Karaoke Forums

I have been working on software so that I could run my rotation on a computer.  The logic behind this was through a scan converter, I could use the VGA out on my laptop, run both video sources off the laptop and have the rotation on screen.

My software I'm writing is still a beta, and the cogs aren't fully automated.  The part I have to do?  Key in the singers names and keep track of their status.  Four status choices:

1)  Active
2)  Inactive
3)  Need Song
4)  Missed

Missed means I called your name and waited for you, but you were not around.  Between each singer I would flip the video to the database.  It also shows the total number of active singers and gives an estimated time on the rotation.  Those calculations are automatic.

So how was it received?  People LOVED it!  Within two hours of the gig I no longer had to call up singers!  People were coming up because they saw there name highlighted on the list.  My mind was blown by that.  I had several people that came up and told me that they really liked it.

Now here is the best part.  As usually, someone wasn't around when they were called up.  It was one of my more vexing regulars (won't fill out slips, comes up to talk to me at the worst times, etc. etc. etc.).  Well she is upset - because I "skipped her."

Well I showed her the screen (which I can run on the laptop independent of the scan converter and the main video screens) and showed her that no, I didn't skip her, it would be utterly impossible for me to skip anyone because everyone sees the rotation between each song, and your status shows I called you, and you weren't here.  Gladly get you when we come around again.

It was also great for new singers coming in - this was another area where my mind was blown.  People were coming in and giving me their slips going, "so the rotation is about 65 minutes?"  I knew they were seeing that on the screen.

The downside was inputting the names and adjusting status.  This took some time and I found I had less "down time" during singers.  I hope to work on the database more this week for Friday so that some steps are more automated.  Right now there is a fair amount of ALT-TAB work between online forms.  Also jumping into WinAmp on the same laptop - so it was frantic at some moments.

I'm sure I'll work the kinks out

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Despite the internet rumor, Karaoke is not Japanese for "drunk buffoon with microphone."  However, "rotation," is Japanese for wait your damn turn!

I've had a program of my own design in effect for a few years.  I love it it, wouldn't ever go back to manual slips.  Singers do love it as well as they can see when & how the rotation works - especially with new singers.

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

Hey Lonman.  The product I'm working on is just for me, I don't have plans to sell and it is different from yours (nice job by the way).

What I did was create a very simplistic interface.  I'm using 36 point fonts so the only thing shown on the display is the total number of singers in rotation, the estimated time of rotation, and the name of four singers.  The previous singer, the current singer, and the next two singers.  Hit the enter key and it scrolls down to the next, and the new singers name is highlighted.

I'm using a scan converter to push the 800 X 600 SVGA image to the TV sets and monitors at clubs and venues.  So anyone could read it from their seat in the bar versus looking at a computer screen.  When a song ends I flip to "C" on my A, B, C, D video selector and poof - there it is.  I watch my JVC and when the track starts flip it right back to the "A" or "B" video feed.

HOWEVER, you did give me some ideas for information behind what the singers see.  I could add a simple event button to the main interface that I click.  It could handle moving to the next record and automatically update the status of the singer (need song) AND update in the database that the singers don't see the time they took to the stage.

You've done a very deep tool, with songs, etc. etc. etc. - mine is just to keep track of the singers and let them know the big picture of the rotation, and keep how it runs trasnparent to them.  I think it was eye opening this weekend for some folks.

Once I get it fully automated and cleaned up I might offer it for freeware distribution as an open source product if there is any interest.

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Despite the internet rumor, Karaoke is not Japanese for "drunk buffoon with microphone."  However, "rotation," is Japanese for wait your damn turn!

I would love a program like that, It would make my job a heck of a lot easier, however I am not computer literate enough to make a program, I am currently using Messageoke Pro and manually typing the names in so the singers can see when they are up, but it doesn't tell me anything as I have to do it all manually.