How will videos work??

[songpony]

This hasn't generated any response from MTU in the "New Features" forum, so thought I'd give it a try here.

I know the plan is to eventually have Hoster work with Video CDs (and possibly DVDs). In order to keep from having to drag a player around with my computer (as well as a bunch of disks and lasers), I've recorded all of my video media (DVD, VCD, LD, etc.) to an external hard drive - I've used the mpeg-1 format (VCD) and the files have a .mpg extension. I'm currently playing them via Windows Media Player, but I hope that I'll eventually be able to play them through Hoster (eliminating the need for multiple programs and switching back and forth). I've tried to record the files to a Video CD (anticipating Hoster's ability to read VCD disks), but it ends up recording it as one big file rather than keeping each song separate - definitely not working right. Even if Hoster could read a VCD (and load it temporarily like it does a singer's CDG), I really don't want to go that route and be back to carrying a bunch of disks - I want to be able to store the files on the computer. Is there any chance that Hoster will be able to play .mpg files (or .wmv or ??) the same way it will now play .wma files from the hard drive? That would be my ideal situation, if it's at all possible. Just putting in my request and hoping to find out the direction that will be taken so I don't waste a lot of effort moving down the wrong path - I have over 1200 video karaoke songs to deal with. Thanks!

[gotrich]

hmmm I am interested in this. How do you folks get windows medi player to show up on the main screen? Who do you use videos in a show...durring a song break or a dance break? Or is this for some other purpose?

Rich

[songpony]

To get Windows Media Player to show up on the singer's screen, I drag it over to that screen when I first start up the program. The videos I play are karaoke videos - loaded to my computer from karaoke Laser Disks and DVDs. If a person requests a song I have only on Laser Disk or DVD, I have to play it through Windows Media Player. When I double-click the song file, it automatically brings WMP up on the singer's screen as the active window (once it's moved there the first time). I then change it to full screen so it looks just like it would if it were playing on a karaoke player (or just like the CDGs do played through Hoster). When the song is over, I minimize the WMP window so my Hoster window becomes active on that screen again. It works well, at least until Hoster can accommodate these files.

[Grace]

Is there a way to use key control when using WMP?

[songpony]

You would have to buy an external device for this. I got a unit for about $80 - it's really lightweight, and has multiplex capabilities as well as key control. I just run the audio of my PC through it - you could even use it to key-change Hoster songs if you wanted to. For the most part, I don't even power it on until I need it for a WMP song - turning it on and off has no impact on the audio of a playing song, and it's super easy to use. Let me know if you want any further details.

[Grace]

That sounds like something I would be interested in. What's the brand and model number so I could look for one.

Thanks

[songpony]

Here's the link for the one I purchased. They have others, but I didn't see any need to get anything more elaborate or expensive - this one works just great.

[songpony]

Sorry - clicked before I pasted the link! :-)

http://www.acekaraoke.com/hykokkc330.html