Saving downloaded tracks to CD to import into Hoster.

[Sharon]

Hi there..... I may be being stupid but I have tried to sort this out myself but basically don't have a clue! Usually I buy a CDG disc each month and import into Hoster easy peasy. I call the new CD Comp and then whatever the next CD is. Recently I downloaded 5 tracks for the first time ever. They're on my desktop currently. What I want to do is put them onto a CD so I can keep my filing system and have them backed up at the same time. So when I bought my first CD ever I named it Comp 1 (short for compilation, to keep things simple) so my next CD I buy would be Comp 475 as I currently have 474 bcd's in my collection....hope you're following me..... I want to put my 5 downloaded tracks onto a cd to call it Comp 475 and then import it into Hoster so it comes up as Comp 475, mainly so I can search under Disc ID and just type in 475. I can't seem to do this. I have managed to get the track imported from the "import from hard drive option", but it won't let me change the disc Id. I'm now confused, any suggestions greatfully received.

[Roy Dennis]

First of when you purchase a regular CD+G disc it is recorded on an audio disc as a completely different type of file to what you get when you download. Downloaded files are normally a pair of files, an mp3 file the audio and a .cdg file that contains the lyric, these are usually contained in a zip folder, so each zip contains these 2 files. You can store copies of these files on a data CD but they will not import into Hoster from the import CD files section like a regular Audio CD+G disc would.
So you have to use the Import HD files option.
If you wanted to be able to import them as you always have from a Audio CD+G you could burn them to an Audio CD first using Microstudio which would convert the Zip files into Regular CD+G files providing you had an appropriate burner.

So well skip that idea unless you ask for more info on it.

Now you say you managed to import them OK so I wont go over that, but don't know how to change the Disc ID, that is because you can't change a Disc Id or a Book Id once it's been imported.
The only way is to go into Hosters edit dialog, select the multiples tab and delete all the files from that Disc ID and re import setting your desired Disc ID before pressing the import button.

Now you don't state which version of Hoster you are using, there are slight changes in importing with different versions.

When you import these files you have a choice of importing them as kma or kmh files.
Now if you import them as KMA files it will create a completely new file on your computer containing both the mp3 the cdg plus a lot of other data. and you wont need the original downloaded file apart from as a backup.
If you choose to import as KMH type then you need to keep the downloaded file in a folder along with a small kmh header file that Hoster creates contains all the Hoster data, that file must remain in the same folder as the downloaded file.

See how you get on with that, if you want more info on the importing come back but let us know your version of Hoster.

[Sharon]

Hi Roy

Thank you for the advice. I'm running Hoster 5.35.01.1.

At the moment I am selecting 'import songs' then 'scan now' and choosing the folder on my desktop with one of my tracks example Emeli Sande, Breaking The Law. Is there somewhere that explains the whole 'fields and separators' thing as I don't think I'm getting it still. I select the 'artist, title, ignore' and also tried it selecting the 'artist, title, discID, track' and it loaded both times. Anyway, this works for each track, but when I then search, it comes up with a random DiscID, which isn't a problem when searching if I have song title and artist highlighted to search under, because it still finds the track. The problem I have is I usually only search under disc ID as all my discs are numbered 1-475 currently. It's a system I have used for years so am used to it, although I'm sure I could get used to searching under song title if I had to. The other reason I use disc ID is I have duplicates of some tracks, and the versions in my printed books are the ones I want to be selecting so the person gets the same version each time. So this is why I need to be able to search under just disc ID and why I need to understand where to go to change the disc ID before importing, as I couldn't find where you mentioned on your previous reply. Does this make any sense because I feel I've lost MYSELF lol! I would then like to put the 5 tracks I downloaded into one folder with the same discID so it comes up say COMP 475 track 1, track 2 etc.....

I probably had other questions but so as not to lose myself further I will stop here for now.

[Roy Dennis]

The scan now dialog does not allow you to select your own Disc Id unless your file name has a disc Id of Comp 475 appended to it. Example:
Emeli Sande - Breaking The Law - Comp 475.

If instead you choose Import Songs/Index song files dialog you are presented with a different dialog but it gives you more control as to how you import your files.
In this dialog the instructions appear in the left payne but if you select kmh then zip if that is your downloaded format this will bring up windows explorer dialog, brows to the folder containing your files, make sure your files show listed then select, Your five files should show in the upper window if not untick the box for "Hide indexed tracks" it may be that as you have previously imported these files they may not show. Once your files are showing in the upper box highlite one and it should appear in the small window just below marked "field & seperators" Now press the define field order button and try to match your files but choose ignore for the disc id if it's not one of your choice.
Now press the "Add files button". The files should now populate the bottom window with a random disc id but you should be able to type your own in this window Comp 475, set the brand & language and any other settings if you like but most of the other settings can be changed afterwards in the edit dialog. It's just the Disc Id and Bookid that can't be edited after import.
Check all looks correct then Select All finally select "Index files"

Let us know how you get on with that info. The only thing that might trip you up is getting the define field order separators correct.

[Sharon]

Hi Roy thank you again because.... I think I got it! Well mostly. I managed it by choosing index songs as you suggested, and I can search under disc id only now If I choose. 3 more questions....1-I chose KMA not KMH, then MP3G, what's the difference?

2. I now have my original folder with my tracks in it but it has added a KMA file for each song to my desktop. When I search in Hoster to play a song, does it look for and use the KMA file from the desktop? So if I drag these KMA files onto my external hard drive where all my other songs are, will it not find it? Also would I need to keep the original CDG and MP3 download files on my desktop too or can they be stored elsewhere? If not how do I tell Hoster that the files are now elsewhere and not on my desktop?

3. I dragged the KMA files to a cd to see if I could save the KMA files in case the laptop crashes again despite my backups! I then dragged a song from the cd to the desktop then selected 'karaoke' in Hoster - desktop - track, it played, as did it when I selected 'karaoke' in Hoster - CD drive - then selected the track. But when I selected 'disc' and loaded it from the disc, I just got crackly noises and it was 2 minutes longer, just wondered why? It's all in the hope I get a better knowledge on what I'm doing seeing as I have been using MTU programs for so many years, but not taken full advantage of what they can do :-)

Are you bored of my questions yet?! lol

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by Sharon

Hi Roy thank you again because.... I think I got it! Well mostly. I managed it by choosing index songs as you suggested, and I can search under disc id only now If I choose. 3 more questions....1-I chose KMA not KMH, then MP3G, what's the difference?
It is just a matter of choice, kma creates a completely new file replacing your existing downloaded file, once you have the kma file you can delete the original file or store it somewhere else if you want. The downside is they can only play in Hoster and if you keep both files on your computer you are using up twice the hard drive space.

With a KMH file you actually index and play from the original downloaded file, whether it be MP3+G or zip or any other type including some of the newer video mp4 types. These types have to stay on your computer with an accompanying small file named the same with a kmh extension. The kmh file has to remain in the same folder as the MP3+G files. Advantage with these files is they are backwoods compatible with other karaoke software. It is an accepted standard, and you are not creating another copy on your computer.
2. I now have my original folder with my tracks in it but it has added a KMA file for each song to my desktop.
When you chose to import as kma mp3g, after selecting the folder (in your case desktop) the import dialog would display in the top right A Save To: window, by pressing the save to button you would select where you want the kma saved, So as you did not select anywhere it saved it to your desktop.
When I search in Hoster to play a song, does it look for and use the KMA file from the desktop? In your case yes because you did not specify where. So if I drag these KMA files onto my external hard drive where all my other songs are, will it not find it? It's possible to make it find it, I'll write more about this at the end. Also would I need to keep the original CDG and MP3 download files on my desktop too or can they be stored elsewhere? As you have imported them as kma you can store them anywhere or delete them. If not how do I tell Hoster that the files are now elsewhere and not on my desktop? I think I have answered that.

3. I dragged the KMA files to a cd to see if I could save the KMA files in case the laptop crashes again despite my backups! I then dragged a song from the cd to the desktop then selected 'karaoke' in Hoster - desktop - track, it played, as did it when I selected 'karaoke' in Hoster - CD drive - then selected the track. But when I selected 'disc' and loaded it from the disc, I just got crackly noises and it was 2 minutes longer, just wondered why? It's all in the hope I get a better knowledge on what I'm doing seeing as I have been using MTU programs for so many years, but not taken full advantage of what they can do :-)
The disc button is for regular CDG.
As I said in my first reply regular CDG disc like you would buy from manufacturers are recorded in a different format, they are music CDs.
When you copy KMAs or mp3 or zip or any other types they are in a data format and wont play in a standard cd player. Audio disc and data disc are different.
Are you bored of my questions yet?! lol

As I'm retired it gives me something to do and keep my mind active.

One point that won't apply to you if you keep importing as KMA, if you were choose the KMH format you would need to create a folder on your hard drive first where you wanted them, then put the downloaded files in that folder before importing them as you do not get a save to folder appear when choosing kmh.

Now regarding your question, "if I drag these KMA files onto my external hard drive where all my other songs are, will it not find it"
I'll say this if you only have 5 files that you have imported like this then probably easier to delete them via the edit dialog first then re import as I described selecting your normal storage area from the save to window.

The reason I say this is because you have to be careful not to get duplicate disc id errors when importing.

If you want you could try this: copy the kma files (don't choose move) from your desk top and paste them where you want them, then go into the edit dialog and delete the originals from within the edit dialog.
Now from the import tab/Build database, look down the list of folders in the left window and find the folder you moved the kma to, highlight it then press the "Rescan Folder" button, now and it should re enter them into the database with the original disc ids you set.

That should keep you busy, let us know how it goes.

[Sharon]

Roy you are just amazing!!!!!! I was going crazy trying to understand field separators and oh lord knows everything but I just did it. I moved the songs to my external and they have imported into Hoster via 'scan now'. I have been on 5days straight at work this week so just had a little play so far but I will have a good read up tomorrow and try and digest everything again. Then I will probably email you as to how to get my KHPro files I have created onto my external to play in Hoster too lol :-)

Thank you loads.....I'm sure I will be in touch soon.....like maybe Monday lol :-) xx