Getting Started with Mapping

GETTING STARTED
WITH MAPPING LEVELS

Too many anime maps? Not enough anime maps?
Take matters into your own hands and make one!

There are more than 70,000 maps on BeatSaver.com but you may still not be able to find the exact song you want or you find the song you want but it only has an ExpertPlus difficulty that is out of your reach. Anyone can learn to make their own levels with the resources available on this page!

Quick Start

  1. Software Setup: Download the necessary tools for mapping: an audio editor and a map editor.
  2. Audio Setup: Set up your audio file, find and confirm the BPM, and export in OGG format.
  3. Editor Setup & Mapping: Set up your song in your mapping editor (we recommend MMA2) and get mapping! Review basic mapping practices before you start. Playtest your own work early and often.
  4. Lighting: Review basic lighting information. Simple manual lighting is easier than you think!
  5. Playtesting: Third-party playtesting via the BSMG Discord is highly recommended to get constructive feedback and to get past your own “map blindness.”
  6. Release Your  Map: Once your song has been mapped, lighted, and playtested you’re ready to release your song to the world on BeatSaver (it will mirror here to BeastSaber in a few minutes).

BSMG Mapping Wiki

The mapping wiki launched in December 2019 and combined information from more than 30 different separate guides to become the holy grail of mapping knowledge.

screenshot of BSMG mapping wiki

For those who are new to mapping and just finding their way, or those who are “mapping-curious” and are looking for how to get started, the wiki has it all including a glossary of mapping terms, helpful quick starts (like the one above), basic/intermediate/advanced level information on audio setup, mapping, and the critical steps of playtesting and releasing your map.

Tutorial Videos

If you’re a more visual learner, the videos embedded below are all current and follow the same practices detailed in the wiki. You may find other tutorials on YouTube but those have not been vetted and are either out of date or outright inaccurate/wrong.

Subscribe to the BSMG YouTube channel for the latest tutorials!

Real-Time Mapping Support & Socials

Even after reviewing available text and video resources, some people still want or need some extra support. Other people want to meet and network with other mappers to pick up even more tips and strategies.

Beat Saber Modding Group (BSMG) Discord

The BSMG Discord is one of the largest servers in existence with more than 200,000 users! It has #mapping-discussion and #testplays channels dedicated to mapping and a (mostly on topic) group of enthusiastic mappers ready to help you whip those maps into shape or troubleshoot issues.

Beat Saber Mapping Discord

Once you have one map released you can request a role on the Mapping Discord. Here you’ll be able to go into a lot more detail on the various aspects of mapping, lighting, modded maps, chroma, and much more. This server also has a healthy social and voice chat scene for mappers.