How to fix Rocksmith 2014 after September 2022 Update [SEP 2023 Rev]

Do you want to play Rocksmith 2014 like you used to before the update? Just follow this guide. No beta codes, no disabling auto-updates, no editing appmanifest and no using offline mode.
This guide also works if you are setting up Rocksmith 2014 for the first time.

Intro (Blah, blah)

Well, it seems that Ubisoft updated Rocksmith 2014 after a long time.
I updated it thinking that Ubi would surprise us with new content, but the real surprise was that Rocksmith stopped working.

Why?

Probably due to the incompatibility of the new version with the currently installed CDLC and workarounds like RS ASIO.

Aaaaand, since all of that it's not supported by Ubisoft... Well, it just won't work.
And yes, the game works fine without all that stuff.

First Steps

1. Make a backup of your current CDLC.
   (If you don't have a problem downloading all your CDLC again (or if you don't have any CDLC), skip this step).
   
   

   CDLC Usual Location	C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Rocksmith 2014\dlc
   CDLC Custom Location	Idk, you are the only one who knows that. Maybe in: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Rocksmith2014\dlc ¿?

   
   
2. Uninstall Rocksmith® 2014 Edition - Remastered.
   
   
3. Delete "Rocksmith2014" folder.
   (To get the folder location please see the table above).

Installing... [UPDATED - SEPTEMBER 2023]

1. Install Rocksmith® 2014 Edition - Remastered.
   
   
   
2. If you backed up your CDLC, restore it by moving it to the dlc folder inside the game files.
   (If you didn't backup your CDLC, skip this step).
   
   
   
3. Download the updated CustomsForge DLL file here[drive.google.com] and move it to your Rocksmith root folder.
   
   
   

   ---

   UPDATE (September 2023).
   Step three still works, but CustomsForge has updated the way to do it. (The DLL file may be removed from Google Drive at any time).
   
   For the new method, please skip step three and continue with step four.

   ---

   
   
4. Download the official CustomsForge tool (CDLC Enabler) here[ignition4.customsforge.com].
   (WARNING): You need a CustomsForge[customsforge.com] account to be able to access the downloads.
   
   

   ---

   AV detections are false positives, file is safe to download and use.
   VirusTotal[www.virustotal.com]
   

   ---

   
   
5. Open RS2014-CDLC-Installer.exe.
   
   
   
6. Click To Unlock CDLC.
   
   
7. If you get the message "We were unable to detect your Rocksmith 2014 folder, please select it manually!"...
   
   Select your Rocksmith 2014 folder manually.
   
   
8. You'll get the following message: "You should now be able to play CDLC in Rocksmith 2014 Remastered Edition".
   
   That means the DLL file was successfully installed in your Rocksmith 2014 folder.
   
   
9. Delete the RS2014-CDLC-Installer.exe file (or keep it).
   
   
10. From now on Rocksmith 2014 should start without problems, your CDLC should also appear.
    

You're Not Done Yet

You still want ASIO support again, and maybe connect your guitar/bass using an audio interface, like you used to.

Set Up - Part 1 [The Files] [UPDATED - SEPTEMBER 2023]

1. Download RS ASIO from here[github.com].
   (RS ASIO has been updated to be compatible with the latest Rocksmith update).
   
   
2. You still need an ASIO driver to be able to use RS ASIO, so download and install ASIO4ALL. (Download link here[asio4all.org])
   
   
3. Download NoCableLauncher, which allows you to use an audio interface instead of the Real Tone Cable®. Here[www.dropbox.com].

---

UPDATE (September 2023)
These three downloads are in their latest version at the time of writing this. (08/31/2023)

---

Set Up - Part 2 [RS ASIO]

Things get kinda basic here for those who have been using Rocksmith for a long time (or difficult for those setting up Rocksmith for the first time).

1. Once you have downloaded everything, install the ASIO4ALL driver.
   
   
2. Extract "NoCableLauncher-m-binary.rar" & "release-0.7.0.zip" and move all files to the Rocksmith root folder.
   
   
   
3. When you've done that, you need to make sure you have a working audio interface with their respective drivers installed. (It's up to you, cuz there are a lot of brands and models).
   
   (You can search the name of your audio interface online and download the drivers from the manufacturer's site).
   
   
4. Launch Rocksmith from the Steam shortcut.
   
   It's very likely that you didn't hear any sound during Rocksmith startup and that you also received the following error:
   
   ERROR SOUND INITIALIZATION (or something like this):
   
   
   (That's cuz the RS ASIO audio wrapper is running, but you don't have an ASIO driver selected).
   
   
5. Close Rocksmith.
   
   
6. Edit the RS_ASIO.ini file (located in the Rocksmith root folder) and add "ASIO4ALL v2" as shown in the image below:
   
   
   The error will be fixed, but you may still have no sound.
   
   
7. Launch Rocksmith from the Steam shortcut again and minimize it (DON'T CLOSE IT).
   
   
8. Go to Windows taskbar > Show Hidden Icons, and select ASIO4ALL v2 - Rocksmith2014.
   
   
   
   
9. Once the ASIO window appears, select "Advanced Options".
   
   
   
10. Turn on your audio interface and keep everything else off.
    
    [WARNING: You should know what devices are used to play and record audio on your computer, so you can selectively disable them].
    
    (I've a Behringer interface that serves as an audio input and output, that's why it's the only one enabled).
    
    
    
11. Finally close and reopen Rocksmith, it should work now (and have sound).

Set Up - Part 2.5 [Additional RS ASIO Configuration]

We're done configuring RS ASIO, but I'll leave this just in case:

Additional RS ASIO Configuration.[github.com]

Audio Interfaces reported to work with RS ASIO.[github.com]

Important notes from the RS ASIO developer:

Make sure Rocksmith.ini is set to run with ExclusiveMode=1 and Win32UltraLowLatencyMode=1 If in doubt, use default settings.

Make sure your interface clock is set to 48kHz. RS ASIO will try to request 48kHz mode, but your drivers may or may not allow this, so it might help setting it manually.

Set Up - Part 3 [NoCableLauncher]

You've done the hardest thing so far, now it will get easier. (I hope).

1. Open the EditSettings.bat located in your Rocksmith root folder.
   
   
   
   
2. A window will open:
   
   Just make sure your interface is selected.
   As I said before, I've a Behringer interface, and that's exactly what should appear:
   
   
   
   
3. If your interface is displayed correctly in "Player 1 Audio Device", click "Save".
   
   
4. Create a shortcut for NoCableLauncher.exe.
   
   
   
   
5. Put it where you want, rename it, change its icon, etc, but use it when you want to open Rocksmith. (Delete the original Rocksmith shortcut that Steam created).
   
   
6. Plug your guitar into your audio interface (don't forget to turn up the volume knobs) and launch Rocksmith.
   
   
7. Play:
   
   
   If you've made it this far, congratulations, you've survived the Ubisoft update (and this guide).

F.A.Q

Do I have to uninstall and reinstall the game?
-Yes, it's better to have a fresh install to add the updated fixes and CDLC.

Offset error when using NoCableLauncher, what should I do?
-Restarting the game seems to fix it.

No audio in Rocksmith after installing RS ASIO, what do I do?
-Are you sure you have the audio interface drivers installed?

-Do you have studio monitors connected to your audio interface, or do you use regular computer
speakers?

-Have you checked the audio I/O on your PC?

-Maybe your audio output is disabled in the ASIO4ALL settings.

I've followed all the steps in this guide and my guitar doesn't sound, why?
-Does Rocksmith detect the interface as a Real Tone Cable®?

-If you are using Windows 10/11, have you allowed apps to use the microphone?

-Have you checked the I/O settings in the ASIO4LL driver options when running Rocksmith
minimized?

-Are the guitar and interface volume knobs turned up? [Worth the try].

-Have you set the interface sample rate to 48 kHz?

-Have you enabled exclusive mode in the interface?

The game runs slow and sounds distorted, help!
-Your CPU is probably dying, set a bigger buffer, ASIO4ALL defaults to 512 samples. (You can try
with 1024 or even 2048 samples).

WARNING: This will increase latency (and you don't want that).

I'm having a lot of latency when playing, help!
-Contrary to the above, set a smaller buffer to reduce latency, 256 samples should work in most
cases.

(You can put smaller buffer sizes as long as you have a powerful CPU).
(Audio processing requires a lot of CPU power).

How do I change the latency?
-Do you remember the ASIO4ALL window when you minimized Rocksmith? That's actually
the ASIO Control Panel, there's a big slider at the bottom that says: "ASIO Buffer Size
►512◄".

Just move it to increase or decrease the buffer size.


-Alternatively you can modify the CustomBufferSize option in the RS_ASIO.ini file by
typing the value you need.

What do I do if Ubisoft releases a new update?
-If the update breaks Rocksmith... You will have to repeat all the steps in this guide.

Useful workarounds by @Owl

Fix for the game crashing on boot:

1. Windows Key + R
   
2. Type devmgmt.msc
   
3. Go to the Sound, video and game controllers tab.
   
4. Disable EVERY single device (right click > Disable device).
   
5. Launch Rocksmith® 2014.
   
6. If it boots to the loading screen with the logos...
   
7. Force quit the game with Alt+F4.
   
8. Re-enable ONLY ONE disabled device.
   
9. Launch Rocksmith® 2014 again.
   
10. If it crashes, disable the last device you enabled.
    
11. Keep trying steps 5-10 until you find the device that is causing Rocksmith to crash.

Fixes for not being able to hear the game:

1. Set ExclusiveMode to 0 and ForceDefaultPlaybackDevice to 1 in the rocksmith.ini file.
   
2. Change your audio output to 16 bits instead of 32 bits.

Disclaimer

The tools used in this guide belong to their respective owners and developers.
RS ASIO[github.com]
NoCableLauncher[github.com]
ASIO4ALL[asio4all.org]
CustomsForge[customsforge.com]
CDLC Enabler[ignition4.customsforge.com]

English isn't my native language, so expect some small errors in my writing (or maybe not).

I'm not responsible for any damages and injuries that may occur by following this guide.

[arf_me]

Has anyone done this "fix" and then lost all connectivity to steam? I cant access the shop, I cant shift tab to open the overlay, I cant see my saved profiles through the cloud.

[90RLY8]

man at this point ill just get a refund, i just wanted to play ts normally, we shouldn´t need to do all of this to start to play

[Michael TarnaBar]

I've followed the guide (including the ASIO drivers). Game works, sound is ok, guitar is ok but the CDLC is not working no matter what I do. If I copy the D3...dll game will open up, I'll try to play a cdlc song, game get's stuck, have to alt+f4, then the game crashes on boot. So i have to delete the D3...dll , game boots back again and repeat.

[GLaDos_66]

Fixes for calibration not working:

rocksmith.ini
• Set Win32UltraLowLatencyMode to 0.
• Change Fullscreen to 0, calibrate, change it again for 1.

Windows
• Allow apps to use the microphone.
• Go to the windows mixer and turn up the mic/interface volume.
• Unplug all your audio devices and try again.

[GLaDos_66]

Updated, thanks

[avian]

The cdlc enabler link is 404d, the new one is the same link but all lower case: https://ignition4.customsforge.com/tools/cdlcenabler

[xzero]

customsforge app was flagged for malicious activity :(

[XineloW]

My CDLC Enabler don't launch. I click to open and nothing happens. Anyone having this issue?

[Owl]

I've run into an issue of my friends on discord not being able to hear the game. I've turned audio exclusivity off in the rocksmith.ini file and set it ForceDefaultAudioDriver to 1. I also changed my audio output to 16 bits instead of 32

[Owl]

A fix I found for the game crashing on boot is going through your drivers in the device manager under the "audio,video and game controllers" tab. Go 1 by 1. Start out by disabling every single driver (right click, disable) besides your audio interface/ headphones driver and then launch the game, see if it boots to the loading screen with the logos. If it does, force quit the game with ALT+F4 and enable a driver you disabled, then relaunch the game. Do this until the game crashes again and the disable the last driver you enabled. For me, it was drivers for droidcam. Hope this helps