Because these are community-made, they are , but they require a specific setup to work. They allow you to play everything from Metallica and Led Zeppelin to niche anime themes and video game soundtracks that will likely never see an official release due to licensing hurdles. Why Use CDLC?
The primary hub for downloading these tracks is , a platform hosting an expansive library of over 80,000 custom tracks. How to Set Up CDLC on PC (Steam)
RS2014 CDLC Enabler
Before you rush off to download, you must understand the legal gray area. Ubisoft does not officially support CDLC on consoles (PlayStation and Xbox) without extensive modding. However, on PC, Ubisoft has turned a blind eye for years, provided one golden rule is followed: rocksmith cdlc
Here is why: The original CDLC hack (created by a developer known as "NF" or "The Riff Repeater") repurposes the checksum of an official DLC file. The game thinks your custom song is, for example, "Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones. To avoid piracy, the community mandates that you buy any single official DLC from Steam or Ubisoft Connect. That purchased file acts as the "key" to unlock all CDLC.
). This file acts as the enabler that allows the game to read unauthorized CustomsForge Account : The primary hub for finding and downloading CDLC is CustomsForge
If you followed the steps but your custom songs are not working, do not panic. Most issues are caused by one of three common mistakes: Because these are community-made, they are , but
This usually means your D3DX9_42.dll file is outdated or misplaced. Ensure the file sits in the main folder next to Rocksmith2014.exe , not inside the dlc folder. The Song Freezes Right Before Starting
To play custom songs on the PC version of Rocksmith 2014, users generally need to:
CDLC is primarily supported on the desktop versions of Rocksmith 2014 Edition (Remastered) . It is generally unavailable or highly impractical to set up on consoles. The primary hub for downloading these tracks is
, a dedicated hub where thousands of amateur and professional "charters" transcribe songs into the game’s format. Unlike official DLC, CDLC is free and spans genres that corporate licensing might never touch—from obscure black metal and anime themes to intricate classical pieces like the "Bachmas" collection. A Double-Edged Sword for Learning
Look for tracks with high download counts and positive comments. This ensures the note chart is accurate and perfectly synced to the music.
Musicians and software hobbyists use specialized charting tools to map out audio files, create note highways, sync lyrics, and set up dynamic difficulty levels for songs that Ubisoft never officially released. The result is a massive, decentralized library of music spanning every genre imaginable, from extreme death metal and J-Pop to video game soundtracks and classical acoustic pieces. Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started