original HMX docs that have very few pictures. If you are easily bored and you only want to take a peek at how authors work, check our video tutorials.
On the other hand, this document covers all aspects of authoring and is intended for people of any background. The tutorial explains how to author a song in the easiest way: in example, this is how me and Nemo started out from being “simple” RB players (knowing nothing about authoring, game file format, etc.) to authors, this is how we learned and how we managed to not get frustrated while doing it. This is very important: this is not how RBN authors started out, this is a tutorial for authors who are not already very skilled at authoring by ear. You will learn how to use existing MIDI files to speed things up and each instrument is broken down to see how it should be authored.
However, this is not just a “beginner’s tutorial”. We chose the path of guiding you from a pre-made music MIDI just because that’s the easiest way for anybody to get into authoring, but the information contained is not just basic. In our Focuses (the more technical reference pages) we cover things like pro keys and vocals being half a step off, time signatures, how to correctly identify each part of a drum kit by sound and much more. If you already author at a good level, this document still has some good info for you. We try to explain in a simple way what tuplets are and why they matter, how time signature works, how to speed up authoring, etc.
This is supposed to be a point of reference for everybody, for a complete authoring learning experience when coupled with our videos (which are referenced in the tutorial anyway for a few sections) and the official HMX documentation. If you have any feedback please leave it and we will incorporate it in our next revision: this has been in production for more than a year and it’s about time we release it even if it can be still improved.
I can attest to this being in the works for a very long time. I also want to make it clear that I had virtually no involvement in this. It’s really 90% farottone, and maybe 10% everyone else combined. So really, this is another reason why he’s so awesome.
The Rock Band Author’s Bible!
Dude, you finished it! Congratulations to you and OMFG to all the rest of us!
There is so much information in there, all in one place – it’s incredible!
Thank you so much for this, Farottone, it’s going to help so many people become better authors.
Bravo, Sir!
*Edit:
Sorry, I’m a little excited.
Quick note on left hand animations on Guitar and Bass, even if it’s technically autogenerated if you put nothing in there, the autogeneration produces a static non-moving arm that only plays a single fret. Most of the time this isn’t that noticeable, but if you have a song with a lot of soloing, movements etc. animating at least the more active parts with camera cuts focusing on the hands might be a good idea.
Quick note on right hand animations on Guitar and Bass, even if it’s technically autogenerated if you put nothing in there, the autogeneration produces a static non-moving arm that only plays a single fret. Most of the time this isn’t that noticeable, but if you have a song with a lot of soloing, movements etc. animating at least the more active parts with camera cuts focusing on the hands might be a good idea.I think you mean the left hand produces a static, non-moving arm. The right hand (the strumming hand) gets automated based on the expert chart.
Quick note on right hand animations on Guitar and Bass, even if it’s technically autogenerated if you put nothing in there, the autogeneration produces a static non-moving arm that only plays a single fret. Most of the time this isn’t that noticeable, but if you have a song with a lot of soloing, movements etc. animating at least the more active parts with camera cuts focusing on the hands might be a good idea.I think you mean the left hand produces a static, non-moving arm. The right hand (the strumming hand) gets automated based on the expert chart.
Derp, you’re right. Basically, strumming hand is automatically animated, fretting hand stays in one place unless animation markers is put in
I don’t know how I can properly thank you for making this. Between this, the video tutorials, and the support of the community I really have no excuse to not start authoring tracks.
Thank you Faro and the other 10%
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_wink.gif” /> ALL HAIL FAROTTONE!
Between this, the video tutorials, and the support of the community I really have no excuse to not start authoring tracks.“Time is now the only thing of which there’s not enough.”
-Colonel 32dll, c.2014
Obligatory shameless plug:
If you’re looking to get a feel for the format and charting drums, there are lots of Rock Band Network 1.0 songs that still need pro drums upgrades. Pro drums are really easy to do, and I would be happy to work with some folks to get the framework done (answering questions, etc).
Similarly, if you’re looking to get some experience with vocals charting, there are still some songs with small, copy-paste friendly harmony charts that might be good for you to get a feel for reading and authoring vocal parts, as you can use the existing chart as a baseline and tweak from there. As with pro drums, I would be happy to help answer questions on that front.
Keys/Pro Keys are a little different but you’re more than welcome to take a crack at it — try to stick to one chart at a time for these, though, until you’ve got a feel for it. Ideally there’s a good .midi out there for you to get a ‘mostly correct’ chart to work with.
Please note that my willingness to help/answer questions only goes so far. I’m willing to walk through the steps to getting a chart ready for upgrade authoring, assuming you’ve got some familiarity with REAPER or can work it out (I won’t be sending a step-by-step guide with screenshots, more or less). I’m also willing to answer specific questions, give feedback on tricky/tough parts or charts in general, and give advice on processes and what I would recommend as ‘best practices. I will not do reconstructive surgery on your chart (as I used to for RBHP), nor will I be particularly inclined to help if you haven’t demonstrated that you’ve read through the resources available and given it a reasonable effort.
All I ask is you let me know which upgrade you would like to try so I can flag it as ‘claimed’ and avoid two people trying to do the same work — and, similarly, if you change your mind, that you notify me so I can free it up again.
I just wanted to post to thank you for putting this together, Farottone! You have done the community a great service; so much so it actually makes me feel guilty for not having contributed sooner, but I’ll try to remedy that now
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_wink.gif” />I just wanted to post to thank you for putting this together, Farottone! You have done the community a great service; so much so it actually makes me feel guilty for not having contributed sooner, but I’ll try to remedy that now” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_wink.gif”>Looking forward to seeing your work!
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_smile.gif”>Question: Let’s say I want to chart “Be Good Johnny” by Men at Work. (I did this once in EoF as a Rocksmith custom, so I am familiar with the song.) Is my best bet to purchase the MIDI at a place like this: http://www.hittraxmidi.com/men-at-work/ … hnny-midi/ ? are there better places to buy midi tracks to start from (if I dont want to chart something someone already started but am a beginner)?
Diving into this tutorial now. I’ve wanted to start charting and giving back to the community, since I’ve been playing rock band since the first came out and lurking and downloading charts around here for about a year. Hopefully I’ve got the brain capacity and patience to get some good stuff out. Thanks for all the work though man, this document is huge and I can see it took a ton of effort.
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