Getting errors importing mp3+g files
 

Hi,

I recently purchased Hoster, and I am trying to get my existing mp3+g library imported.

There are around 84k songs in my library, and whilst I understand this is not a problem for the software, I am experiencing problems getting Hoster to successfully import the files.

Previously they were being used in the Sax n Dottys Hoster, and this program did not have any problems with these files.

When I import, firstly I cannot just point Hoster to the main karaoke files folder, as it doesn't seem to recurse folders, so I'm having to go through the process one by one!! During the importing process Hoster is skipping files giving a status of 'error' but these files check out fine when accessed manually to check their contents. The filenaming is correct etc.

I have seen some comments about 'special' characters in filenames, such as ',' and '&' etc but it doesn't seem to be just these files causing a problem, as some of them are straight forward word filenames.

As it stands, I can't use this software so I'm a little peeved having just bought it hoping it would be an improvement on my last software.

Any help anyone can give me would be greatfully received!

Aaron.

did you read the manual on importing them ?


ps: its not Sax n Dottys Hoster. Hoster is a registered trade mark for MTU :g

Aaron,
Most likely your error causing files were created at maximum compression. Hoster is not set up to handle some of these extreme compressions not to mention the loss of sound quality. There is a program (not MTU) called MP3GToolz which can uncompress and recompress at less than maximum. Then you can use Winzip or Winrar to rezip the files.
With 84,000 songs I can't begin to imagine what your books must look like. That is one heck of an investment both for books and songs!!:e

1. Do you know the source of your 84,000 CDG songs? Did you import them from CDG discs using one of the MP3+G rippers? We're not aware of any MP3+G formats that S&D's "Show Presenter" product supports that Hoster doesn't. I am assuming your files are NOT ZIPPED. If they are, then Dale's point about "max compression" would apply. Hoster won't unzip files with max compression.

2. We often hear that Hoster has no problem importing MP3+Gs and ZIPs that were used on S&D's player. Thus, some unique error condition exists in the files reporting "error" during importing. There are three error conditions on MP3+G files that could cause "error" during importing:

   A. Both a .mp3 and a .cdg file with the same name must be in the same folder. Hoster's filename checking is case insensitive.

   B. Neither file can be open (locked) by another program while trying to import. This would deny Hoster access to one or the other of the file pair.

   C. Hoster opens the .mp3 header to obtain the compression and duration. If the header is non-stadard, Hoster may not be able to open it.

You can easily determine if A or B above are met. If so, then the files that are showing "error" may have mp3 headers that Hostre doesn't recognize.

Please email "support at mtu dot com" a zip file containing the .mp3 and .cdg for two songs that show "error" while importing. We will analize them and make our import accept them... unless they have been created with some really screwy header that is non-standard, then we may have to decide to support it or not.

3. All reported problems of "special" characters in the filenames have been fixed in 3.316 or prior. We tried a number of them just now in both Hoster 3.316 and Microstudio 4.000 and both played and/or imported the "dummied up" bad files without errors. :c

MP3+GToolz 4.0
 

Aaron,
I recently started buying MP3+G files and importing them into Hoster. I ran into two issues.

1. In order for Hoster to import MP3+G files or any other type of file that is on your hard drive, it has to be named in a manner that Hoster recognizes. Hoster gives you the ability to choose the way you name your files. If a file is not named according to the format you selected, Hoster will not load it.

2. I found some of the MP3+G files ran using other programs but not Hoster. The program that ddouglas mentioned took care of this. Download and install MP3+GToolz 4.0 from ActiveASP Software:
http://www.activeaspsoftware.net/def...px?p=downloads
it's free.

I download all of the MP3+G files that I buy into one folder then use MP3+GToolz 4.0 to "Convert Zip To Audio+G". Then I use MP3+GToolz 4.0 to "Convert Audio+G To Zip". This makes it so every zip file in the folder (that is named correctly) can be loaded into Hoster.

You will be very happy with Hoster once all of your files are loaded. The software will pay for itself many times over. :)

I hope this helps.

Jim