Karaoke Forums

OK so I am looking to get a PC and begin running my show from that, could someone please let me know everything that I am going to need and how to keep the price down?

Well, first you need a PC.  An old nasty one from a garage sale will be fine.  It should have a 233MMX processor or better, 32 or more mb of Ram. The operating system should be Windows ’98 SE or better.  Not NT.

The PC will need TWO video cards PCI or AGP, (ISA is too slow) and a fairly good sound card, a NIC would be a good idea if your plan to run a kiosk.  Get all the drivers and what-not and make sure the PC is working properly, and then get rid of every program on the computer that doesn’t have to do with Karaoke.  Check the hard drive and allow about 6 mb of disk space for every song you have.  If the hard drive isn’t big enough get another one and install it.

Then get Sacks-O-Nuts ShowHoster at www.freewebs.com/sacksonuts and install it.  Sacks-O-Nuts is the only one designed to run on old cruddy computers.  Ignore any error messages and the beg screen.  From the Options menu select DOWNLOADS and get  Winamp, and AudioGrabber and the CDG plug-in and the LAME encoder.  Install all.

Now make a folder to put your songs in.  Start Audio Grabber and try ripping your karaoke CD.  If you only get the audio portion, it is likely that you will need a different CD drive.  Get a Plextor.  Rip all of your CDGs  (Don’t zip them!)  Now start Sacks-O-Nuts, click cancel on the beg screen, and include the music folder in the list of folders to search at start-up.  Make sure your printer is working and go to the Option menu and click “Print Books.”  You now have books

Hook the sound card to the mixer. And you are in business.

It’s not quite that simple but it’s pretty close.  As for cheap, Winamp is freeware and so is Audiograbber,  Sacks-O-Nuts has a beg screen at start-up but just click cancel and you can use it forever without paying.

what exactly are you looking for?

The ability to use the computer JUST to play karaoke, or a "hoster" type of issue where the computer does everything, from a rotation, to playing the karaoke, to playing background music, etc.???

Or something in between?

there's no ONE way of doing it. Many of us that do use a computer for karaoke have different opinions. What works for me may not work for you specificially.

start by reading what others have done, and the technology involved. This TECH area is where to go...

The MTU Recognized Drives thread
Notebook to TV
Playing CDG Disks On PC
KJ Laptop - Is it legal
External Drive
MTU Ruggedized laptop
The ideal KJ Software
(etc.)

and that's just for starters. We've had SEVERAL threads talking about the various kinds of programs, and many of us "experts" all agree on different things.

I would caution you that unless you're pretty good with PCs in general, NOT to go this route. With a computerized system, you need to know how to fix it if you get a burb... whether it's a hardware or software failure. I've had issues where the keyboard didn't work, and had to use another... a power cord failure!

So having backup parts with you is in MY personal opinion very important.

If you DO have a serious error, what are you going to do to fix it?

I'm not trying to rain on your parade. I applaud you for wanting to use today's technology to do karaoke. It DOES simplify it, but also, DOES make it more complicated. AND you have to be ultra comfortable with it to use it effectively!

Talking, I thought it was a therapy session for the MTU useres.  LMAO.

But in a seriousness, if you are looking for a hosting program, try em all am make up your OWN mind.  There are several good ones out there in all have there streangths, and weaknesses.  I belive most all hosting programs have a trial period that you can use. USe it, and YOU decide which is right for you.

ANd as for PCs to run karaoke, it all depends on what you want it to do.  Like the EXWEEDFARMER said, you can uses an old 233mhz machine, or you may need a maching that is 1.5Ghz.  It depends on what you want to use it for.

Post back some more info on what you will being using the PC for (Pro use, or home use) and what you would like to have it do for you.  And gives a budget on how much you want to spend on the PC and related software and that will help too.

and here's where the differences begin.

I'm not using a "hoster" program at all. Not necessary.

To me, the computer is the player and the storage files for the karaoke songs, and that's it. Winamp is able to play the files... just play them from the windows explorer where you are finding them on your storage hard drive.

as for the zipping files, I don't use them. BUT there are hoster programs, and even playing programs that CAN and do use the .zip format as well.

I'm going to switch one of these days.  But I absolutely will not do it until I have two laptops.         One for back up.    Two hard drives, one for back up.     Anything less, you could end up not getting paid with your pants down.     Too many things can happen to a computer to do it with less.    

Just me, but I want the best sound card and video card I can buy.    You don't get them in old, crappy, out of date, laptops.

I went to a show the other night where a guy was not using hosting software.  He looked up the song by number which corisponded to a folder on his computer, then he opened the folder and double clicked on the song file.  Winamp was his default player so it came up and the song started.  I know this is what he was doing because that's what I saw happening on the main screen.  This is not something the crowd wants to see.  It was "Dead Air" which as we all know is a bad thing.  This guy was perhaps the worst excuse for a KJ that I have ever seen.  If this is the alternative, yeah, you do need hosting software.  And why not if you don't have to pay for it?

he didn't know how to do his show with the software he was using. He also didn't have a dual screen where the audience doesn't see what they're doing. (if I understood you right). So yes, he was the worst example of a KJ, but just because you HAVE the software to do hosting, doesn't mean you'll KNOW how to do it in a show...

Winamp works wonders IF you know how to use it. Same thing with Sax & Dotty's, MTU's Hoster, PCKJ, etc. etc. That takes time and experience to work with what you have... that kj was a fool!

I "Enqueue" songs in winamp. I even make splash shots of a singer's name, and make THAT a .mp3g file, so I enqueue THAT. I also make custom annoucements, rule screens, anything the bar needs or I needed to do. Happy Birthday stuff, trivia, etc.

http://www.knightshow.com/screen/shots for a page of how they look, the software I use, etc. The examples are in .bin format, and I use mp3toolz to rip those to .mp3g format.

I even did one on the fly one night when I had a big screen TV, and the path between the screen and the singer was constantly being taken by people just standin' around bullsh*ttin'... so I made up one that said "Don't stand in front of the FRICKIN' TV!!!!" and everyone burst out laughing!...  

My rotation looks like:
singer1's name
singer1's song
singer2's name
singer2's song
bar advertisment
singer3's name
singer3's song
etc.

Again, I use the program for WHAT it can do. As each singer ended their song, I'd take their name and move it to the bottom of the rotation list, and remove their old song they finished. I always have at least three songs enqueued up at a bare minumum, usually more, so if someone leaves and I don't see it, or are on the phone, bathroom break, etc. I can immediately go to the next singer.

I also keep the custom screens I create in a separate folder on the desktop. So once I create "you", as a returning regular, I don't have to recreate the page!

Yeah, good ideas all.  But you haven't mentioned anything that Sacks-O-Nuts for one (and I think AutoKDJ) doesn't have automated.  I really think you would like the built in graphics and cropping feature for SON and the ability to associate a picture or multi-media file with a particular singer.  Plus handy things like automatic singer rotation, Kamikazi, programable sound effects....etc.  I don't mean to suggest that there is anything wrong with your show, but working that hard would get in the way of my drinking.

Oh I hear ya... but what I was doing wasn't saying that my show is better than anything else... you made a statement that winamp alone may not be good when I said I didn't need a hosting program, and I was just clarifying how I DON'T need a hosting program.

And I honestly don't work that hard. Once you know how to run the show, it's quite easy. Heck, I showed my ex-roomie in kansas how to do it, and he took to it like a world champion kj!!

It all goes back to my first post on the matter... which is exactly what are you looking for in a computer to run karaoke. What is my definition of running karaoke isn't anybody elses.

I've tried Hoster (a crack for it), Sax & Dottys, and played around extensively with clubdjpro. I've not tried sax o' nuts, nor pckj, based on some of the things I've heard about them. PCKJ specifically is a memory hog, and no offense, but the whole sax o nuts thing was worn into the ground.

Just like when I spoke out about winamp, I'm sure!

See, the whole CONCEPT of a hoster type of program is just wrong for me. I like being the one to control my rotation... I can adjust it on the fly if I have to. To me, the whole issue of being a karaoke host (not jock) is about the individual's ability to do the job. Again, I pointed out that for the most part, I consider the computer the karaoke player, and the place to store the karaoke files. I don't WANT to do a lot of noise effects, or throw up "Clap DAMMIT" on the screen. That's fine for other shows... just not mine.

I literally took a very long time playing around with karaoke formats, what would and wouldn't work for computerized karaoke at home for many, many moons.  And one thing I never wanted to be is a slave to the system, or having the program do "everything"...

Others like it, and they're more than free to do their own thing.

You mentioned kamikazee... I can handle it just fine without the program to do that.

If I ever had to change the way I do things, I'd probably go with clubdjpro, as I love it's video mixing of mp3s, zip format, avi, mpeg, and definately mp3Gs...

WEIRD use for just a palyer and storge device.
 

True you can do all the things you want to in winamp, but a hosting programs just automates the task and makes it easier.

OMG...yet another software thread!  Nothing wrong with your question...just that it has been beat to death on this forum. Searching will net you hundreds of threads.

Frankly you would be better off doing a search on this subject on google and downloading the programs that appear to fit your needs and then test them one by one and evaluate them for yourself.

You can also search this forum like Knightshow recommended and you will see all the varying opinions that the "Experts" have.  I will warn you....they usually end up being "mine is better than yours" threads. If you can read between the lines perhaps you can pick up some good info.

The key words you use are, keep the price down. That will apply to most of the software listed in this thread so far. Not to minimize their importance at all...actually they are a great value for the dollars invested. If they fit your needs then by all means jump on the band wagon. If they don't fit all your needs then you may find yourself stepping up in price to get what you want.

Sacks o Nuts, Winamp, Sax & Dotty, Roxbox all provide a good program for $0 to $75  and if that is your primary spending limit then those programs will work just fine for you.

My best advise is invest plenty of time and energy in your research and testing. Most of the companies offer free demo downloads. You will be very happy that you did your research down the road.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

When I do it, I will use Sax & Dottys, but I will still use song request slips.  I will only need the song in the que screen.  Not the singers name.   Too much typing time for unneed info.   The slip will tell you their name and the sing title.   I don't need it on the computer too.

Roxbox gets my vote.  I have tried the others, but Roxbox works best for me.  Mine is better than yours.  :

 LMAO

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I want to do karaoke, not be in the steno pool.

Click the song and be done.  Type names for what?    Why wouldn't you know who's singing the song?   It's not mystery karaoke.    They had to tell you somehow, the song they wanted.  And you know who gave it to you.   Make them fill out a slip and they did all the work.   You just click the song.

If you don't use slips, the singers will be hovering around your table all night, like a bee hive.    They will think they are in line for the ladies restroom.    Give me a slip and return to your seat, so I can breathe.

I had 10 singers the other night and 4 of them were named Dan.

I'd say, have them fill out the slips and write their names and song requests.  Then use Roxbox to enter the name and the song into the queue.  Why?  Roxbox will show on the singer's screen the list of singers on the queue.  If you have a screen facing the would-be singers, you won't have a crowd of people asking if they are next in line.  That will also show that you have a fair rotation.... ??? maybe not...

Here is a list of Roxbox features:

Singers Queue list on singers screen between songs.
Dual karaoke Players
Fade
karaoke File Formats MP3+G, WAV+G, MPG, zipped or not
Drag n Drop from Windows to Queue
Drag n Drop to manage karaoke singers Queue
Auto Play
Random Play
Auto Remove
Two karaoke CDG screens
Fast Database import
Edit import list before transfer
Karaoke Singer History
Save and Load of Queues or Playlist
Change the www.RoxBox.net message on the Singers Queue
Save and restore of CDG screens to the monitors you set
Find like song
karaoke Compilations
Basic Karaoke Song Book
Export of karaoke songs to text file
Fast free form song search and SAYT – Search As You Type
Track List with sizable columns, column order and sort by column
Queue List with sizable columns and column order
Double click on import list to edit that entry
Added Comp to right click menu on queue 1 for making compilations. (prints basic cd label, extracts and converts to BIN files ready to burn with cdrwin).
You can auto fade to player 1 only, auto fade back and forth from player 1 to player 2 to player 1, and you can auto fade to player 2 only.
Random play when in auto play mode. this allows you to set player 2 as auto play with your background music and when the karaoke song in player 1 is done, it will auto fade to player 2 with a random song from the play list, It will stay in player 2 until you play a karaoke song from player 1

All I need in my program is

1.  Song search (typing in a few key words)
    a. by artist    b. by title   c. by disc

2.  Queue list.   (To put the song in)

3.  Play button.

4.  Repeat button.    (for someone that missed the beginning)

5.  Stop button.

6.  Key change.

7.  The ability to move a song in the queue.  (coz so & so is in the john)

8.  The ability to delete a song in the queue.   (coz so & so changed their mind)

Most have what you're looking for
Some better than others.
Hoster has a good keychanger and mulitplex buttons
Roxbox allows you to change a song without changing location in que.
the latest version of S&D has a restart button while just hitting play on roxbox restarts the song.
all have keychangers in some manner or other.
These are just my opinions on the subject. Doesn't make me right.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.