CurseForge · Minecraft mod
Dead Air
Extra Special Studio presents Dead Air: radio towers become station nodes you tune with built-in T1/T2 radios & cross-dim Link. Collect notes, craft upgrades & panels. Requires Apocalypse Structures, GeckoLib & ESC.
Quick answer
Which Dead Air release should I use?
Dead Air dead_air-2.1.2+1.20.1-forge.jar targets 1.20.1 with Forge. The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both. All 3 required mods have matching files.
Where it goes
Is Dead Air required on the client, server, or both?
The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.
The source does not explicitly classify this release as client-only or server-only.
What else does Dead Air dead_air-2.1.2+1.20.1-forge.jar need?
dead_air-2.1.2+1.20.1-forge.jar. Change the file and its required mods may change too.
Install Apocalypse Structures: Radio Towers and Airdrops, GeckoLib, [ESC] Extra Special Core first. We found matching files for this game-version and loader setup. 2 come through another mod in the chain.
2 extra mods were pulled in by other dependencies. Indented rows show who needs each one. We only count dependency files that match this setup. A file for another loader does not fill the gap.
Before you install it
Add Dead Air without breaking your instance.
Built for Dead Air dead_air-2.1.2+1.20.1-forge.jar. Pick another file and the loader, install side or required mods may change.
- 01
Stick to this file
Use dead_air-2.1.2+1.20.1-forge.jar. It targets 1.20.1 with Forge; another release may have different loader, side or dependency requirements.
- 02
Bring the mods it needs
Install Apocalypse Structures: Radio Towers and Airdrops, GeckoLib, [ESC] Extra Special Core first. We found matching files for this game-version and loader setup. 2 come through another mod in the chain.
- 03
Put it on the correct side
The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.
- 04
Pick the file you checked
Use the “Get this file” button beside dead_air-2.1.2+1.20.1-forge.jar. It opens that exact file at the source.
About this project
What does Dead Air add?
Dead Air:
Turns radio towers into broadcast nodes. Each tower can broadcast a different station. Examples include Bedrock Radio, Creatopia Radio, Jukebox FM, Remix Radio, optional internet streams, and dynamic stations from expansion mods / autoDiscoverModMusic.
2.0.0 ships its own radios — T1.Radio and T2.Radio (Walkie Link) with animated GeckoLib models. No third-party walkie mod required.
Progression & materials:
- Static Notes drop while listening (one active radio: T1 15% / T2 30%); nine Notes on the ground merge into a Resonant Chord
- Craft Dimensional Relay, T1 / T2, Signal Upgrade, Disc Compendiums → Jukebox Upgrade, and a Radio Panel recipe (when RadioTowers is present)
- Install Signal Upgrade on a panel to unlock T2 Link: listen to that tower across dimensions; the link follows if you re-assign the panel’s station
- In-game Field Guide covers Intro, How To Play, Materials (recipes), Current Expansions, and Planned Material
You can create custom stations and playlists:
Custom stations: put .ogg files in config/dead_air/custom stations/<Station Name>/ (one subfolder per station; restart).
Extra tracks for built-in stations: set customMusicPath to a folder with assets/dead_air/sounds/music/custom/*.ogg.
How it works:
Dead Air uses Radio Panel blocks (Apocalypse Structures / RadioTowers) as broadcast towers. You can craft panels for your own bases.
Emergency Broadcast (88.5 MHz) can come from any powered tower.
Signal is shown as 0–5 bars (distance, line-of-sight, weather). Bars use 75-block steps: 5/5 within 75 blocks, 4/5 at 150, 3/5 at 225, 2/5 at 300, 1/5 at 375, none beyond that.
Discovery: with the radio on, being in range of a tower unlocks its station; unlocked stations stay available.
Tower types: Standard towers work immediately. Fenced and Overrun need one Radio Panel right-click to activate; that state saves.
Audio: music plays from your one active tuned radio (hand, hotbar, or inventory—configurable). Volume follows signal. Weak signal or bad tuning adds static. Cross-dimension travel resumes the same track near where it left off when Linked / in range again. Dropped radios do not play.
How to use it:
Hold a T1 or T2 Dead Air radio and press N (default) or right-click to open the tuning screen.
The screen has a retro dial (88.0–108.0 MHz). Tune with the slider or by picking a station. On T2, Link Selected Station / Unlink Station locks onto a Signal-Upgraded tower in range (no need to stand at the panel). Ping Location sends your name and coordinates to chat.
Further options: dead_air-common.toml and the in-game config (ranges, volume, overlay, radioAlwaysOn, etc.).
Server commands:
/dead_air spawntower <type> [x] [y] [z] — spawns a tower at your position or the given coords. Types: standard, fenced, overrun. Spawned towers are active immediately.
Current expansions:
Optional companion soundtrack packs — work standalone or plug into Dead Air as stations:
- Dead Air - Wayfarer Radio — adventure / RPG
- Dead Air - Frontline FM — high-energy battle / combat
- Dead Air - After Hours FM — Lo-Fi / chillout
- Dead Air - Block Beats FM — Hip-Hop / R&B
- Dead Air - Broken Youth Radio — pop punk
- Dead Air - Iron Rain FM — metal
- Dead Air - Zero Gravity — pop rock / indie pop
Special Note: If you would like your own music turned into an expansion, drop me a message :)
Dependencies:
- Required: Apocalypse Structures: Radio Towers and Airdrops (RadioTowers), GeckoLib 4.x, ExtraSpecialCore (ESC)
- Optional: Berezka’s Library + Berezka’s Zombie Waves API (full airdrop / wave flows with RadioTowers)
Dead Air does not replace RadioTowers — it adds broadcasts, stations, signal, music, radios, and progression on top.
Music rights:
ALL CUSTOM MUSIC TRACKS ARE OWNED BY ME AND MY TEAM. You may use these in any modpack, and play these tracks in YouTube videos / Twitch streams and similar. DO NOT distribute the music files individually.
Project description from CurseForge.
Pick your setup
Dead Air by Minecraft version and loader
Choose the version and loader you play, then open the matching release.
1.20.1
1 loader buildCheck the dependencies, then try the file in a copied instance before changing a world you care about.
Recent files
Dead Air versions and loaders
dead_air-2.1.2+1.20.1-forge.jar
18 Aug 2026
dead_air-2.1.1+1.20.1-forge.jar
13 Aug 2026
dead_air-2.1.0+1.20.1-forge.jar
10 Aug 2026
dead_air-2.0.0+1.20.1-forge.jar
29 Jul 2026
dead_air-1.4.6+1.20.1-forge.jar
23 Jul 2026
dead_air-1.4.5+1.20.1-forge.jar
22 Jul 2026
dead_air-1.4.4.jar
19 Jul 2026
dead_air-1.4.3.jar
4 Jul 2026
dead_air-1.4.2.jar
10 May 2026
dead_air-1.4.1.jar
7 May 2026
dead_air-1.4.jar
29 Apr 2026
dead_air-1.3.jar
2 Apr 2026
Looking for an older file? The official CurseForge project page is in Resources.