Timing

The bane of IIDX. Getting that fucking AAA

Timing, the second most important part in IIDX. Combined with technique this makes a what a IIDX player.

How do you get your timing down?

There are four things that can help you get your timing down.

Reaction
Sight
Sound
Feel


Reaction

How do you use reaction for your timing? Well this is what Sudden+ and Green number is for (which ill cover later on in this post).

So the goal of using reaction is to find a "sweet spot" green number. Generally you will look at the top or top-middle of the screen where the notes come down and basically hit the note as soon as you see it. By the time you react to the note it should be at the JG (Flashing Great) timing window.

Most of the time if your green number is low (270 or below -280) then you probably base your timing more on reaction.

Sight

Sight is pretty simple, you look at the line and hit it when its at the JG spot. You will probably look at the bottom of the screen to the middle of the screen. Sight also includes knowing what notes are STAGGERED and SWUNG as fuck. Sight will also make you hit the closest to the line

You will play with high green numbers (290+) if you look more toward the line.

Sound

Sound is far by the one thing that will keep you on rhythm to get consecutive JG. Listening to the sound of your key presses is far by one of the most helpful things when trying to stay on rhythm and on point for timing.

This is how you will keep your timing on point for the most of the song, REGARDLESS of how hard the song is. A single note stream will sound the same as a stream with three and four chords.

Listening/knowing how the song suppose to sound also helps as well.


Feel

Feel is simple,try to remember your movement when you are getting a perfect JG run, if its something that you can repeat then throw it in along with everything else. Listen to the sound of the key spaces and remember how each 4ths, 8ths, 12ths, 16ths, 24ths and so on sound.

Same as sound, everything should feel similar regardless of how hard it is.

So how do i get flashing GREATS and continue on getting flashing greats.

Reaction/Sight: For hitting that flash

Sound/Feel: To consecutively hit that flash

Technique: Make sure that you can even hit the notes the first place. (and that your not on a laggy ass TV)

Some things to keep in mind for timing

1. You have FOUR things to work with that i mentioned above. (this is what i go with) You may have more then what i mentioned above.
2. You will be surprised as shit when you find out when a song is swung / off as fuck.
3. Its NOT easy to grasp. (Everyone is different though)
4. Your technique is what makes or breaks your timing.
5. Focus. (not to a point of frustration)
6. TV's are all different
7. Everyone has a different sweet spot

How to improve timing?

1. Knowing the song

When i mean knowing the song i mean more than just knowing what it sounds like.

This includes: Knowing if its swung (a lot of songs don't sound swung, but they are actually swung), knowing what it sounds like, knowing what the key presses sound like through out the song, knowing where the scratches are and how the scratches feel.

2. Feeling / Listening to the BPM's

Pretty simple to think about. A song thats 150 BPM will have the same feel and key press sounds as another
song that is also 150 bpm. How do i get a high score on a song i never played before on my first try? How am i so consistent? (to a certain extent) Well here's your answer.

3. Playing a variety of  harder to time songs

I'm sure MOST people that somewhat have a grasp of timing can AAA trigger of innocence / dazzlin darlin / mermaid girl. Just because you can AAA easy songs that have a easy rhythm to follow does not mean you have good timing overall. You just got a good feel for those songs / patterns / bpms.

Playing a variety of songs will force you to use more of your other "senses". Songs that are swung or songs you never played will make you rely on sight and feel more. Songs with constant streams / chords will make you rely on feel and sound more.

4. Technique

This goes beyond just hitting the notes, but finding a way where you can hit the notes ACCURATELY is a another story. The key here is to find a way to hit certain patterns that will allow you to flow throughout the song without losing rhythm. Control of your fingers play a big part here.

CS vs. AC Timing

I've been asked this question a lot since there are a lot of CS players that can't score as well on AC. (I'm actually opposite, I cant score for shit on CS.). Between the two, timing on them feels different to me.

In my opinion, its a whole different game between them and i find it easier to treat them as two different games. Same as with LR2 which every song has adjustable timing. Not to mention if your not using a AC dimension controller then of course everything is different.

I find it much easier to just treat them as different games if your going to play both. Pretty much the only thing i use LR2 / CS for is to work on my technique / reading ability.

Perhaps i will write an article on CS v. AC in the future.

Conclusion

This pretty sums it up for my general idea behind timing. If you feel like i'm missing something or need explain something clearer or more in depth then by all means let me know.

and just 123456 DO IT.

-DJ REA