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