Karaoke Forums

I'm going to buy a laptop next week and was wondering about software. My main concern on software is how simple it is to operate. I know more expensive software has more bells, and whistles. If I can't afford software right now, could I get by with some kind of freeware until I can get a decent program. What I mean, is the freeware pretty easy to figure out? Also I see so much about rippers and plug-ins and other stuff i don't know where to start. Which program is free, simple and what other software do I need to run it. I'll buy something later when I can afford it.

Winamp
Pacemaker plugin
CDG player plugin

All 3 are free

All this works together right? I have read a little about winamp,its a player. What about the other two?Allright I downloaded winamp and pacemaker plugin. What about the cdg player plugin. Is there a certain one?

winamp is a player

The plugins are for winamp, they will let you see the window (cdg window plugin) and adjust the tempo, speed, pitch (pacemaker)

Now there are other free players out there.

karafun has it all built in, but it's not what I would consider any kind of professional player. It sometimes won't recognize tracks correctly (if it's ripped unusually and renamed, edited, etc.). Works for karaoke pretty good for the MOST part.

karaoke builder has a free .bin and .cdg player. rather than clicking on the .mp3 file, it works by clicking on the .cdg.

clubdjpro has a player that has a demo mode (a few others have a demo mode too), that will play up to 15 or 20 minutes with popups, and then you have to restart it completely.

Highly recommend the winamp for home use and I've used it for pro gigs for many a year.

Audiograbber is free to rip your tracks. If you want to rip to compressed files, you'll need to download the LAME_ENC.dll file and put it in the audiograbber folder on your C drive, and use it as your compression .

There are 2 cdg plugins both by the same author, one is for playing discs and the other is for playing mp3&g files.

If you are going to be playing discs you want the "cdg disc plugin" (but you also have to have a cdg capable drive) or if you are going to be playing mp3&g files you want the "cdg plugin"

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

In addition to those there is a free plugin for rotation - Yeah Matt I know you don't care for it but it's out there for those who might want to use it.

www.autokdj.com has a freeware plugin that will allow youto maintain a singer's list and rotation from within winamp. The download includes the plugins for MP3+G playback, Tempo and keychange (pacemaker) and a plugin to handle zip files.
BAsically the only downloads you need to make is to download winamp and AutoKDJ.

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

Only thing is Danny the OP was looking for something very simple and AutoKDJ has a definate learning curve to it.

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

If he wants simple then maybe $25 JustKaraoke might do. It is a standalone player with rotation features. www.tricerasoft.com is where he can get it. for $50 he can get the player and the songlist creator.

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

Don't suggest this if you want to use the key changer. Tricerasoft's key changer is simply awful, worst I have ever heard.

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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.