Hacking The COMPLETE Guide to Rock Band Wii Customs

Mrkinator · Dec 7, 2008

<div align="center">Rock Band Wii Customs
(Not for the n00bs!)

By: Mrkinator, Comicbookguru (AKA SFenton), Omare, thepoop555

Guide written by: Mrkinator

~Part 1 Visuals Complete!~

TO-DO List:

Video of a Custom In Action
Editing the Intro Video/In-Game Videos

Part 1: Building Your Custom Disc</div>

Files Needed:
Rock Band Wii ISO (Track Packs will also work!)
<a href="http://www.gbatemp.net/index.php?download=1909" target="_blank">Trucha Signer</a> (Find a tutorial if you get errors about key.bin)
<a href="http://files.filefront.com/RipToolsrar/;10413633;/fileinfo.html" target="_blank">RipKit</a> (ArkTool and GH2 DTB Editor)
<a href="http://www.google.ca/" target="_blank">Common-key.bin</a> (Google it!) (This is for Trucha Signer)
<a href="http://asia.cnet.com/downloads/pc/swinfo/0,39000587,39002010,50001198r-39273032s,00.htm" target="_blank">Audacity 1.3.3 Beta</a>
A Hex Editor (I’m using Ultra Edit)
ISO Burning Program (I recommend ImgBurn)
Blank DVD’s (DVD-R)

Steps:

1) Find a way to get Rock Band Wii ISO on your computer (The easiest/fastest way = “Wii Dumper” Homebrew app, dump to PC over WIFI)

2)Open up Trucha Signer and click File<Open ISO (If you get an error, you don’t have the common-key.bin installed, Google how to do this for Trucha). When the ISO is opened, you will see 2 partitions on the disc. We’re only modifying the bottom partition. Click the + and then click the + of the “ROOT” Folder, then the + on the “gen” folder. 2 files in there, main.hdr and main_0.ark. Right click on each and click “Extract to file”. Remember where you extract them to, and then close Trucha.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Trucha1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

3)Download a custom song from <a href="http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9342" target="_blank">this thread</a> or <a href="http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15715" target="_blank">make you own! </a>

NOTE: If you find a custom that is a .chart file and not a .mid, <a href="http://www.geocities.com/leff527/Chart2Mid2Chart.zip" target="_blank">use this converter</a>. <a href="http://www.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45092" target="_blank">Instructions on this is here</a>.

Most customs don’t come with the audio, you have to find this your self. After you have got a hold of a custom and the audio, open Audacity. Go to Edit<Preferences, then go to File Formats. Make sure that “USE ADVANCE MIXING OPTIONS” is selected (Under “When export track”)

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Audacity1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

NOTE: Rock Band Wii .mogg files are divided like so:
Channel 1: Drums
Channel 2: Drums
Channel 3: Drums
Channel 4: Drums
Channel 5: Bass guitar
Channel 6: Guitar
Channel 7: Guitar
Channel 8: Vocals
Channel 9: Everything else
Now, unless you have the master track for your song (every instrument on its own channel), put your audio file (mp3/wav/etc.) on Channel 9. That way, if you mess up when you are playing, the audio will still be there.

4)To do this, click Track<Add New<Audio Track (or Ctrl+Shift+N) and do this 8 times. Then click File<Import<Audio and find your audio file of the custom. Split the audio into a mono track by clicking the box with the name of the song (it has a down arrow), then click “Split Stereo Track”. Click the little X on one of them, then click the name again and then click Mono.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Audacity22.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

IMPORTANT!!: When you download a custom, it should give you an offset from where you downloaded it from. You’re going to have to add silence to this so that the music and chart are insync. To do this you need to find out how long the offset is in seconds, then go to Generate<Silence and type in how many seconds of silence. You may want to do this now, or your chart will be off sync in the game. You also need to add 2.95 seconds at the beginning for the video in the background. Trust me, this is a pain in the ass after all this work and then you find out the tracks are out of sync.

5) Now click on File<Export. MAKE SURE THE SAVE TYPE AS BOX IS WAV!!!!

When it comes up with the “Advanced Mixing Options”, make sure there are 9 channels, and then click OK.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Audacity4.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Now open up the wav in Audacity and this time Export it. MAKE SURE THE SAVE TYPE AS BOX THIS TIME IS OGG!!!!

Again, when it comes up with the “Advanced Mixing Options”, make sure there are 9 channels, and then click OK.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Audacity5.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

6) Look at the size of the OGG. Write it down or something. You’re going to have to find a song where your ogg and mid are of equal or less size than the one in Rock Band. (So you won’t be able to put that 22 minute Dream Theatre song in.) Let’s do that now!

7) Open up ArkToolGui.exe. Find where your .ark and .hdr files are (they better be in the same folder!) by clicking File>Open. Click the plus on “songs”. Some songs are in the folder “songs_regional”.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/ArkTool1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

NOTE: Inside the “songs” folder is all the songs in it’s own folder. Inside each folder of a song are a .MID and a .MOGG. These are the only files that are going to be modified in that songs folder. You need to find a song in which the mogg and mid are of equal or less size!!

Once you find a song that is of the qualification above, right click on the .mogg file and click “Extract”

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/ArkTool2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

8) Open up your Hex Editor and open up both your ogg you made before and the mogg you just extracted. Go to the mogg first. If your Hex editor has a Find feature, use it to find the first instance of:“OggS” (without quotes).

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Hex1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Copy everything before the first instance of OggS.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Hex2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Go to your ogg and paste what you just copied at the beginning of your ogg, then click save.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Hex3.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Go to your ogg and change the file extension to “mogg” (without quotes).

9) Go to ArkTool and go to the song you are going to replace with your custom. Right click on the .mid and click replace. Replace the .mogg file as well.

Optional: If you want to change the name of the song ingame, follow step 10, 11 and 12

10) In the “songs” folder (or the “songs_regional” folder if you are using songs from there), there should be a “gen”. Inside “gen” there is a songs.dtb file in there (don’t worry about the other 2 .dtb files). Right click and extract it. KEEP ARKTOOL OPEN!!

11) Open up GH2 DTB Editor (GH2DTBEdit_unencrypted.exe). Click File>Open and then find where you extracted the songs.dtb file. Once opened, find the song that you put you custom into. Click the plus next to that song and then do this to name and artist. Click on the songs name and in the box on the right, change it to the Customs Name. Do the same for artist.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/DTB1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Save it and then close it.

12) In ArkTool, replace the file songs.dtb with the one you just saved. Your songs will now have the right name in the game!

13) Go to File>Save in ArkTool. You are almost done! Close ArkTool.

14) Go to Trucha Signer and open up the ISO. Replace the main_0.ark and main.hdr with the ones you have modified. Now right click on the partition we have been modifying and click “Trucha Sign It!”.

<img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/Mrkinator/Trucha2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Now close Trucha Signer.

15) BURN YOUR ISO!! YOU ARE DONE PART 1!!

<div align="center">Part 2: Rock Band Soft-Chip</div>

This part assumes you have The Homebrew Channel already! If you don’t know what or how to install Wii Homebrew, Google it.

NOTE: If you have a mod-chip, you probably don’t need to worry about this section, just boot the disc as you normally would. If it doesn’t work with your chip, try the steps.

Files Needed:
<a href="http://ratm.net63.net/SoftChip.zip" target="_blank">Soft-Chip</a> (not needed if choosing channel version)
<a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/pti2yv" target="_blank">cIOS Installer</a>

IOS37:
Files are in the cIOS Installer readme.


Optional Files (If Installing Channel Version):
<a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?download=3587" target="_blank">WAD Manager </a>
<a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/ce6vuk" target="_blank">Soft-Chip Channel Version By Mrkinator</a>

Steps:

1) Go to your SD Card (in “My Computer”).

2) On the root of your SD Card, create a folder called 00000001. Inside that, create a folder called 00000025. Inside that, create a folder called v2070. Inside that, put all 17 files of IOS37 in it.

This is the structure in the end (X:\ being your SD Card) X:00000010000025\v2070

3) Go back to the Root of your SD

4) Go to the apps folder (make one if you don’t already have). Make a “Soft-Chip cIOS Installer” (without quotes) folder inside the apps folder. Put the “cios_installer.dol” in that folder and rename it to “boot.dol” (without quotes)

Optional: If you want the channel version, skip steps 5 and 7. Go to step “Channel Version”NOTE: USE THE LATEST CIOS INSTALLER,DON'T USE THE ONE FOUND IN MY CHANNEL PACK

5) Go to the SoftChip.zip and copy SoftChip folder inside it (the one with the boot.dol, icon.png and meta.xml inside it). Go back to the apps folder and paste the SoftChip folder.

6) Pop your SD Card in your Wii and go to The Homebrew Channel. Boot up the cIOS installer. Use the D-PAD left or right to change it to this:

“Currently selected to install custom IOS37 with IOS37 rev7 dip as IOS 232”.

Then click A

7) Once it’s done installing, go to SoftChip in The Homebrew Channel. Make sure you boot under IOS 232 (follow the instructions it says.) Pop in your disc and press A.

YOU’RE DONE!! Enjoy Rock Band Customs

Channel Version
1) Put the channel wad in the WAD folder (Wad folder on the root of your SD, If it’s not there, make it.)
2) Put the WAD Manager in the Apps Folder
3) Do step 7 above
4) Go to WAD Manager in The Homebrew Channel.
5) Install the Channel. Go back to the Wii Menu
6) Go to the “Rock Band Launcher” Channel and click start. Make sure your Rock Band Custom Disc in. IOS232 will be preloaded, so Click A.

YOU’RE DONE!! Enjoy Rock Band Customs
(and the freaking awesome channel Mrkinator made!)


Special Thanks To:
Team Twiizers: For your awesome Wii Hacking Skills and The Homebrew Channel!!

The SoftChip Team, Arm The Homeless, WiiPower, and WiiGator: Without you guys, RB Customs WITH THE USB INSTRUMENTS on an unmodded Wii wouldn’t be possible. Thanks guys!!

Comicbookguru, thepoop555 and Omare: For the original guides and helping tips. Rock On!!

Joesalad21: For the help with the channel. Without you, a channel would have been made by someone else and would be as awesome <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

Myself and Codsterman: Testing and wasting 3 DVD-R’s <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> Thanks for lending me a few Codster <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />. Your “First Date – blink-182” custom is pure awesomeness!!

-------------

<div align="center">FAQ's</div>

Q. Hey, send me a link to a Custom Disc torrent/download!
A. I cannot send you a link because I'm the first one to (or one of the first) to make Rock Band Customs. I also won't post any of the one's I've made because they are experimental.

Q. One of the customs I have downloaded is a .chart file.
A. <a href="http://www.geocities.com/leff527/Chart2Mid2Chart.zip" target="_blank">Use this converter</a>

Leave Questions/Comments/Constructive Criticism/Praise below . If you noticed a screw up/typo, post that too <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

ether2802 · Dec 7, 2008

When are you going to post the custom for GH??

Mrkinator · Dec 7, 2008

ether2802 said:
When are you going to post the custom for GH??

I'm not sure what you mean, If you mean GH3, there possible

. Do you mean World Tour?

Jizmo · Dec 7, 2008

If you can use Song Pack to make the RB custom then it should be possible to use the ACDC Song Pack disk and therefore have
RB customs compatible with Guitar Hero guitars. Though I'm not going to be making any RB Custom Disks myself I would like
to see Original RB updated to ACDC disk so I don't have to use crappy RB guitar anymore. nudge nudge hint hint say no more....

Mrkinator · Dec 7, 2008

Jizmo said:
If you can use Song Pack to make the RB custom then it should be possible to use the ACDC Song Pack disk and therefore have
RB customs compatible with Guitar Hero guitars. Though I'm not going to be making any RB Custom Disks myself I would like
to see Original RB updated to ACDC disk so I don't have to use crappy RB guitar anymore. nudge nudge hint hint say no more....

I'm backing up my AC/DC to see about the GH Guitar. I agree, the RB guitar isn't as good.

WiiPower · Dec 7, 2008

You should select: “Currently selected to install custom IOS37 with IOS37 rev7 dip as IOS 232”. And you only need the files for IOS37 from nintendo's servers.

Mrkinator · Dec 7, 2008

WiiPower said:
You should select: “Currently selected to install custom IOS37 with IOS37 rev7 dip as IOS 232”. And you only need the files for IOS37 from nintendo's servers.

Ah, thanks for that, I meant IOS37. I had both on my SD Card at the time so I figured you needed both

Wasn't sure why though

vegeta4ss · Dec 7, 2008

good writeup, does the same rough process apply to GH3? I dont have rockband but I do want to try to make a custom.

mexiken · Dec 7, 2008

Dude, you are God Mrkinator.

The process in long to make your own custom, but to play some of the songs out there, its worth it. Wow, thanks dude.

Mrkinator · Dec 7, 2008

vegeta4ss said:
good writeup, does the same rough process apply to GH3? I dont have rockband but I do want to try to make a custom.

Thanks, there is a write up on scorehero for GH Wii customs under the Software Thread. It's easier than the RB customs, definitely.

QUOTE(mexiken @ Dec 7 2008, 12:23 PM) Dude, you are God Mrkinator.

The process in long to make your own custom, but to play some of the songs out there, its worth it. Wow, thanks dude.

Why, thank you! I'm not the only one, the original guide was written by Comicbookguru, but it was missing alot and now that I've done it three times, the guide was easy to write.

Right now there aren't as many customs made for RB as there are GH customs, but now that this guide is done, hopefully that will change.

mexiken · Dec 7, 2008

One quick question.

Some of the files at the link you specified are midi's, and some are charts.

If they're charts, does that mean you have to code it yourself ???? And if they're midi, can you just follow what your steps show ????

A little clarification in the guide would help, for those who, like me, have no experience with the filetypes/files for any kind of customs, thanks.

jrsaysbiteme · Dec 7, 2008

I thought you were making a rock band custom that you were going to post then post the how to.

Mrkinator · Dec 7, 2008

mexiken said:
One quick question.

Some of the files at the link you specified are midi's, and some are charts.

If they're charts, does that mean you have to code it yourself ???? And if they're midi, can you just follow what your steps show ????

A little clarification in the guide would help, for those who, like me, have no experience with the filetypes/files for any kind of customs, thanks.

Oh yes, I'm sorry, I recall seeing the chart files. I'll look into that. As for the midi, you sure it's not just a mid?

QUOTE(jrsaysbiteme @ Dec 7 2008, 03:02 PM) I thought you were making a rock band custom that you were going to post then post the how to.

If you mean the ISO, thats illegal

. I don't recall saying that, refresh my memory. I did say I would post a guide.

mexiken · Dec 7, 2008

Ah yes, it is a mid, sorry, didn't read that right. Good times. So those are the correct files that the guide assumes, right ????

Just to be clear for other people.

Mrkinator · Dec 8, 2008

mexiken said:
Ah yes, it is a mid, sorry, didn't read that right. Good times. So those are the correct files that the guide assumes, right ????

Just to be clear for other people.

Yes, .mid. I'll sort out the .chart files in a bit. Right now I'm getting the pictures for this guide finished up.

Edit: Check the guide, it has a converter there now.

Lazycus · Dec 8, 2008

It's a good start. You should delete the entire 'Part 2' from this thread. It makes people think a custom channel/IOS is needed to run a Rock Band custom on the Wii. Is this all detailed on scorehero as well? Get rid of that video - the only thing good in it is RUSH. Are all the bugs due to the loader or just the custom songs/charts?

You should definately take a look at AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack. Since it allows the GH guitars and (supposedly) uses the Rock Band 2 engine / controller scheme it would make an even better base for customs, or get you ready for Rock Band 2 which will probably be the best base.

Again, it's a good start and your efforts are appreciated.

Mrkinator · Dec 8, 2008

Lazycus said:
It's a good start. You should delete the entire 'Part 2' from this thread. It makes people think a custom channel/IOS is needed to run a Rock Band custom on the Wii. Is this all detailed on scorehero as well? Get rid of that video - the only thing good in it is RUSH. Are all the bugs due to the loader or just the custom songs/charts?

You should definately take a look at AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack. Since it allows the GH guitars and (supposedly) uses the Rock Band 2 engine / controller scheme it would make an even better base for customs, or get you ready for Rock Band 2 which will probably be the best base.

Again, it's a good start and your efforts are appreciated.

Thanks! I know it's definately not perfect yet.
You need this version of the cIOS Installer, you can't run a Rock Band Custom in Gamma since the instruments don't work. The reason I put a Part 2 was also because I posted this on Scorehero, so I figured they would need this

Yeah, I'll take out the vid

. It was really to show that DLC doesn't work in Customs that are dumped, and then made for Frets on Fire. Customs work pretty much 100% of the time. I'm making a new disc / video anyways.

As for AC/DC, I am looking into it and where the GH Guitar code or files is. It still uses the RB1 Engine and all the same files in the ARK and HDR files. I can wait to play and get customs on RB2

And thanks for the Criticism, it really does help!

Sstew · Dec 8, 2008

This is killer, There are a few .exe's anyone know any Mac alternatives?

Thanks

Mrkinator · Dec 8, 2008

Sstew said:
This is killer, There are a few .exe's anyone know any Mac alternatives?

Thanks

Sorry, I don't have a Mac (I WANT ONE SO BAD!!

). If I find some, I'll post 'em

Sstew · Dec 8, 2008

Thanks! Once again great guide

Hacking The COMPLETE Guide to Rock Band Wii Customs

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