Karaoke Forums

Anyone had any experience with: ROXBOX,   MTU HOSTER, OR COMPUHOST ???????
 Whats the good, the bad, and the ugly?  

Not sure about the others, but you will discover Hoster will play all formats, but anything you rip with it to save on your machine can only be saved in KMA file format....Then you will have to use only hoster to play it back.

KMA is an MTU format and cannot be converted to any other format or played by any other software players except hoster once you rip it...That can get in your way if you tote your files to another machine via external hard drive....You have to buy another copy of hoster to play your files on another machine. MTU will allow you to place your copy of hoster on a second PC, but their EULA is rather restrictive, where as most other players don't care how many machines you play your files on and they are saved in a format you can play with any other software.

I will admit to seeing Hoster in use and REALLY liking it... especially the search feature. Where with my free winamp and plugins, I have to use either the full database converted to a .txt format, or I use the windows explorer... the explorer can really tap a LOT of power that you need, and once or twice I noticed a resource hiccup!

Hoster seems to do everything... I just hate having to use a rotation software. I'm more old school, and don't need to do all that.

I've personally played around with a few of the "player" programs... PCKJ and the FX software is extremely memory intensive... and I've heard a few horror stories about it locking up.

I've really like clubdjpro... even as a demo mode, it's impressive as anything. But the search feature leaves a bit to be desired UNTIL you let the program scan your hard drives fully. Then it'll pop right up. So initial setup is the only thing you seriously have to mess with, and that only takes a few mins!

Haven't tried Sackonuts, so can't comment on it, or Roxbox either.

It depends on your format whether its just KJ or a combination of KJ DJ I used te cavs pe player for a 2 or 3 years then sax-n-dotty for about a year.. For over a year roxbox...

Cavs never did have 2 graphics screens but it was probably the most stable of any of them. I still use it sometines to play cd's. They came out with the sp player which puts a slide under the graphics but it was a resource hog.

Sax-n-dotty is a good program but the reason I swithced to rox was the dual player feature and the auto fades from karaoke to DJ..

Frank the guy developing roxbox is a KJ himself and knows what works. He listens to what people want and gives the best tech support.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

I agree it depends on your show format - I use PCDJ and the PCKJ together as
I also DJ and incorporate some fller and dance music in my Karaoke Shows when rotation permits it. If you're going to go 100% karaoke and no DJ parties you might want to try a few programs including the PCKJ stand alone (without the DJ mixers)

I never had a  crash or lock up  using the PCDJ/KJ. If properly set up with some good Hardware you shouldn't experiance any problems with any of the reputable software out there.

I have heard this comment several times, and still do not understand what you mean.

I have been using MTU Hoster for 4 years. You can drag and drop songs from anywhere on the playlist to anywhere. I don't understand why you would need rotation software.

Typically when someone brings me a slip. I put them on a manual piece of paper.

a list of singers if you will. Then as songs are brought to me I add them to the list

I may have 10 songs for john on the bottom of  the list, and 10 for sally. I drag them, and drop them into their rotation place in the list as needed. I can stay 3 or 4 rotations ahead of the game.

So it confuses me why you need rotation software. If you are using manual players Do you also need rotation software.

I dont see the relevance.

I have been using hoster for a long time, and I am sold on it. MTU listens to their customers, and I like that. But I'm sure every program writer out there does the same. If they don't they are really dumb!

_________________
______________________________________
I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

what I dont like about HOSTER is the format, and you cant play filler music between singers. And I dont know, but can you make splash screens with hoster?

Hoster IS a rotation software... you mentioned the playlist... that's what I mean.

Now for my uses, I have about three tools I use all at the same time.

* Winamp for my karaoke player.
*I create custom splash screens on a .bmp paint window, and save that using karaoke builder. That file is converted using mp3toolz. then it's the same as my karaoke files.
* Windows Media for my .mpg files (my lasers)

Play the songs back to back and you won't need filler music.

Hmmm, Sorry I dont understand how hoster is a rotation software.

WHat is the difference in putting half a dozen song in a playlist and putting half a dozen cdg's on the table to play? You can change the order of either at will. How is that a rotation software.

Sorry Knight, I just don't get the point. I control the rotation, not the program. I can change it at will.

I'm sure most software does the same.

_________________
______________________________________
I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

It has the rotation as part of the software... you type in the person's name, and it lists it on 1/3 of the F*n screen.

I DON'T LIKE THAT! !

Ok, You don't like that, then don't enable it. Simple!!!!!!

You don't like hoster, Dont use it, But it isnt an evil demon program, because you don't like a part of it that can be turned on or off.It Is Selectable!

_________________
______________________________________
I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

actually, I'm glad you're here talkin' about it... I always said that if certain parts weren't "necessary", I wouldn't mind having it.

The newer Lite version without the book making ability is really turning my head!

But do you really want to loose the ability to play from a customers disk. That is the other dissadvantage of lite.

_________________
______________________________________
I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

Actually he's correct, if you don't want the name to appear, you simply turn that off.  It's there if you want it but necessary to use - same with most programs, they come with options & you enable or toggle the ones you want.  If you don't need the names listed, you don't need to type anything in at all so it will just list the song & once in the playlist, can be adjusted anywhere it needs to be.  Same with the books, you don't have to make books from it, but it's there if you want to use it.

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

I personally think it's 'evil demon' due to the developers attitude toward users. It's obvious he is in it strickly for the bucks, whereas most other karaoke software developers attempt to give us more and more useful applications totaly free of charge..

The whole music and karaoke industry employs MP3 and MP3+G format and a few others...Everyone except him that is. His software uses only KMA format.

OOOPPPS, I should say it only allows you to save your rips in KMA, but it will play all the others. His claim that KMA sounds better is nothing more than hype disquised to hide his greed and desire to corral people into using only his software.

The fact his software will play all formats but only rip to his KMA format demonstrates how oneway he is and how protective he is of his software.

He thinks folks will remain with MTU and Hoster after they have spent countless hours ripping their discs into his KMA format, and then will not be willing to re-rip them again into other more popular and flexible formats....He truely believes that limitation will keep them loyal and buying his upgrades forever while similar software improves and remains free.

That trick has worked so far for Bill Gates with Windows, but trust me, this guy ain't no bill Gates.

MTU will suffocate in it's on greedy grasp.

Good word there Keith .......whooooo  whoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I currently use another player for customer discs...

Not a problem there as far as I'm concerned!

Keith 02

Since you are not MTU I don't see what gives you the right to tell us how they  think.

I can hear the difference, and refuse to give my customers less than the best. If your bull headed attitude is to use anything you want to, then Maybe you need to stick to using disks. Then you have absolute freedom.

Nobody is twisting your arm to use anything, But preference doesnt give you the right to slam a company just because you dont have the same ideals.

FYI the reason from the beginning for the kma format was not only for better sound. Some karaoke business owners hire KJ's to run their shows, and some go so far as to want their kma's Encrypted so the employees don't steal their music, and start their own company. MTU had planned to create an encryption program to tie their files to a certain to machine or serial number for the host's that want it.  also the future plans are to be able to sell karaoke music online from SC, Chartbuster, Etc. They required for this to happen there would be protection from trading.

Mtu doesn't owe you a reason to be using kma format........ Heck you don't even own the product, and will never be allowed to either.

_________________
______________________________________
I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

When someone says anything less than positive about his hosting program.



But, he can say anything about anybody or anything.

.

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