How To Create And Install Custom Sound Effects Into TF2

A hopefully complete guide for creating and installing custom sound effects.

Create A New Folder

Create a folder in:

[whichever disk you have tf2 in, commonly "C:"] > Program Files x86 > Steam > Steamapps > Common > Team Fortress 2 > tf > custom

Name it whatever you want.

Inside the folder you just made, make a another folder named "sound"

We will leave these folders be for now.

Installing & Using GCFScape

In order to replace a sound file, you need your custom sound file name to be the exact same as the original sound effect file in the game, how do you find the name of those files you ask?
download GCFScape

INSTALLING
http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/?p=26
Edit: Sadly the site seems to be dead now, so download it from here instead: https://gamebanana.com/tools/download/26
GCFScape may not have been updated for a long time, but it's still efficient.
While installing, make sure that it associates with ".vpk" files!

USING

Go back to:
Team Fortress 2 > tf
Scroll down until you find "tf2_sound_misc_dir"
Find "tf2_sound_vo_english_dir" too.

Double click on them in order to open them.
Lets say you double clicked on "tf2_sound_misc_dir" first.
You would see a window like this:
Click the plus sign on the "sound" file on the top left.
you now have access to the sound files of the game!

This process should be the same with "tf2_sound_vo_english_dir".

If you want to extract a sound file to your computer to have full access to it, right click on the sound file you want and click "Extract"

Installing A Custom Sound File

CHANGING SOUND EFFECTS (tf2_sound_misc_dir)
(Sounds made by weapons, environment, etc. For example the ubercharge sound effect)

Heres the name of a few sound files that are the ones you're probably looking to change:
tf_nemesis This sound plays when someone is dominating you
inside "misc" .wav file
tf_domination This sound plays when you are dominating someone
inside "misc" .wav file
tf_revenge This sound plays when you get revenge on someone or vice versa
inside "misc" .wav file
killstreak This sound plays when you're on a killstreak
inside "misc .wav file
freeze_cam This is the sound that plays on the freeze cam
inside "misc" .wav file
invulnerable_on This is the sound that plays when you activate the stock uber charge
inside "player" .wav file
weapon_crit_charged_on This is the sound that plays when you activate the kritz uber charge
inside "weapons" .wav file
hitsound This is your custom hitsound that plays when you hit someone
inside "ui" .wav file
killsound This is your custom killsound that plays when you kill someone
inside "ui" .wav file

these two are for some reason not in "sound_vo_english_dir"--> your_team_lost
these two are inside "misc" --> your_team_won
^^^
Each of these 2 files have 2 versions, one .wav and one .mp3 (Read notes after you're finished with the guide)

Now, you may be wondering why i included which folder they're in. it's because, you can't just put them in the "sound" folder you made.
Inside the "sound" folder, make more folders. name each one the name of the folder that the original sound is from. for example: "ui"
Put your custom sound file in there!
MAKE SURE THAT:
Your file is a .wav or .mp3 file! (depends on the original file. READ NOTES.)
Your file has a valid sample rate! (44100, 22050, 11025)
If you have no idea what i'm talking about:
"TF2 doesn't support sounds at a sample rate of 32000. It only supports 44100, 22050 and 11025. I assume since you're making a sound mod you have Audacity. Be sure to make a backup copy of your sound before trying this in-case something goes wrong: Open up your sound in Audacity and in the bottom left you should see a little box that says "project rate" and underneath "32000". Click on 32000 and change it to 44100, then export it again and replace the old one. It should fix it. If you listen to your sound and it's just a bunch of static, delete that one and try the above steps again, but instead of 44100 change it to 22050 or 11025."
- From "BirdEnthusiast"[gamebanana.com]

CHANGING VOICE SOUND EFFECTS (tf2_sound_vo_english_dir)
(Voices From characters. for example, Administrator, Heavy, etc.)

Pretty much the same process.
You don't need to make another file in custom to put the sound effects from this dir in it, but if you want to, go ahead.
Finding the voice lines of the game can be done easier with TF2's wiki:
https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Responses
https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Voice_commands

MAKE SURE THAT:
Your file is a .wav or .mp3 file! (depends on the original file)
Your file has a valid sample rate! (44100, 22050, 11025)


The fastest way to test if a sound works or not is to use the play command in the console:
play [path from sound/][sound file name and format]
e.g.

play weapons/sniper_shoot.wav

Remember that if you have trouble finding a sound file, don't be afraid to ask for help.

Notes

Custom ubercharge sound effect:
This Sound effect will be forced to end whenever your uber duration ends.
This Sound effect will be forced to end whenever you switch weapons, changing back to your medi gun will start it over.

Custom Hitsound & Killsound:
Make sure that you turned on the hitsound and killsound options in tf2's advanced settings, and that its on "default"

All sound effects:
Having a very long sound effect (10~ minutes) may lag the game.

If There's 2 Files With The Same Name But One Is A .mp3 And The Other Is A .wav:
simple, you do the same while you're installing your own custom sound file. have 2 copies of the same file with the same name, one .mp3 and one .wav

[_Eyko]

i tryed to change the sound of the quick fix healing but it simply does not work. the directory is : custom>folder>sound>weapons>quick_fix_heal. i also have a hit and kill sound that work just fine (even while i try the custom sound for the quick fix) and i know the audio file for the quick fix work becaus i also use it for my kill sound

[Armour07]

I am a little lost, I'm trying to add a custom laughing sound for soldier and I am sure I did everything right. I named my custom file "sound" and it would tell me this is not what I intended. However, when I make it "vo" which is the folder the voice lines come from, it automatically adds a sound folder and sound cache within the folder and the game runs fine, but it doesn't play the audio I added.

[Cocoaaa64]

nvm but what is the name for the force a nature sounds

[Cocoaaa64]

whats the name of the pistol sounds??

[Iggy]

Do you know if it makes a difference if the audio exported from audacity is mono or stereo? I noticed that some sounds in the game are mono and some are stereo.

[a freakin' knight]

I looked at the valve developer wiki for information on soundscripts and didn't see anything that could help you with that. I also asked in a discord server with people that deal with soundscripts occasionally, but got no answer. I don't know if it's possible unfortunately, but if you found a way, let me know.

[NonBinaryNick_#BLM]

currently, you can either play one .wav file or multiple in random order. is it possible to play multiple in a select order?

[Twink Designation N]

thats great finaly knowing the possible issue, but i have no idea how i would do that, if you could explain a bit more id be very greatful

[Zarkitek]

I can! I make in sony vegas the sound and render in 22050 hz wav. if you made a wav with other format and you use a other program to convert the sound hz in a compatible dont work, you must render from the beginning to a compatible configuration

[Twink Designation N]

@a freakin' knight Nope, never figurated it out, my guess is that for my computer the structure sistem for my custom folder is just broken for no reason, aka source spaghetti, sorry, and dont worry for not awnsering i completley understand