I Have Hoster/Laptop Questions and Hope You Have Answers
 

I have questions, I hope someone has answers. I have had Micro Studio for sometime now and at present, as I indicate before, I’m doing a demo of Hoster on my wife’s Compaq Presario C302NR Laptop, running Microsoft XP SP3, with Intel Celeron M Processor (1.6GHz, IMB L2 cache, 533MH FSB). I upgraded the 512MB memory to 1GB. It has a 60GB hard drive and I have a portable 60 GB Maxtor III Mini Edition external hard drive. At age 68, my use of Hoster would be limited to home use and friend’s parties. I’ve also been a volunteer at an assisted care facility when my mother was a resident and may do that again. It seems to me the program is great for those who are in business, but I’m not sure it’s suited for just home use. Therefore, I need some help form the folks that use the program. Thanks to the folks on this forum, I’ve already figured out how to use the dual display and get the TV in color. (Use an S-video to S-video cable).
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When I loaded some of my CDs that were manufacture’s CD they loaded fairly easily, but when I loaded CDs I created from taking songs from different CDs, I had to enter all the information manually. I have compilation CDs, so I have only what I want from the various CDs I have. In some cases, I bought the CD for just one song. As an example, I bought an Hawaiian CD just for Don Ho’s, “Hawaiian Wedding” and “I’ll Remember You” because I was married in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State><st1:place>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:State> and wanted to be able to sing those songs to my wife. By using the compilation CD I didn’t have to haul the stuff I didn’t want. QUESTION: How difficult is it to load about 100+ CDs into my laptop with about 25% being compilation CDs?
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I list all my CDs into an MS Excel file and then I move the tracks to an MS Access file that is printed out as a list by Title and by Artist. QUESTIONs: How does the database and the song book work in Hoster? Can I transfer the track information to Access or from Access to the program?
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Since I use the program mainly for myself, my Excel and Access file listings indicate additional information. I include what key change to make, if it’s multiplex and what audio CD the song is located in case I what to do the song, but don’t know the song and it’s not multiplex. Yes, have audio CDs which have songs I have in Karaoke and I do list the CD next to the song. QUESTION: Is there a way in Hoster to indicate the key change setting for the song, or other information?
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I have hooked up the laptop to my system (mixer/amp) and he sound seems to be as good as when I use my JVC Karaoke Player. Thanks to the folks here I also can do the dual display, so I feel my wife’s laptop might work OK with Hoster. I also like the fact that I have XP rather than <st1:place>Vista</st1:place>. QUESTIONs: In case my laptop doesn’t work out, what should I get, and does <st1:place>Vista</st1:place> now work as well as XP with Hoster? What brand of computer does MTU use for the computer they sell?
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Once again thanks for any help and or advice you can provide,
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Wes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrahn QUESTION: How difficult is it to load about 100+ CDs into my laptop with about 25% being compilation CDs?

The 25% that are compilations will have to have the information entered manually. There is no way for Hoster to know what is on the CD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrahn QUESTIONs: How does the database and the song book work in Hoster? Can I transfer the track information to Access or from Access to the program?

When you import CDs into Hoster entries are added to the "Songs.mdb" file. When you create a Songbook it creates an RTF file that can be printed. This has several options that can be set to filter and print exactly what you want within it's capabilities. Read the manual for more detail on that.
You can copy and use the Songs.mdb in Access, but I would not recommend using the original. Some people do make changes in Access and copy it back for Hoster to use, but I would not recommend it as those changes are lost the next time you rebuild the database in Hoster. You can not add your Key Change information in this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrahn QUESTION: Is there a way in Hoster to indicate the key change setting for the song, or other information?

You have a Singer's Database where you can store the information for songs you sing and any key changes you want for them. This gives you easy access to them. Again check the manual for details.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrahn QUESTIONs: In case my laptop doesn’t work out, what should I get, and does <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PLACE>Vista</ST1:PLACE> now work as well as XP with Hoster? What brand of computer does MTU use for the computer they sell?

Since everything is working on that laptop, I can't see a reason for you to get another computer to run Hoster from. You may at sometime, as your collection of songs grows need to get a bigger external hard drive to store them on.

Well let me answer some of your questions. The Compaq Presario laptop will handle Hoster just fine, try to limit the programs running in the background to very little. Disable some of the Anti virus and firewall programs if you know how to do so... Suggest that you load the Karaoke songs on the external hard disk drive so that you don't run out of space, or get a bigger external hard drive. I use a 160 GB external and I have over 500 disks and have yet to use up the disk space.

I would not recommend copying the excel spreadsheet to your Hoster Access datbase file. Yes it will take time to load the CDG's to the hard drive, but once you get the hang of it, the time will pass quickly. Don't forget that Hoster will allow you to generate a new songlist and port it to Word or to Excel. You will also find Hoster's editing features work well in version 4 than in V3.

This is a start, so good luck....

Questions
 

You can also Load all your songs Or the ones you want in Microstudio and then import them into Hoster using the import from Hard Drive feature. Did you use Micro Studio to make your compilation disks? If you did you possibly have the songs on the Hard drive already! Then it is just a matter of finding them in the Microstudio songlist, and following the import instructions. I used to have to do that to get the last song on Multi session disks before using Hoster 4.0! Micro studio and Hoster do work well together
Hope that Helps!:)
John

Reply
 

I forgot to mention that Hoster works great at home. You can have all your songs at your fingertips and make practice lists You just have to check the box in the tools section keep songs after being played. I use my laptop to practice at home all the time. I have a practice list that has songs from many different disks that way I don't have to continually swap disks and risk getting them scratched, and I can start at any song on the list. It is great, makes practicing a lot more fun and less time consuming. I highly suggest Hoster for home use. :)
I would also suggest that you just import all your songs from your original disks and then make up playlists of the songs you want to sing, and not worry with your compilation disks. You never know mabe one of your freinds and family would want to sing a song that you did'nt put on you compilation disk, and then you would have it right at your fingertips with just a few keystrokes.

John