Karaoke Forums

Hello to everybody,

first, hello to everybody, I am new here

On my next birthday party, I plan to make a Karaoke session. I thought this is easy... a Microphone connected to the PC, a piece of software and off we go

Now, actually, it is a little bit more complicated. First, I found that one microphone, connected to the PC, is a very flimsy solution. So I went and bought a nice hardware mixer and two robust microphones. I also bought some Karaoke DVDs.

That´s it? Actually, not.

I had to find the right software for the PC... and this was harder than I thought. As I tried to get Karaoke songs from different sources (buying, friends, downloads, ....) I ended up with a large number of different file formats, just some of them:

CD-G, KAR, WMV, MPEG, AVI, DVDs...

Additional, some of the files I own have Multiplex (this is voice on the right channel) which I find very useful, so the software should support it (better, support to turn it off if not needed)

I think, in the last two weeks I looked to 30 different software packages, from freeware to shareware to professional. And there was only one which really supported all my needs, which I found can do it all: Swift Elite 4. The only disadvantage for me is that you have to order a physical package, which is quite complicated for me as I sit in Turkey.

Why am I writing this? Maybe someone is in the same situation like me and find my decision path useful also:

I made a list of file formats that I wanted to be supported
I made a list of the "must haves", for me this was:

- support Multiplex
- support "Announcing next singer"
- support two monitors

With this list, I could quickly eliminate many software packages and came up with "my solution". Interesting, that most packages had problems with either "kar" files or the Multiplex. And sometimes you really have to test it in detail to find this out. E.g. Karfun has Multiplex support, but not when you have a plain wmv-file.

Now, if someone knows an Alternative to Swift Elite 4, I would be glad to learn - but it should support my decision list.

Thanks!

Wolfgang

Multiplex files need not be supported by a hosting program. You can deal with it via your mixer. There are other important feature that a good hosting program should have and multiplex is down at the bottom of the list.

And: A big welcome to KS forum.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Thanks for your reply Jian,

well dealing with the mixer was also my idea. But my mixer does not have the possibility of selecting left/right for one channel (only for the Master out). And even if - the solution would be to just run one (the left) channel for the music.

The Windows XP mixer might do it, but I found that moving the slider there sometimes interrupt the main program even on a fast PC and dealing with this on the HiFi seems to be a bad solution, as the only way I can do it is to block the right speaker again... which is really not what I want.

Wolfgang

Any pro level mixer have mono input. If you split the audio signal as L and R and use 2 mono ch you can mute the ch with vox. The result;music comes out from bothe speakers.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Acrtually MTU Video Hoster supports multiplex discs.  Plus all the files you listed - maybe not the dvd's, not never tried those.  Download the demo & give it a shot.

www.mtu.com

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Thanks Lonman,

I will give it a try today. To Jian: You are absolutely right. It was the cables I used which did not allow me to select the L/R, as I used "CD in" insead of the normal "Line In".

After I bought the right cable, it should work fine. So "Multiplex" is off the list and I have to re-evaluate

Thanks all
Wolfgang