Karaoke Forums

As we all know, there is nothing worse for a KJ than for everything to go silent while a singer is on stage. Multiply that times *12* for me as that is about how many times it has taken place in the last 3 weeks.

About 2 weeks ago, Karma would just stop playing audio. Sometime the lyrics would continue to scroll, sometimes they would not. Sometime I could resolve by closing Karma, other times it required a reboot.

At first I thought it was the new wireless HDMI transmitter and driver that were causing the issue ( I posted about this a week or so ago). But the issue has continued. This last week I rebuilt my main karaoke PC using Windows 7 from scratch thinking that should resolve the issue. However, the 4th track locked up mid-song, so I swapped to another PC.

Machine #2 is a Windows 8 machine. It also locked up several times over the remainder of the evening.

Neither machine was using the Wireless HDMI transmitter and the software for it was never installed.
There have been no Karma Updates since January I believe.
The rebuilt machine was Windows + Updates + Karma. That's it.
So the issue must reside with a Windows Update.

On May 14th, the first in a series of .NET Framework Updates was released. For those familiar with a new Karma install, the Karma installer will retrieve and install the .NET Framework pieces it needs if they are not already installed. karma does not grab updates though. The updates come from Windows Update and the updates are NOT required for Karma to function properly.

I am 99% sure it is the .NET Framework updates that are causing the issue. To test, I am almost finished rebuilding my main karaoke laptop again using Windows 7. This is a plain jane Windows 7 plus Service Pack 1 system. No further updates. I will install Karma and let Karma grab the .NET pieces it needs, then I am disabling all network adapters.

I am doing the same for my backup machine with the exception of it using Windows 8 as a base install and no further updates.

This is a LONG way of telling everyone they should IGNORE the .NET Framework updates until I can test and verify they are the source of the problem. Should have more and hopefully positive news for you tomorrow.

-Chris

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-Chris

Ain’t that a kick in the head, chris. I’m laughing because a few moments ago on another thread I told an op having problems with siglos to give karma a try & I said: “I’ve been using it for over a year & always glitch-free & flawless operation”.

No problem @ my show (knock on wood) but I’m using hp dv9000 winxp pro svcpk3 with 17.5 screen. only using this laptop winxp because of the big screen - ideal for my failing eyesight.

No issues with my hp dm4 win7 at home either. Hopefully, they stay that way & thanks for the heads-up; I’ll make it a point not to do an upgrade/repair for the time being until these issues are resolved. Please keep us posted.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Get rid od Win8 I too use Win7 OEM & XPSP2 OEM and have had zero problems in over 17 months. I have no Microsoft updates of any kind on either laptop. KISS. I uninstall all Dot net software and let karma find the minimum dot net needed.

Update -


Bob Latshaw let me know he has been using fully patched machines on Win 8 with no issues.

I have two other computers that are also fully patched that are having no issues. One of those is using connected to a Yamaha board via an external Sound Card.

The other is connected via USB to a Zed12FX.

I had a lockup on a song again tonight. On a whim I swapped to using the headphone jack instead of the USB -> ZED12FX connection. No lock ups across 20+ tracks now. So I now think it is the USB -> ZED Connection that is giving Karma grief on this machine.

-Chris

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-Chris

Chris,

I use the ZED12FX USB connection to my laptop as well.

I have found that if the ZED's connection to the USB cable is loose or moves, it crashes the windows driver.

In CompuHost V2, the software will continue to play the file, but in order to get the audio back, I have to shutdown CH and then I have to disable/enable the usb playback and restart CH.

I have also seen this happen if the ZED looses power (even for a second) due to a faulty outlet or power strip.

Imagine that happening during the opening of 4 guys singing "Seven Bridges Road" and watch while they realize the music never started but the lyrics kept going...

I now use gaffer's tape to secure vital power source plugs at the outlet.

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Never the same show twice!

I will provide a more detailed (geeky) explanation later, but I think I have identified the true issue. It is still USB related, but not specific to the ZED. It is a combination of USB3.0 ports, USB3.0 Drivers, and the Windows Portable Device Enumeration service. Disabling this service *might* resolve the issue.

-Chris

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-Chris

Dear Chris,

I'd like to share with you my experience with KARMA from Latshaw.

I had absolutely the same problem as you facing now. I am quite shure that issue is CODECS. With those recomended by Latshaw, my experience was very bad. Some songs was playing good,some not.
I contacted Latshaw but I was surprised that their answers was very short and helpless.
Finally I found IT engeneur who specialises in Acoustics and things like that. First - He removed Windows original codecs, Than he install some others (if you like I can check for you).
The problem appears when that CPU (right corner in bellow of screen) shows 100% and more. Than audio stops. I suggest to take all actions to reduce CPU percents. So first step could be to reduce screen/monitor 2 and or 3 resolution. After to remove all other things what you do not need when running a show.
Ainars

That has been my experience as well and I host 3 to 4 karaoke shows every week.
I wish you good luck in pin-pointing the problem and then finding a solution, Chris.

Ack....I thought I posted my resolution but I obviously did not.

The issue was power related and nothing more.

About the same time I added the HDMI transmitter (which is when the audio loss issue raised it's head), I also re-wired my lighting tree. I started plugging the TV screen that is behind the stage area into the lighting tree. This TV was in turn plugged into a VGA splitter which is in turn plugged into a USB port on the laptop.

Any time I used the FOG machine which is on the lighting tree power chain, it was causing a fluctuation that transferred to the USB connection on the VGA splitter and caused the sound to cut out.

I figured this out last weekend and moved the power cable for the stage TV back to the original power strip it was on before. No issues at all since then.

So it was never a driver issue, never a software compatibility issue, never a .NET framework issue and never a Windows Update issue.

-Chris

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-Chris