SOUND VOLTEX Glossary

Glossary of all the terms seen in the SOUND VOLTEX series:

ADVANCED: The second tier of difficulty that targets intermediate players. Its notation is ADV and colored yellow, and typically ranges between Levels 6 and 13, with its current lowest Level being 4 and the highest being 15.

ALTERNATIVE RATE SYSTEM (ARS): Introduced in GRAVITY WARS, the gauge is a mix of both EXCESSIVE and EFFECTIVE rates. When the gauge is depleted, the gauge switches to the EFFECTIVE rate at a level as if it had always been active, instead of a TRACK CRASH.

ANALOG Chain: A chain by rotating the knobs when it hits a lane. When used during song select, it functions as choosing a song or adjusting the song's difficulty.

APPEAL Card: A card similar to a profile picture, whereas the player can choose one to represent it. Most APPEAL cards can be obtained from SDVX Station, whereas some others require additional requirements to be obtained.

BLASTER GATE: An unlocking mechanism introduced in infinite infection. This unlocking scheme requires players to play a certain chart a couple of times to unlock a fourth chart for any older songs. It was formerly called INFINITE BLASTER prior to HEAVENLY HAVEN.

BLASTER PASS: An in-game purchasable item introduced in VIVID WAVE, simplifying the difficulty for BLASTER-related unlocks (BLASTER GATE, Ω DIMENSION and HEXA DIVER) within 24 hours after purchase.

BLASTER Start: A game mode similar to STANDARD Start, but orientated for BLASTER-related unlocks. BLASTER Start guarantees two songs and may access EXTRACK if conditions are met.

BLC: Abbreviation of BLOCKs. This in-game currency can be obtained to purchase song charts in the SDVX Station.

BT: BT are small white notes (or called CHIP) composed on one of the four BT lanes. Each BT corresponds to one of the four white buttons arranged in-between the analog knobs/Start button and the FX buttons.

CHAIN: A name for combo used for the series, including the lengths of a long hold button and analog chain.

CRASH: A term equivalent for a failed stage.

CRITICAL: A judgement that indicates perfect accuracy.

EFFECT RADAR: Introduced in EXCEED GEAR, the EFFECT RADAR is a graphic representation of different aspects of the song's difficulty.

EFFECTIVE Rate: The standard gauge which starts at 0% and have a clear threshold of 70% (in which the gauge turns from blue to pink and the background graphics will change). Failing to hit the threshold will result in a TRACK CRASH, and may be SAVED depending on the other player's performance or playing an easier song.

EFFECTOR: An effector is a sound effect that varies across difficulties, which are produced whenever long FX notes are held, ANALOG chains being followed, or pressed with special FX chips. Various effects include Low-PassFilter, High-PassFilter, BitCLASHER, SideChain, ShortDelay, TapeScratch, WoBBLE and MashUp. Some effector may also produce gimmicks such as a Stop or tempo changes. The effector is credited as "Effected By".

ERROR: A judgement indicating that a note/chain has been missed. This judgement also breaks any chains.

EX Score: A mechanic originally appearing in beatmania and DanceDanceRevolution, introduced in EXCEED GEAR. S-CRITICAL are worth 5, CRITICAL are worth 4, NEAR are worth 2, and ANALOG/Long Chain CRITICALs are also worth 2. Only visible with S-CRITICAL enabled.

EXCEED: The fourth level tier difficulty introduced in EXCEED GEAR, named after the subtitle. Unlike the first four difficulties introduced, EXCEED was not revealed as a difficulty at launch until the release of the game's Second Season. The notation is XCD and is colored cyan.

EXHAUST: The third tier of difficulty targeting advanced players. Prior to HEAVENLY HAVEN, this was the highest difficulty for a regular song. Its notation is EXH and colored red, and typically Levels between 12 and 17, with its current lowest Level being 7 and the highest being 18.

EXCESSIVE Rate: A HARD-gauge equivalent to the one used in the beatmania IIDX series, it starts out at 100% and will trigger a TRACK CRASH if at any point the gauge is depleted. When the gauge drops to 30%, the background graphics will change and the gauge turns blue. Clearing this using this rate is EXCESSIVE clear, which overlaps EFFECTIVE clear.

FX: FX are long orange notes (or called CHIP) composed on one of the two halves of the BT lanes, either left or right. Each FX corresponds to one of the two black buttons arranged below the BT buttons. Long FX notes may produce random sound effects, which varies across difficulties.

FLOOR INFECTION: An in-game event where FLOOR contest songs are crossed over to other BEMANI games, which can be unlocked by playing several rounds of SOUND VOLTEX during the given time period. FLOOR originals are usually transplanted in this manner, but some songs are also transplanted by other in-game BEMANI events as well.

SOUND VOLTEX GENERATOR: Introduced in GRAVITY WARS and removed in EXCEED GEAR, where players can use the GENERATOR to print out actual cards after each play session.

GRAVITY: The fourth level tier difficulty introduced in GRAVITY WARS, named after the subtitle. The notation is GRV and is colored brown-orange. The level difficulty spans between 15 and 20 (not counting the April Fools' Day exclusive song グレイスちゃんの超～絶!!グラビティ講座w, which is rated Level 1).

HEAVENLY: The fourth level tier difficulty introduced in HEAVENLY HAVEN, named after the subtitle. Unlike the two difficulties introduced, HEAVENLY is introduced for returning songs with added charts, while newer songs feature MAXIMUM charts instead. The notation is HVN and is colored blue. The level difficulty spans between 16 to 19 (not counting the April Fools' Day exclusive song マキシマ先生の満開!!ヘヴンリー講座♥, which is rated Level 1).

HEXA DIVER: An EXTRACK-exclusive unlock system similar to BLASTER GATE. This system allows choosing a song to play and to set their HEXA RANK, with higher ranks dealing more damage to the gauge but make unlocking progress faster. By depleting the gauge for the song (called HEXA POINT), charts are unlocked for regular play. By clearing enough songs up to the highest difficulty, hidden songs are available for unlocking.

INFINITE: The fourth level tier difficulty introduced in infinite infection, named after the subtitle. The notation is INF and is colored purple (rainbow prior to HEAVENLY HAVEN). The level difficulty spans between 13 to 19.

JACKET: Much like many rhythm games, a jacket is an illustration that displays the song. Most songs may have a different jacket varying across difficulties, while some songs uses the same jacket. The jacket's name is credited in Illustrated by. In the Korean versions of the game, some jackets that display suggestive or explicit themes are censored by replacing those jackets into a generic jacket.

LIGHT Start: The basic default game mode which primarily uses coins or PASELI to play the game. LIGHT Start has a SAVE function and can play up to three songs in a session. ALTERNATIVE RATE SYSTEM and S-CRITICAL are unavailable. When playing LIGHT Start, a level restriction will be in effect for the first two songs, with the maximum level playable tied on the highest SKILL ANALYZER Level obtained.

MAXIMUM: The fourth tier of difficulty targeting for experts. Only new songs added after HEAVENLY HAVEN have this difficulty; they have a MXM notation colored black-white, and typically ranges from levels 16 to 20 with 14 being the lowest possible level (not counting the April Fools' Day exclusive song エクシード仮面ちゃんのちょっと一線をえくしーどしたEXCEED講座, which is rated Level 1).

MIRROR: A modifier that flips the song chart, including swapping all ANALOG Chains to the other knob.

NEAR: A judgement that indicate the note has been hit slightly off-beat. NEARs are worth half the points for a CRITICAL, and they do not appear for LONG notes or Analog Chains.

NEMESYS Crew: A group of characters featured in the game with RASIS being the main protagonist of the SOUND VOLTEX series. Most originals have characters featured in the jackets, while others are used for character profiles.

NOVICE: The first tier of difficulty targeting for beginners. Its notation is NOV and colored blue-purple, and typically levels between 1 to 5, with its current highest Level being 8.

Ω Dimension: An EXTRACK-exclusive unlock system similar to BLASTER GATE. Songs from each batches (also called Phases) are shown to the player to choose from, and its difficulty, with higher difficulty having a higher BLASTER LEVEL. Clearing the song unlocks the charts for regular play (and any charts from lower difficulties if applicable), and also simplifying the BLASTER LEVEL. By clearing enough songs up to the highest difficulty, hidden songs are available for unlocking.

PC: Abbreviation of PACKETs. This in-game currency can be purchased to purchase Appeal Cards.

PCB: Abbreviation as PACKET-BLOCKs. It is a merge of PC and BLC currencies as of VIVID WAVE.

PERFECT ULTIMATE CHAIN: A clear type equivalent to a Perfect Full Combo in DanceDanceRevolution or EXCELLENT in jubeat, when the player clears the song with all CRITICALs and achieves a score of 10,000,000. Abbreviated as PUC, it overlaps ULTIMATE CHAIN.

POLICY BREAK: An in-game event where KONAMI original songs from other BEMANI games are crossed over to SOUND VOLTEX, which can be unlocked by playing several rounds of said BEMANI game during the given time period. Barring any remixes, these originals are usually transplanted in this manner, but some songs are also transplanted by other in-game BEMANI events as well.

RANDOM: A modifier that randomize the arrangement of the chips for the song chart and may swap the ANALOG chain to another knob.

S-CRITICAL: A judgement introduced in EXCEED GEAR, which has a stricter timing frame and produces a S-splash. It carries the same score as a CRITICAL, but with a different EX-SCORE (5 to 4).

SAVED: A save function that veto a premature game over (when playing LIGHT START) if the player fails a TRACK. It will be triggered when an online matching player clears the song, or when a chart rated Level 7 or easier is played, whichever fulfill first. SAVED will not work when played on EXCESSIVE Rate or any mode other than LIGHT Start.

SDVX Station: An unlocking system whereas players can spend their PCB to INPUT their songs (i.e. unlocking songs for regular play). Some songs also require additional requirements to make the chart available for unlock. As of HEAVENLY HAVEN, this mode can now be used to obtain Appeal cards and unlocking some POLICY BREAK songs.

SKILL ANALYZER: A course-based mode where players played a three-song set using a special RATE called PERMISSIVE RATE. At any point the rate hits zero, it results in a TRACK CRASH, and only CRITICALs can recover said gauge. Neither MIRROR nor RANDOM can be used in the mode, and S-CRITICAL judgement is unavailable.

SOUND VOLTEX FLOOR Contest: An event of a themed song or illustration submission contest published by KONAMI, whereas any song entries can be submitted, be it an original composition, song remixes, or jacket designs. Note that these songs are classified as a FLOOR original, instead of a KONAMI original. Some contests, such as the KONAMI Arcade Championship originals, may also award songs of merit, with categories of Highest Excellence, Excellence and Prize, and these songs generally have higher difficulty levels.

STANDARD Start: The premium default game mode which primarily uses PASELI to play the game (non-JAPANESE via more credits in-lieu of PASELI). STANDARD Start guarantees the player three TRACKS without a level restriction, may access EXTRACK and BLASTER game modes, and S-CRITICAL can be used.

TSUMAMI: A term used in the EFFECT RADAR, literally meaning "knob," representing the proportion of ANALOG Chains in the chart.

TRACK: A term equivalent to a stage in rhythm games.

ULTIMATE CHAIN: A full combo equivalent for rhythm games, when the player's clears the song without any ERRORs. Abbreviated as UC, it overlaps all other clears.

Valkyrie model: A revised cabinet model first introduced in EXCEED GEAR, with added functionalities such as higher image quality, songs and game modes exclusive to this model, and the inclusion of a touchscreen panel where players can adjust settings or modifiers, or using other functionalities such as searching or sorting songs.

VIVID: The fourth level tier difficulty introduced in VIVID WAVE, named after the subtitle. While it was added for older songs, it was given for some newer songs with this notation instead of MAXIMUM. The notation is VVD and is colored pink. The level difficulty spans between 15 to 19.

VOLFORCE: Introduced in HEAVENLY HAVEN as a skill level indicator-equivalent similar to DJ POINT in the beatmania IIDX series, VOLFORCE is a level scheme that indicate the player's overall performance.