Karaoke Forums

I wouldn't know what I would need on a player that was better honestly.  If a computer player does exactly what I need it to do, I wouldn't change anyway - even for upgraded software.  But if I were forced to switch it's no big deal anyway, if I have to re-rip, then I re-rip.

I never ran out and bought a new disc player just because it may have had some new features or was a better player.  If my current player worked, didn't skip or garble the graphics, then I was set.

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Same here.  I can't think of a better player product out there.  But then I did a lot of homework before I chose MTU's Hoster.  I studied their site and understood what the program would and would not do. I also haven't heard anybody's MP3+G files that can hold a candle to the kma format.  

MP3+G is more popular.  Why? IMHO, it's not beacuse of the quality, it's because it is so easy to duplicate and file share. Something that most karaoke companies frown upon.  

MTU 's software to me is very similar to most other "software" that I am familiar with.  I use Microsoft's Office 2003.  When I use it and save a file; it get's saved AS a Word file, Excel, etc.  If you don't like the fact that a software stays true to it's own format, than don't use it.

Most good software companies shouldn't be expected to give away their software for FREE.  I'm sure Bill Gates wishes he had done that.  Sorry but you get what you pay for.

I'm glad MTU posted in here.  I wish we had a section in here that was set up for more companies to talk to us one on one.  I wish the karaoke companies would join in likewise.

And from a more personal standpoint. (Sorry dougc) I hope my competition continues to stay away from Hoster.  I know it is one of the reason's that I am staying at the top, in my neck of the woods.

Kelly

If someone here have an opinion that you are using 'free' downloaded tracks in your show, how do you feel?

It is very strange that when someone mention something less than positive about a product that you are associated with, you appear and post. You hardly post about anything other thing  associated with karaoke other than saying all the good thing about your hosting program and attacking anyone who say something less than positive about it.
you would be more successful in promoting the program if you are less aggressive in your approach. I was trying to helpful and look how your post read.

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

And you're very much entitled to your opinion! However, there are a LOT of other "paid for" programs available that utilize not only mp3+g, but .zip, and other formats without converting to their own data format.

Granted, Hoster DOES allow you to use mp3+g as well without the conversion, but the default way of using it will automatically scan files and do the conversion unless you tell it no. But every time you bring it up, it does that! !

In my opinion MTu is a good program, but they made the Macintosh mistake, not using the standard file of MP3+g.

Take a good look at Compuhost, it will change your mind about mtu.

I'm sorry, you are still missing the point and I cant believe this is still going on. Bottom line is the question you asked "But say MTU goes under, and you are stuck using the current version of HOSTER?" is something that an educated customer will ask BEFORE BUYING and making a choice that fits there need. Just because it would be more difficult to convert KMA files doesn't mean the company puts out junk for a product or they are a rip off. There are a lot of quality products that are produced that if the company went under that made them you would be out of luck. You purchase anyway because its what you want. Though it may be a hassle, if you are a legit Karaoke KJ switching to another program should not be an issue if you have your original CD's.

That is a really good point....MP3+G is certain to be around much longer than MTU.

But there are other reasons I avoid MTU products....One reason is that with MTU every so often you have to pay more money if you want to upgrade what you already paid for....And yeah, like Microsoft, the upgrade you buy fixes a few bugs and maybe adds a new feature, but why should you have to pay to fix a buggy program?.....Another Bill Gates in the making?

When I bought Hoster and Microstudio, nowhere on their site did it say it would only rip to their propritary KMA format...instead they expounded the fact that it would convert any format, so I assumed that meant it would allow me to play my MTU ripped files with other players...That I could just rip them all to one fat external drive and play them either on my pro rig or take my drive to a friends house and play them on his.....Nope, to do that you gotta have a paid copy of Hoster on every computer you might desire to play your legally purchased files!!!!...After I screamed and demanded a refund, the owner placed a small disclaimer on his site about the KMA format issue.....

Then he ranted about how MP3 software program writers were all going to be sued, that Sax N Dotty was going to be sued, that anyone who used MP3 was only attempting to steal copyrighted music or allowing you to do so.....Yep, the owner of MTU was ranting about all the thieves and how his software prevented folks from stealing.....The guy got flakey about it.........I just told him to give me my money back and let me worry about if I decide to steal music......I hated that he implied I was a thief cause I wanted a program that used MP3 format....I wanted flexability. not a license to steal.

So let's say you decide to sell all your music and your harddrive to a guy...It won't do the buyer much good unless he too buys Hoster to play it.....Can you hear the prospective buyer laff at you?

<PERK>


KEITH !


(doing the happy dance)


Running the heck out've tech forum !

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Well, I did a search of their forum and did not get anything close to what I was looking for. What key words did you use to search? The discs are straight DVD files, although they were converted from LD, they behave just like a DVD disc. I also found IMTOO ripper, after trying several programs on trial base and found that program to be the best, since it's one of few who can rip chapters of DVD, not just the entire disc.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

micbob is correct.  Though I hope they don't and I don't think they will, It wouldn't matter if MTU went defunct.  I have my originals.  And as I previously stated, I don't like the quality of the MP3+G.  I'll pay the extra for quality.  Diversity isn't an issue with me.

I have seen time and time again; not only in MTU's forum but other product forums; and a lot of time the issues people have is that they have not taken the time to full understand what a product will do or not do.  Kind of the way a lot of us men always proceed trying to put something together without ever thinking of reading the directions first.  

Kelly

Yest that is true and that is one of the reasons that I did not choose Hoster.I never said it was/is junk, I just feel it is WAY OVER PRICED, and restrictive.YEah, but then I have to re-rip my CDs.  For me owning about 600, and I know of others that own upwards of 1,000, that is a hell of a lot of time wasteed.

And someon else brought up the point that MTU uses the KMA format to prevent piracy, which is TOTAL CRAP, and just a marketing scheme.

True, MTU products are not crap, but in my OPINION, they are over priced, and restrictive, and that is why I chose differently when switching from disc based to PC based karaoke.  I have never regretted my decesion, and never will.

If you want netter quality with MP3+g you can rip the mp3 at a higher rate like 320k The text will never change until the manufactures change the size of the graphic file. If I remember it is 300 x 200.

That's my point. I get better quality with the kma's and it is smaller in size than the MP3+G.

Kelly

I couldn't have said it better myself !

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Kelley
Star Sounds Karaoke & Mobile Recording Studio


[shadow=black][scroll]You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself....KD Lang[/scroll][/shadow]

Lot's of ankle biting going on here

To answer the question about what if MTU goes out of business.....

So what!  I still have a perfectly good working copy of hoster to work with and my show goes on. End of story.

If I had to re-rip my library down the road so be it I have all the originals. Took me about 3 weeks in my spare time. No big deal.

Hoster is worth it to me. They have always been there for me and all of my problems have been solved. Most of the problems were not associated with their software anyway, it was usually hardware or Operating System issues.

They are a small company that has good values, good staffing, an excellent forum for support (for those who have patience) and they have great products.

I'm perfectly happy with my original choice to go with them.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

By the way .....Welcome Back Keith!

Good to see you are back, at least for now

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Your right you did not say it was/is junk I was actually referencing the person that called it junk because he was upset the files could not be converted.



Regardless what your opinion is about the company or product you made an educated decision by researching what you wanted before buying. I'm sure you have an awsome program that meets your needs based on how you research.

Ok,  I would assume that the SOFTWARE KEY for HOSTER is bassed on the machine you install it on, and MTU goes out of business.  Now your motherboard fries from a brown out.  Change mother board, and OOPS, the SOFTWARE KEY no longer works.

In my case, I can still use the KEYLESS winamp and plugin to play the MP3+G files.  What is going to play all of thoes KMA files?


Won't work for me, or most other pro KJ that have regular gigs.  I would barely have 3-4 days to re-rip my library.  Took me about  2 months in spare time to rip my library originally.  Not to mention that the wife would be pissed at me casue I had to spend my spare time in front of the computer re-ripping songs that I alread had ripped once before.  GOD I would never hear the end of it.  And what about thoes KJs that woukd almost every day?

True Hoster works for you, but there are possible pitfalls that anyone could encounter using Hoster, that would make it impossible to reover from in a reasonable ammount of time (days not weeks).

I have to say that dougc came through for me. I had upgraded my system to many times to count. It's my own fault that it causes issues with software that needs to be reregistered because the developers want to actually make a living instead of handing out freeware. For example, I have a licensed disk of Windows XP Pro that I cannot use anymore because of the number of upgrades it endured while I acquired new hardware one piece at a time, new motherboard, new processor, 2 video cards, hard drive, ets. These normally occur for anyone who does graphics work. Not to mention the number of times my OS was so badly torn-up by viruses that when the virus was finally defeated I had an OS that was so far beyond repair that the installation disk could no longer make sense of it. Had to reload my OS a few times for this reason alone.

I upgraded again recently from win2k to another new winxp investment. This is why I had to get a new key for Microstudio. Doug made it possible.

After a number of times of re registering my OS it tells me to call MS to get it approved. After that, they will only reapprove so many times. My system is almost completely new and it was one piece at a time. My budget doesn't allow me to buy a new system all at once and I never needed to replace the whole system at once anyway.

Hopefully there will come a day when the vendors will be able to protect their intellectual property in a way that doesn't null the end user's investment, until then I am seriously considering changing to Linux or moving entirely to Mac.

I used to do tech support for a couple of different large computer companies and I need to mention this although it is blatantly obvious to many, that customer service skills take a back seat to technical knowledge for a lot of companies. I'm sure this was one of the motivational; factors in moving first level support to a nation that has forgotten the purpose of their canine teeth. There went my job as well.

Just my 2 cents.

That's a risk I am willing to take for better sound quality & smaller file size.

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