Karaoke Forums

As I've decided to take the plunge and go "discless" I've been reading every topic on this and other karaoke forums regarding the best way to get started. Needless to say the more I read the more confusing it gets ...
Since I do a fair amount of DJ work as well as KJ I decided on the PCDJ and PCKJ hosting software. But I'm confused on how to get my CDG's ripped burnt or copied however you call it to a HARD DRIVE on my computer. I have an use CDRWIN but I understand that this will not copy the CDG files into a MP3+g file. Thanks to Knightshow , I read about
AUDIOGRABBER which seems to me a good program to convert my CDGS into MP3+G. But they mention "internal encoders " and "external encoders" MP3 toolz and and download this and download that.... it makes my head spin.... I just want to put my cdg in my plextor drive and copy it to a hrd drive so I can use with my hosting software IS THIS TOO MUCH TO ASK?.... If I use audio grabber do I need MP3 toolz ? Do I need winap? Which basic prgrams do I need ? HELP

do yourself a favor, and do some reading on the MTU forum before you decide on the pckj program. The mtu program contains the "ripper" and a database, so you dont have to type in the artist and title for each track.

From What I understand from reading pckj crashes quite a bit. and that is very embarrasing during a show.

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Thanks DR. D
Do you use the MTU program yourself? One of my concerns is being able to go from DJ'ing to KJ'ing with one program and screen. In investigating it seems that the only the products from PCDJ can accomplish this.


I already purchased and use the MTU Microstudio , would you know if this can rip to MP3 +g?

Thanks Again

Jam,

did you see my thread on ripping 101?

http://www.karaoke-forum.com/viewtopic. ... ht=rip+cdg

Doing it this way does not tie you in to any particular software. It also leaves you with archival versions of all your discs so you never have to rip again, even if a better software/new codec becomes available. Considering the hassle involved in ripping I think this is the futureproof way.

It is not very hard to set it up this way. I will be happy to help you out by answering any questions you have.

Morten

Morten
Thanks for that link, I read your post and also Knightshows reponse
It seems AUDIOGRABBER is a good choice for ripping the cdgs to mp3+gs
I would most likely just take the easy way and rip as suggest by Knightshow. Another question is which progam allows automatic naming of your MP3+G files using some sort of Karaoke song database?
Is that AUDIO GRABBER ?

I think Knightshow mentioned some software that takes a kjpro file and then renames all the files correctly. Other than that I think you have to pay for the software (mtu?). Just beware if you use a proprietary ripper the ripped songs might end up in a directory structure and encoded in a manner that all software will work with.

For now all my songs are just names by "discnumber - track number". At least for me that is ok for now.

I would also still encourage you to:

1) Batch encode. It only took me 3-4 days to rip all my ~90 karaoke cdg's because all encoding were done during night!

2) Also encode to a lossless format so that you later can re-encode if you get tired of the quality, better format comes along etc without having to re-rip everything. Harddisc space is cheap and the additional hassle once it is setup is zero

3) Spend the $50-100 to get a Plextor drive. With the Plextor you are pretty sure that all discs (unless AG complains) are ripped well. You don't want to find out that the rip is bad in the middle of a show, and you don't want to have to listen to all songs to ensure the quality.

Morten

that software morten's talking about is cdg autoname.

it's a freeware utility that will pull the data off the kjpro database.

Jam, we've spoken on IM about this... pcdj-red is a PERFECT dj player, but pckj has some known issues, on top of being a horse for memory and resources.

Sax & Dotty's using winamp, and for that matter, winamp by itself if you want to keep it simple, are perfectly fine for karaoke.

Knight,

My concern is that I like the fact that the PCKJ and the PCDJ , use one screen and you can mix right from there. You can see everything thats happening right in from of you. I plan to have 1 designated computer for hosting so I'm not too concerned about system resources. I am concerned about quality issues and down time. I looked around and did not see much regarding the NEGATIVE issues of PCKJ. But again
I never used IT or any other computer to host my shows. I want simple
but Im also looking for intergrated as I plan to do a lot of mixed work in the future KJ& DJ. OH and did I mention I'm not that computer literate

Knightshow,

where do I find CD+G Autoname? Does it work with other databases besides KJPRO?

Morten

unfortunately, it's scripted for kjpro.

to be honest, this freeware is why I eventually went with kjpro. plus I love the monthly updates!

I can send it to you. It was emailed to me!

unfortunately, it's scripted for kjpro.

to be honest, this freeware is why I eventually went with kjpro. plus I love the monthly updates!

I can send it to you. It was emailed to me!

and Jam, you have to learn sometime if you're going to USE the computer. Tig and I have tried literally dozens of hosting software... and the winamp (for me) is easy. you just right click on the file and enqueue it into your playlist.

I like Sax & Dotty's, but they are being very stubborn about software issues. Seems they want you to pay for it with every installation. So if you change pcs, or have a hard drive crash, the $40 you have already spent is gone!

It's B.S. like that that makes me embrace the winamp player! !

JAMKARAOKE,
yes, I use the Hoster By Mtu, and I prefer it. It seems like everyone here likes the free and cheap software, so Ill just leave it this discussion where it is.

You do Get what you pay for tho, and Mtu's Hoster is worth the price. same as pcdj.

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

Not a question of wanting free software but something worth the money!
You are not suggesting a bad software but for the price, is it really worth it?

Winamp is not a bad software even if I can stand the sound, it will give you everything you need including a decent key changer and another software call Karawin is also a great one to have, so for the $$$ they charge I need a better key changer & the correct graphic resolution for these low resolution cdg's
My understanding is that Hoster will soon be able to import in mp3+g so let's hope it has the open encoder like Lame available to go with it, at the moment the wma format is the only option available and that's very sad knowing how much it cost

Hoster will already play mp3+g. Why would anyone want to inport to mp3+g when something Better is available. The .Kma compression is lossless. The best mp3+g isn't close for the size of the file. Move into the 21st century.

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

That is just your opinion which is not the reality & you know it, we've been there before... The 21st century is in fact the mp3+g format and it's the reason why the new Hoster will have the option to IMPORT not just play

WMA lossless??? I wish you were right on that but it's not the case, the Lame encoder is!!! Under 128k the wma format is a good option but that's where it ends, after 128k it's the mp3 with Lame that is the best option and it's not coming from me & you know that...

What kind of computer are you using. I am going to making the plunge myself sometime this year & plan on the Hoster program. Have you had any downfalls that you would be willing to share? Computer locking up stories at all? Looking for any pros & cons - (I already know many pros).

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Lonnie,
I am using a homemade rackmounted ( & shock mounted) 3.0 ghz amd processor, 1.5 gig ram, with msi fx5600 video card. It has a soundblaster audigy 2 platinum soundcard.

When I was building the system, Mtu was recommending a raid system for the C: drive using 2 large drives, so if one failed the other would continue. This was a big mistake.

Solution:

Have a small 30 or 40 gig c: drive, and a 250 gig d: drive. Keep the operating system, and the programs only on the c: drive. Put all music files on the D: drive. Use norton Ghost 2003 to backup the c: drive image to the d: drive. The reason for this is safety. If you keep the c: drive small and back it up to d: you can do a restore incase of a drive error in a matter of 10 minutes.

with the raid system, windows xp gives a lot of problems and it ends up trashing the good drive instead of rebuilding the way it should. I had 5 crashes on the raid system in the first 4 months. but since I set it up this way, I have never had to re-image the c: drive. it is only for safety. I have been running this way for 10 months.

on the 250 gig music drive, I have 21,000+ karaoke tracks, and 32,000 .wma music tracks pluss 2 backups of the c: drive. and that leaves me about 1/3 of the drive free.

FYI I have been Building computers for 20 years. If you are knowlegeable build your own and save a few bucks otherwise the MTU computer comes loaded, and ready to use. well worth the difference in price.

I don't work for MTU, But I really do believe in their products, and am a very satisfied user. No lockups with the 3.0 version

If you want to know more pm me and I will answer your questions.

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

Micky,

I know who you are, and you know better...... you are entitled to your opinion, But your statement isnt fact. Hoster is adding the mp3+g because a lot of people already have ripped to mp3 +g, and don't want to re-rip (or they don't have the original disks). It isn't because the Mp3+g format is better.

Anyone care to find out the facts they can read for themselves on the hoster forum.

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

I've read the Hoster forum. They're full of wonderful facts about their program. well DUH, it's THEIR program.

Of COURSE they're going to do that.

Read the "facts" at Sax & Dotty's website, and they'll tell you there's a REASON they went with winamp. And the mp3+g format.

Nobody will win these peeing contests, Dr. D. You like your format. FINE. Be happy with it. It's nice to know that there's an option out there.

I've never once had a complaint about any musical loss on my converted files.

Mikey, let it rest. He's obviously made up his mind.

I'm just glad that there's MORE than the one option. This way, we can ALL be happy with the computerized version of karaoke!

Matt,
Thanks for the voice of reason. Fyi tho, I didn't get my opinion on mp3 vs wma from mtu.


I read more than 1 source of Information before I make up my mind on something.

Enough said.........

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