[DougC]

Cher123825,

Hi, DougC from MTU here. I will give you the run down on how Hoster works, but users can answer you on anything I miss. A general overview of Hoster, requirements, and setting up can be found below.

Running Hoster From your PC Computer

Hardware

First thing you need is a good computer that you can be comfortable with. I recommend a laptop or rack mount unit since one is mobile and the other can mobile or stationary.

From our testing, the ideal computer specifications would include the following:

*Intel processor 1.6GHz or faster, 1GHz is sufficient (AMD not recommended for multimedia applications)
*512MB of Ram or more
*Hard drive with adequate space for your library (i.e. Every 10,000 songs imported with Hoster will use roughly 50GB) Laptops can use external hard drive storage for additional space.
*Windows XP Home, XP Pro, Media Center, or 2000
*ATI or Nvidia video card or chip preferred with TV Out, but also Intel 900GMA or 950 chips can support dual display
*A good burner for reading in the discs (we recommend Plextor)
*Sound Outputs - built on is fine, but can be improved with a higher quality sound card
*MTU.com Hoster Brand Software

Converting your Karaoke CD+G discs to compressed digital files

Now comes the tedious part, manually importing each CD+G disc into the computer. Hoster( makes this easy for you. Just look at the bright side, once you have all your discs imported into the computer, you will never have to do it again.... and the best part...no more copying discs!

*Make sure your CD recorder is a supported reader/writer and select it for your import device. (Test it with the DEMO VERSION)
*Place the disc you wish to import into the burner and click on the import Tracks button on top. Then select to import tracks from CD Tracks. This will launch the Hoster import screen.
*Select the brand from the drop down box (yes, there is a built in database to help you with naming all those files!), then the disc ID for that brand from the next drop down box (note: if the disc id is not in the box, then simply type in the number it is supposed to be and continue. You will have to type in the artist and title names for each song by clicking on "unknown/undefined" and typing in the artist/title info), then click next for the book ID, then click on Add Disc Tracks To Import.
*Select the songs you wish to import or select all for the entire disc.
*Click import selected songs.
*You have just imported a CDG disc into Hoster.

Finding and Playing Your Songs in Hoster

*Select the method you wish to use in finding the songs. You can use BookID if you have your songbook ready, the brand and DiscID, or search (screenshot) to find the track you are looking for. (You can also add compressed audio songs or video files by clicking on the audio or video button "add track" in the playlist).
*Then select the song, or click on CDG to add songs from a singers CDG disc, or video to add songs from either VCD or DVD discs to your playlist.
*Click on to start playing your song. To reduce the size of the play window double click your mouse on it. This will make it adjustable in size.
*You can continue to add songs to your playlist as needed.
*Need to play a multiplex song or disc...no problem. Hoster has you covered!
*Need to change key...We have that too!
*Do you want to go ahead and add all your singers into the playlist? You can do that too! There is no limit on how many songs you can pre-add to your playlist. Add them while someone is singing too! (only supported with dual display computers)


Preparing Song Books

*Click on the Songbook menu option in Hoster
*Click on your choice of selection or filter under this menu. You can choose filtered selections by choosing the appropriate radio button.
*When you are ready to create your book click on the create button to prepare your songbook file.
*You may use the Select Viewer button to choose the program you wish to view the songbooks with. (we recommend Microsoft Word).
*You can then click on the view songbook button to launch the selected viewing program, which will then open the newly created songbooks!

Setting Up

The final step in this process is to get everything setup so that you can run the equipment efficiently. Connecting the computer's sound out to your Mixer/Amp is easy. Simply run a cable from the sound out port on your computer (usually 1/8" mini stereo 'headphone out' jack) to your mixer/amp (converters can be found easily at Radio Shack).

Your video will be sent out of the computer through S-video out or RCA video out ports depending on the card or computer you are using. This can be easily converted to coaxial cable by running the output signal into an RF modulator and then out to your TV(s).

Microphones will still need to be run through your mixer as well as being your master volume control, but Hoster will take care of eliminating the discs and hardware players that have become such a hassle.


DougC