Please note, streaming is a very complex subject, so this tutorial doesn't cover everything.
A stream is when objects are close together on the timeline, often 1/4 apart.
In streaming, the player alternates on the two buttons to click very quickly.
Basic
If you feel comfortable with the basics of streams, you can move on to the more Advanced topics! Things start to get tricky here!
Advanced
A stream is when objects are close together on the timeline, often 1/4 apart.
In streaming, the player alternates on the two buttons to click very quickly.
Basic
Creating a Simple Stream
In order to have a nice, simple stream, first you need to turn down your distance spacing.
In order to change the distance spacing, hold down the ALT key and look in the top right.
I have my distance spacing for my map set to 1.0x . This is a good distance for regular objects, but a bit too much for a simple stream.
Notice how difficult the stream is compared to the regular objects! I am going to turn down the distance spacing to 0.7x by holding ALT and moving the bar in the top right.
Much easier! Remember, it is up to you what spacing you want for a stream. Just try not to have the stream spacing really high! Players often get frustrated when they have to move quickly on a stream!
In order to change the distance spacing, hold down the ALT key and look in the top right.
I have my distance spacing for my map set to 1.0x . This is a good distance for regular objects, but a bit too much for a simple stream.
Notice how difficult the stream is compared to the regular objects! I am going to turn down the distance spacing to 0.7x by holding ALT and moving the bar in the top right.
Much easier! Remember, it is up to you what spacing you want for a stream. Just try not to have the stream spacing really high! Players often get frustrated when they have to move quickly on a stream!
Compressed Streams
A lot of times you'll want a player to stream without moving very much. You can do this in two ways!
The first way is to stack the circles on top of each other.
As you can see, the circles are directly on top of each other, but this isn't what will happen when the map is played.
Because of a built-in feature called "Stacking", osu! will automatically space out the stream when the map is played!
This is a simple way of creating a compressed stream without having to worry too much. However, this will only go in one direction, down and to the right, and will have the same spacing.
In order to make compressed streams with different spacing and different direction, first change the distance snap to a lower number. I'll pick 0.3x for this example.
This is a nice compressed stream with 0.3x spacing! Simple as that.
The first way is to stack the circles on top of each other.
As you can see, the circles are directly on top of each other, but this isn't what will happen when the map is played.
Because of a built-in feature called "Stacking", osu! will automatically space out the stream when the map is played!
This is a simple way of creating a compressed stream without having to worry too much. However, this will only go in one direction, down and to the right, and will have the same spacing.
In order to make compressed streams with different spacing and different direction, first change the distance snap to a lower number. I'll pick 0.3x for this example.
This is a nice compressed stream with 0.3x spacing! Simple as that.
Adding Double Repeat Kicksliders to Streams
Let's say a stream is getting too long.
Wow! 21 circles! That can be pretty tiring at high speeds. If we want the player to rest during a stream, we use what is called a double repeat kickslider.
This slider has two repeats within the stream. The player is able to click the slider, rest, then start streaming again. When adding kicksliders, make sure the slider is 1/4 long and has exactly two repeats and starts on the white tick. Sliders with one or three repeats during a stream can be very confusing! A slider that is longer than 1/4 isn't a kickslider. Kicksliders are most intuitive on white ticks! Never put them on blue ticks, and avoid putting them on red ticks!
Kicksliders are a way to have relaxing, long streams in a map!
Leaving kicksliders out of a long stream is what is called a 'deathstream'. Some players like deathstreams, some don't!
Wow! 21 circles! That can be pretty tiring at high speeds. If we want the player to rest during a stream, we use what is called a double repeat kickslider.
This slider has two repeats within the stream. The player is able to click the slider, rest, then start streaming again. When adding kicksliders, make sure the slider is 1/4 long and has exactly two repeats and starts on the white tick. Sliders with one or three repeats during a stream can be very confusing! A slider that is longer than 1/4 isn't a kickslider. Kicksliders are most intuitive on white ticks! Never put them on blue ticks, and avoid putting them on red ticks!
Kicksliders are a way to have relaxing, long streams in a map!
Leaving kicksliders out of a long stream is what is called a 'deathstream'. Some players like deathstreams, some don't!
If you feel comfortable with the basics of streams, you can move on to the more Advanced topics! Things start to get tricky here!
Advanced
Jagged Streams
Jagged streams are streams that are visually bumpy and turn sharply.
These streams can be a lot of fun when made correctly! Here's how.
In a good jagged stream, the player can keep moving smoothly and still hit all the objects! See how the stream is jagged but the player moves in a straight line?
It works for curves too!
This stream can't be done in a nice line because the 3 and 7 aren't on the line! This stream should be redone.
These streams can be a lot of fun when made correctly! Here's how.
In a good jagged stream, the player can keep moving smoothly and still hit all the objects! See how the stream is jagged but the player moves in a straight line?
It works for curves too!
This stream can't be done in a nice line because the 3 and 7 aren't on the line! This stream should be redone.
Odd Numbered Streams
This covers the benefit of odd numbered streams and how to count them.
In streaming, the player alternates on the two buttons to click very quickly.
There are many ways to do this, but for this tutorial I wil call the first click 'Z' and the second click 'X'.
The trick behind odd numbered streams is that the player starts with and ends with the same key.
For example, if there is a stream with five circles.
The player plays it Z X Z X Z. Notice how the stream starts and stops on the same key! This is intuitive to most players.
A stream with six isn't as intuitive, as it is Z X Z X Z X. The start and end aren't the same!
This method works for streams with just circles and streams that end with sliders.
For streams that start with sliders or have sliders in the middle, this method becomes useless and is best ignored.
It is extremely difficult to come up with perfectly intuitive streams that have sliders and circles in them. I have talked to numerous pro players and noob players alike about it, and none have any idea how it works. It is a mystery, one that perhaps doesn't have an end.
In streaming, the player alternates on the two buttons to click very quickly.
There are many ways to do this, but for this tutorial I wil call the first click 'Z' and the second click 'X'.
The trick behind odd numbered streams is that the player starts with and ends with the same key.
For example, if there is a stream with five circles.
The player plays it Z X Z X Z. Notice how the stream starts and stops on the same key! This is intuitive to most players.
A stream with six isn't as intuitive, as it is Z X Z X Z X. The start and end aren't the same!
This method works for streams with just circles and streams that end with sliders.
For streams that start with sliders or have sliders in the middle, this method becomes useless and is best ignored.
It is extremely difficult to come up with perfectly intuitive streams that have sliders and circles in them. I have talked to numerous pro players and noob players alike about it, and none have any idea how it works. It is a mystery, one that perhaps doesn't have an end.
Slider Streams
Occasionally you'll want to put 1/4 sliders within a stream. This is very difficult to do properly.
Do not start a 1/4 slider on a blue tick. In most cases this is extremely unintuitive.
Do not switch between 1/4 sliders and circles randomly.
This is as confusing as it can get. Don't do this.
Toggle between sliders and circles clearly and slowly.
As you can see, there is a part with circles, then sliders, then circles! Also, all sliders start on white and red ticks, not blue.
Do not start a 1/4 slider on a blue tick. In most cases this is extremely unintuitive.
Do not switch between 1/4 sliders and circles randomly.
This is as confusing as it can get. Don't do this.
Toggle between sliders and circles clearly and slowly.
As you can see, there is a part with circles, then sliders, then circles! Also, all sliders start on white and red ticks, not blue.
Slider Stream Jumps
Slider stream jumps are when sliders are used to make large jumps during a stream.
Here's an example of a slider stream jump. These work because of the leniency sliders have.
The yellow circles in the picture is where the player can be to complete the slider without moving. The player can move along the green line and complete all the sliders.
[b]If the slider stream jumps are spaced out very far, point the sliders at the next slider's start.
The pink arrows are where the sliders are pointing. The green arrows are the path the player can take from slider to slider. Try to keep the angle between the pink and green small, like these.
Slider stream jumps are when sliders are used to make large jumps during a stream.
Here's an example of a slider stream jump. These work because of the leniency sliders have.
The yellow circles in the picture is where the player can be to complete the slider without moving. The player can move along the green line and complete all the sliders.
[b]If the slider stream jumps are spaced out very far, point the sliders at the next slider's start.
The pink arrows are where the sliders are pointing. The green arrows are the path the player can take from slider to slider. Try to keep the angle between the pink and green small, like these.