Karaoke Forums

Hi...I'm just starting out...and need some advice on what programs are good for ripping cdg's to mp3g's and hosting software...and...and...and... Thanks for any info

I use the Invicion suite of programs, CDGRip, FastTracks, and CompuHost. There are some other good suites out there that others would recommend, but I think I can safely say that most KJs on this board use this suite of programs, so while it may be lacking in some areas or superior in some areas compared to others, it is pretty much the industry standard at this point.

http://www.karaokeware.com/products.html

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C Mc
KJ, FL

MTU Video Hoster is another great option. All in one program for hosting, ripping & creating songbooks, no need for 3 separate programs to load like most of the others.

www.mtu.com

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

What he said!

Well, even tho the programs mentioned are both good (MTU and Compuhost), this just goes to show how over priced they are. Go and look at MTU's homepage, they are selling blank cd's for $49.99 for a hundred pack. Saying they are "cd+g certified". First of all what the crap is that supposed to mean? and second, any blank cdr will work for cd+g's. In my opinion, the owners of both (and many others too), are simply in it for the money, nothing more. Are they worth it??? maybe? I use JustKaraoke for a hosting program, Power CD+G burner for a ripper and burner, and I type my own books, ( I don't recommend this one tho,, ugh)

Just saying, keep your options open, and use what is best for you and your individual needs! You actually might feel the price you pay for the above mentioned suites is worth the price. You will get to decide that for yourself.

Actually I have used blanks in the past that did NOT work for cdg. Although this was a few years back, not all blanks work. The best ones I ever found were Mitsui Gold, always had perfect copies as opposed to some of the cheaper brands that tended to have a 'lifespan' so to speak where they would stop playing clear graphics after a couple years. The ones I did on the gold discs back in 96 still work like day one. Although they are spendy and I believe these are the same ones that MTU sell - either the gold or Silver which are equally as good. However I have actually gotten rid of most of my backups and don't think i'd ever use a disc to burn backups anymore.

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

Thanks to all for the tips...I'll check them all out...thanks again Mr Scott...I typed up a few pages myself and decided it was way too much time for me......I admire you for your efforts...wow...

Lonnie, the only discs that I have bought over the years that didn't burn at all were TDK's, and that was only a few discs only in the middle of a stack,, just plainly defective. The best luck I found were Sony discs, the mother of all discs. Only paid 8 bucks for 50, so I bought a butt load of them. But really, I stopped using discs for back up as well. Not really worth the effort of burning when all we have to do is store an archive file somewhere on a hard drive, right?

While I do agree with Scott that many manufacturer's products are over-priced, I also feel that in many cases you get what you pay for. Invicion's products (CompuHost, FastTracks, and Karaoke Kiosk) are probably the most expensive of the hosting products available, yet I feel that they are worth every dollar that they are charging for them. All of their products integrate beautifully together and there is no better customer support out there. While other products out there may do the job, there is none that are in the same class as Invicion's line.

So, yes they my be priced more but for what you're getting and what their products can do for you and your show, is worth every penny. The "best" usually costs more.

Other's may argue and say that they can run their show using hosting software that costs much less, and you can, but not with the same level of professionalism and finess as CompuHost. You can run your show using a $10 mic also but it wouldn't be in the same class as a Shure SM58 either now would it?

So, yes, in many cases you do get what you pay for.

Well I would disagree with this statement even though i'm an MTU Hoster user (up there in cost as well), I have seen 'pro' shows that ran smooth with 'lesser' products, they may or may not have all the bells & whistles. Professionalism doesn't mean having to spend a lot for a hosting program - this is a kj's personal choice as to what will fit their needs, I have tried the rest and prefer the ease of Hoster. As long as a program plays without glitches or crashes, then this is only one portion of it. If set up correctly, the audience will never know what program the kj is using.

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