Karaoke Forums

I've tried Karma multiple times and it was not simple to learn and use-at least not for me. I really did not like the user interface or the look of the user interface and never could figure out how to operate it.

After several times of downloading the Karma demo and trying it, I'm done. I'm amazed that so many people like Karma? It may be excellent once you figure out how to use it, but I'm not interested in completely changing how I think and how I do things to use a piece of software. If it isn't intuitive and simple then it's not for me.

The process of adding a song, adding a singer, searching for a song, bringing up the next singer and so forth should be SIMPLE. Take a look at Karafun or JustKaraoke - both have ultra simple user interfaces. No searching around and clicking multiple times through multiple windows to do a simple function. Almost everything is right there on one main screen-easy, straight forward and simple.

I'm not saying Karafun is a hosting program, I'm just pointing it out as a simple, elegant design and layout. Even it could be tweaked a little to be even better. I don't understand why they don't add a couple more features and then they COULD sell it as a hosting program.

Press the INSERT Key and start typing in a singer name. If they have been there before, it starts to auto-populate. If they are new to your show it auto-creates a new singer. Either way it places them at the bottom of the rotation.

Want to move them higher/lower? Just drag and drop them in the list.

They left for the night? Highlight the singer, press delete. Also deletes any songs they had requested.

Press ESC twice always takes you Song Search. Type in artist, song name, or some combo of both. Find the song, drag it onto a singer.

I don't use it for filler music, but it can track/play that as well.

I run my whole show wiht the INSERT ESC DEL keys and drag and drop.


-Chris

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-Chris

That actually does sound pretty simple chris, but what does the the word esc, del or insert have to do with running a Karaoke program? They sound like programming functions, not like labeling a button "add singer", "song search", "play song", "add singer to rotation", "remove singer", "skip singer" and so on. Karama uses terminology and a way of doing things using a programmer's mind rather than for someone running a Karaoke show.

The functions of how a Karaoke host adds singers, searches for songs and then associates the found song with a singer and then places the singer into the rotation are simple, discrete functions that should be able to be performed with one or two keystrokes each and from the same main screen without using menus or nested functions. The few basic functions that are performed over and over regularly should be clearly laid out and easily understood even by someone who has never seen the program before. This is MY philosophy of what makes a good user interface.

It may not be important at all to many people, but for me, the look of the user interface IS important. If the user interface is simple, uncluttered and uncomplicated, the font is pleasing to the eye, the color scheme is pleasing to the eye, the layout is easily understood and easy to navigate-these are things that help to make a program pleasant to learn and pleasant to use. I for one don't want to use CTRL-X, or ESC ESC to do something that a simple button that is labeled with it's function could do with one key stroke. That's just me and how I think and how I prefer to do things.

Well, I have been using Hoster since we began using computers. As a matter of fact, Chip developed the original songbook function for the Hoster program. I think it's easy to use, and over time they have improved it -- adding additional functionality. I don't have any love for the developers of the program, but I do like the actual interface.

For what it's worth.

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Birdofsong

birdofsong, I took another look at Hoster this morning and also looked for videos on Youtube describing how to use it. I'm still considering it because it has the hosting program, the ripping program and the book software all in one and I can have it installed on a back up laptop too. I need to see more about how it works doing the basic functions of running a show. It would be great if you or Lonman or someone else who is very familiar with Hoster would make a video on the basic operation of Hoster and post it to Youtube. That would be nice.

What Chris means is the insert key, delete key, and esc key on your key board.
If your typing your singers name in then you have a keyboard and those
keys are on it!

from the main screen you hit the insert key and a small screen pops up
you type the singers name in and hit return key it automatically places them
in rotation then all you have to do is drag the song they want to sing (from
the list) to their name.

The left just hi-light their name and hit the delete key their gone!
Program automatically save what they have sung in the past. Click on their name
and it brings up singer history...

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

I understood exactly what chris was saying. Did you read what I said? It's a matter of how I personally think a program should function - the way Karma looks on the screen and the way it operates operates isn't what I personally prefer. I was very clear about that. If it works for you-great-I don't care for it at all. Karma is visually and operationally unappealing to me.

Those are just the Hot Keys for the clicks you can do with the mouse in the interface. I understand what you are saying, but i imagine Hoster has Hot Keys as well. Some people prefer the mouse, and some prefer a keyboard. I use a mix.

Karma can be "skinned". They include different color schemes and you can change Font size as well. You can even re-position the windows in the screen and change the layout. Very flexible app and you don't have to be a programmer to figure it out. *I* am *not* a programmer.


-Chris

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-Chris

BTW.....

Not trying to convert folks. I like Karma, I like Bob Latshaw, but I do evaluate other software. I like the look, feel, performance of Karma. I like the ability to skin it. I like the customizations I can make to the interface. I do wish it had some other features that some of the other apps have, but those features aren't worth the switch for me.

My post above was just to point out that the items mentioned do exist, and they aren't hidden or difficult to use.

I am actually taking a look at the latest version of Hoster to see what has changed and if it works better than a couple years ago when I last played with it.

-Chris

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-Chris

Thank you chris. The idea that it can be skinned to change the layout and look is a GREAT feature, I wasn't aware of that. Increasing the font size would be a biggie for me and losing the black background would be a must.

Do you know if there are any other skins that have been posted anywhere that I could take a look at?

I appreciate the info you provided. I want and need to make a good decision regarding what hosting program I select. Once I decide, I plan on sticking with that decision for several years.

I fully expect and believe that others can benefit from these discussions. Lots of folks just lurk, looking for info or entertainment. Just like Karaoke, some sing and some want to sing, but won't get up in front of everyone and some just want to have a few drinks and watch. I hope other people pick up information and benefit from my public quest. If so, I'm glad that others can benefit.

There are 7 skins included and you have full control over the color of every aspect of evey item. Admittedly, that can be a lot of work, but total control = more work always.

I just did a search and I don't see any kind of "skin repository". I will shoot Bob and email to find out. I suspect it would be community driven. Maybe it is time to get Karma user to create skins!

In fact.....I bet one could match the default skin of Hoster pretty closely.


-Chris

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-Chris

For the computer illiterate, (like myself) compuhost is such an easy program to use. I, originally used Hoster years ago but switched over to Compuhost not long after for the filler music option (hoster didnt have filler music back then).

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

What would be awesome would be to just take a screenshot of each of the 7 skins and post it up on Youtube or on the Latshaw website. I would think Latshaw would have already done that?

Hoster has been great for me. The database is a huge plus and is fast to locate songs. Editing data is easy and corresponds with the songbook. All The bells and whistles you need for a great show... I just added music videos last month to our gigs. I like how it puts the videos in the rotation and will autofade to the next. I do a half hour pre-show video segment, and break with two videos after every rotation and the customers love it.

Jon

The k.i.s.s. principle (keep it simple, st…). Not too many here use Sax&Dotty Show Presenter, my preferred hosting program. The most simple & the most stable program ever. No crashes, period! 'nuff said.

Hardly no bells & whistles compared to other programs but again, I’m all for uncomplicated, stable & easy to operate program. I don’t mind using winamp as a playback accessory; a little tweak on winamp built-in eq, it actually sound awesome connected to lexicon alpha sound card.

One poster (can't remember who) sez it all: “Everyone has their favorite, and the best hosting software is the one that works for you”.

http://www.sax-n-dotty.co.uk/download.htm

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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!

Glad you are liking the music video option on MTU...now start looking for a set of Pioneer LD's to add to your show....Our audiences love them. This was the biggest reason we chose MTU...the ease of inserting videos (of course the filler music adaptability and great ripping program helped too...we don't use a songbook program so I haven't even looked at that part)

Athena

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"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

whatever fits your needs is the right one for you. for me it was Siglos, totally modular, only put up the parts of the program i am going to use (eg. fill in music, quick sounds, etc.), resize each part and put it where i want it, fill in music, play videos, custom backgrounds, singer history, you want to add a singer click the button that says "add singer", fonts resizable, upgrades the .cdg graphics to just short of .avi look, plays direct from disc without ripping if someone brings in a disk, scrolling message with any number of next singers...or not if you dont want it.........etc.
check them out, see what fits your needs and wants, and go with it.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I'm sure if you check out MTU's website, you can find user information. They also have a forum.

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Birdofsong

Just took another look at Siglos and I'm starting to understand it better, but I'm still having trouble figuring out how to do things. It seems hard to add singers and songs from a previous rotation from history when a new session is started. I also noticed that if I press stop or pause when a song is playing, the fill in music doesn't play-it seems to play only after a song ends. As I play with it, it seems easier to operate, but it just doesn't seem clear. I wish there was a video tutorial.

One feature that I really like is that Siglos removes dead air at the beginning of songs. I noticed that with Justkaraoke, the filler music fades out and there is silence for a few seconds while the new song loads. This is not good. I guess I could hook up an mp3 player to a channel on the mixer and have it play continuously and then just fade the fill music channel when the new song comes on, but that's not the level of automation I'm looking for.

I guess I need to try the Compuhost demo and see how it works.