How to make your Steam Controller sing

How to use Steam user [bli] Pila's software to make your Steam Controller sing!

Introduction

Hello there Steam Hardware Supporter!

This guide will bring you through the process of making your Steam Controller Sing to you!

The Steam Controller Singer software was created by Steam user Pila, it is still in development and you can download it here[sourceforge.net]

If you want to discuss this there is a Steam Forum
http://steamcommunity.com/app/353370/discussions/0/494632506573267894/

Here's a quick video of it in action playing FREEDOM DiVE by xi:

Setup

Let's get started,

Firstly, you'll need the actual software, you can download it here[http//%3A+https] and if you like it you can also donate to Pila there! Now you're going to need a midi file. If you don't know what a midi file is, at its most basic it is a music file that plays using individual notes, like sheet music! Midi files can play multiple instruments using something called "channels" Steam Controller Singer can only use 2 channels however, (on account of the Steam Controller's two haptic touchpads) If you don't have one or the one you are using is especially complex (it can have as many notes as you want, but it must be on 1-2 channels) you can download a basic Twinkle Twinkle Little Star midi here[www.8notes.com].

Once you've got your midi file it can be played by dragging the file on top of steamcontrollersinger.exe

Make sure it doesn't crash and burn

If you're running Windows 7 you can likely skip this step, however if you have issues come back and read this. If you're running Winfows 8/8.1/10 you must have a few things done before hand.

• Have your Steam Controller plugged in with the wireless dongle,
  (this)
  
  in a USB 3.0 port
  
  
  (this)
  
  ============================================================================
  
  
• Now to reduce delay you'll need to enable run as administrator in SteamControllerSinger.exe's settings,
  
  First right click steamcontrollersinger.exe and select properties
  
  This menu should show up
  
  
  Then go to the compatibility tab, and select "Run as an administrator" then click apply
  
  
  ============================================================================
  
  
• Once you've done all of that you need to do one last thing before you start playing you glorious midis, completely exit steam, BUT WAIT! Don't do it yet, only close steam once you've finished reading this fantastic guide!

Having Issues?

Steam Controller Singer is still in the very early stages, so it's likely you'll run into a bug, if you do, don't look it directly in the eyes and don't move, its vision is motion based.

Common Errors are:

• "Interface claim Error -12"
  
  This is an error related to Windows 8/8.1/10's new USB management system. it's an issue that has not been solved yet, but trying another USB port will sometimes fix the issue.
  
  
• "No device found"
  
  This means the software has not found a wired Steam Controller or a wireless dongle. Unplugging / replugging the Steam Controller can solve it, or running the command prompt as administrator, although it may sound silly disabling your anti-virus can also help.
  
  
• "Unable to open song file SONG_FILE_NAME"
  
  Means it could not open the Midi file, this is always because the file is corrupted, it has nothing to do with the software.

FIX FOR INTERFACE CLAIM ERROR -12

• First, Go to your steamcontrollersinger.exe file. Make sure it is being run as administrator and that you changed the compatibility to Windows 7 in properties.
  
  
  
• Second, download Zadig (http://zadig.akeo.ie/) and make sure you click OPTIONS > LIST ALL DEVICES then click on steam controller and click on replace driver, make sure WINusb is selected on the right and HIDusb on the left. This should make your controller work in steamcontrollersinger but it stops the controller from working in Steam and in games. The program changes your driver for the steam controller so steamcontrollersinger will recognize it. If Steam stops recognizing your controller, go to device manager, pick steam controller, uninstall it and check the box 'remove all drivers' do the same for the steam controller in Devices and Printers. Then replug it and it should work again in Steam but stops working on steamcontrollersinger.

[KayZoka]

WAIT. Do you wanna say that on windows 10 if i use dongle in usb 2.0 my controller will BURN?!?

[kaleb]

no longer works, someone made a fork of it but its linux only for some reason??

[EvPointMaster]

So, I plugged the dongle into a USB 3.0 port, closed steam, turned on my controller, set the .exe to run as admin, but it doesn't work. When I drag a midi on the exe, I get a prompt asking for admin right, I click yes and then a window flashes up and closes immediately.
What am I doing wrong?

[Ryder]

i wish there would be a version of this to like emulate it as a midi device so i could controll it with my sequencer software, current version doesnt detect it even in compat and admin mode

[The answer is no]

Shuts down after I open it

[GaroK]

I know it's old, do we have any way to fix shutting down right after starting method?

[SenRa07 MnK]

great, thanks!

[Vlad the Chad]

Couldn't get to work in Wine/Proton, or Windows 10(Native and VM, Used CMD, Admin, Win 7 compat...etc)), but works fine in Windows 7(Tested in VM)

[tAlias]

allow me to remind you guys that it may require windows 7 compat mode

[vikshadow]

Swwwwet