Disc ID question

[Lonman]

I use the disc id for my search query. Why don't it list the track ie Disc ID SC8148-07 when I do a search for SC8148? It just lists SC8148 but no distinguishable track number? I can search for the disc itself, but if I put in the search SC8147-07 - it comes up nothing found?
I just started using my computer tonight in the club & this is kind of a problem for me>????

[mindonstrike]

The track # is the last two digits of the bookid

Sam

[madjim- with the Lord]

The track number is the last two digits of the BookID.

For example in my collection "Remember When" By "Alan Jackson" is off of disc "SC3382' with the BookID "6801". When I loaded Disc "SC3382", "68" was the lowest unused discID number (or the 68th disc I loaded) so the first two numbers of the BookID will be "68". Since "Remember When" is track "1" on the disc the last two numbers of the BookID will be "01". (BookID 6801)

Type in the DiscID without a track number then look at the last two numbers of the BookID.

My singers give me a song title or I will search for the artist and let them choose a song from the list. I never have to search by DiskID. If they try to give me a BookID number or hand me a piece of paper I explain (in a nice way) that I only need the title of the song (you really only need one or two words) and their name.

I Hope This Helps

Jim

Note from the manual:

"We STRONGLY recommend you click the Next button for Hoster to automatically assign the lowest unused BookID Root when importing tracks from a Brand-DiscID you have not imported before."

I followed these instructions and did not create a cutom scheme.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

The track # is the last two digits of the bookid

Sam

Sorry to repeat this answer, Sam slipped it in while I was typing.

Jim

[gd123]

Performing a search for SC8148 will list, in numeric BOOK ID order, Trks 01-15.

I know this doesn't get you what you want, which would be to enter SC8148-01 and only have a listing of just that.

But, the technical reason is that the DiscID in and of itself does not contain a Track Number. It's a kin to the BookID ROOT. The BookID ROOT doesn't contain a Track Number. Hence, in reality, the DiscID should be technically referred to as a DiscID ROOT.

But, if logic is to follow, one can search on a BookID, which contains the BookID ROOT and a Track Number. So, why can't one search for a DiskID, which contains the DiscID ROOT and a Track Number?

Well, one glaring reason is found in the Songs.MDB...the Bible to Hoster. Notice that the BookID (not Bookid ROOT) is shown in its own column, whereas, the DiscID (ROOT) is in its own Column and the corresponding Track Number is in a SEPARATE Column.

Which is more strange because, in the KMA Songs Folder, the DiscID (ROOT) and its corresponding Track number are together separated by a DASH...not a Column.

However, I was able to convert the Access97 Songs.MDB to Access2007. From there I was able to Delete the DiskID Field, Insert and COPY the PATH Field, which had to be RENAMED to the DiskID Field, as there was already a PATH Field.

Then, I used REPLACE to get rid of the PATH info and the .KMA info, which left the DiskID-Track Number.

Then, I converted the Access2007 Songs.ACCDB back down to an Access2000 Songs.MDB. I attempted to match the "Original" DiskID "FIELD SIZE" of 16, but Access wanted to delete too much info in the DiskID Field so I left the DiskID Field at the Copied parameters of the PATH Field, which was 255.

Copied the altered Songs.MDB to the Hoster\Database Folder and Hoster Opened perfectly.

Upon performing a Search for DiskID SC8148, the Disk listed all Tracks.

Upon performing a Search for DiskID (ROOT) and Track Number 1, which would be SC8148-1, I got a truncated list of all DiskID (ROOT) Trks:
01
10
11
12
13
14
15

as I couldn't get specific to Track 01 as the DiskID is listed as SC8148-1 and NOT SC8148-01

So, if I wanted to further alter the Songs.MDB by adding leading ZEROS to single digit Tracks, I could perform an exact SEARCH, which is what you are tyring to accomplish.

Man I'm smart.

[Lonman]

Oh well, I don't use the bookid - for me it's a useless field (unless I want to see the track numbers), guess i'll have to live with it.

[goonie227]

How can you not use the book ID?

[madjim- with the Lord]

My singers give me the name (title) of the song or the name of the artist, NO NUMBERS! I started hosting karaoke with disc and CDG player using numbers like everybody else and understand that old habits can be hard to break but a paperless show means less work for the KJ. This alows the KJ to focus on the singers and the show. It takes a little while to train your singers but once they get used it they will never have to remember a number or write on a piece of paper again.

Paperless/Numberless Shows, The only way to KJ!

Jim

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by goonie227

How can you not use the book ID?

Because I prefer to use the disc ID number instead. Not only does it tell people what brand they are singing off of, it gives me a fall back if the computer crashes as well as my discs are with me at every show.
For my use, the book id is not a useable number which is why I asked for the songbook creator to be able to list book ID OR disc ID. Right now the songbook creator won't work for my needs either which is why I continue to use my Access reports.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by madjim

My singers give me the name (title) of the song or the name of the artist, NO NUMBERS! I started hosting karaoke with disc and CDG player using numbers like everybody else and understand that old habits can be hard to break but a paperless show means less work for the KJ. This alows the KJ to focus on the singers and the show. It takes a little while to train your singers but once they get used it they will never have to remember a number or write on a piece of paper again.

Paperless/Numberless Shows, The only way to KJ!

Jim

I doubt I will ever go paperless. Glad that it works for you, I like to have the slips turned in - not an old habit, but a preference.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by madjim

My singers give me the name (title) of the song or the name of the artist, NO NUMBERS! I started hosting karaoke with disc and CDG player using numbers like everybody else and understand that old habits can be hard to break but a paperless show means less work for the KJ. This alows the KJ to focus on the singers and the show. It takes a little while to train your singers but once they get used it they will never have to remember a number or write on a piece of paper again.

Paperless/Numberless Shows, The only way to KJ!

Jim

Jim,
How is it less work if you have to use the search typing in name for each and every addition to the playlist, or do you remember the bookid for every song? I would think even Lonman's use of the DiscID would be faster.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by Lonman

I doubt I will ever go paperless. Glad that it works for you, I like to have the slips turned in - not an old habit, but a preference.

I agree. I know I have had singers come up to sing and try to tell me that wasn't the song they put in. With the slip I have proof, that I didn't mess up.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by Lonman

I doubt I will ever go paperless. Glad that it works for you, I like to have the slips turned in - not an old habit, but a preference.

lonman,
I'm not saying that everybosy should do as I do, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I've been paperless for three years now. I believe this has helped my show be successful. I was recently dubbed The Karaoke Guru of Valdosta Ga. by a local nightlife magazine. http://www.madjim.com/madjim/eleventhour2007.html

You will stop bringing your disc to a show for back-up soon. I have a second hard drive in my machine with a full system backup. If the main hard drive fails (this has never happened but better safe than sorry!) I open the machine, make the back up drive the main drive and carry on. (I understand that a second internal hard drive is not possible for laptop users, YET!)

Hoster never looses it's playlist so there is no need for back-up, paper copies of the songs requested. In the three years that I have been using Hoster (four to six nights a week) it has only crashed once and I believe it was due some changes I made in my system NOT HOSTER. When it happened I made an anoucement, (tip your bartenders...) restarted the program and carried on. Most folks didn't even realize it happened.

I try to buy the best version of each song I can get (I find that Sound Choice is not always the best) so I only have one copy of each song in my collection (just went over 10,000). I find that folks who prefer a particular version of a song bring their own discs and I just load their copy into Hoster for them to sing. If I like their version I will buy it and take my old version out of the collection. In the rare cases that I have two versions of the same song (I'm not against this!), I will make a note of it in the Title so it shows up in the book and in the Singer Name Display for everybody to see.

Example:
All That Jazz - Movie.......................Chicago
All That Jazz - Broadway..................Chicago

You could use system like this:

SC = Sound Choice
CB = Chartbusters
ST = Star
etc...

Crazy - SC.....................Cline, Patsy
Crazy - CB.....................Cline, Patsy
Crazy - ST.....................Cline, Patsy
etc....

I'm not trying to change your system, just letting everybody know what works for me.

Jim

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

Jim,
How is it less work if you have to use the search typing in name for each and every addition to the playlist, or do you remember the bookid for every song? I would think even Lonman's use of the DiscID would be faster.

Dale,
A KJ has to type or select something for every song that is loaded into Hoster as well as typing the singers name so there is no difference there. Remember 10,000 BookID's, no way! It takes no more than a second or two to type a song title or a couple of words and hit search. For some songs I just type a few letters. To pull up Bohemian Rapsody I type "boh" in the search field and there it is.

There's nothing wrong with using paper, I did it for years but it does have it's issues. Slips sometimes get blown off the table when a door is opened or an air conditioner kickes in or a fan gets turned on and they get out of order. Slips would fall off of the table or get covered up. Slips also require alot of table space. Another issue with paper is when a singer writes three or four songs on one piece of paper. If multible singers do this, the KJ spends extra time having to keep up with everybodies list plus they have to mark off the songs that have been sung ugggggg . I only put one song at a time on the playlist for every singer. After they sing a song they walk over and put the next song in. This helps keep the list fair.

Without paper singers have to talk with the KJ to get on the list. This makes the show more personal and helps the KJ remember names and faces. It gives the KJ a chance to give advice and personal "Good Job's" to the singers. Oh, and you can also tell if somebody is too drunk to sing.

Since the advent of computers everything has gone paperless like buying stuff online or paying for fast food and gas with the swipe of a card. If the US government had their way we wouldn't have paper money! Remember what book keeping was like before computers?

I'm not trying to change anybodies system, just letting you know what works for me.

Jim

P.S. You posted a comment about a lighted flexable keyboard and I bought one. WOW, how cool is that thing! Thanks for the advice!

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

I agree. I know I have had singers come up to sing and try to tell me that wasn't the song they put in. With the slip I have proof, that I didn't mess up.

Exactly! Happens more often than not, then you show them the slip & all is well.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by madjim

lonman,You will stop bringing your disc to a show for back-up soon. I have a second hard drive in my machine with a full system backup. If the main hard drive fails (this has never happened but better safe than sorry!) I open the machine, make the back up drive the main drive and carry on. (I understand that a second internal hard drive is not possible for laptop users, YET!)

Actually no I won't stop bringing the discs to every show - I don't have to, i'm stationary in the same club for 15 years. All the discs are already there anyway.
I too have a mirrored drive so if one fails the other will take over without a glitch.

[mindonstrike]

I'm a "custom scheme(r)". I have a legend at the front of the books for those who want to know what brand a song is. 01-xx thru 99-xx are reserved for VCD for when the time comes they can be imported but they are titled that way on my hard drive now. 100-xx thru 299-xx =PHM, 300-xx thru 499-xx =CB, etc. I use Soundchoices own numbers 2000-xx thru 9908-xx. Most of the number blocks I have memorized so when I do get a question on a song I can usually tell them the brand without looking it up, and most of my singers who are concerned about the brand are looking for SC which is even easier to tell.

I will usually accomodate a song slip that is missing the bookid but I have found that most folks who give me a slip like this often times didn't even look in the book to see if I have the song or they confuse a line from the chorus as being the song title. , they just wrote it up, handed it in and went on their merry way so then I have to hunt them down and let them know I don't have it ask whose rendition etc.

If I were paperless I'd have to deal with 50-60 people, many of whom after making their requests want to stay and chat forcing me to blow them off to get to other requests or collect microphones, call up the next singer, etc.

madjim I am glad the paperless thing works for you, but for me it would be more work than I would care for.

my 2 cents
Sam

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by Lonman

Actually no I won't stop bringing the discs to every show - I don't have to, i'm stationary in the same club for 15 years. All the discs are already there anyway.
I too have a mirrored drive so if one fails the other will take over without a glitch.

Very cool, 15 years is one heck of a gig! After I got all of my karaoke tracks loaded into my computer I never took them out of the house again. If I had know you were stationary I wouldn't have made that statment.


Jim

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

If I were paperless I'd have to deal with 50-60 people, many of whom after making their requests want to stay and chat forcing me to blow them off to get to other requests or collect microphones, call up the next singer, etc.

madjim I am glad the paperless thing works for you, but for me it would be more work than I would care for.

At the begining of my gigs before the show starts, folks line up to tell me their request (normally the list is about two hours long). Because of this they move quickly. Once everybody in the room who wants to sing is on the list we start the show and the night goes smooth barring the usual snags.

When I used paper I was still using disc. Once I got Hoster I went paperless, never used Hoster and paper. I'm sure Hoster makes using paper much easier. Every singer I've met likes not having to deal with the paper and numbers, at least this is what they tell me. Another issue I had with paper is when a singer would write down the wrong number for their song without telling me the title to cross reference with. Every time this happened I would have to hold up the show to get the correct song up. Using disc this could take a few minutes and cause dead air because I would have to set the mic down to get the correct disc in the player. I found myself having to ask every singer "Your singing (whatever song they wrote down) right?" Since I had to verify the information anyway there seemed to be no reason to have paper.

Paper or no paper a good show requires work of some kind, that's why we get paid. Every club is different and we all must do whatever it take to accomodate the singers in our area. Please don't misunderstand me, using paper is the standard method for running a karaoke show and I'm not trying to "convert" anybody. Personally, I enjoy the interactivity with my singers. Next to not dealing with disc, not having to deal with paper is the second most valuable thing Hoster adds to my show. Of course all of the features in Hoster are awsome!

Thanks for your 2 cents Sam!

Jim

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Lonman

Exactly! Happens more often than not, then you show them the slip & all is well.

Lonnie, I've had people still do the same even when they DO turn in a slip and still argue the point when you show them the slip, or someone else turns in a slip for them they didn't even know about I think his point is good for paperless, because either way, I say "what song do ya wanna sing". So, saying it in the first place when they walk up does solve a lot of issues, at least for the paperless guys.