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I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
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Author:  docbob [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:  I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Okay.  I am just a guy that likes Karaoke and put together a setup for home, and personal party use.  I found Karaoke Scene years ago and got recommendations and you guys were dead on.  Now, I want to put my CD-Gs on a computer.  I have 5500 mp3s and I think it is time to explore the computer karaoke.  Unfortunately, or luckily, my brother dropped my laptop the other day and it is not fixable.  I need a new one.  I have to buy a new laptop.  The computer will be Vista Business or Ultimate most likely as I will use it for some business use as well.  I chatted with Dell and the rep didn't have many answers.  I don't know what to even ask about sound cards, video cards, dual displays, cdG capable drives,  blah blah blah...so they couldn't help much.  I've heard plextor as a cd is great.  I've heard external drives are needed.  I don't know what is what so I figured I would ask the experts here that use it daily.

Now for my current setup.  I have:
Mackey DFX12 mixer (I think that is what is was)
Crown amp?
Peavy sp2x speakers
Sure sm58 wireless mics.

I do have PCDJ Blue...or at least had it.  I will put this on my new computer because I liked it.  They have a KJ plugin as well, but I e-mailed them a week ago and never got a response on setups.  Kinda disappointing because their website seems a bit outdated in some sections so I don't know what the compatibility is with current technology.  This made me look elsewhere and I found MTU Hoster and it really looks like a nice package...and I see that some like it here too.  I may go with it as it can Ripp, play, and make songbooks.   So, I'm not married to the PCDJ thing.  

Does anybody have any suggestions on what to get on my computer to give me a nice home computer to play karaoke.  I have a discount with Dell, Lenovo, sony, and HP for about another week (girlfriend will be having a job change so she will lose some company discount).  I would love any and all suggestions to make my transition easy.
Author:  sidewinder [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Most computer sites give you the option to build your own computer off of the basic model.   You can upgrade just about everything.    Pick the highest priced sound and video cards.   Are you using an external hard drive for music or on board HD?

Dell still offers XP on new computers.   Vista still has some issues.

If you just want to have a simple,  Search, queue, Play, stop, pause, eject program, i use Sax & Dottys  2.2.   If you want rotation management and singer history and all the bells and whistles find a different one.


Did you "drop" your brother after he dropped the computer?   LMAO
Author:  docbob [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
I'm starting from scratch on the computer thing.  I know gaming PCs are superpowered and I don't know if I need anything special for mp3-g use.  I thought about getting XP, but in all reality, Vista is here and everything will be written for Vista and I might as well bite the bullet.  I really am not excited about that, but I think I will have to.  I have a 700Gig backup external drive with all of my MP3s backed up.  I'd like to run my system with an internal drive and go external as a backup, but am open to suggestions.  I will get a big enough drive to accomodate it internally.  Now all of the sound cards I have seen in computers have headphone jacks, not RCA jacks.  I've seen some external USB cards with RCA.  Is there a difference or even need.  Money is not really a restraint for my little project here...within reason.  I just want something that will work and do a decent job.

As for dropping my brother...no.  I didn't.  He just graduated from college and is a bumbling idiot at times.  He also played noseguard on his college team and would probably just laugh at me if I tried to drop him.
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
docbob @ Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:54 pm wrote:
I'm starting from scratch on the computer thing.  I know gaming PCs are superpowered and I don't know if I need anything special for mp3-g use.  I thought about getting XP, but in all reality, Vista is here and everything will be written for Vista and I might as well bite the bullet.  I really am not excited about that, but I think I will have to.  I have a 700Gig backup external drive with all of my MP3s backed up.  I'd like to run my system with an internal drive and go external as a backup, but am open to suggestions.  I will get a big enough drive to accomodate it internally.  Now all of the sound cards I have seen in computers have headphone jacks, not RCA jacks.  I've seen some external USB cards with RCA.  Is there a difference or even need.  Money is not really a restraint for my little project here...within reason.  I just want something that will work and do a decent job.

As for dropping my brother...no.  I didn't.  He just graduated from college and is a bumbling idiot at times.  He also played noseguard on his college team and would probably just laugh at me if I tried to drop him.

Musician's friend  has a usb sound card that works well.  I use it with my system. It is a behringer U-Control 202.  
As for software that is friendly with Vista, Most of the high cost software is compatable with Vista.  I would not suggest any of the Winamp programs as I have had issues wit it accepting over half of my dj files. Don't want to try dealling with the karaoke end because of this. It might be because I'm not using the newest version of winamp.
I use Compuhost for my shows as it allows me to play dj and karaoke out of the same program so interferance of sound card usage that using separate programs for dj and karaoke might run into.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Plextor drives are a non-issue any more, any DVD will work with most rippers these days.

Some will send you to a USB sound card, but I believe that unless you are extremely discerning you will be fine with a modern sound chip on a Dell.

As for external drives -- I say no. Some people will say different, but I have used laptops and their internal drives for many, many applications for years and there is no reason to fear the internal drive. Why carry around the extra stuff and reduce your reliablity with cables and power plugs?

The important thing is software. I recommend Compuhost -- I have tried just about all and it is the best out there at this point. It blows away Hoster, which I used prior to CompuHost. The Winamp controller things like the high-end AutoKDJ and lower end ones like Sax and Dotty's are too trouble-prone for me. Either Hoster or Compuhost is all-in-one.  

CompuHost is head and shoulders above any other currently shipping karaoke software for features and reliablity.
Author:  sidewinder [ Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
You should use your karaoke computer just for karaoke.   No chance of viruses and keep it off the internet.
Author:  docbob [ Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
I would use it just for Karaoke, but I am not a KJ or anything.  I just want to use it for fun at home and consolidating my stuff.  If it crashes, for whatever reason, no big deal because I'm not doing it professionally. I do like music and would like a nice setup.  I overbought with my speakers and mixer for my needs, but I'm glad I did because I do like my system.  I can really rock my house when I want to and I have my Peavys hooked up to my TV for a kickass speaker system for movies and sports.

So it sounds like, from what I am gathering, a good soundcard, off the rack and nothing special, will probably be fine.  Do I just use a headphone jack sized cable that splits to RCA to get it to my mixer?  Does that give good enough sound quality?

What about a video output?  How do I get video to a TV?  I know some computers come with S-video jacks now.  Does that allow me to split the output or does that just give me the software on the TV?

I will look at the software recommendations above.  Compuhost is listed as Vista compatible which is a plus.  At least their website seems current.  I haven't looked at it yet, but can I RIPP my CDGs with it.  I see FAST TRACKS and CDGRIP on their web page.  Are these needed separately from the Compuhost, or are they just options for people that have other KJ software, but included in Compuhost?

Thanks to everyone for your help
Author:  RLC [ Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Quote:
So it sounds like, from what I am gathering, a good soundcard, off the rack and nothing special, will probably be fine.
 Yes, and before you buy one try your on board sound...you may find it is more than adequate for home use.

Quote:
Do I just use a headphone jack sized cable that splits to RCA to get it to my mixer?
Yes  
Quote:
Does that give good enough sound quality?
Again, for your use it will work just fine.

Quote:
What about a video output?  How do I get video to a TV?  I know some computers come with S-video jacks now.
First, what type of inputs does your TV have available? If it has s video you just go s video to s video, if it has composite (RCA) or cable you will need a rf modulator (about $16 at Wally World).
Quote:
Does that allow me to split the output or does that just give me the software on the TV?
You will have to configure your display properties settings to allow extended desktop. Right click on your desktop, select properties then select settings You should have 2 monitors showing in the window, one is numbered 1 and the other is numbered 2. Highlight the one numbered 2 and check the box that says Extend my desktop onto this monitor and then select Apply.

Quote:
I will look at the software recommendations above.  Compuhost is listed as Vista compatible which is a plus.  At least their website seems current.  I haven't looked at it yet, but can I RIPP my CDGs with it.  I see FAST TRACKS and CDGRIP on their web page.  Are these needed separately from the Compuhost, or are they just options for people that have other KJ software, but included in Compuhost?
If you are just using this at home and for small parties why not try something like Karafun (free & works really well) or some lower priced karaoke software...no need to spend $180 for player software for your intended use.
Audiograbber is also free and many here on this forum (including me) use it to ripp our CD&G discs. It uses the free database for naming and I believe is as accurate as any out there...all have their shortfallings.
Author:  knightshow [ Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
if this is for home only, I'd highly recommend winamp or karafun for your player.

totally free.
Author:  docbob [ Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Thanks.  You guys rock.  I will look into the free software for sure.  I'm not going to lie, I like the option of having the songbook software available with the package.  For the time it would take me to type all of the stuff in, I could find much better things I like to do.  I do have most of my stuff typed in already anyway, so maybe it is worth looking at the free players and grabbers.  I can always upgrade later. Like I said, I have PCDJ already for me MP3s anyway, and maybe by the time I decide I want to upgrade, the PCDJ people will answer my e-mail so I could buy their plugin product. LOL.  You guys are awesome.  Thanks for the help.  I think I'm ready to  go for it.
Author:  RLC [ Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
As far as songbook software you could look at http://www.latshawsystems.com/ProductDe ... rator.aspx

It is not free but IMHO it is worth every cent. It reads the files right off of your harddrive. Try the demo out.
Author:  jamkaraoke [ Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
If you LIKE the PCDJ BLue for your regular MP3 - I use the PCDJ RED with the KJ PLUGGIN for my shows and find that it works great.  ( as you will see with ANY ANY ANY program they all have a learning curve and some "glitches" )  Thats just the truth.............. If you need any assistance you can PM and I will be glad to assist
Author:  docbob [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Thanks Jamkaraoke.   Yeah, I do like my PCDJ Blue.  I know they all have plusses and minuses, and to be honest, I'd love to have a plugin to keep things all in one software package.  LIke I said before, their manuals online seem a bit outdated, but I have found that they work with Vista 32bit, whatever that means.  I have sent them an e-mail over a week ago to their sales  staff and have yet to get a response.  This really turns me off.  I own a business and I know how people feel if I don't get back immediately.  I then heard about Hoster and liked some of what I saw there, and now I am hearing Compuhost is the best.  They all seem to have plusses and minuses.  I like the Compuhost web page stating that they are Vista compatible.  I know many KJs here have XP from what I have seen on other posts.  My computer will have Vista.  Maybe I should just buy my computer (tomorrow) and then try the free ones mentioned here, followed by the more costly ones, as well as the PCDJ KJ software and decide for myself which works for me.  I just worry that the free ones will not be as good as far as ripping the discs and the quality of music-graphics when playing the tracks.  I am, however excited to try them all out.
Author:  docbob [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
RLC.  Looks cool.  I always wondered why you needed the subscription services to do this.  I haven't Ripped any CDGs yet, but I would think they would be like regular CDs and the software would read the CDDB database for the names.  Maybe I am completely wrong here, but I will surely check this songbook software out.

Thanks
Author:  EElvis [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
by the time you buy the Hoster type program, and the songbook program you will have spent more money than if you had Bought MTU Hoster.  It has the ripper, hoster program, and a songbook built in.

Good value for the money......
Author:  RLC [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Quote:
 Maybe I should just buy my computer (tomorrow) and then try the free ones mentioned here, followed by the more costly ones, as well as the PCDJ KJ software and decide for myself which works for me.


That IS the best way!

Quote:
I just worry that the free ones will not be as good as far as ripping the discs and the quality of music-graphics when playing the tracks.  I am, however excited to try them all out.


I learned a long time ago not to take that approach when it comes to software. There are many freeware and shareware programs that blow away commercial software...admittedly most are designed to do a specific task...but then ripping cdg discs is a specific task.

Good luck my friend
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
docbob @ Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:24 pm wrote:
Thanks Jamkaraoke.   Yeah, I do like my PCDJ Blue.  I know they all have plusses and minuses, and to be honest, I'd love to have a plugin to keep things all in one software package.  LIke I said before, their manuals online seem a bit outdated, but I have found that they work with Vista 32bit, whatever that means.  I have sent them an e-mail over a week ago to their sales  staff and have yet to get a response.  This really turns me off.  I own a business and I know how people feel if I don't get back immediately.  I then heard about Hoster and liked some of what I saw there, and now I am hearing Compuhost is the best.  They all seem to have plusses and minuses.  I like the Compuhost web page stating that they are Vista compatible.  I know many KJs here have XP from what I have seen on other posts.  My computer will have Vista.  Maybe I should just buy my computer (tomorrow) and then try the free ones mentioned here, followed by the more costly ones, as well as the PCDJ KJ software and decide for myself which works for me.  I just worry that the free ones will not be as good as far as ripping the discs and the quality of music-graphics when playing the tracks.  I am, however excited to try them all out.

My suggestion for ripping is get PowerKaraoke's CDGburner if you're going with a winamp based format or get Hoster as those are the best rippers on the market.  I have tried the same track off of the same disc on Hoster, KJrip N Zip, Audiograbber and PowerKaraoke's product.  Out of all those rippers only Hoster and PowerCDG came back with a perfect rip. PowerKaraoke uses freedb to name their files.
Author:  docbob [ Wed May 07, 2008 6:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Okay, I finally got my laptop.  Of course the sound card was on backorder, as well as some other upgrades I got with Dell.   I've tried to look at the websites for a few of my options.  I guess I'm a software snob with some things.  I'd rather pay for something if I have someone that I can call to talk to if I need any help.  I think I've narrowed my selections to three.

1.  PCDJ-KJ plugin.  I have PCDJ already so it would be nice...BUT: no songbook software with it (although a previous post  in this thread gave me what looks like a nice software to make my own).  Another concern is that you don't seem to be able to play CDG disks if someone brings their own.  Finally, I have Vista and I'm not sure of the compatability with PCKJ.  I've tried to contact them...no reply.

2. Compuhost:  Looks pretty cool.  I LOVE the fact that they are Vista Compatible.  It is important to me.  I just want things to work right....and that is good.  The feature list seems pretty cool as well.  I can purchase a songbook program with the package. I like the on screen things they offer and the Kamakazi. They also seem to have updates often with new capabilities.  BUT: I have a few DVD and VCD discs that don't seem to be supported here.  I don't see anything that tells me that I can play a singer's disc if they bring them.  And, I haven't heard many people rave about their ripper...which is free.

3.  MTU Hoster:  Seems to be able to play all sorts of file types. ...even DVD VCD.  It said that you can also play the singer's discs if they bring them.  I've heard here (and their web site states it) that the MTU Hoster Ripper is one of the best. Hoster also lists Vista compatibility.  BUT: I know what MP3-G is and WMA-G is, but it seems like the Hoster format is KMA.  I could be wrong, but that is what I understand.  Maybe this format is better?  I just worry about it being the only software to use this format, and down the line, what if I want to change software and everything is in this format?



So,  for those that are more knowledgable than I, what do ya think?  I'm leaning towards Hoster for the DVD VCD, play singer's discs, and what I hear is a good ripper.  I just worry about the KMA thing.   But the Compuhost has more bells and whistles that would be kinda cool and if their ripper was good and there was capability to play discs people bring, as well as DVD VCD, I'd probably go there.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Wed May 07, 2008 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
docbob @ Wed May 07, 2008 9:41 pm wrote:
So,  for those that are more knowledgable than I, what do ya think?  I'm leaning towards Hoster for the DVD VCD, play singer's discs, and what I hear is a good ripper.  I just worry about the KMA thing.   But the Compuhost has more bells and whistles that would be kinda cool and if their ripper was good and there was capability to play discs people bring, as well as DVD VCD, I'd probably go there.

I can't speak to the DCD/VCD thing -- have none and no reason to play any. I don't even know what VCD stands for.

I own MTU Hoster and Compuhost, and I use CompuHost for shows. I use Siglos Player to play the singer's disk.

There are three big advantages for CompuHost, which are:

1. Excellent rotation keeping with automatic announcement of upcoming singers.
2. Promo trailer announces your upcoming events -- singers constantly look at the singer announcements, and can't miss those.
3. Singer history means you can put in songs for your regulars in less than 3 seconds -- literally.

Those three things save lots of time, keep singers happy, and boost attendance at the venues other functions. Huge advantages.

You have detailed the advantages of Hoster -- VCD/DVD and user disks. The MTU ripper is anything but an advantage as far as I am concerned -- I stopped using Hosters ripper way early. It required you to tell them exactly what brand and disk you were ripping, which is not always an easy guess from the brands they present you. They didn't (at that time) have FreeDB lookup, and so I finally gave up on them and ripped with another program. The supposed advantage of their ripper is lack of errors, but I have never personally had a problem with errors on other programs, which I think have kept up.
Author:  docbob [ Wed May 07, 2008 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I need a new laptop and KJ software. Suggestions for setup needed
Thanks MCKYJ57,
Yeah, I only have a handful of DVD/VCD discs.  I could probably go without them if I needed to and go with the Compuhost.  Who knows, maybe that will be an upgrade later.   Was I correct in the format for the Hoster ripping?  Is that an issue when you switched to Compuhost?  Did you have to re-ripp everything?

You say that you use Siglos player to play the singer's disk.  That sounds simple enough to do if I ever need to.  It may be worth it to have a better software package...even if some of the things available on other platforms aren't here yet.

Have you used the Compuhost Ripper?  It seems to be free as are some of the others.  Again, I have NO experience with any of these things, but I have a few custom CDG discs that totally suck because there are errors during playback, so I can understand the errors when ripping.
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