Karaoke Forums

After one year in the karaoke biz I've decided to dump the CDGs and go digital. I downloaded Sax n Dotty(and winamp) but can't seem to make heads or tales of it. I also purchased Numark Cue, the DMC 2 controller and the io interface. I think I'm having some issues with Vista and the io matching up. A friend told me I needed XP pro to really make it work properly. Something about the 64 bit thingy.

I'm a computer dummy so any help would be appreciated.

Mojo

a few people hERE have had good success with Vista. Obviously it's the way of the future... Hoster says it's Vista compatible.

I don't like it though.

If you really want to stick with Sax, though, you'll probably have to go with WinXP. Unsure if the guy that made Sax ever supported Vista.

Sax has a work around that makes it work with Vista. I am not sure what it is as I only was using S&D on a Xp or win 2000 machine.

I use Compuhost now and it is vista compatable.

_________________
The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Been in the biz for about 10 years now. I went digital just over 2 years ago and I love it! I did some research and trials, and found roxbox worked best for me. I have had no problems at all running two laptops and a desktop rack mount unit. It's always a learning process when venturing into a new media delivery system. Good Luck Mojo.

I would goto mp3gmusic.com and try some of the free trials of karaoke mp3g players and find out what works good for you. I would also suggest stay away from the 64 bit and stay with 32 bit systems much more stable and the same goes with xp. Vista is okay buy xp 32 bit system seem to be extremely stable over the years. Been working with digital systems for about five years now my personal fav is PCDJ VJ but thats just me.

Here is a link to Sax N Dotty FAQ concerning running on Vista.

http://www.sax-n-dotty.co.uk/helpdesk/quickfaq.asp

I exclusivly use Sax N Dotty so if there is anything I can help you with concerning Sax N Dotty I will be glad too.

_________________
Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

[quote="RLC

I exclusivly use Sax N Dotty so if there is anything I can help you with concerning Sax N Dotty I will be glad too.[/quote]

RLC
I downloaded Sax N Dotty to try it out before committing to it but have one question seeing as you seem to know a lot about it.

If you can not see the singers monitor from where you are running the show from how can you tell what is going on?

Sometimes I have to sit in a position where I can not see any of the monitors and have to get up to make sure the lyrics are coming on the screen.
I had a problem once where the cdg file was not exactly like the mp3 file so the music played but no video.

Is there a way to have a preview screen on the computer's monitor so you can tell what the singer is seeing?

Lone Wolf

Personally, I think you have already wasted enough time working with the Winamp-based Sax 'n' Dotties to justify the $180.00 for Compuhost. If you are going to gig out with it, why not use something that will impress your singers and your venue owners? The $130 difference between the two will be recouped in a month or two in added value to your shows.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Sax is about the worst software out there in my not-so-humble opinion. I do not have a problem with winamp based hosters nor would I spend big bucks on Compuhost or MTU. Try autOKdj because it's freeware and it has a lot of features. What could it hurt?

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Okay, who took my pants?

It could hurt by diddling around wasting days of time.

AutoKDJ is quite capable, but quite complicated as well. It also doesn't have the professional fit and finish that I would prefer to provide.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Ahhhh, remember back in the good old days when the idea of using a computer for karaoke was just a way to keep people from having to lug around all of their discs? Now that's just not good enough. Now we have to have software that has all sorts of bells and whistles that the karaoke singer at your local bar couldn't care less about. As a singer, all I care about is that the music sounds good and the lyrics come on the screen and swipe in a timely manner(old CAVS didn't do this well). It doesn't matter one bit to me what software program a KJ uses to get a song on the screen. What does bug the hell out of me is that these digital KJ's will not spend a few dollars to supply a singer the ability to sing from his own CDG disc. There are plenty of software programs that will play a CDG disc and CDG players are NOT that expensive if you're planning on making a living in the karaoke business. If I go to the trouble of making a homemade CDG track; or just buy a new CDG disc, I don't think I should have to bring it on a thumb drive and give it away to every KJ in the area for me to be able to sing those particular songs at their shows. There seem to be plenty of shows around here where the KJ has purchased a loaded hard drive with thousands of songs and feels like he or she has enough songs to run a show and there is no need to buy any new songs to update the song book. If that is going to be their outlook; they should have a CDG player available or software on their laptop to play a customers disc without having to rip the song to their hard drive first. I hate feeling like the KJ is stealing songs from me.

I beg to differ -- they do care.

We had a screen problem on the secondary TV displaying the scrolling singer marquee, and were peppered with inquiries as to where it was until it returned. The bar owners love the promos that the scrolling marquee provides. And the singers love the quick recall of their singer history and often request to see it.

Providing CDG playback is easy.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

RLC
I downloaded Sax N Dotty to try it out before committing to it but have one question seeing as you seem to know a lot about it.

If you can not see the singers monitor from where you are running the show from how can you tell what is going on?

Sometimes I have to sit in a position where I can not see any of the monitors and have to get up to make sure the lyrics are coming on the screen.
I had a problem once where the cdg file was not exactly like the mp3 file so the music played but no video.

Is there a way to have a preview screen on the computer's monitor so you can tell what the singer is seeing?

Lone Wolf[/quote]

In your Winamp/Plugins folder, copy the file named gen_cdg.dll and take to a different folder (or even to your desktop), now rename the copied file to gen_cdg2.dll and then copy and past it back into the Winamp\Plugins folder.
When you open Winamp go to preferences/general purpose and you will see two listing for the dll plugin (one the original and the other with the same name followed by "2") Configure the first one for screen1 which will be your laptop(or computer) monitor and configure the second one to open full screen on screen2 (your singers monitor (and any other tv's hooked up for the audience) Click "OK" on the preferences screen and close Winamp. Now reopen Winamp and start a karaoke song...if you only see one screen use your mouse to drag it off of the top of the second screen hiding underneath it and double click on one or the other to see which one goes to full screen on the singers monitor (if the first one you double click goes to full screen on the laptop/computer monitor double click on it again to bring back down to a smaller window and then double click on the other one which should go to full screen on the singers monitor, now go back to the one on your laptop/computer monitor and resize (using the edges of the window) to the size and position you want.
Now close Winamp and then reopen Winamp...it will remember your previous setting hence forth until you change them again.
I am doing this all from memory as I am out of town on business and do not have access to my karaoke computer but I think I have it all covered for you.

_________________
Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

Ahhhh, remember back in the good old days when the idea of using a computer for karaoke was just a way to keep people from having to lug around all of their discs? Now that's just not good enough. Now we have to have software that has all sorts of bells and whistles that the karaoke singer at your local bar couldn't care less about. As a singer, all I care about is that the music sounds good and the lyrics come on the screen and swipe in a timely manner(old CAVS didn't do this well). It doesn't matter one bit to me what software program a KJ uses to get a song on the screen. What does bug the hell out of me is that these digital KJ's will not spend a few dollars to supply a singer the ability to sing from his own CDG disc. There are plenty of software programs that will play a CDG disc and CDG players are NOT that expensive if you're planning on making a living in the karaoke business. If I go to the trouble of making a homemade CDG track; or just buy a new CDG disc, I don't think I should have to bring it on a thumb drive and give it away to every KJ in the area for me to be able to sing those particular songs at their shows. There seem to be plenty of shows around here where the KJ has purchased a loaded hard drive with thousands of songs and feels like he or she has enough songs to run a show and there is no need to buy any new songs to update the song book. If that is going to be their outlook; they should have a CDG player available or software on their laptop to play a customers disc without having to rip the song to their hard drive first. I hate feeling like the KJ is stealing songs from me.
Last edited by BruceFan4Life on Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:18 pm; edited 2 times in total

Okay, first of all, MTU Hoster is one of the only hosting programs (I believe) that allows the KJ to actually temporarily load a singer's song for them (takes about 25-30 seconds and can be done while another song is playing) and does NOT keep the song when it is over. Takes no time at all - I load the songs as soon as I get them - I have singers who hand me a stack of CDGs and I just smile and upload the songs for them and return the CDGs to them when everything has been uploaded. So no, the KJ isn't "stealing" your music, although I have heard that there are PLENTY of KJs around who supplement their library by actually copying customer's discs. In fact, I am so anti-stealing on this issue that some of my regulars have ASKED me to upload their discs into my system so they don't have to carry their CDGs with him. I have to tell them, no, they'll just have to carry their CDGs to our shows.

Almost EVERY month I add new music to my collection, all legally acquired music. I note it in the front of the book EVERY time I add it, so when someone says "do you have anything that isn't in the book," that makes me think there are a lot of KJs around who are either too lazy to keep books up to date, or they have pirated drives and wouldn't even CONSIDER providing an up-to-date book. (In fact, went to a pirate's show once and found the last time he had updated his back was 2003!)

I have just recently been running the marquis actively while songs are playing, and between singers the rotation is visible (next 3-4 singers). I didn't think people read it but they DO! All you have to do is listen to singer's discussing going out for a smoke or to the restroom - they will see they're up in one and will either put it off or hurry. So, even though I didn't think they would appreciate it, many have said how much they DO appreciate it. No bells and whistles, just a marquis noting drink specials, special events (birthday notations), etc.

Now as a singer, I appreciate the rotation being visible; I appreciate being able to take a CDG with me and have them upload and play it; but most of all, I love good sound, and a host that is personable. I don't care what kind of bells and whistles they use to accomplish it.

Thanks RLC I will try that as soon as I get the chance.

L.W.

I do like bells and whistles. Can't really throw much of my 2 cents in yet as I have yet to do a paying show. But I will anyway. I already have about 100 promo-trailer message (famous quotes-dumb self sayings) and I have over 500 sound bites that I will use for the audio bites (famous movie quotes--cartoon character quotes, etc). I hope to use these to spice up the show and get a few laughs. Insta tunes to get crowd interactive faves quickly up to the plate along with thousands of filler tunes that I can control the volume separately without using the mixer, as well as deciding if I want a new filler tune to start after each karaoke song or have it pick back up where the other filler tune faded out. I will admit I wasn't impressed with the friendliness of the Compuhost support people, very belittling and sarcastic and threatened to give me my money back if I asked any more questions but I sucked it up and have the program down now.

How is providing CDG playback easy?

CDG playback in compuhost requires:
1:an outside player
2:a video capture card.

Their cdg disc function is only video switching.

To get most of COmpuhost's features and disc playback Siglos is the way to go. Just be prepared for an ugly interface but those are the sacrifices one has to make to get everything they want in the features of the program.
I have never had a singer bring in their own disc so I don't worry about it.

_________________
The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.