Karaoke Forums

Hi Everyone! I'm new here! I currently play CDGs and want to go computerized and get with the times!

I've been looking on the internet and two programs seem to keep popping up - CompuHost and PCDJ.

What program do you recommend? I would like one with all the bells and whistles but most importantly - RELIABLE! My biggest nightmare is the program crashing and the show being over!

Thanks for any help you can provide. I haven't bought a laptop yet, but will depending on the system requirements of the program.

~Singah

Well you are going to get many stories on hosting programs, best thing to do is to download all the demo's and try them out for yourself.
I hated PCDJ/KJ due to it being such a resource hog, my personal preference is MTU Hoster. I like the fact it's a fully self contained program over most of the others that need a couple other programs added (at extra expense for some). Hoster is the player, plays outside CDG (like customer discs) without the need to rip them to the computer, builds the songbooks based on the database and rips them - it does use a propriatary format however if you rip to mp3g, it will still play & catalog them just like it's own format - but for this you will need an external mp3g ripper. It's also nice because it plays/catalogs video files (big plus for my needs as well). It has everything I need in a program & more is on the way this coming year.
I have never had it crash during a show, over 3 years now. Have run 8 - 12 hour shows non-stop with no issues.
Again, it's my preference. Not going to say it's the best like many will with a certain other - there is no 'best', it's what will fit your needs, be reliable & how easy it is to use - it fits my needs with extras! Plus very easy to use.

Buying a laptop on the program specs is smart, but 'most' laptops today are more than capable of running a show - just make sure it has dual screen capability where you can extend the desktop to a second video source - for the words. I would highly recommend to plan on an external sound interface, it will bring the sound quality up ten fold! Look into the Lexicon Alpha for this.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--LEXALPHA
Cheapest it's been in a year, I paid $99 for mine when it first came out.

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If you want all the bells and whistles, either MTU or Compu Host.

I am in the process of going digital. I did as Lon suggested and downloaded many of the demos available. For me it came down to MTU Hoster and Compuhost. I did like the PCDJ/KJ program but I also noticed that it was a resource hog. I chose MTU because I liked that it was a complete program for hosting and song books with nothing else to add. I am about halfway throughout ripping my cdg's and almost ready to go. I went with a Toshiba L675 laptop Intel i3 core 4gb ddr3 HDMI & VGA output. It seems to run MTU very stable great graphics but I am going to add a usb sound adaptor. All I can suggest is try the demos and pick the one you like the most. Good luck on your conversion.

Well, thanks everyone, for your awesome input!

Lonman: I appreciate all your comments and advice! The only thing I didn't really understand was the mp3g ripper. Don't you rip your existing CDGs to the program? Or is that where the external ripper comes in.

I was under the impression from talking to someone, that I still have to buy CDGs and then rip them after I am computerized. Is that true? Or are there any good places to just buy the mp3g file? I know Pop Hits used to offer it; but I'm not sure that they do anymore.

I do already have an external USB thingy - it's a PreSonus Audiobox USB with Studio One, so I should be good to go there. And the sound is good from it.

Thanks also twansenne and Kuelman1 for your adivce!

The future looks exciting!

~Singah

Like I said it does have a built in ripper that works in Hoster (well and Microstudio) only. They are not 2 files (mp3/cdg) it is 1 file (kma). Which is why I said if you wanted to rip to mp3g, you would need an external ripper.


As far as I know PHM still offers theirs in mp3g format. Sound Choice also offer a killer 6000 song 'core' set called the GEM series, it's for kj's only and one of the only legal ways to get a large library in mp3g format. Otherwise yes you would need to continue to buy and KEEP any disc that you put in the computer, meaning to remain legal you must keep all your discs, you cannot sell nor give them away.
Download sites are too risky IMO and even those that claim legal, the manus pretty much state otherwise.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!