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1. File Preparation

Convert to MP3 (320kbps CBR) or WAV (44.1kHz)
Trim silence from start and end
Normalize loudness (peak around -3dB)
Avoid VBR MP3s - they cause drift

2. File Naming Trick

The editor has no search function. To find your track fast:

Rename to: " 1_MySong.mp3" or "1_MySong.mp3"

The leading space or number pushes it to the top alphabetically

3. Import Process

Launch Dead as Disco
Go to Infinite Disco mode
Click "Add my music"
Navigate to your file (Steam Deck: Z:\home\deck\Downloads)
Select your MP3 and wait for import

Steam Deck Path Issue

The file picker starts in a virtual C: drive. You must manually navigate to Z:\home\deck\Downloads or your actual file location.

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1. Determine BPM

Find your track's BPM using:

Tunebat.com (recommended - also shows Key)
In-game "Tap BPM" feature
SongBPM.com

2. Enter BPM with Precision

Use 2 decimal places! Example: 125.23 not 125

How: Double-click the BPM field to highlight it, then type your value with decimals. The slider only allows whole numbers.

3. Trim Start/End

Use the white timeline handles to trim silent intro/outro. This ensures combat starts exactly when the music hits.

Out of Range = Crash

BPM below 60 or above 320 will crash the editor or cause catastrophic desync. Always verify before proceeding.

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1. Locate the Downbeat

Zoom into the waveform using your mouse scroll wheel. Find the first major audio spike (usually the kick drum or "DUN" of the track).

2. Align Beat Grid

Key Command:

Shift + Middle Mouse Button

Hold both and drag the waveform LEFT/RIGHT until the yellow beat lines align with the audio peaks.

3. Verify with Beat Sound

Toggle "Beat Sound" on. You'll hear a metronome click on each yellow line. The clicks should sync perfectly with the music. If not, repeat step 2.

Variable BPM Tracks

For songs with tempo changes, press Fat the change point to add a new BPM node. Then micro-adjust the "Start Time" by .001 seconds increments until lines re-align.

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Editor Hotkeys

1Room editing

2Prop manipulation

3Character injection

4Logic mapping

5Platforms

6Stairs

TBind spawn to zone

VToggle camera view

WMove gizmo

ERotate gizmo

RScale gizmo

Enemy Types & Stats

Type	Health	Attack Speed	Damage
Grunt	1-10	0-5	0-15
Mosher	5-15	0-5	0-15
Fallen Doll	5-20	0-5	0-15
Stardoll Sniper	3-10	0-5	0-15

Health 0 = instant kill. Attack Speed 0 = passive. Damage 15 = instant death.

No Undo - Save Frequently!

The Advanced Editor has NO UNDO. Exit to main menu every 10-15 minutes to force a save. The editor is prone to crashes, especially with DX12.

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1. Local Testing

Before uploading, test your map in-game. Verify enemies spawn exactly on beat, and your offset feels natural.

2. JSON Validation

Run local validation before upload:

core.exe test-validate json

DiscoMaps Error Codes (Critical)

Code	Type	Cause
Error 3	Fatal	Missing file reference in JSON
Error 9	Fatal	Parent identifier missing
Error 12	Fatal	Field count mismatch in JSON
Error 13	Fatal	Text exceeds character limits
Error 15	Fatal	ZIP contains unreferenced files
Warning 10	Warning	Sequencing gaps in spawn data

3. File Hygiene

Your ZIP must contain only files referenced by the JSON. Remove any extraneous files before uploading.

4. Upload

Install DiscoMapsLB mod from NexusMods
Generate API key on DiscoMaps.com
Add API key to api_key.txt in game directory
Zip your validated map folder
Upload via DiscoMaps website or in-game

Related Tools

Offset Calculator

Fine-tune timing after initial sync

Pre-Upload Checklist

Verify everything before DiscoMaps

guides.editor.lastUpdated: May 6, 2026

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