diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/ManiaPlacementBlueprintTestCase.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/ManiaPlacementBlueprintTestCase.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b5c08d6837
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/ManiaPlacementBlueprintTestCase.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Framework.Timing;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects.Drawables;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects.Drawables;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.UI.Scrolling;
+using osu.Game.Tests.Visual;
+using osuTK;
+using osuTK.Graphics;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests
+{
+    [Cached(Type = typeof(IManiaHitObjectComposer))]
+    public abstract class ManiaPlacementBlueprintTestCase : PlacementBlueprintTestCase, IManiaHitObjectComposer
+    {
+        private readonly Column column;
+
+        protected ManiaPlacementBlueprintTestCase()
+        {
+            Add(column = new Column(0)
+            {
+                Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
+                Origin = Anchor.Centre,
+                AccentColour = Color4.OrangeRed,
+                Clock = new FramedClock(new StopwatchClock()), // No scroll
+            });
+        }
+
+        protected override IReadOnlyDependencyContainer CreateChildDependencies(IReadOnlyDependencyContainer parent)
+        {
+            var dependencies = new DependencyContainer(base.CreateChildDependencies(parent));
+
+            dependencies.CacheAs(((ScrollingTestContainer)HitObjectContainer).ScrollingInfo);
+
+            return dependencies;
+        }
+
+        protected override Container CreateHitObjectContainer() => new ScrollingTestContainer(ScrollingDirection.Down) { RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both };
+
+        protected override void AddHitObject(DrawableHitObject hitObject) => column.Add((DrawableManiaHitObject)hitObject);
+
+        public Column ColumnAt(Vector2 screenSpacePosition) => column;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestCaseColumn.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestCaseColumn.cs
index 9bdb5ec1b2..eecc578861 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestCaseColumn.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestCaseColumn.cs
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests
                 Spacing = new Vector2(20, 0),
                 Children = new[]
                 {
-                    createColumn(ScrollingDirection.Up, ManiaAction.Key1),
-                    createColumn(ScrollingDirection.Down, ManiaAction.Key2)
+                    createColumn(ScrollingDirection.Up, ManiaAction.Key1, 0),
+                    createColumn(ScrollingDirection.Down, ManiaAction.Key2, 1)
                 }
             };
         }
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests
             }
         }
 
-        private Drawable createColumn(ScrollingDirection direction, ManiaAction action)
+        private Drawable createColumn(ScrollingDirection direction, ManiaAction action, int index)
         {
-            var column = new Column
+            var column = new Column(index)
             {
                 Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
                 Origin = Anchor.Centre,
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestCaseNotePlacementBlueprint.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestCaseNotePlacementBlueprint.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9ae49d200e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/TestCaseNotePlacementBlueprint.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit.Blueprints;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects.Drawables;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects.Drawables;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests
+{
+    public class TestCaseNotePlacementBlueprint : ManiaPlacementBlueprintTestCase
+    {
+        protected override DrawableHitObject CreateHitObject(HitObject hitObject) => new DrawableNote((Note)hitObject);
+        protected override PlacementBlueprint CreateBlueprint() => new NotePlacementBlueprint();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/Blueprints/ManiaPlacementBlueprint.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/Blueprints/ManiaPlacementBlueprint.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c36c32bb84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/Blueprints/ManiaPlacementBlueprint.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Input.Events;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects.Drawables.Pieces;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.UI.Scrolling;
+using osuTK;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit.Blueprints
+{
+    public abstract class ManiaPlacementBlueprint<T> : PlacementBlueprint
+        where T : ManiaHitObject
+    {
+        protected new T HitObject => (T)base.HitObject;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The current mouse position, snapped to the closest column.
+        /// </summary>
+        protected Vector2 SnappedMousePosition { get; private set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The width of the closest column to the current mouse position.
+        /// </summary>
+        protected float SnappedWidth { get; private set; }
+
+        [Resolved]
+        private IManiaHitObjectComposer composer { get; set; }
+
+        [Resolved]
+        private IScrollingInfo scrollingInfo { get; set; }
+
+        protected ManiaPlacementBlueprint(T hitObject)
+            : base(hitObject)
+        {
+            RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.None;
+        }
+
+        protected override bool OnMouseMove(MouseMoveEvent e)
+        {
+            Column column = ColumnAt(e.ScreenSpaceMousePosition);
+
+            if (column == null) return false;
+
+            SnappedWidth = column.DrawWidth;
+
+            // Snap to the column
+            var parentPos = Parent.ToLocalSpace(column.ToScreenSpace(new Vector2(column.DrawWidth / 2, 0)));
+            SnappedMousePosition = new Vector2(parentPos.X, e.MousePosition.Y);
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        protected double TimeAt(Vector2 screenSpacePosition)
+        {
+            var column = ColumnAt(screenSpacePosition);
+            if (column == null)
+                return 0;
+
+            var hitObjectContainer = column.HitObjectContainer;
+
+            // If we're scrolling downwards, a position of 0 is actually further away from the hit target
+            // so we need to flip the vertical coordinate in the hitobject container's space
+            var hitObjectPos = column.HitObjectContainer.ToLocalSpace(applyPositionOffset(screenSpacePosition)).Y;
+            if (scrollingInfo.Direction.Value == ScrollingDirection.Down)
+                hitObjectPos = hitObjectContainer.DrawHeight - hitObjectPos;
+
+            return scrollingInfo.Algorithm.TimeAt(hitObjectPos,
+                EditorClock.CurrentTime,
+                scrollingInfo.TimeRange.Value,
+                hitObjectContainer.DrawHeight);
+        }
+
+        protected Column ColumnAt(Vector2 screenSpacePosition)
+            => composer.ColumnAt(applyPositionOffset(screenSpacePosition));
+
+        private Vector2 applyPositionOffset(Vector2 position)
+        {
+            switch (scrollingInfo.Direction.Value)
+            {
+                case ScrollingDirection.Up:
+                    position.Y -= NotePiece.NOTE_HEIGHT / 2;
+                    break;
+                case ScrollingDirection.Down:
+                    position.Y += NotePiece.NOTE_HEIGHT / 2;
+                    break;
+            }
+
+            return position;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/Blueprints/NotePlacementBlueprint.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/Blueprints/NotePlacementBlueprint.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..26279de0d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/Blueprints/NotePlacementBlueprint.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Input.Events;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit.Blueprints.Components;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit.Blueprints
+{
+    public class NotePlacementBlueprint : ManiaPlacementBlueprint<Note>
+    {
+        public NotePlacementBlueprint()
+            : base(new Note())
+        {
+            Origin = Anchor.Centre;
+
+            AutoSizeAxes = Axes.Y;
+
+            InternalChild = new EditNotePiece { RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.X };
+        }
+
+        protected override void Update()
+        {
+            base.Update();
+
+            Width = SnappedWidth;
+            Position = SnappedMousePosition;
+        }
+
+        protected override bool OnClick(ClickEvent e)
+        {
+            Column column;
+            if ((column = ColumnAt(e.ScreenSpaceMousePosition)) == null)
+                return base.OnClick(e);
+
+            HitObject.StartTime = TimeAt(e.ScreenSpaceMousePosition);
+            HitObject.Column = column.Index;
+
+            EndPlacement();
+
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/IManiaHitObjectComposer.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/IManiaHitObjectComposer.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..977c7dd525
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/IManiaHitObjectComposer.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI;
+using osuTK;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit
+{
+    public interface IManiaHitObjectComposer
+    {
+        Column ColumnAt(Vector2 screenSpacePosition);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/ManiaHitObjectComposer.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/ManiaHitObjectComposer.cs
index 3531b81e68..8c8fe3b8b9 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/ManiaHitObjectComposer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/ManiaHitObjectComposer.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
-using System;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit.Tools;
@@ -11,17 +10,29 @@ using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects.Drawables;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit.Blueprints;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.UI;
+using osuTK;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit
 {
-    public class ManiaHitObjectComposer : HitObjectComposer<ManiaHitObject>
+    [Cached(Type = typeof(IManiaHitObjectComposer))]
+    public class ManiaHitObjectComposer : HitObjectComposer<ManiaHitObject>, IManiaHitObjectComposer
     {
+        protected new ManiaEditRulesetContainer RulesetContainer { get; private set; }
+
         public ManiaHitObjectComposer(Ruleset ruleset)
             : base(ruleset)
         {
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Retrieves the column that intersects a screen-space position.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="screenSpacePosition">The screen-space position.</param>
+        /// <returns>The column which intersects with <paramref name="screenSpacePosition"/>.</returns>
+        public Column ColumnAt(Vector2 screenSpacePosition) => RulesetContainer.GetColumnByPosition(screenSpacePosition);
+
         private DependencyContainer dependencies;
 
         protected override IReadOnlyDependencyContainer CreateChildDependencies(IReadOnlyDependencyContainer parent)
@@ -29,15 +40,18 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit
 
         protected override RulesetContainer<ManiaHitObject> CreateRulesetContainer(Ruleset ruleset, WorkingBeatmap beatmap)
         {
-            var rulesetContainer = new ManiaEditRulesetContainer(ruleset, beatmap);
+            RulesetContainer = new ManiaEditRulesetContainer(ruleset, beatmap);
 
             // This is the earliest we can cache the scrolling info to ourselves, before masks are added to the hierarchy and inject it
-            dependencies.CacheAs(rulesetContainer.ScrollingInfo);
+            dependencies.CacheAs(RulesetContainer.ScrollingInfo);
 
-            return rulesetContainer;
+            return RulesetContainer;
         }
 
-        protected override IReadOnlyList<HitObjectCompositionTool> CompositionTools => Array.Empty<HitObjectCompositionTool>();
+        protected override IReadOnlyList<HitObjectCompositionTool> CompositionTools => new HitObjectCompositionTool[]
+        {
+            new NoteCompositionTool()
+        };
 
         public override SelectionBlueprint CreateBlueprintFor(DrawableHitObject hitObject)
         {
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/NoteCompositionTool.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/NoteCompositionTool.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..93f49d1cc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/Edit/NoteCompositionTool.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
+// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
+
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit.Tools;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit.Blueprints;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Edit
+{
+    public class NoteCompositionTool : HitObjectCompositionTool
+    {
+        public NoteCompositionTool()
+            : base(nameof(Note))
+        {
+        }
+
+        public override PlacementBlueprint CreatePlacementBlueprint() => new NotePlacementBlueprint();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/Column.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/Column.cs
index 1813501b54..58e2066f72 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/Column.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/Column.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Input.Bindings;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Judgements;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI.Components;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.UI.Scrolling;
+using osuTK;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
 {
@@ -21,6 +22,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
         private const float column_width = 45;
         private const float special_column_width = 70;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The index of this column as part of the whole playfield.
+        /// </summary>
+        public readonly int Index;
+
         public readonly Bindable<ManiaAction> Action = new Bindable<ManiaAction>();
 
         private readonly ColumnBackground background;
@@ -30,8 +36,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
         internal readonly Container TopLevelContainer;
         private readonly Container explosionContainer;
 
-        public Column()
+        public Column(int index)
         {
+            Index = index;
+
             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Y;
             Width = column_width;
 
@@ -172,5 +180,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
         }
 
         public bool OnReleased(ManiaAction action) => false;
+
+        public override bool ReceivePositionalInputAt(Vector2 screenSpacePos)
+            // This probably shouldn't exist as is, but the columns in the stage are separated by a 1px border
+            => DrawRectangle.Inflate(new Vector2(ManiaStage.COLUMN_SPACING / 2, 0)).Contains(ToLocalSpace(screenSpacePos));
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaPlayfield.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaPlayfield.cs
index 9a816ce7f1..32d8ef343f 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaPlayfield.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaPlayfield.cs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Beatmaps;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Objects;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Objects.Drawables;
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
     {
         private readonly List<ManiaStage> stages = new List<ManiaStage>();
 
+        public override bool ReceivePositionalInputAt(Vector2 screenSpacePos) => stages.Any(s => s.ReceivePositionalInputAt(screenSpacePos));
+
         public ManiaPlayfield(List<StageDefinition> stageDefinitions)
         {
             if (stageDefinitions == null)
@@ -56,6 +59,33 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
 
         public void Add(BarLine barline) => stages.ForEach(s => s.Add(barline));
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Retrieves a column from a screen-space position.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="screenSpacePosition">The screen-space position.</param>
+        /// <returns>The column which the <paramref name="screenSpacePosition"/> lies in.</returns>
+        public Column GetColumnByPosition(Vector2 screenSpacePosition)
+        {
+            Column found = null;
+
+            foreach (var stage in stages)
+            {
+                foreach (var column in stage.Columns)
+                {
+                    if (column.ReceivePositionalInputAt(screenSpacePosition))
+                    {
+                        found = column;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if (found != null)
+                    break;
+            }
+
+            return found;
+        }
+
         private ManiaStage getStageByColumn(int column)
         {
             int sum = 0;
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaRulesetContainer.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaRulesetContainer.cs
index 321dd4e1cb..5263d4dcb9 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaRulesetContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaRulesetContainer.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ using osu.Game.Rulesets.Replays;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.Scoring;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.UI;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets.UI.Scrolling;
+using osuTK;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
 {
@@ -80,6 +81,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
             Config.BindWith(ManiaSetting.ScrollTime, TimeRange);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Retrieves the column that intersects a screen-space position.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="screenSpacePosition">The screen-space position.</param>
+        /// <returns>The column which intersects with <paramref name="screenSpacePosition"/>.</returns>
+        public Column GetColumnByPosition(Vector2 screenSpacePosition) => Playfield.GetColumnByPosition(screenSpacePosition);
+
         protected override Playfield CreatePlayfield() => new ManiaPlayfield(Beatmap.Stages)
         {
             Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaStage.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaStage.cs
index 42b292d50b..ab835cbbb3 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaStage.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania/UI/ManiaStage.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
     /// </summary>
     public class ManiaStage : ScrollingPlayfield
     {
+        public const float COLUMN_SPACING = 1;
+
         public const float HIT_TARGET_POSITION = 50;
 
         public IReadOnlyList<Column> Columns => columnFlow.Children;
@@ -40,6 +42,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
         private List<Color4> normalColumnColours = new List<Color4>();
         private Color4 specialColumnColour;
 
+        public override bool ReceivePositionalInputAt(Vector2 screenSpacePos) => Columns.Any(c => c.ReceivePositionalInputAt(screenSpacePos));
+
         private readonly int firstColumnIndex;
 
         public ManiaStage(int firstColumnIndex, StageDefinition definition, ref ManiaAction normalColumnStartAction, ref ManiaAction specialColumnStartAction)
@@ -84,8 +88,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
                                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Y,
                                     AutoSizeAxes = Axes.X,
                                     Direction = FillDirection.Horizontal,
-                                    Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = 1, Right = 1 },
-                                    Spacing = new Vector2(1, 0)
+                                    Padding = new MarginPadding { Left = COLUMN_SPACING, Right = COLUMN_SPACING },
+                                    Spacing = new Vector2(COLUMN_SPACING, 0)
                                 },
                             }
                         },
@@ -123,7 +127,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.UI
             for (int i = 0; i < definition.Columns; i++)
             {
                 var isSpecial = definition.IsSpecialColumn(i);
-                var column = new Column
+                var column = new Column(firstColumnIndex + i)
                 {
                     IsSpecial = isSpecial,
                     Action = { Value = isSpecial ? specialColumnStartAction++ : normalColumnStartAction++ }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/EditRulesetContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/EditRulesetContainer.cs
index 8bb174c65c..6f81d47431 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/EditRulesetContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/EditRulesetContainer.cs
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
             // Process object
             var processor = ruleset.CreateBeatmapProcessor(beatmap);
 
-            processor.PreProcess();
+            processor?.PreProcess();
             tObject.ApplyDefaults(beatmap.ControlPointInfo, beatmap.BeatmapInfo.BaseDifficulty);
-            processor.PostProcess();
+            processor?.PostProcess();
 
             // Add visual representation
             var drawableObject = rulesetContainer.GetVisualRepresentation(tObject);
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/HitObjectComposer.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/HitObjectComposer.cs
index 86ecbc0bb0..d41fd5c201 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/HitObjectComposer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/HitObjectComposer.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
 {
     public abstract class HitObjectComposer : CompositeDrawable
     {
-        public IEnumerable<DrawableHitObject> HitObjects => rulesetContainer.Playfield.AllHitObjects;
+        public IEnumerable<DrawableHitObject> HitObjects => RulesetContainer.Playfield.AllHitObjects;
 
         protected readonly Ruleset Ruleset;
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
 
         private readonly List<Container> layerContainers = new List<Container>();
 
-        private EditRulesetContainer rulesetContainer;
+        protected EditRulesetContainer RulesetContainer { get; private set; }
 
         private BlueprintContainer blueprintContainer;
 
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
 
             try
             {
-                rulesetContainer = CreateRulesetContainer();
-                rulesetContainer.Clock = framedClock;
+                RulesetContainer = CreateRulesetContainer();
+                RulesetContainer.Clock = framedClock;
             }
             catch (Exception e)
             {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
                             Children = new Drawable[]
                             {
                                 layerBelowRuleset,
-                                rulesetContainer,
+                                RulesetContainer,
                                 layerAboveRuleset
                             }
                         }
@@ -140,25 +140,25 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
 
             layerContainers.ForEach(l =>
             {
-                l.Anchor = rulesetContainer.Playfield.Anchor;
-                l.Origin = rulesetContainer.Playfield.Origin;
-                l.Position = rulesetContainer.Playfield.Position;
-                l.Size = rulesetContainer.Playfield.Size;
+                l.Anchor = RulesetContainer.Playfield.Anchor;
+                l.Origin = RulesetContainer.Playfield.Origin;
+                l.Position = RulesetContainer.Playfield.Position;
+                l.Size = RulesetContainer.Playfield.Size;
             });
         }
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Whether the user's cursor is currently in an area of the <see cref="HitObjectComposer"/> that is valid for placement.
         /// </summary>
-        public virtual bool CursorInPlacementArea => rulesetContainer.Playfield.ReceivePositionalInputAt(inputManager.CurrentState.Mouse.Position);
+        public virtual bool CursorInPlacementArea => RulesetContainer.Playfield.ReceivePositionalInputAt(inputManager.CurrentState.Mouse.Position);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Adds a <see cref="HitObject"/> to the <see cref="Beatmaps.Beatmap"/> and visualises it.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="hitObject">The <see cref="HitObject"/> to add.</param>
-        public void Add(HitObject hitObject) => blueprintContainer.AddBlueprintFor(rulesetContainer.Add(hitObject));
+        public void Add(HitObject hitObject) => blueprintContainer.AddBlueprintFor(RulesetContainer.Add(hitObject));
 
-        public void Remove(HitObject hitObject) => blueprintContainer.RemoveBlueprintFor(rulesetContainer.Remove(hitObject));
+        public void Remove(HitObject hitObject) => blueprintContainer.RemoveBlueprintFor(RulesetContainer.Remove(hitObject));
 
         internal abstract EditRulesetContainer CreateRulesetContainer();
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/PlacementBlueprint.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/PlacementBlueprint.cs
index 2414a682e9..1d568313ca 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/PlacementBlueprint.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Edit/PlacementBlueprint.cs
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Configuration;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
-using osu.Framework.Input;
 using osu.Framework.Input.Events;
 using osu.Framework.Timing;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
     /// <summary>
     /// A blueprint which governs the creation of a new <see cref="HitObject"/> to actualisation.
     /// </summary>
-    public abstract class PlacementBlueprint : CompositeDrawable, IStateful<PlacementState>, IRequireHighFrequencyMousePosition
+    public abstract class PlacementBlueprint : CompositeDrawable, IStateful<PlacementState>
     {
         /// <summary>
         /// Invoked when <see cref="State"/> has changed.
@@ -50,6 +49,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Edit
 
             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both;
 
+            // This is required to allow the blueprint's position to be updated via OnMouseMove/Handle
+            // on the same frame it is made visible via a PlacementState change.
+            AlwaysPresent = true;
+
             Alpha = 0;
         }
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlacementBlueprintTestCase.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlacementBlueprintTestCase.cs
index f893d8456b..ca762c6be2 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlacementBlueprintTestCase.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlacementBlueprintTestCase.cs
@@ -15,18 +15,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
     [Cached(Type = typeof(IPlacementHandler))]
     public abstract class PlacementBlueprintTestCase : OsuTestCase, IPlacementHandler
     {
-        private readonly Container hitObjectContainer;
+        protected readonly Container HitObjectContainer;
         private PlacementBlueprint currentBlueprint;
 
         protected PlacementBlueprintTestCase()
         {
             Beatmap.Value.BeatmapInfo.BaseDifficulty.CircleSize = 2;
 
-            Add(hitObjectContainer = new Container
-            {
-                RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                Clock = new FramedClock(new StopwatchClock())
-            });
+            Add(HitObjectContainer = CreateHitObjectContainer());
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
@@ -49,7 +45,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
 
         public void EndPlacement(HitObject hitObject)
         {
-            hitObjectContainer.Add(CreateHitObject(hitObject));
+            AddHitObject(CreateHitObject(hitObject));
 
             Remove(currentBlueprint);
             Add(currentBlueprint = CreateBlueprint());
@@ -59,6 +55,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
         {
         }
 
+        protected virtual Container CreateHitObjectContainer() => new Container { RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both };
+
+        protected virtual void AddHitObject(DrawableHitObject hitObject) => HitObjectContainer.Add(hitObject);
+
         protected abstract DrawableHitObject CreateHitObject(HitObject hitObject);
         protected abstract PlacementBlueprint CreateBlueprint();
     }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/ScrollingTestContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/ScrollingTestContainer.cs
index 1819fdb2a0..bc251fddbe 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/ScrollingTestContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/ScrollingTestContainer.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
 
         public double TimeRange { set => scrollingInfo.TimeRange.Value = value; }
 
+        public IScrollingInfo ScrollingInfo => scrollingInfo;
+
         [Cached(Type = typeof(IScrollingInfo))]
         private readonly TestScrollingInfo scrollingInfo = new TestScrollingInfo();