Sound skipping in Home Producer 3.x Demo

[johnsonum]

I'm looking for software that will help me create karaoke on my PC. I've played around with DART and find that though it works, it is cumbersome to the extreme.

Now to my problem. I installed the demo and when I import a .wav and associated lyrics and then attempted to mark the lyrics, the sound skips and keeps repeating portions of the song. Simply playing the song does the same thing. And yes, the .wav is fine.

After viewing previous threads, there looks like there might be a problem with XP, Soundblaster cards or all of the above. The key thing here is I'm not going to buy something if the demo doesn't even work on my machine.

Here are my stats:

Windows XP Professional
Homebuilt Athlon 1.4Ghz
Asus A7M266 Motherboard
256MB PC-2100 DDR
GeForce 2 GTS 32MB Video
Soundblaster Audigy Platinum
IBM 30GB ATA/100 7200 RPM hard drive

And before someone asks, yes I do have Direct X 8.1. You see, it comes with Windows XP. So, if someone has XP, the definitely have 8.1 or above.

Yes. my video and sound drivers are up to date. I use only NVidia reference drivers.

I really like the looks of the product. It's method for marking words look efficient, especially compared to DART. I REALLY want to use it. Can anyone help me? And no, I am not willing to change out my sound card, especially since it's the de facto standard manufacturer and not Joe's Sound Card. A decent software developer will ensure compatibility with the most used OS's and hardware first, and then build support for lesser utilized peripherals.

Admin Note: As a professional software developmeht company for 32 years, I take acception to your statement about "decent software developers". The FIRST and most important point is to develop a software product that does what it claims. Second, it must be usable by a large number of customers, or sales will suffer. Third, It must be used by people it is designed for... Karaoke users are not always the MOST technically driven, as you are. Forth, we DO work with individual clients with unique problems, up to a point... if they are responsive and respectful. As you do, I hope we can meet your needs. As you will see below, there may be a work-around for your problem that has been available on our Forum for some time.

[George]

Johnsonum, the following is a copy of a prior post regarding sound problems with Audigy.Having seen the same problems with Audigy and Windows98SE as well as XP, and considering the fix found below, would have to conclude the problem is within the compatability of the P.C and the Audigy and not the KHP software. Hope your solution is here.

George




May 8th, 2002 09:44 AM
I solved the Audigy card skipping problem!

First, go into your computer's BIOS and make sure all your audio options are enabled except for on-board sound.

Then, go into the audio settings in Windows control panel. Go to the advanced options for the Audigy card and decrease the hardware acceleration to one notch above None.

After doing these things, I have no problems at all with audio using Microstudio or KHP.

Kim

[MTUSUPPORT]

Here is a post to what needs to be done for the Audigy to work correctly: http://www.mtu.com/vbulletin/showthr...?threadid=1254

[johnsonum]

The workaround certainly works. However, it is cumbersome to have to adjust the acceleration settings ever time one uses the software. The SoundBlaster Audigy is the de facto standard card now. So, more and more PCs will be equipped with his card....not just my high end rig. When a permanent fix comes out, I might think about purchasing.

P.S. I work in software product management, and stand by my comments above. If I were designing an application that relied on third-party hardware, I'd want it to work with the de facto standard vendors. Workarounds only go so far.

[George]

Soundblaster Audigy Platinum is the de facto card in your mind because that's what you own, and that's fine. I think a software manufacturer has to design a product that will meet the needs of the greatest number of people in his target market, over the longest possible time, and be compatible with hardware that meets the same criteria. MTU does just that. The Audigy card hasn't met that test yet. Had it removed from my p.c. and replaced with one that has.

I guess your dilemna is choosing between having to use a program that is "cumbersome to the extreme" or make a one minute adjustment to use a superior product.

So you see , that's why they sell chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

George