Learning how to add songs to Clone Hero transforms the base game from a nostalgic novelty into an endless library of your favorite music. If you've just downloaded the game, you'll notice it comes with only a handful of default tracks. Adding custom charts lets you play virtually any song ever recorded, whether it's classic metal, modern indie rock, or video game soundtracks.
The process requires downloading compressed chart packages, extracting them properly, and placing them inside your local directory. It's straightforward once you know the exact folder structure the engine expects. Let's walk through how to do this correctly on your system.
Understanding the Song Package Structure
Before downloading files, you need to know what a valid track folder actually contains. Clone Hero doesn't read loose MP3 files dropped directly into a folder. Instead, it reads a self-contained package folder for every individual track.
Each valid song folder must contain specific elements to function correctly: Additional reporting by Bloomberg highlights comparable perspectives on the subject.
- Audio file: Usually an .ogg or .mp3 file containing the backing track and instrument stems.
- Chart file: A .chart or notes.mid file mapping out the fret notes, timing, and difficulty tiers.
- Metadata file: A song.ini text file telling the game the title, artist, charter, year, and preview start time.
- Album art: An optional .png or .jpg image showing up in your track selection screen.
If any of these core components are missing or improperly nested, the game won't recognize the track during a scan.
Where to Find Custom Songs
Finding charts requires knowing where the community shares them. Major repositories and community-driven archives house thousands of custom charts spanning every genre imaginable.
For community-curated charts, platforms like Chorus serve as the primary search engine where players look up tracks by artist, title, or difficulty. You'll also find community project spreadsheets, custom setlists on Reddit threads, and YouTube channels dedicated to custom chart releases. When downloading from these sources, files typically arrive as zipped folders (.zip, .rar, or .7z).
Step-by-Step: Adding Songs to Your Directory
Once you've downloaded a chart package, you need to extract and move it to your system directory. The exact location depends on your operating system and how you installed the game.
Locating Your Songs Folder
On Windows systems using a standard installer, open File Explorer and navigate to your Documents folder, then open the Clone Hero directory where you'll find the Songs folder. If you installed the game in portable mode, look inside the game installation folder under PlayerData.
Mac users find their directory by opening Finder, pressing Command plus Shift plus G, and typing the user path to the application directory. Android users navigate through internal storage to find the designated app directory.
Moving and Extracting Files
Don't drop compressed archive files directly into your directory. You must unpack them first.
- Extract the downloaded .zip or .rar archive using a utility like 7-Zip or WinRAR.
- Open your unpacked folder and verify that it contains the audio file, chart file, and song.ini together.
- Drag the entire parent folder into your main directory.
- Avoid nesting folders too deeply. You can organize tracks into sub-genres or artist categories, but make sure the actual song files sit directly inside their respective subfolders.
For official updates and technical reference on directory structures, check the Clone Hero Wiki.
Scanning Songs In-Game
After placing your folders into the directory, you must instruct the game to index them.
Launch the game and navigate to the main menu. Press your keyboard's Spacebar or the Start button on your controller to open the settings menu. Under the general settings tab, locate and select the option to scan songs. A progress bar will appear while the engine reads your directory, parses the metadata files, and updates your library.
Once the scan finishes, head back to the main menu and open Quick Play. Your newly imported tracks will appear in your song list, ready for you to select and play.
Troubleshooting Common Import Errors
Sometimes tracks fail to show up after a scan. You can usually fix these issues by checking a few common pitfalls.
- Missing subfolders: If you dragged loose files directly into the main directory without an enclosing folder, the engine ignores them. Every track needs its own dedicated folder.
- Corrupted archives: Incomplete downloads or failed extractions break the chart file. Re-download the archive and unpack it again.
- Unsupported audio formats: While the game supports most standard audio files, poorly encoded files cause crashes. Stick to standard .ogg or high-quality .mp3 files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't my newly added songs showing up after a scan?
This usually happens because the files are nested incorrectly or left inside a zipped archive. Ensure each track has its own unzipped folder containing a chart file and audio file directly inside.
Can I organize my tracks into subfolders?
Yes, you can create custom subfolders inside your main directory to keep things organized by genre, band, or game source. The scanner reads subfolders automatically.
Do I need special software to play custom charts?
No special software is required beyond the base game. You just need a compatible controller, keyboard, or real guitar plugged into your computer.
How do I update my game if it fails to recognize new chart formats?
Make sure you're running the latest version of the game by checking the official Clone Hero Website for patches and updates.
