Karaoke Forums

So I know it's been a while. Here's what happened.

Our site database got borked when I installed another application (forgot to add a pre-fix to tables, derp) Usually I update there. I've been updating on facebook, and you're more than welcome to add me. facebook.com/toqer

Autokdj was an advanced karaoke plugin for Winamp. As many of you already know, the original dev team (Justin Frankel, Christophe Thibault, Francis Gustall, Mig Gerard,etc) got corporate harassed out of the company long ago. Winamp itself has sort of lost its way, think Sad little puppy in Billy Madison.

The API became a moving target. 90% of the code was *just* for interfacing winamp... Which was basically doing what BASS does for us now.

fubar did it... He rewrote the whole damn logic, web I/O, etc into Java. This is no longer autokdj folks.

This was about 2 years ago... A year ago I broke off silence with the world. Kids, first grade, diapers for the younger.. Meh.

Yet we continued developing. As with Zug and the original plugin, we bug tested, added features, bug tested, fubar coded, bug tested. Being a good bug tester in what many of you would consider to be a "Mission critical application" is not easy. You have to never whine to the developer "OMG THIS THING IS HORRIBLY CRASHY!" It takes a little more intelligence, decorum, and protocol to get things well bug tested.

I'm pretty good at making applications skate on through, even after a crash :)

We worked closely with tricerasoft as mostly a skunksworks project. In a simple description.. Here is what we did. Ever see a touchtunes, or other internet enabled jukebox? We made software that can turn a handful of computers into that.

Your customers can buy new songs for you collection at the drop of a hat. Here, my kids and this old man are going to show you. I'll continue after the break.

OK WAIT IS THERE SOME KIND OF CATCH?

Yes.. Unfortunately, and so far I have never found a way around it. You have to sell the venue on "Pay to sing" karaoke to work. It really sucks because honestly, 7 Bamboo is the only place I know of that attracts all crowds (not just Asian) and can charge. There *could* be creative ways around it, which I'll discuss after this.

Here is the full breakdown on how it all works.

So first, let's start with the concept of a bank... What is a bank? A bank keeps accounts for each customer. That's it right?

So our software acts as your own personal karaoke bank. You become the karaoke banker. Customers give you cash, and you add "credits" to their account.

These credits let them do various things on the system, you set the prices for EVERYTHING, but let's get right down to how our downloadable content system, and your karaoke bank will work with tricerasoft.

You start by buying tricerasoft credits. When a customer searches for a song, much like a touchtunes jukebox, if your system doesn't have it, it gives them the option to purchase it with credits from their karaoke bank.

What the customer gets charged for the download is up to you... Want to have no charge? Charge them cost(of a tricera credit)? Charge them MRSP? That is completely up to you.

The song is purchased with your tricerasoft credit pack. When you run out of packs, the system purchases a new pack for you (and this can be turned off at anytime)

We don't like to call them "hoster" apps. Nope. We like to call ourselves "Server and Kiosk" We're a server, our software serves karaoke.

Features: All/most features can be tweaked/enabled/disabled to your liking.

Our famously saucy rotation algo.
Bribes/ bribe prices
DLC/ DLC prices
OSC control (run the whole thing from your ipad if you want)
Web Enabled (your songlist and playlist autouploads to our server in a mobile/smart phone format)
Snazzy OpenGL kiosk
"Karaoke Bank" app for quickly adding/removing credits from accounts
Bass audio

As usual though, I wouldn't recommend us for the technically weak at heart. The hardware requirements have gone up slightly because of Java.

Kiosk
Single core pentium 4 with openGL graphics (dell GX 280's all day) and touchscreen required.

Server
core2duo, dual monitor, with a dope sick sound card (we use EMU, but we're getting presonus for testing soon)

Bank
1ghz or better processor

KJ
Basic networking/PC knowledge with a will try, can do attitude.

(edited, saw the credit pack stuff wasn't too clear.. hopefully that cleared it up)

So wait.. Where is it?

There are finishing touches being done. We in the very least... would like you to register the product with an email/name. Will there be a charge? Magic 8ball says "Wait and see". I think the "fund your software through song sales" approach will work...

At this time, I'm going to step down from my podium. You are all welcome to ask any questions that you may.

Stay thirsty my friends.

so, i can't think of a better place than a forum filled with KJ's to advertise the greatest software to put them out of work.
seriously?!?!

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Thank you for the compliment :)

Actually, it's not like that at all paradigm.

If you have some basic network/PC skills, you're welcome to build out one of our systems yourself. You're welcome to charge to lease it for service/support.

You can build more levels of services. Service with "No announcer?" Sure, leave your equipment there for $1000@mo. No big deal. Give them 7 days a week.

We're not charging a monthly subscription fee like others.. You can quote me on that.

I am not worried at all about it replacing KJ's.

What he is selling is a niche product. He is selling something that is proven to work in a very unique bar that has used automated karaoke 5+ nights a week for many years. In fact, a system like this can only run in a bar that does karaoke 5+ nights a week or it just isn't economical to run. And those kind of bars are few and far between.

-Chris

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-Chris

I dunno about the not economical part Chris. I can build this system mobile pretty cheap these days.

About $400 for a basic system. GX280's are $50 bucks. Elo touch screens, the same. A core2duo PC, Maybe $150. A little mixer with verb.

I like to buy old dells, they come with MS product keys right on them. So handy, no OS piracy.

Chris would you mind taking it for a spin and giving it a review?

And one more thing to add.

All things are optional in this system. You want kiosks? You want to be a man behind a curtain? You want to be the center of attention? Run it anyway you like. Everything is optional.

That video is a bit misleading, and was meant for a potential client that was interested in it as a jukebox.

I've been using it for the last couple of months. I would be very hard pressed to be convinced to use anything else. It makes me wish I was still doing karaoke professionally. course the only pay features I have turned on at the moment are for the cost of buying songs from Tricerasoft.

After working out the networking issues, which seem to be a result of my lack of tech savy, it has run flawlessly.

My only complaint is that the interface seems to have issues with the Mr. Entertainer brand that tricerasoft just picked up.

It will not play these tracks at all. Pity since they seem to be pretty well made tracks.

-James

As for the touchscreen thing, I must not be as adept at searching the internet because usally I can't find even used ones for less than $150.

but that's an entirely separate issue.

Sure.....where can I grab the bits?

-Chris

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-Chris

Thanks Chris for staying open minded. I'll send you a PM with the links in a bit. Consider this a "preview" version with a few minor bugs left in it. I'll let you know what to look out for.

Chris: i think you're going to be pleasantly surprised.

-James

@James

Almost $50 for a touch screen.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elo-TouchSystem ... 337e4de7af

I have the links and will get the bits downloaded. I won't be able to dedicate any real time to it until Monday the 10th when I go on vacation. Looks for more info in a couple of weeks.

-Chris

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-Chris

Just for the record, you don't NEED a touchscreen for the Kiosk to work, you can use a mouse it's just really cumbersome.

also if you want to test the id feature, you can cheat by using the numeric keypad to enter in barcode/numbers

-James