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Copy-paste: Your thoughts?

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kingcobra52
A lot of mappers (including myself) use copy/paste frequently in order to map faster. I'm curious about what people think about it in general from both the mapper's and player's perspective.

For mappers:

-Do you use copy/paste in your maps? How often? Do you leave it as it is or change it around? (flip horizontal/vertical, move sliders/notes, etc.)

For players:


-When you run into a copy/paste from before, what are you thinking at that point? Are you glad because the map's more predictable, or are you shaming the mapper for being lazy?

-What's your general opinion of copy-pasting? Is flipping horizontal/vertical enough to "change-up" a pattern from before and keep it interesting?

Let me know what you guys think.
Kytoxid
As both a mapper and a player, I found it good as long as it's not in excess, and the music merits the use of the same pattern again. Generally I try to avoid doing it more than once for one pattern though (so one pattern shows up only twice), because any more and it feels boring. I usually do a hofizontal flip or a 180 degree rotation.

In short: I don't think it should be done for the sole purpose of speeding up the mapping process, but it can be a good thing if used effectively.
bearing019
I think a nice piece of copy paste is awesome, even in the hardest map of a song. To play, they are a treat. I love them, so I probably tend to do it too much when I map.

I sometimes change it for the very last verse.
blissfulyoshi
For me both as a mapper and a player, I feel that copy and pasting is a very boring technique unless it is used for a reflection for a jump. (Jumps look a lot nicer and are easier to read if they are notes reflected across axis)

Seeing the same or similar patterns annoy me. If used, the map usually becomes predictable and repetitious. When making my own maps, I try to make sure each repeat of similar note patterns is drastically changed from the last occurrence (sadly, this does not always happen).
anonymous_old
Copy-pasting minor art sliders (e.g. a wave slider)? Sure.

For everything else, it depends. In most cases, the music has to sound almost exactly the same for it to be justified. Most of the time, copy-pasted parts need to be close together on the timeline and in position without modification, or they need to be rotated much or flipped. Not sure if I made that clear, but hey...

Three pastes (and one of the source, making four repeated patterns) is my general limit. One paste is good for a section close on the timeline.

One good use of copy-pasta IMO was in Date of Rebirth. There were six identical sections in the song, grouped in two's. I mapped three different patterns for the first three, and copy-pasted them into the last three. Each pairing was unique, and the repeated patterns were flipped and adjusted so they flowed better with the other pattern in the pair.

Another perspective of copy-pasta: copy-pasting patterns, but changing spacing and the type of notes. The absolute best example one could ask for is Unity at 00:35:482 (1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,1,2,3). foul's use of this pseudo-copy-pasta makes a somewhat confusing timing pattern so intuitive because you learn as you play.

Bleh.

I have no grudge against mappers who use copy-pasta except in the case where either (1) it makes the map sound weird (ahem) or (2) it just plays poorly. I'm too tired to come up with examples of good and bad "real" copy-pasta at the moment.
An64fan
As a mapper, I never c/p except when lining stuff up in a particular way (this is usually jumps). I never c/p otherwise.

As for others using c/p, I have no problem as long as it's only bits and pieces of the map. Otherwise, it becomes boring in a hurry.
minyeob
As a mapper: I never use copy/paste.

As a player: I'm shaming the mapper and filp thing is not enough to change patterns. *ex) Ouendan/EBA maps lol
MegaManEXE
I use it for symmetrical purposes, but I try not to take, for example, the entire chorus and copy and paste it over and over each time.

I tend to C&P rhythms a lot but I make sure I arrange them differently to try to keep it somewhat fresh and new.
RandomJibberish
I usually make the choruses all the same if the music is identical, with the second a 180 rotation and the third a horizontal flip on the first. I sometimes make the last chorus different though.
Lesjuh
NoHitter
As a mapper, I have to admit laziness has sometimes been the problem... but I generally try not to copy paste even if the sections are identical. The only reason I would do so is if I'm trying to do Oibon Jumps or for symmetry purposes.

As a player, they're fine. In fact they're easier to read.
Card N'FoRcE
Mapper POV: usually when i map and make a copy-paste i also try to change something more, instead of only flipping. Anyway, this happens only when i get two identical sections in the song. I just like it more this way.

Player POV: as long as the copy-paste is not so highly used, i barely notice it at all. If i do i usually don't care if it fits the map well.

In other words, copy-paste is not so bad, in my opinion it's even better to use it sometimes, it keeps the map more consistent.
rust45
As a mapper, I use copy pasta at the chorus of the song, but I only use this to so I don't have to place notes again, usually the pattern varies greatly from what I copied. Although my exception to this is when I'm making a nice symmetrical pattern.

As a player, I think copy paste can be good and fun, reminds me a lot of EBA maps and a lot of the times the patterns are done so well they don't get boring the third time around. And to me, maps that feel like that are needed more than the "OMG RAPE IN THE FACE" maps, fun, without excessive amounts of challenge.
Derekku
For a map with two choruses, I think that having the second chorus be a copy-paste of the first (with horiz and/or vert flipping) is fine. Though, SOME differences are always nice. For the meltdown diff I did, I copy pasted for the second chorus, but moved a bunch of the notes and sliders around so that they went in different directions and angles. So, it gave a similar "feel" but also a newer one. :3

For three choruses, I'd make the first two about the same, but something completely different for the third. :3
CheeseWarlock
I think repetition is one of the most overlooked aspects of a map. And not just copy-pasting with the occasional flip; use different patterns but with some amount of consistency in the appearance, the timing of the notes, even the hitsounds! If the music repeats, the mapping should reflect that. I've seen maps that made excellent use of these concepts without a single copy-paste, and other maps that had sections repeating 4+ times that were just as great. Too much repetition can be a problem, sure, but it's not one I see very often.
anonymous_old

CheeseWarlock wrote:

I think repetition is one of the most overlooked aspects of a map. And not just copy-pasting with the occasional flip; use different patterns but with some amount of consistency in the appearance, the timing of the notes, even the hitsounds! If the music repeats, the mapping should reflect that. I've seen maps that made excellent use of these concepts without a single copy-paste, and other maps that had sections repeating 4+ times that were just as great. Too much repetition can be a problem, sure, but it's not one I see very often.
I just realized Lemon Tree fits well to that. =] (Good job, MM.)
nomedeusuarionaodisp
Same answer as usual: as long as it fits the map, I don't mind. They also fit well in refrains.

On my beginning days of osu! I didn't like them much (as you can see on that awful thing I have in my Graveyard), but... even though I haven't really gotten much better (and now that I finally sort of played OTO2 - oh god why don't I have a DS already), I can see where they might or not be useful or fun.
...I guess.
Aoitenshi
I am an original type person, so even on 3 minutes song, I forced myself to make them all original, unless I will need Oibon jump.
Zekira
This map has been deleted on the request of its creator. It is no longer available.
Nakata Yuji
I personally copy and paste to avoid having to make hitsounds, as well as the advantage of having the notes already placed. I generally move them around after through to make it different.
Hanyuu
for both as long as it is good with the music and a bit moved around i do not have a problem. it just dont have to go too long so it get boring
Gens
I probably overuse copy-paste all the time, but I feel that creating new patterns everytime without copypasting would be messy. Obviously I don't copy-paste if it doesn't fit the music.
DJPop
As a mapper:
Copy/paste to build the same rhythm easier, then rearrange the notes.

As a player:
My opinion, only do copy/paste and flip H/V is too lazy. At least should be arranged in different patterns.

As a modder:
Everybody use copy/paste, don't they? :P
Lesjuh
Copy/Paste is my friend <3
mm201
When done right, copypaste gives me that warm fuzzy feeling of seeing a familiar pattern. If the actual mapping is done well, it doesn't get boring. Just be careful that the music you're pasting into actually matches with where you took the pattern from.

Copypaste is also the fundamental tool used for creating left-right symmetry patterns, which are always awesome. (Example: "I wonder how, I wonder why" on Lemon Tree)

For verses which follow the same basic structure but with rhythmic differences, copying & pasting, then altering much of everything to match the new rhythm is a good way to ensure consistency of feel while still ending up with something substantially different.

strager wrote:

I just realized Lemon Tree fits well to that. =] (Good job, MM.)
I actually used just one copypaste--the second chorus--and part of it was flipped.

And I got trolled for that in the comments. .__.

Easier difficulties used more but followed my third paragraph here.
YGOkid8
I'm with Diamond Crash. With a song with eg. 3 choruses, the 1st two are just copy pasted. The 3rd one more original.
But also, if there are two sections of music adjacent to each other, I use copy paste, just to feel... i dunno.

As a player, I don't mind, as long as it isn't TOO frequent... unless it's authentic, which isn't TOO bad, but still very repetitive *089m cough*
rust45

YGOkid8 wrote:

I'm with Diamond Crash. With a song with eg. 3 choruses, the 1st two are just copy pasted. The 3rd one more original.
But also, if there are two sections of music adjacent to each other, I use copy paste, just to feel... i dunno.
Actually, I like when it's like Survivor more where the 1st and 2nd chorus and different from each other and the 3rd chorus is a combination of the two. Course this can only work with some songs.
m980

rust45 wrote:

YGOkid8 wrote:

I'm with Diamond Crash. With a song with eg. 3 choruses, the 1st two are just copy pasted. The 3rd one more original.
But also, if there are two sections of music adjacent to each other, I use copy paste, just to feel... i dunno.
Actually, I like when it's like Survivor more where the 1st and 2nd chorus and different from each other and the 3rd chorus is a combination of the two. Course this can only work with some songs.
Ding ding ding!
YGOkid8

rust45 wrote:

Actually, I like when it's like Survivor more where the 1st and 2nd chorus and different from each other and the 3rd chorus is a combination of the two. Course this can only work with some songs.
That's kinda like the Hard diff for my Currently in WiP map. Has 4 choruses, 1st 3 are all different, last one is combination of the other 3. That way, it has a slightly familiar feel to it but not too much... hopefully.
bmin11
As a player, I found out copy/pasted notes plays ok to me atlease there position and angle has changed. Copy/paste was used by iNiS very often and they are really entertaining you know

As a mapper, I honestly don't know how to make a good use of copy/paste.... I guess I'm just not skilled enough to do that kind of stuff

I do agree that it is a worse thing it can be done if it not used preperly
YellowerYoshi
I hardly ever use copy/paste as a mapper in terms of sections of a song repeated. If I'm doing some kind of repeating pattern within the same section though, I'll just it mostly for timing and then re-adjust positioning and spacing. If I'm mapping a song that repeats a section again later, I usually find it in better taste to try and come up with something a bit different there. It just feels lazy doing otherwise to me.

When I run into it while playing, the first thought to come to mind is "Oh gee... this isn't new. I've already done this... blah." I just feel like it makes for a more fun map if it doesn't repeat itself.
pieguyn
I feel it works well in some cases but not in others. One case where it does work well is if you have a long song with two separate, repeating parts in it that sound almost exactly alike, though it tends to get kind of repetitive after one copy-paste, and it's far better if it's flipped or altered in some way. Another case where I find it works well is if you're copy-pasting a small pattern so it's right after the original one, which works when the song repeats the same rhythm twice back-to-back. It doesn't work well when it's used too much or where the song sounds different, though.

When I'm playing, what I think depends on which case it is and whether it works well. If it works well, I'm happy and finds it adds coherence to the beatmap, whereas if it doesn't I don't really like it that much.
Umandsf
Actually, I was just working on my first beatmap this morning, and I employed this. It was because the song had a repeating section that was almost identical (save the latter part), so it would make sense to have something a little similar. (Also, I was working on the normal difficulty, so I may not do it for the harder ones). I was originally going to do the full length of the song but decided to do the short version. Otherwise, my lack of creativity would have surely called for excessive copy-paste. It's not bad as long as you don't do it excessively or at least change it up a bit.
Colin Hou
I usually copy one slider for the same shape.

Section-copying is boring so I tried my best to prevent it.
Lilac
You really shouldn't have any reason to copy & paste because it just shows how uncreative you are and it just looks ugly and recognizable. This doesn't apply to all maps, but to the vast majority.

Though you should be able, as a mapper, to judge yourself whether copy and pasting is good in a certain situation.
m980

MarioBros777 wrote:

You really shouldn't have any reason to copy & paste because it just shows how uncreative you are and it just looks ugly and recognizable. This doesn't apply to all maps, but to the vast majority.

Though you should be able, as a mapper, to judge yourself whether copy and pasting is good in a certain situation.
MB makes m980 sad
anonymous_old
I copy paste all hit circles because I'm too lazy to hit 2.
Lesjuh
CopyPaste + HorizontalFlip = Problem Solved.
YGOkid8

m980 wrote:

MarioBros777 wrote:

You really shouldn't have any reason to copy & paste because it just shows how uncreative you are and it just looks ugly and recognizable. This doesn't apply to all maps, but to the vast majority.

Though you should be able, as a mapper, to judge yourself whether copy and pasting is good in a certain situation.
MB makes m980 sad
He did say "the vast majority". m980 isn't counted in the vast majority
Arusha Shuna
use it to end the song quickly, but i end up use horizontal flip then vertical flip
Doomsday
Perhaps I might copy/paste a small pattern for symmetry, and I used to do the dreaded "copy/paste the chorus" thing, but I don't do that nowadays, and I never recommend that.
Mashley
You CAN'T judge mapping elements like copypasta on an overall basis. It's completely case specific.
0_o

Agent Spin Here wrote:

You CAN'T judge mapping elements like copypasta on an overall basis. It's completely case specific.
Pretty much agreed. The effectiveness of copypasting is largely dependent on the song/mapping style.
RandomJibberish
Strongly pattern and symmetry based mapping works best with copy paste as it's nice to see the patterns appearing again giving a sense of consistency. Less pattern based mapping doesn't have that benefit so much.

I have nothing against copy paste either way though, and use it quite a lot myself.
Lilac

m980 wrote:

MarioBros777 wrote:

You really shouldn't have any reason to copy & paste because it just shows how uncreative you are and it just looks ugly and recognizable. This doesn't apply to all maps, but to the vast majority.

Though you should be able, as a mapper, to judge yourself whether copy and pasting is good in a certain situation.
MB makes m980 sad
I made you sad with Believe. :(
Beuchi

0_o wrote:

Agent Spin Here wrote:

You CAN'T judge mapping elements like copypasta on an overall basis. It's completely case specific.
Pretty much agreed. The effectiveness of copypasting is largely dependent on the song/mapping style.
*cough* =x

Well, I use to copy/paste a lot on my maps, but everytime for the sake of symmetry, making slight variations on the pattern only if the music changes on that point. And yeah, I usually copy-paste the chorus and change it at the third chorus, but choruses are /always/ the same as the first one so I guess it doesn't matter so much xD

As a player I like copypaste, unless it's the same exact pattern repeating over and over again along the map, that makes it boring :/
Ekaru
Bad C&P hurts a map.

On the other hand, excellent C&P gives a map structure, fun, and puts it way ahead of the pack. Ex. Nijiiro [Hard] (a Pending map :P)

That's all there is to it, really. It also depends on the difficulty, but meh.
Rokodo
Speaking from the POV of a taiko mapper, I frequently copy paste as you tend to repeat a pattern 4 times or so. And of course, during kiai sections of a song I may wish to repeat the same notes.
awp
"When it is done well, it is good. When it is done poorly, it is bad."
ouranhshc
Ive been experimenting with it lately.
Kert

awp wrote:

"When it is done well, it is good. When it is done poorly, it is bad."
This.

As a mapper I usually try not to have copy-pasted sections in the map, but if I have, I usually flip them some way
Powerdrone
Copy pasta is awesome! I love it! Mostly for the chorus or for symmetry. I never use copy pasta to speed up the mapping process.

Usually when using the same or a similar pattern for a chorus, I change it up by flipping horizontally or vertically, something like that.
Lilac

Powerdrone311 wrote:

Copy pasta is awesome! I love it!

Rank Beatmaps wrote:

0
Yeah...umm...
m980

MarioBros777 wrote:

Powerdrone311 wrote:

Copy pasta is awesome! I love it!

Rank Beatmaps wrote:

0
Yeah...umm...
Because, you know, players don't have opinions on mapping techniques either.

Jeez
Lilac
Sorry. D:
YGOkid8
he does say he uses it for his maps and etc., I don't see what Ranked Beatmaps have got to do with anything if he has Pending maps... and as m980 said, players do have opinions.
iDarkTraceX
I say just take a look at Ready Steady Go! and Jumping Jack Flash. They both copy & paste and they look beautiful and awesome to play.
Like others, aslong as it isn't abused (Shows Laziness & Lack of Originality) and used correctly (like on choruses) it is fine.
mm201
It seems as of late, the community is becoming extremely polarized over this matter, and for whatever reasons, RandomJibberish maps have become the battlefield.

Why can't we just get along? Copypaste maps can be fun. Copypaste maps can be boring. Non-copypaste maps can be fun. Non-copypaste maps can be boring. Why should presence/absence of pasted patterns be grounds for hating a map?

Play SSAY again and tell me it's a bad map. Play Tigerlily again and tell me it's a bad map.
Zekira
Why can't we just get along?
Lol that's what they all say.

But

Copypaste maps can be fun. Copypaste maps can be boring. Non-copypaste maps can be fun. Non-copypaste maps can be boring.
Same applies to every varying technique out there.
YGOkid8

Zekira wrote:

Why can't we just get along?
Lol that's what they all say.

But

Copypaste maps can be fun. Copypaste maps can be boring. Non-copypaste maps can be fun. Non-copypaste maps can be boring.
Same applies to every varying technique out there.
^ this
i remember having a conversation with m980(?) a while ago. It went something like this:

<YGOkid8> Only well used copy paste stuff work
<m980> That basically applies to everything
<YGOkid8>...oh yeah, you're right.
Charles445
Copy paste. INSTANT DRAMA

Copy/paste is fine as long as it's used in moderation.

Seeing the same thing two times in a row is fine. It helps a map not be misleading.
Seeing the same thing four times in a row? Gets old, especially if it lasts for 20 seconds.
I find it annoying when mappers copy an entire previous section (usually a minute long) and use the exact thing later. That's fucking lazy.
ShaggoN
Copying some patterns and flipping them v or s is cool when it's not overused.
And when it's overused, it depends a lot on song. If song is repetitive, you need to keep attention to not overuse copies. If it's not repetitive...hard to overuse when it don't fits to song. :lol: Of course copying half of map sucks badly.
It's hard to judge this case at general in my opinion.
ouranhshc
seeing the same copied slider 5 times in a map is. >_>
theowest
Copy paste is for those that like symmetrical stuff. I don't.

So I make this:
with copy and paste.. Maybe the sliders, but then you have to rotate them and that's just annoying and takes time!
mm201

theowest wrote:

Copy paste is for lazy people.
You've clearly never tried to create a large, symmetric pattern that's spaced with no overlap, or join old pieces together with new ones, again, with good spacing and no overlap.
Takes much more effort than freestyling it.

"Oh great, I need to remap half of the first chorus, because it doesn't flow right from the bridge into the third chorus!" Mapping a different third chorus WOULD be the lazy way out.
theowest

mm201 wrote:

theowest wrote:

Copy paste is for lazy people.
You've clearly never tried to create a large, symmetric pattern that's spaced with no overlap, or join old pieces together with new ones, again, with good spacing and no overlap.
Takes much more effort than freestyling it.

"Oh great, I need to remap half of the first chorus, because it doesn't flow right from the bridge into the third chorus!" Mapping a different third chorus WOULD be the lazy way out.
I WAS JUST KIDDING or something. I just don't like copy and paste myself. soo.. yeah
Of course I know that mappers aren't lazy. Most mappers do use copy and paste and they're not lazy.
OzzyOzrock
Copy-pasting a simple arc or mirroring something is a perfectly fine time to copy-paste. But when you map half of a song that pretty much repeats again (but with different lyrics and whatnot) and copy paste that half AGAIN just flipped or something, it's just auugh.

In taiko it's perfectly fine to copy-paste if it's a pattern that flows well. And the half song copy paste is also fine, as half the time, nothing fits better than what you just played. But in cases where you know it's boring (long song or something) you can map the choruses differently, or add a few more notes.

People that don't copy-paste in taiko maps can make maps that look more half-assed than one with copy-paste.
theowest

OzzyOzrock wrote:

Copy-pasting a simple arc or mirroring something is a perfectly fine time to copy-paste. But when you map half of a song that pretty much repeats again (but with different lyrics and whatnot) and copy paste that half AGAIN just flipped or something, it's just auugh.
^ That.

The kind of copy pasting I like is this


\:D/
mm201

OzzyOzrock wrote:

Copy-pasting a simple arc or mirroring something is a perfectly fine time to copy-paste. But when you map half of a song that pretty much repeats again (but with different lyrics and whatnot) and copy paste that half AGAIN just flipped or something, it's just auugh.
If it's vgm, you shouldn't map more than one repeat. If it's a pop song that doesn't have different verses, bridges, or anything like that, it shouldn't even be mapped.

Pasting a chorus is fine and you know it.
awp
Pasting the chorus is fine, but probably only the chorus. Even musical bridges should be given a little extra something.
mm201
Usually I don't map the bridge more than once. Any other occurrences will usually be breaks.
Verses should have an "essence" of earlier verses, but rearranging the objects to match the new lyrics is good.
A mashup chorus is good when the chorus finds itself repeated at the end. ie. v1, c1, v2, c2, b1, c1c2
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