How a song changes the track

[Cynosure]

I am an amature composer who would like to try to create some songs that are very challenging and fun to play on AudioSurf.  I am wondering if I can get some information about what changes the track.  I know that it will bounce a little to the beat, and faster parts go downhill, but I would like more specific information about how the game creates the track from the song.  I am very interested in knowing how to make the track turn left or right.  I find turns challenging and would like to put a lot in some of the songs I create.

Thanks for your help!

[SplinterOfChaos]

Howabout you do what I did? Create a song and analyze the track it makes.

Actually, I've done a bit of the work for you, but I still suggest you make your own.

I know it's a little unpolished, but there's a lot to analyze here.

I thought that traffic was created when there was a change in note, but I found no correlation to that in this song. Then I thought that maybe it created traffic when there was a volume spike or precussionous noise. Well, I start off with an instrument that serves as both and there's no traffic. It seems traffic is only created for high pitched percussion noises. Notice how traffic ALWAYS coincides with the clap.

I originally thought that the speed was based on percussions. But, the very beginning is precussionous and notice that the speed boost doesn't come in until the pipe instrument at the end of the intro. So, it seems speed is volume based, or maybe based on the amount of noise is in the air. The confusing part is how the speed at the end is the same, even when I lower the volume on the main instrument.

We all know bumps come from percussions.

I can't figure out why the track turns, but I think it might have something to do with keeping the entire track within a certain amount of space. I originally thought that it had to do with panning, but I couldn't force the track to turn, even with the panning I used at the end. So, now I think turning just keeps the track within a box. So, they don't have to draw track that is 9 miles away, it folds into a 1 square mile block. Notice how short songs never turn, or at least not by much. Long songs seem always to turn.

That's all I can think of right now.

Create your own song, just for the test. See how it works. Post the results, and maybe the song too.

[Major_Casualtie]

When a song speeds up it is because of the intensity of that part of the song. The more intense, the redder it gets. Take, for example, a Metal song; It may start off with a little bit of a guitar solo, so it goes slow, then it will most likely launch into a full band, and that will most likely speed the song up quite a bit. This is only what I've noticed.

[SplinterOfChaos]

Exactly right, but the word "intense" is lackluster to the amount of technical information needed to figure out how to make songs designed to create a specific track.

How does Audio Surf determine what's intense?

[Orcao]

I can't figure out why the track turns, but I think it might have something to do with keeping the entire track within a certain amount of space. I originally thought that it had to do with panning, but I couldn't force the track to turn, even with the panning I used at the end. So, now I think turning just keeps the track within a box. So, they don't have to draw track that is 9 miles away, it folds into a 1 square mile block. Notice how short songs never turn, or at least not by much. Long songs seem always to turn.

Get the "Yura Yura" tv cut by "Hearts Grow". It's only 1:30 and turns quite a bit. It's an OP or ED to Naruto, so it shouldn't be that hard to find.

[Melodia]

I originally thought that the speed was based on percussions.

Well considering how much music there is out there without percussion...

But I've noticed that a sort of 'massed' sound tends to make it red -- string ensemble, choir, organ (especially organ). This leads me to believe that it's very much based on overtones, of which these types of sounds are very rich in.

-Lala-

[Cynosure]

From what I can tell it uses a lot from the bassline to create the little up and down bobbing movements.  Speeding a track up seems to have to do with the amount of amplitude across the entire spectrum.  That's why stings and orgran make it go downhill.  They make a lot of nosie across a wide range of frequencies.

I'm going to do what you did and make some test songs to see if I can figure out the turning thing.

Thanks!

[Cynosure]

I can't seem to figure it out.  Some songs the track turns right upside down 

Do any devs read these forums?  Maybe they can help?

[SplinterOfChaos]

Whoa! It turned right upside down? You have to post that song! I just gotta see this with my own eyes.

Speeding a track up seems to have to do with the amount of amplitude across the entire spectrum.  That's why stings and orgran make it go downhill. 

Actually, the strings and organs (wait, I didn't use any organs) made it faster, but did not effect the slope.

Maybe it uses baseline to get the pace, and total (or maybe average) amplitude to the the speed.

[Cynosure]

I've had a few different songs that do it.  I can't remember all of them because I always trying different songs.  I think that Still Alive from the Portal soundtrack does it right near the end.  The whole track tilts to the right and you spin right around.

[NinjaRob]

I've noticed that any constant high-pitched noise will make the track go faster and downhill. I've mostly noticed this with high, prolonged trumpet notes.

[matto1990]

I think i read that corkscrews happen when a new instrument is introdused suddenly. Was ages ago though so i could be wrong.

[Psy-T]

you are :p

guys, one major hint i have for you: everything in how audiosurf interprets audio is context sensitive. just because the kick and the snare cause the short term altitude changes in some of the tracks you've played doesn't mean that it's the kick and the snare that cause this, rather, it's the context they exist in.

[Cynosure]

you are :p

guys, one major hint i have for you: everything in how audiosurf interprets audio is context sensitive. just because the kick and the snare cause the short term altitude changes in some of the tracks you've played doesn't mean that it's the kick and the snare that cause this, rather, it's the context they exist in.

So what is the context that makes that happen?  There has to be some sort of formula that the game uses to create the track.  I just want some insight into what it is.  I need specifics so that I can make a song to create a specific track design, rather than just creating a song and seeing what happens.

[SplinterOfChaos]

you are :p

guys, one major hint i have for you: everything in how audiosurf interprets audio is context sensitive. just because the kick and the snare cause the short term altitude changes in some of the tracks you've played doesn't mean that it's the kick and the snare that cause this, rather, it's the context they exist in.

This is kind of a "no duh" thing for me. Have any more helpful advice?

I mean, we already know that in a one instrument song, the percussion-esk noises that cause traffic to appear will not have to be as blatant as in a song with a wider range of sounds.