The editor is what the vast majority of what simfile makers use. Unfortunately, like most things in life, to make a quality file it takes time. It may seem really boring at first, but as you get used to it, stepping files can become a breeze and actually be a fun process. Generally for a file I spend roughly 30-45 minutes per every minute in the file, depending on the step density. That may seem like a lot to you, but I can guarantee it is a lot more efficient than the old way of doing things, using notepad.
If you are having trouble syncing the songs, here is a good guide to get you started:
http://r21freak.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=12750Otherwise, if you want to use an alternative step editor, here is a great guide to DDream Studio, which is used by some people:
http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/vbz ... p?t=123423 . you may be disappointing to find out that this editor does not generally make files quicker to step, but it is just a matter of aesthetics/personal preference.
If you think about it, how would it make sense to be able to make a file without programming every note? Professional BPM analyzing software along with rhythm detecting games such as Audiosurf have a lot of trouble with accurately fitting the music, and those programs are commercial projects, not freeware such as Stepmania (even though I do think that the developers of Stepmania did work extremely hard). Also, do you think that these automatic chart generators would make fun files? Have you ever played a file on Super Shuffle in Stepmania? You would basically get the same result. Chart writing in a way is giving back to the Stepmania community. While it is exiting to see new charts, in the same way that nobody wants a half-assed present made for them, nobody wants to play a half-assed chart.
