Under construction.
The MediaTracker(MT) is a video editing tool for Trackmania. MT allows you to add cameras, effects, custom text and so on to the map or replay.
¶ Definitions
¶ MEDIATRACKER
The interface in which we can create or edit replays. The MEDIATRACKER can be refered to by a number of different names as you will see in this page including, but not limited to “editor,” “replay editor,” and “interface.”
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¶ Viewport
The main window displaying the present moment of a clip/replay or view of the map being made.
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¶ Timeline
The bar below the VIEWPORT on which we can place tracks and blocks to build clips.
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¶ Playback Needle
The vertical line within the TIMELINE which indicates where in time you currently are. This is a visual representation of the CLIP CLOCK time. I.E. the NEEDLE is always at the time displayed by the CLIP CLOCK.
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¶ TRACK
A designated area to place a single type of BLOCK.
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¶ BLOCK
A section of a TRACK between a start KEY and an end KEY. Note: regular KEYS do not define the start or end of a block (see example).
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¶ KEY
A mark that references a specific point along a BLOCK. There are start KEYS, end KEYS, and regular KEYS. Remember that a BLOCK is a section of track between a start KEY and an end KEY. Those familiar with video editing/animating software will recognize KEYS as trackmania’s keyframes.
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¶ GHOST
A replay file of someone driving a track. When viewing a GPS, for example, you are watching a GHOST drive the track.
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¶ TRIGGER
An area that can be placed on a map to ‘trigger’ certain events when a player enters the area. These can only be placed when accessing the MEDIATRACKER from within the map editor. Used for forcing a camera change in a loop, designating a GPS area, and much more.
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¶ CLIP
A Trackmania specific video file for MEDIATRACKER creations. The final output of your MEDIATRACKER adventures can be exported as a CLIP or a conventional video file. CLIP may also refer to the MEDIATRACKER creation as a whole that is being built.
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¶ Interface
The MEDIATRACKER interface can be an intimidating sight when first getting started with CLIP creations. Nadeo, however, has done a good job at keeping the layout consistent and predictable and makes moving around the editor quite simple once you have a grasp on what to expect. Here is a map of how things work within the interface for the most common use cases. 
¶ Block & Trigger Options (1)
Here is where the options dialog will appear for any selected TRIGGER or BLOCK. There are a myriad of different options for the various types of TRACKS and TRIGGERs which will be covered in more detail in their respective sections.
¶ Triggers (2)
All currently active triggers on a map will appear in this box. Clicking on a TRIGGER in this box will bring up different available options for that TRIGGER in the Block & Trigger Options section of the interface.
¶ Tracks (3)
This is the same as the previous TRIGGERS section. All currently active tracks will appear here and clicking on one will bring up its options dialog in the Block & Trigger Options section.
¶ Playback Controls (4)
Just above the TIMELINE we have the playback controls of the editor. There are six basic controls available to us as well as a ‘replay clock’ that allows us to move to a specific time within the replay.
From left to right, we have the View Whole Timeline button, Fullscreen toggle, Return to Start button, Play/Pause control, and our Playback Speed button.
- View Whole Timeline: Condenses the entirety of the replay to fit within the
TIMELINEhorizontally. - Fullscreen: Increases the size of the
VIEWPORTto the full size of your screen for a more cinematic viewing of aCLIP - Return to Start: Moves the playback needle back to the very start of the
CLIP. More specifically, this button resets the playback needle to a time of 00:00.000, even if there is no block on the timeline at that specific time. - Play / Pause: Plays the
CLIPif the clip is paused or pauses the clip if it is playing. - Playback Speed: A toggle control to adjust how fast the clip will play. There are options for 1/100th of regular speed, 1/10th, 1/2, 1x (regular speed), and 2x. NOTE: This does not affect the speed of the final saved/exported file. It only affects how fast you view the clip within the editor.
- Clip Clock: Displays the time of the clip where the
PLAYBACK NEEDLEis located. A custom time may be entered manually for precisely adjusting the location of theNEEDLE.
¶ Block & Key Tools (5a & 5b)
This part of the interface provides us with a few very helpful options in assisting the creation of CLIPS. From left-to-right the Block Tools are:
- Insert Block: Add another
BLOCKto the currently selectedTRACK. - Split Block: Divides the currently selected
BLOCKinto two seperate blocks. The ‘cut’ is made wherever thePLAYBACK NEEDLEis located. - Remove Block: Removes the currently selected block from the clip/replay
The Key Tools, from top-to-bottom are:
- Start Time: where in time the currently selected block is to start within the replay.
- End Time: where in time the currently selected block is to end within the replay.
- Add Key: adds a
KEYat the current location of thePLAYBACK NEEDLE. - Remove Key: deletes the currently selected key.
- Remove All Keys: deletes ALL keys from the selected block. NOTE: Does not remove the start or end keys of the block.
¶ Saving (6)
In the bottom left-hand corner of the editor is the SAVE button which will locally save whatever creation is being worked on.
¶ Help Menu (7)
To the right of the save button is the HELP menu button that pulls up a dialog box containing a short list of shortcuts. Unfortunately this menu is not of much help as the shortcut list is nowhere near exhaustive and there is no explanatory dialog for functions/buttons/actions like one may find in other software help menus.
¶ Import/Export Clips (8)
To the right of the HELP menu are the ‘import’ and ‘export’ CLIP buttons. These allow for adding premade clips to the current project (import) or saving the current project to be used in another creation (export). These CLIP files are also very small and are easily shared between users with minimal upload or download time. Their downside is that they are only handled by TrackMania software.
¶ Import Ghosts (9)
Next to the Import/Export CLIP buttons is the Import Ghost option. This enables a replay of someone driving a track to be added to the editor as a TRACK. Importing a ghost is a necessity for creating a CLIP that contains a car (or many cars) driving on the map.
¶ Rendering Screenshots/Videos (10)
These options allow us to export our clip as a video or image file. Both buttons will bring up their own distinct, yet quite similar options dialogs. When creating a high quality video or screenshot to share on a 3rd party site (YouTube, Reddit, Etc.) these are the options to use. The specifics of their options dialogs will be covered later in the ‘Rendering’ section
¶ Compute Shadows (11)
To keep FPS high and PC load low, Trackmania allows us to ‘pre-bake’ the lighting of a map by computing the lighting (shadows) of the map from within the editor. That lighting information is then added to the map/replay itself so that the end-user’s experience can be as smooth as possible. Computing the shadows of a map/replay is a time and PC intensive process but is also exceptionally important for the end quality of the clip.
It is widely recommened that for any final version of a map/replay the shadows should be computed at the highest possible quality level that your PC can handle.
¶ Name Visibility (12)
An option to display the names of each GHOST within the clip. Note: this is only within the editor and will not force the names to display for others that view the exported clip/replay. Names of the ghosts will still appear for others (eg when viewing a GPS), they just need to have names turned on on their end.
¶ Merge Tracks, Copy, Cut, Paste (13)
A set of helpful options that will almost never be clicked on. While these will get used very often in any creation, their hotkeys are far more useful than the buttons themselves.
- Merge Similar Tracks and Blocks: If there are two tracks of the same type, with blocks that do not overlap in time, this will merge the two seperate tracks into a single track. Hotkey: M
- Copy, Cut, Paste Blocks: These do exactly what one would expect copy, cut, and paste to do and use the same hotkeys as one would be familiar with. Only works on blocks. Hotkeys: Ctrl+C Ctrl+X Ctrl+V
¶ Camera Options (14)
The arrows at the top of this section allow for the switching of camera types. This is useful for setting up custom camera shots or viewing clips from new angles. The camera types are:
- Clip Camera: The same camera that is used within the clip/replay being made. This camera cannot be moved around as it is tied to whatever camera movements are defined by the clip/replay.
- Orbital Camera: Allows for a camera that is unlocked from the clip/replay and can be rotated around a certain point. This ‘pivot point’ can be moved laterally with the Arrow Keys and vertically with Page Up and Page Down.
- Free Camera: A completely unlocked camera that can be moved, panned, zoomed in any way. This is the same camera type that is used in the map editor to move about. Very useful for setting up new custom camera shots.
Below the Camera Types we have the Camera Speed option which defines how quickly the camera will move vertically or horizontally. A slow speed is very useful for precise shots/setups while a fast camera allows for easily moving around the map.
¶ Camera Types (15)
This button toggles the Clip Camera on or off and replaces it with whichever non-clip camera was last selected. EG If Free Camera was selected last, this button would toggle between Clip Camera and Free Camera, but never Orbital Camera.
¶ Themes (16)
This button allows for different themes to be applied to the editor as a whole. Themes will change only the color of the editor and some text dialogs. This is soley a personal preference option.
¶ Shortcuts
Media tracker has a lot of very useful shortcuts, you can find the full list of them below
¶ General
- TAB: Toggle fullscreen
- Ctrl + Right/Left: Move forward/backward in the timeline
- ± on numpad: Speed up/down free camera movement speed
- Ctrl + Z: Undo the last change
- Ctrl + Y: Revert last undo
- Ctrl + C: Copy selected block/key
- Ctrl + V: Paste copied block/key
- Ctrl + X: Cut selected block/key
- Del: Delete selected block/key
- B: Add block to selected key
- L: Split block into two parts
- K: Creates a key into the selected block at the current timeline position
- Ctrl + E: Show the whole timeline
¶ Timeline
- MouseWheel click and drag on timeline: Drag timeline
- Right mouse click and drag on timeline: Zoom in/out timeline
¶ Multiple keys/block selection
To move multiple keys/blocks you can use zone selection tool in the MT editor
- Alt + Mouse Left click on 2 sports in zone selection bar: Select a zone which you would like to move
- Left mouse click on empty spot in zone selection bar: Unselect a zone
¶ Snapping
works for blocks/keys and for zone selection
- Ctrl + drag of selected key/block: Move selected key/block with snapping to other keys/blocks (works for zone selection as well)
- Shift + Left mouse click on they key: Move selected key to another key (works for zone selection as well)
¶ Tracks
¶ Camera Tracks
¶ Custom Camera
Custom camera lets you set tons of useful options for your camera tracks.
If you want to imitate the normal in-game camera perspectives (e.g. for transitions), check out these three configurations:
¶ Orbital Camera
¶ Path Camera
¶ Player Camera
¶ Triangles
In the MediaTracker you can use 2D/3D triangle tracks to add SVG’s to your map/replay.
You can create SVG’s with image editing software such as photoshop, illustrator or inkscape(free) but there’s also a simple online converter, though it may not always give the best results.
Process of working with 2D/3D triangle is pretty straightforward but both 2D/3D has their own limitation.
Both 2D/3D triangle tracks has the same options in the track settings:
Edit mode is a picker for type of editing mode
- Create triangle: in this mod you can import SVG or draw needed shaped with triangles
- Edit vertex: this mod allows you to modify position/color of selected vertexes
- Delete vertex: this mod allows you to delete vertexes by clicking on them
All objects in the SVG should be converted to path (e.g. if you use text layer in inkscape you should “convert it to path” or “create outlines” in Illustrator before exporting SVG)
Keep in mind that SVGs stores inside map file and increase the file size
¶ Aspect
SVG file that was created with an aspect ratio of 1:1 is stretched in the game to the aspect ratio of the game. Accordingly, the elements contained in the 1:1 field should be increased in height, e.g. 9:16, since most screens display 16: 9. The maximum import size can only be achieved with a 1:1 file. The imported file is drawn in a fixed aspect ratio to a maximum of 50% screen width and 50% height. If the file is not in a 1:1 ratio, 50% will not be reached in one axis.
¶ 2D Triangles
2D triangle track is a prefect way to show custom graphics on user screen, unlike Images players won’t need to load the from 3rd-party sources and they will be always displayed even if map loaded offline.
The main limitation in using 2D triangles is inability of easily resizing them in-game however there is a very simple trick to control the size of imported SVG. Once you done with creating your SVG you can add square object to the same SVG files. You can get needed object smaller by making square bigger. Once you happy with the size of your object just remove the square in-game by using Delete vertex mode
¶ 3D Triangles
3D triangles works the same way as 2D but they located in 3D space. It’s a great way to add text on your maps for GPS, intro’s etc.
To add 3D triangle to the map first you need to add 3D triangle track. After that make sure that active mode is “Create triangle” in track settings.
You should see green cross(3D cursor) in the center of viewport. Cursor is the position where SVG object will be located. You can change the position of the cursor with ctrl + left click on the map. You can place cursor on any solid object in the map (e.g. can’t place in the sky, but you can place it on the block in the sky and then remove the block).
To adjust rotation and size of SVG use custom camera before importing it. SVG will be rotated and scaled by the same aspect ratio rules as 2D triangles but in 3D space. To adjust the size of SVG you move camera closer/further from 3D cursor. To adjust rotation of SVG just rotate the camera. Once you done with camera click “Import SVG” and select needed SVG file.
Once SVG is imported you can add movement animation to it by changing position of vertexes(can select all of them together) in “Edit vertex” mode.
¶ Rotation animation for 2D/3D triangles:
You can add rotation animation to 2D/3D triangles:
- Add 2D/3D track and import SVG
- Add second 2D/3D track, rotate the camera and import the same SVG
- Copy first key on the second track and paste it to the key of first track.
as the result you should have rotation animation of 2D/3D triangles
rotate-3d.mp4
¶ Car Trails
¶ Colors FX
¶ Color Grading
¶ Depth of Field
¶ Dirty Lens
¶ Editing Cut
¶ Fading Transition
¶ Fog
¶ HDR Bloom
¶ Image
¶ Inertial Tracking CamFX
¶ ManiaLinks
ManiaLinks can be used for easter eggs, leaderboards and much more.
For a general introduction to the topic, take a look at EntryLag’s starting guide.
¶ ManiaLink UI
¶ Mania Link URL
¶ Music Volume
¶ Opponent Visibility
¶ Shake Cam FX
¶ Stereo 3D
¶ Sound FX
This is the process to get custom sound effects into your map - for custom music, see here.
- Save your sound as
.ogg(OGG VORBIS) - for example using the free audio app Audacity. - Save it in
Documents\Trackmania\Media\Sounds. - Upload the
.oggfile to a Discord server (or host it somewhere else). Get the download link by right-clicking the file in Discord and copying the link (the file, not the message). - Paste the direct link URL in Notepad and save the file as
TheNameOfTheSong.ogg.locin the same folder as the.oggfile. - Open MediaTracker in the map editor.
- Add a SoundFX track, click Change sound and select the needed file.
- Save your map and check it with GbxDump to make sure the locator saved alongside the
.oggin the header of the map file. Then you know it’ll work for others.
¶ Custom music
For custom music, the process is very similar. First, follow steps 1-4 (and place your file in Documents\Trackmania\Media\Musics) and restart your game.
Instead of adding a SoundFX track, go to Map Options (bottom right wrench icon), choose custom music. Click Add your music at the bottom of the window and select your sound file.
You can still do step 7 to ensure it works correctly for everyone.
¶ Text
On-screen text is a very commonly used feature to convey information from the mapper to the player. It is often used to denote where the GPS is located, how fast the GPS ghost is, or to credit people who contributed to the map’s creation. These are just the common options, there are many, many more use cases!
To add text:
- Create a trigger area and add a
TEXTtrack. - Select the
TEXTtrack and enter the text you’d like to be displayed. - Click in the
VIEWPORTfor the text to display. - You can click and drag the text with RMB to move where the text appears (you must have a start or end
KEYselected to do so)
To get the text to disappear:
- Select the end
KEYof the textBLOCKand drop the opacity to zero.
OR
- Select the text
BLOCKand select the option “stop when player leaves trigger”
If you move the text from the default position (or adjust any option other than the actual text) you will need to copy those parameters to the end
KEYof theTEXTblock. To do this, you may select the startKEYpress Ctrl+C then select the endKEYand press Ctrl+V
¶ Time
¶ Time Speed
¶ ToneMapping
¶ Vehicle Lights
¶ Triggers
¶ Usage
Triggers can be used for a vast number of different effects. The three most common usages, however, are for creating a GPS area, changing a player’s camera for loops and wallrides, and adding text on screeen (eg: “Backwards for GPS”).
¶ Trigger Options
Just above the Triggers Box is the Triggers Options dialog box (1) on the interface map. These provide us with options and conditions for adjusting the selected trigger.
- Stop When Player Respawns: Checking this will stop the clip that was triggered when the player respawns.
- Stop When Player Leaves Trigger: Checking this will stop the clip when the Player leaves the trigger area.
- Condition: Provides a variety of options for different types of conditions for the trigger. Selecting a conditon means that the selected condition must be met for the trigger to play.
- Reference Ghost: Allows one to select or record a ‘reference ghost’ which will activate any triggers it drives through (unless the Condition is not met of course). This allows one to see what a player would see when driving the map. Note: the ‘Author Ghost’ is an option to select as a reference ghost. Do not use a reference ghost for creating a GPS replay!
¶ Conditions
- Race time <
number: Trigger only when race time is lower thannumber - Race time >
number: Tigger only when race time is greater thannumber - Already triggered
number: Trigger only if another trigger with ID* =numberwas triggered - Not already triggered
number: Trigger only if another trigger with ID* =numberwasn’t triggered - Speed <
number: Trigger only if speed is lower thannumber - Speed >
number: Trigger only if speed greater thannumber - Max play count number: Maximum
numberof play counts - Random
numberTrigger: randomly, chance is specified withnumberfrom 0.0 to 1.0 (e.g. 0.3 = 30% chance) - Random once
number: trigger once per race at the value you set it at
*trigger ID is a index number of the trigger in the list of all triggers (starts with 0)
¶ Adding and Removing
By clicking the ‘+’ icon a new trigger can be added to the map. Click and drag the LMB to create a larger area quickly. The Scroll Wheel can be used to add height to the trigger either above or below the current area.
The ‘X’ icon can be used to remove a trigger and all of it’s associated tracks.
NOTES:
- Use the Arrow Keys to move the camera around. Alternatively, hold Alt + LMB.
- Hold Alt + RMB to orbit the camera around your pivot point.
- Hold Alt + ScrollWheel to move the camera up or down.
¶ Editing
The ‘gear + wrench’ icon can be used to edit an existing trigger area. First click on the trigger name you want to edit and then click the editing icon to enter the trigger editing mode. Placing a block on a pre-existing trigger will remove that block of the trigger area. Placing a block on a new part of the map will add to the trigger area.
Selecting a trigger and then clicking the ‘trash can’ icon will completely remove the trigger area (but will keep any associated tracks).
¶ Renaming
Triggers can be renamed in two different ways. The first is done by double clicking on the trigger name the second can be done by selecting the trigger and the pressing the ‘T’ icon in the trigger options.