Want to take your Synth Riders experience to the next level? If you’ve ever wished you could groove to your favorite tracks in-game, you’re not alone. The ability to add custom songs is one of the most popular—and frequently asked—features in the Synth Riders community.
Knowing how to install custom songs opens up endless possibilities and keeps the gameplay fresh. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step, share helpful tips, and answer the most common questions.
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How to Get Custom Songs in Synth Riders: A Definitive Guide
Adding custom songs transforms your Synth Riders experience, turning the immersive rhythm VR game into an endless party with tracks you love. Whether you’re looking to dance to your favorite artist or explore community-made maps, custom songs open a world of excitement and creativity. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to find, download, and install custom tracks in Synth Riders, plus tips to ensure everything runs smoothly.
What Are Custom Songs in Synth Riders?
Custom songs are user-created tracks, often with unique beatmaps and creative choreography, designed for the Synth Riders platform. Adding these to your game means you aren’t limited to the official song list — you can dance to nearly any music you love.
Why Use Custom Songs?
Here are just a few reasons why custom songs are so popular among Synth Riders fans:
- Limitless Song Choices: Play nearly any music track.
- New Challenges: Many custom beatmaps are more creative or challenging than official ones.
- Community Vibes: Connect with a passionate community by sharing and playing user maps.
- More Replayability: The library of custom songs keeps growing, giving you something new to enjoy.
How to Get Custom Songs for Synth Riders
Let’s dive into the step-by-step process of finding and installing custom songs. While the process differs slightly based on your system, the general steps remain the same.
1. Get Ready: Check Your Game Version
Before jumping in, make sure:
- You own Synth Riders on a platform that supports mods (like Steam or PC VR).
- Your Synth Riders game is updated to the latest version.
- You back up important save files, just in case.
2. Find a Reliable Custom Song Source
You’ll need a place to download custom songs, commonly known as “beatmaps.” Here are popular options:
- Community Websites: Synth Riders communities often maintain searchable libraries or wikis for custom content.
- Discussion Forums: Community boards and game forums frequently share new songs and troubleshooting tips.
- Downloader Tools: Some communities offer handy tools to help you manage and install beatmaps easily.
3. Download Custom Songs
Follow these steps to grab your favorite custom tracks:
- Browse or Search: Use the library’s search or filter tools to find the song or artist you want.
- Download the File: Most custom songs come as ZIP folders or single folders containing the song’s files.
- Extract Files: Unzip any downloaded archives so you have easy access to the song folder.
4. Locate Your Custom Songs Folder
Finding the right folder is key:
-
For Steam or PC VR (Windows), your Synth Riders custom songs are usually found at:
C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\LocalLow\Kluge Interactive\SynthRiders\CustomSongs -
If you don’t see this path, look in your Documents folder or under the installation directory.
5. Add Songs to Your Game
With the correct folder open:
- Drag & Drop: Move or copy the extracted custom song folders into the “CustomSongs” folder.
- Relaunch Synth Riders: If the game was open during this process, restart it.
- Browse In-Game: Head to the custom songs section in-game. Your new tracks should appear and be ready to play!
Tips, Advice, and Best Practices
Maximize your custom song experience with these practical pointers:
- Organization Counts: Keep song folders organized. Use subfolders or rename tracks for easy navigation.
- Check Compatibility: Some custom songs are made for specific game versions or mod loaders. Read the song’s description or comments.
- Backup Regularly: Periodically copy your “CustomSongs” folder to a safe location.
- Beware of Broken Maps: Occasionally, a downloaded custom map might crash or not work. Remove or update problematic files.
- Stay Community-Connected: Engaging with forums or discords ensures you stay updated on the latest songs, mods, and installation tweaks.
Challenges and Things to Watch Out For
Installing custom songs is usually smooth, but some issues can crop up:
- Version Mismatches: Game updates may temporarily break compatibility with older custom songs or mods.
- Corrupt Files: Incomplete or corrupted downloads can cause unexpected errors.
- VR Platform Differences: The process above is tailored for PC VR and Steam. Other platforms (such as Oculus Quest standalone) may have different, or more limited, custom song support and may even require extra steps like “sideloading.”
- Risk of Malicious Files: Always use trusted sources and scan files for viruses before extracting.
Cost & Shipping Tips
- Custom Songs are Free: The vast majority of custom songs are community-made and cost nothing. Rare exceptions might be exclusive fundraisers or sponsored content, but basic community beatmaps remain free to use.
- No Shipping Required: Since these files are digital downloads, you don’t need to worry about shipping fees or delays. Simply download and start enjoying instantly.
Custom Playlists and Song Management
With a growing collection, managing custom songs can become unwieldy. Some advanced tips for organizing your music:
- Create Playlists: Tools and community mods often let you create custom playlists. This makes it easy to group songs by mood, genre, or occasion.
- Batch Downloads: Some websites or downloaders allow you to grab entire packs or themed playlists at once, saving time.
- Regular Cleaning: Periodically remove songs you don’t play or that don’t work properly to keep loading times fast.
Contributing Your Own Custom Songs
Feeling creative? You don’t have to just play custom songs—you can make them too! Here’s how to get started:
- Beatmap Editors: Download a beatmap editor tool (many exist within the community).
- Import Your Song: Load in the audio file you want to map.
- Design the Ride: Place notes, rails, and events using the editor’s interface.
- Test & Tweak: Try your map in-game and refine the beat placements.
- Share with Others: Upload your creation to community repositories for feedback and fun competitions.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even seasoned players can run into snags. Here’s what to do if things aren’t working:
- Custom Songs Not Showing Up: Double-check that you placed the song folders in the correct “CustomSongs” directory and that they are extracted (not zipped).
- Game Crashes: Remove or relocate one song at a time until the culprit is found.
- Missing Audio or Visuals: Confirm that all file types (like .ogg, .wav, or required metadata) are present within each song’s folder.
- Conflicting Mods: Disable incompatible mods if issues persist after adding new songs.
Keeping Up With Community Updates
The Synth Riders community is always evolving. To stay on top of the latest songs, tools, and features:
- Join forums or group chats devoted to Synth Riders.
- Watch for announcements after game updates regarding mod/tool compatibility.
- Contribute your findings or creations to help other fans.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I add custom songs on the Oculus Quest version of Synth Riders?
Custom song support on the standalone Quest version is more limited than on PC VR. Sideloading is sometimes possible, but it requires more technical steps and may not be officially supported. Most custom content is easiest to add on PC platforms.
Are custom songs safe to use, and can I get banned for using them?
Adding custom songs from trusted community sources is generally safe. The Synth Riders team is supportive of the modding community, and using custom songs does not typically result in bans. However, avoid cheating tools or mods that affect leaderboards to stay within community guidelines.
Why aren’t my custom songs appearing in the game?
Double-check that you extracted the song folders into the correct “CustomSongs” folder—each song should be in its own subfolder, not still zipped. Restart the game if it was open while you added them.
How do I fix broken or crashing custom songs?
Remove any recently added songs one by one to identify the problematic file. Sometimes, files get corrupted during downloads or are incompatible with the current version of the game. Only keep stable, working maps in your folder.
Is there a limit to how many custom songs I can add?
There’s no strict limit, but adding hundreds of songs can increase loading times. For the best performance, keep your collection manageable and organized. Using playlists or splitting music into subfolders can help.
Conclusion
Unlocking custom songs in Synth Riders is a game-changer. It brings fresh energy, limitless variety, and a direct connection to a thriving community. By following the clear steps in this guide, you can safely download, install, and play custom tracks, taking your VR rhythm game to the next level. Stay organized, experiment, and remember—the dance floor is always expanding!