Hi Everyone,

I've seen a lot of people posting all sorts of problems on this forum about mapping and I really couldn't help but think that maybe all of you, new or even experienced mappers, would need a list of helpful resources in one place to make the mapping process a whole lot easier and more fun for all of you.

The reason why I'm going to post only the obscure and underrated ones is because you can probably find some of the common ones yourself with a simple google search. You may agree or disagree with what I'm posting here, but I don't care (yeah, I made a poll, but if you're going to be rude, I'll just ignore you. You're certainly not helping me or any other thread starter for that manner JUST with that attitude. Try to say something of value to us in a civil manner, please.) I'm just trying my best to help you all, whether you want your maps ranked, in the "Loved" category or just doodling around with them in your editor for kicks. (I have limits on this because I don't know if this thread is going to be locked/taken down if I do things I shouldn't and also, learn at least some self-sufficiency, please. I can't spoon-feed you everything.)

So keep your eyes glued to the screen because this post might be really friggin long (and just read whatever you need for your mapping goals because if you're just doing it for fun, for example, you probably don't need everything).

Also if you're confused about where to start, especially when you're a new mapper, look into the OBSCURE CHANNELS section, Pishifat's channel, and the MISCELLANEOUS RESOURCES first BEFORE reading any of the other sections. Otherwise, have fun learning this stuff!









Below are the resources that will be the most helpful, at least from my experience so far, organized in a categorized list:

THE ONE I'M SURE EVERYONE KNOWS (because really, everyone talks about him everywhere on osu!. A quick google search is all you'll need to find this):

1. Pishifat's Youtube Channel

THE MORE OBSCURE CHANNELS/VIDEOS (I'll put links to this and everything below here from here on out):

1. Mapping podcast (some potentially irrelevant information for you, but they have timestamps you can go through to find what you need for your mapping mindset, at the very least):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAHE2AclzyA

1. Olc's two valuable tutorials (the mapping theory fundamentals video is especially important if you want to understand why there's even mapping theory in the first place and why it's relevant for all mappers, hobbyist or devotee): https://www.youtube.com/@over_loadcode/playlists

1. Mo's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AMo_osu

1. The Osu!Academy "Professor's" YouTube channel (search his Osu!Academy mapping videos, they're really intuitive about the basics of mapping): https://www.youtube.com/@osugame

1. Alex's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEnV2Wg8Cns

1. Fixing technical issues in the editor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYZ3h4Vzxs4

• 
  

1. Dsco's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Dsco?app=desktop

Intuitive understanding of mapping theory (if what Pishifat says hurts your damn head, lol): https://www.youtube.com/@pinataman5811

1. How to time music with varying BPMS (if you're curious): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKYSlXqbik4

1. Discord Server for aspiring ranked beatmappers to get direct, personal guidance (This is the link to the discord server. Copy and paste it in discord.): discord.gg/vGVWBbQYfD

GENERAL KNOWLEGE ABOUT LEVEL MAKING (I know we're making maps to a rhythm game, but they're also called levels and if you don't know or at least have some knack for level design, you're going to lack proper structure in your maps as well):

Design Doc videos you should especially check:

1. Gameplay variety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGM-dPerv1A&t=11s

1. New Game + (for normal+, hard+, you get the idea. Just for additional hard modes and others along those lines): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK7AuOjX0WE

1. How to make easy mode (especially) helpful and engaging for players without making it "too easy": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIs5189lmRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt-xkWZH1aw

1. Difficulty options: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpfgh02qJ4I

1. Replayability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX_59mS8mr0
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_boYhNW64Vw
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TQUQKJE1Jw

1. How to make a level in a sound and captivating way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_boYhNW64Vw

An article related to level design:

1. Do's and Don't of level design (Sure, it's about games in general, but game programmers make levels too, you know. Take what you need from here and discard the rest.): https://www.gamesradar.com/5-things-you-need-and-dont-need-make-game/

RANDOM THREADS (Osu!, Reddit, maybe some others) ABOUT HOW TO MAKE MAPS AND GET THEM RANKED/LOVED:

1. An orientation to mapping for those who need to "grok" the whole process (not a full guide on how to map, as the thread starter explained to one guy on there, you have Youtube for that. Plus, this post would be FAR too long if I tried to do that) :
   community/forums/topics/345798?n=1

1. At least some guidance on how to get your maps ranked. community/forums/topics/1061321?n=1

1. How to make a slow map more difficult (if you're curious): https://www.reddit.com/r/osugame/comments/509qbd/when_mapping_how_would_you_make_a_slower_map/

1. How many difficulties do you need in a beatmapset to get it ranked? (at least, I guess): community/forums/topics/830792?n=1

1. How long others took to get their first levels ranked (just for a "measuring stick". I mean mapping like the ranked mappers is such a complex and serious activity that they even have mentorships on discord if you want to get someone for one-on-one instruction. Here's a discord link to a more easily accesible, facilitative one where the application won't be so tiresome to sign: https://discord.com/invite/tjAJ6NHGym .): community/forums/topics/477635?n=1

1. Mapping styles (Examples of styles include generic and tech maps. Important to know because maps are better when they are molded by an established, pre-defined style): community/forums/topics/1080921?n=1

1. Project Loved (If you're a new/hobbyist mapper and/or just think that the ranking criteria is an absolute pain to meet after trying to meet it first WHILE still having "love" votes on your mapset at the same time, I'd strongly recommend applying for the loved category AT LEAST for your first map so that you can still get your potentially promising content out there without having to deal with the hassles of the ranking criteria.): wiki/en/Community/Project_Loved

MISCELLANEOUS RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP YOU MAP BETTER:

1. A free Youtube to MP3 file converter ( or any ________ to MP3 file converter, like for Vimeo, Spotify or for maybe any other video or music sharing site, idk, but it's probable. They will be easy to find if you do a google search, so I'm not going to link this, although Osu! has a Youtube to MP3 file converter on their website as well. However it's really important to find a converter that generates high-quality audio, because that's what they want for a beatmap to be ranked, and same with high quality bgs.) Here's a high-quality audio ripper for youtube to get you started: https://getn.topsandtees.space/DeoRaZ4bP7
   
   
   1. Mapset Verifier (a far better version of the AiMod that is more detailed about errors. Finally found the link! It's only requires you to scroll up to the "tools" section to see it. Pay real close attention to the text you're scrolling up or you'll miss it. Also, Naxess, one
      of the members of the BAT, made this program, so if you have troubles with it, ask him, because as he said, it's still a work in progress even now.): wiki/en/Ranking_Criteria#rules
      
      
      1. Mapset Tools (If you can download it on your computer, great, because this link will take you directly to the Mapping Tools website to download the app! There's a lot of promising things about it, from copying hitsounds onto EVERY object to snapping all objects in place to a bunch of neat "hacks." Also, OilBomby made this program, so ask him if you have any problems with it because it's still a work in progress just like the MV. Naxess can also answer questions about this app, but he didn't make it, so he's not your direct option for asking about it, just saying): https://mappingtools.github.io/
      1. An audio trimmer (for cutting down audio files, splitting certain sections of it you want, etc.) : https://www.kapwing.com/videos/63f479b7c89da70049d4b3cb
      
      
      
      1. A GOOD BPM finder: https://tunebat.com/Analyzer
   1. An exhaustive list of keyboarding shortcuts that will make your mapping journey far more efficient:
      
      https://quizlet.com/517096617/osumapping-shortcuts-compose-basics-flash-cards/
      
      *One thing I did that this website does NOT explain was to shift however many objects I wanted all at once through the timeline. It helps because if you change the BPM of your maps, all the objects will be off where you want them on the timeline and that's a pain to deal with, right? Ask me about it in your response posts and I will explain it to you.*
      
      
      
      
      1. What do terms like inherited line, measure, etc., mean? (I would just copy and paste the URL connected to this source since I can't get the hyperlink on here for some reason): osu.ppy.sh/wiki/en/Sitemap
      
      
      1. Mapping techniques, such as slider shapes, etc.: wiki/en/Beatmapping/Mapping_techniques
      UNDERSTANDING COPYRIGHT IN VIDS AND DETECTING IT (these vids are about youtube from 2020 or around that year, but I'm sure this is the latest version of youtube they're talking about, and they beat osu! copyright videos that screw with you or don't explain anything well):
   2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC3IcsvbxYU
      
      1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH7vubTHV9A&t=7s
   3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzzkSZ0Jrko[/list](BTW, about that copyright symbol you'll see in the 3rd linked video in this category, what this video doesn't tell you is that if the copyright symbol shows up in the description in the youtube video, then, as you can probably guess, its copyrighted. If not, you can use it without worrying about copyright infringment. Just one way I know.)
      
      
      Well that's all I got for you guys. We all know mapping can be tough business, especially with the ranking criteria and finding mods and I really do hope, with the limited experience I have right now, that I at least helped well enough with your mapping journey by posting all these resources in one place at your convenience in this post.
      
      Hopefully you guys take it easy with this process and respect the mods' life priorities because mods are just regulars on osu! with their own accounts and they're not paid to do their job for you, so they don't have any obligation to stick to a schedule to mod your maps. They have lives too and you should respect them like you respect other human beings, by giving them some space and letting them take their time to get back to you about when they've finished modding your maps.(Although I talked to a couple of mods that can actually PM me for MORE modding after their first mod, so if you're lucky, you can probably find one someday that can do the same for you. Don't just expect EVERY one of them to do it for you, though, just saying). You're also not getting paid to do your maps, are you? So take your time, enjoy the process and don't think you have to turn this in like this is school or your occupation. Everything will click together once you learn how to be patient, just like Pishifat himself will tell you as well; rushing the process certainly doesn't help.
      
      So all I have left to say is good luck, and if you're passionate about mapping, don't give up on yourselves so easily, alright?
      
      (quick note: if this post gets outdated and locked before, say, 2050, I suggest three options, which are to either make YOUR own updated compendium at that time, take my post for what it is in your current year in the future, or just search similar vids to mine that are updated in that year (e.g., Copyright vids in 2050), using my post as a foundational reference. Don't know what else to say, because we all know necroposting is pretty much discouraged here. That's all.)

you should add olc's guides too they are prob the most useful resources for intermediate mappers

also the old and the new mapping podcast is also rly cool imo, it helped me alot in my mapping mindset

Thank you for telling me!