Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Q: HowWhere do I getcan Clone Hero?Hero be downloaded?Download fromA: http://clonehero.net/download and go through the installation process. A video tutorial of the setup process is available here.
Q: What operating systems does the game support?A: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android. The download page on the website should automatically detect your OS when you open it. If it doesn't, click "Can't find your operating system?"
Q: Where can I find the Clone Hero Discord server?A: Here is the invite link.
Q: How can I keep up to date with Clone Hero outside of Discord and this Wiki?A: There's now a news feed on our website! https://clonehero.net/news/We also have a Twitter account: https://twitter.com/CloneHero
Q: I am using a PTB version / Old version of Clone Hero. How do I update?A: See this page.
Songs and Custom Content
Q: How do I addinstall Clone Hero?
A: Here's a tutorial made by Acai that goes over the majority of the setup process on Windows.
Q: Why can't I do anything after starting the game?
A: You need to press Start and select a profile using Up/Down and Green before you can navigate the menus. This works the same way regardless of whether you're using a keyboard or a controller.
You can press space to view which keys are assigned to these buttons, and, optionally, reassign them yourself.
Q: How do I install custom songs?IfA: your chart/song is archived, use a program like 7zip to extract the content. Once you have the files extracted, placeExtract them in your Songs folder. Each song/chart must be contained in it's own folder, best practice is to name the folder after the artist and song name.
In portable mode,into the Songs folder, then select Scan Songs at the top of the in-game settings.
The Song folder's location will depend on your OS and install type, but you can find it easily by selecting the Open Default Songs Folder button at the top of General settings.
Alternatively, you can set up your own folder isby selecting Manage Song Paths in the foldersame installation.settings In Typical mode, the Songs folder varies between operating systems:
Windows: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Clone Hero\SongsMac and Linux: ~/Clone Hero/SongsAndroid: Internal Storage > Clone Hero
menu.
Every time you add more songs, or get rid of some you already had, go into the in-game Settings and select Scan Songs.
Q: How do I install a custom background or highway?A: See the Custom Content page.
Q: What resolution are backgrounds and highways?A: The game accepts and automatically scales images of any resolution. However, backgrounds look the best when they match your screen's aspect ratio, and highways look the best at a 512x1024 resolution.
Q: How do I play _RB3CON (RB3) songs in Clone Hero?A: You can convert those charts with C3 CON Tools (use the Phase Shift Converter) or Onyx. A video tutorial is available here.
Q: How do I fix my song's incorrect metadata? / How do I create a song.ini?A: You can edit metadata by editing the song's song.ini. If the song has a notes.chart, don't modify the metadata inside it, otherwise you will cause problems when it comes to leaderboards and online play. You can copy a song.ini from another song and modify it, or follow this guide.
Q: Will SGH/TGH support be a thing?A: No. SGH files are just containers for the PAK files that GH3 uses, and those files are encrypted.
Q: How can I convert songs from .sgh files?A: Use a tool called GH3toCH made by Goulart. It can extract all your GH3 songs automatically making them usable for CH, but they will not have metadata other than artist and song name. Backup your DATA/PAK folder and follow the instructions in the program's readme.txt. There is also a video tutorial made by Acai.
Q: I imported a non-SGH custom song from Guitar Hero 3, why isn't it showing up?A: You need to make sure that the .chart file is named notes.chart and that the audio is named song. You can also use multiple audio stems with a GH3 custom, just name them whatever that instrument is like guitar or vocals. Like with all other songs, don't forget to scan them in-game. A more in-depth tutorial is available here.Q: Why are my Phase Shift songs not working?A: Update to the latest version of the game! Clone Hero can play Phase Shift songs just fine.
Q: My badsongs.txt says the MIDIs are broken.A: You can download Editor on Fire, import the midi file (F6) and then re-save the song. Do make sure after you fixed it, to go into the folder, and delete the extra midi files added to the folder that aren't just "notes.mid". The saving process will also add a few extra files, but all you really need is notes.chart, the song/guitar.ogg, song.ini file and album.png.
Instruments & Controls
Q: What controllers can I use with Clone Hero?A: See our Guitars, Drums, Controllers section.
Q: What instrument tracks does the game have?A: Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Guitar Co-op, Bass Guitar, 6 Fret Guitar/Bass (GH:L), 5-lane Keys and Drums/Pro Drums.
Q: Why does nothing work in the main menu?A: You need to press Start and select a profile using Strum Up/Down and Green before you can navigate the menus. (Press Space to open the control mapper and view/customize your controls.)For settings, you press Green to select the option, then use Strum Up/Down to change it, then use Green to confirm your selection. Using a keyboard, Green defaults to the A key.
Q: Why isn’t my Guitar Hero Live guitar connecting?/Why can’t I strum and hold down notes at the same time?A: Not all Guitar Hero Live dongles work properly on PC without custom drivers. See this spreadsheet for more information about dongle compatibility with various operating systems.
Q: Why can't my controller control Player 2 when Player 1 is using a keyboard?A: The first controller that's picked up by the game will always be assigned to the Player that also has access to the keyboard (Player 1). In the controls screen, remove the controller from Player 1 and then assign it to another one of the players that doesn't have a controller assigned.
Q: Why do my keyboard controls mapped to Player 2/3/4 not work?A: This is an issue with the input plugin Clone Hero uses, and cannot be fixed.
Q: Why can't I press certain keys at the same time when using a keyboard?A: {{@38#bkmrk-if-you%27re-on-keyboar}}
Gameplay Features
Q: How do I play online?
A: v1 of Clone Hero introduced pre-made public servers, which means all you have to do to play online is select Join Server in the online menu! Public servers can also be password-locked and configured just like custom ones, type \help in the in-game chat for more info. If you don't see any servers listed, please make sure you are on the latest release.
If you still want to host your own server, follow this guide.
Q: Why is my game is showing three black and white notes instead of the usual Guitar Hero layout?
A: Press Start at the main menu and change the Controller setting to 5 Fret Guitar.
Q: The game registers that I'm pressing buttons but I'm unable to hit the notes. Is this a bug?
A: By default, Clone Hero functions like Guitar Hero, meaning certain notes need to be strummed with the up/down buttons you used to navigate the menus. See the How to Play page for a detailed overview of every note type.
If you don't want to hoststrum, enable the All Taps modifier by selecting Change Modifiers after selecting a serversong.
If butyou're can'tusing porta forward,basic gamepad, you can useenable aGamepad program like Hamachi.If you decide to host your own server, keepMode in mind that you will have to share your IP address with the peopleprofile thatmenu want to join you. Only give out your IP address to people you trust, just like how you would treat sharing your home address online. Alternatively, use a VPN service to hide your true IP.\instead.
Songs and Custom Content
Q: How do I enableinstall Hyperspeed?backgrounds and highways?
A: Press start to open your profile settings And changeSee the NoteCustom SpeedContent setting.page.
Q: toHow Hyperspeeddo 5I play _RB3CON (RB3) songs in Clone Hero?
A: You can convert them using the YARG/CH/PS converter within C3 Con Tools or a program called Onyx.⠀
Q: I downloaded a Guitar Hero games3 wouldcustom song and it contains the right files, but it doesn't work in Clone Hero. What do I do?
A: Some files need to be aroundremoved 12Mand/or renamed. See this pastebin for more info.
Q: My song has incorrect metadata, or the song.ini file is missing. What do I do?
A: You can edit metadata by editing a song's song.ini file with a text editor.
If the file is missing, you can copy a song.ini from another song and Hyperspeedmodify 4it, wouldor befollow aroundthis 10.guide to create your own.
If the song has a notes.chart file, it likely already contains the metadata, and all you need to do is scan songs.
Q: How can I convert .sgh song packs from Guitar Hero 3?
A: Use a tool called GH3toCH to extract all songs out of a .sgh file and convert them to a format Clone Hero can read. A video tutorial is available here.
Instruments & Controls
Q:
What controllers
can I use in Clone Hero?
A: If your PC can read the controller's inputs, it will work. However, some controllers need custom programs or drivers to achieve that.
This section has all the information you should need in regards to first party Guitar Hero and Rock Band instruments.
A spreadsheet variant of the same information is available here.
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A:
5 Fret Guitar and its various track types, 6 Fret Guitar and its various track types, 4-lane Drums, and Pro Drums.
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Q: Can I use my electronic drum kit in Clone Hero?
A: Yes. See this page for a mapping guide.
Q: WhereWhy does my electronic drum kit not appear in the Input Device list? All I see is <None>.
A: <None> in the Input Device list within the MIDI settings simply means that no device has been selected. It does not mean your kit is unavailable.
When you see <None>, press the up/down arrows on your keyboard to scroll through available options, then press the key assigned to Green to confirm your selection.
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Q: Why can't I strum while holding a fret on my Guitar Hero Live guitar? / Why do the White 2 and 3 buttons not work?
A: Not all Guitar Hero Live dongles work properly on PC without custom drives and programs. See the this spreadsheet for more info.
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Q: Why can't I map the strum bar and the whammy bar separately on my PS2 guitar?
A: Default Windows controller drivers often assign them to the same axis. See this page for potential solutions.
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Q: Why is my guitar performing multiple actions after a single button press? / Why is my guitar controlling my desktop?
A: Both of these issues can be caused by Steam. Either exit Steam while playing the game, or disable the various support options within Steam's controller settings.
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Q: How can I use multiple controllers to play local multiplayer?
A: Press Space at the main menu and assign each controller to a separate player.
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Q: Why can't I press certain keys together while using a keyboard?
A: This is known as "keyboard ghosting", which is a hardware limitation that prevents multiple keystrokes being registered at the same time. The only solutions are remapping your controls in hopes that you can find cutoutsa forcombination streamingwhich andregisters howcorrectly, or buying a keyboard with n-key rollover.
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Q: I mapped my keyboard to Player 2/3/4, but it still controls Player 1, why is that?
A: This is a limitation of the input engine, which cannot be fixed.
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Q: A guitar I bought functions like a keyboard. How do I use them?it in-game?
A: AsMap it in the Keyboard column of v1.0.4080,the controls menu. Due to the limitation mentioned above, you don'twill haveonly to.be Youable canto tickuse one of these guitars at a time.
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Q: Are there plans for vocals or any other instruments?
A: Clone Hero entered Long Term Support with the "release of version 1.0.4080. Any new major features, such as new instruments, are not planned.
Miscellaneous⠀
Q: How do I cut out the highway when streaming the game?
A: If you're using OBS, all you need to do is check the Allow Transparency"Transparency box while adding the game asvia Game Capture. If this isn't an option, you can find custom cutouts here, and a sourcevideo withintutorial OBS,for andusing thethem highwayhere.
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Q: will be automatically cut out as long as you don'tI have a custom144Hz background in-game.If you still want to, Download Inventor's cutoutsmonitor and follow this tutorial made by Acai
Q: Why is my game stutteringis whilestuttering, usingwhat can I do?
A: Here are some things you can try:
- Disable Vsync and try setting the in-game framerate to a 144hz monitor?A: Try disabling Vsync, turning down the refresh ratemultiple of your monitormonitor's torefresh 120rate.
- orTry so,a anddifferent thengraphics setAPI option at the game'stop framerateof tothe whatevervideo yousettings.
- setLower your monitor's refresh rate to.to That60hz shouldwhile help.playing.
- If you're using multiple monitors, you can try matching their refresh rates, or disabling all but one of them.
Common Issues & Bugs
Q: Why can't I map the RT/LT or R2/L2 buttons on my controller?
A: This is a bug with the 1.0.4080 version of the game. See the this page for available options.
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Q: My profile menu is blank or filled with "Test" options, what can I do?
A: This is caused by insufficient permissions or a third party program, like OneDrive, messing with the default game directories. Try running the game as admin, and if that doesn't help, follow this guide.
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Q: Why can't I see the online servers?
A: Your game needs to be up to date. If it is, you can try adding the game's executable to the allowed program list within your firewall.
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Q: Why does my highway slow down and speed up?
A: This can be caused by various audio performance issues, but can most often be solved by disabling Whammy SFX in the game's audio settings.