Karaoke Forums

Can anyone give me some feedback on Compuhost by Invicion.  I am looking for software for a home system?  I am just getting started and have not ripped any of my CDGs yet.

Thanks
-joe

I have been running karaoke shows with Compuhost for about a couple of months and have found it making running a show easier than some of the frontends for winamp.  The only winamp frontend that is comparable to Compuhost is Autokdj but you need to name your files in a different manner than the other frontends use. Compuhost's naming is compatable with most karaoke pc players, no need to rename them.  for ripping I recomend powerkaraoke's CDG burner.
For home use I wouldnt spend the money on Compuhost though. I would go with AutoKDJ as it is a free frontend for winamp. I would spend the money saved on KJFilemanager from latshaw.

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

Thanks for the info DannyG2006.  I downloaded the trial version of compuhost and played around with it a little.  You are probably right.  There is a lot there that I do not need.

Your advantage in going autokdj and getting KJFilemanager for naming your files is that you can name your songs correctly from the getgo  rather than do it after having your songs named one way for two or three years and switching to a software that uses an alltogether different naming method.

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

You may be interested that we will be releasing a new hosting software very soon. Public beta is available, new build coming today. It is based on Siglos Karaoke Player/Recorder. See more info on beta release here: http://www.powerkaraoke.com/karaoke-blog/2008/03/16/siglos-karaoke-professional-beta-released/

I forgot to mention the price -- it will be $89, with discounts for current users.

I'm very happy with the Power CG+G Burner/ Siglos player combo that costs $79 but have no experience with anything else so that's that!

Might want to check this one out...

http://www.debssoftware.com/

I have heard nothing but raves about it.  And it's cheaper.

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~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

forget winamp front end plug-ins. Just use winamp with pacemaker for key adjustment and the cdg plugin. No hosting, just plays files.

FREE.

I've used it on a pc for my pro shows for three years now.

Dunno why folks try to make the horse so darned complicated. Just hook up ol' Paint to the cart! SHEESH!!!

If the price is the main factor, then knightshow's suggestion is hard to beat. But if you are willing to pay, then for example Siglos Karaoke Professional offers song database management, singer rotation control, automatic fill-in playlist, singer announcement, and more. And it is designed for KJs (with the help of KJs).

I've been using WinAmp w/ plugins for a couple of years now.  My main complaints with hosting with it are that when you enqueue all of your songs for your rotation you cannot put the singer's name in to remind you who is coming up.  So you have to keep referring back to your slips.  It also does not have any kind of singer history, so again you just have to save and go through all of your slips.  That is kinda lame.  I am still using WinAmp but I am about to download Debs karaoke program (trial version) to see if it really is all I am hearing it is.  If so then $40 is a bargain to me... Has singer history, "next singer" on the screen... etc, etc.

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

Winamp alone with the plugins seems more complicated to me. Why do the job manually when you can have tools do it for you. It gives you more time to jaw with the customers, Grab yourself a beer etc.
That said I am more inclined to use AUtoKDJ rather than debs software because you need JAva to run her software.  AutoKDJ comes with everything you need excpet for winamp itself gotta download it separately but you need not get the plugins separately as they are included in autokdj's download. What's more you can eliminate books with a second computer networked into your host computer that allows the singer to enque their own songs.  Guarrentees you get their name and song right. The only reason I am not using it is that I don't have the time to rename all of my songs into their naming convention.  Roaddog's not having loaded his cdg's into his computer yet allows him to get it right the first time. AutoKDJ is free.  it's frontend kiosk is free. Winamp is free.

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

[/quote]

What's more you can eliminate books with a second computer networked into your host computer that allows the singer to enque their own songs.  Guarrentees you get their name and song right.[/quote]


Main problem I see with that right now is all the bozos who think it is funny to put people in for songs when they don't want to sing...or songs that they know are just plain goofy or whatever ... "thinking they are funny"  .....Very disruptive to a show...

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

What's more you can eliminate books with a second computer networked into your host computer that allows the singer to enque their own songs.  Guarrentees you get their name and song right.[/quote]


Main problem I see with that right now is all the bozos who think it is funny to put people in for songs when they don't want to sing...or songs that they know are just plain goofy or whatever ... "thinking they are funny"  .....Very disruptive to a show...[/quote]

You have a valid concern, however in my experience (and I had kiosks long before anyone else that I know of) it doesn't happen too often.

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Okay, who took my pants?

I use and love CompuHost, but it isn't necessary for a home system. I own Hoster too (bought before I knew there were alternatives) and that is what I use for practice.

But that is really too expensive for what you need. Winamp is also reasonable to use for practice and small parties -- you can just scan the songs into your media library and search there.

If you are going to gig, get CompuHost. The scrolling rotation markers and promo-trailers will make it more than pay for itself in no time.

Thanks MC, but I think I'm gonna go with Compuhost.  For what it's worth, the bells and whistles of that program look pretty cool.  It's only money, you can't take it with ya.  Do you host in Greater Cincy?

Too true. Compuhost will work great -- it is the best software available today. I think with the history feature it shouldn't be too bad for practice, and it is awesome for hosting parties or gigs.


I am an amateur up in Brookville, Indiana. I only co-host a Friday gig at my service club and do amateur things like a monthly at the State Park.

I have pro-level gear, though. I have well and truly caught the bug.

I have custom singer splash screens that I enqueue before the singer's song. Works well for me.

I don't need the singer history, prefer using the slips, and as I use my splash screens, I can see who's next.

For home use, I prefer the simpler right click and play which brings up the song. For pro use, I prefer the Clubdjpro software, with the auto fade, key adjust, plays videos, etc.

Hi,
just curious...does Winamp have dual screens?

If by dual screens you mean can you display the lyrics on the extended desktop on a second monitor while you work with Winamp on the other, the answer is yes.