Importing songs problem.

[tkelley3]

Hello MTU . I am having a problem importing songs within Hoster 3.303. Hoster is not importing the graphics correctly (I think it's an import speed issue) and so they don't come out "clean". I have over 10,000 songs and I HAD imported them into hoster 3.2xx and they were perfect (graphics display and music). I mean really perfect. No spots or ticks or globs or anything. (Well, yes every once in awhile there would be a small spot but that was RARE.)

So what problem? After updating (yes you did make me purchase the update but that is another story) I decided to renumber all of my disks. I did not like the numbering scheme. So I updated and re-imported every last disk I have. Did I mention there are over 10,000 songs?

Hoster 3.303 did import all the disks but the quality of the import is very suspect. There is no disk speed control that I see and so Hoster just imported at its top speed. Well, Chartbusters (just to mention one company) uses cheaper disks and they need to be imported at a slower speed (this is a good idea with all KJ disks as the interleave and wobble is minimized at slower speeds). Many of the newly imported tracks (not just the last one) had so many spots that the song became unrecognizable as it played. This is a very disappointing update of Hoster in this ONE respect. I love the program and I did love the way it input the music and graphics. This really does need to be fixed.

What did I do? Well since I had already upgraded, I copied ALL 10,000 songs into Microstudio and imported them into Hoster and that cleaned up the problems. Of course Microstudio has an option to slow down the import process to fix wobble among other things. (Not all companies are using 48 or 52 speed disks…duh.) Please fix Hoster so that we can import disks (poor manufactures copies) at a slower speed if we want to.

While I am at it, I noticed that you must now insert the disk into the burner (mine is a Plextor PS-708UF and my other one is a Plextor PS-716UF) before you click on import. Very annoying as BEFORE the disk would slide in if the door was open and you clicked on import. Please fix that also and put it back the way it was. Remember, I absolutely LOVE Hoster and would not think of EVER doing a KJ show without it ever again. I know you have lots of programming experience and have been in this business for many years. I am guessing this just got lost in the shuffle of the new updates.

Thanks: tmk

[ddouglass]

TKelley3,

I am a bit confused. When did Hoster ever have an import speed control? You can control the amount of compression Hoster uses to save the KMA files, but not the speed of reading the files from the CD. In fact those speeds you are talking about are the recording (write) speed not the read speed for the drives. I have used a Plextor 716 through all the updates and the only thing I have done is to use the lowest compression to help the Chartbuster cheapies to convert with less spots.

Have you tried cleaning your disks and the disk drive?

"I noticed that you must now insert the disk into the burner (mine is a Plextor PS-708UF and my other one is a Plextor PS-716UF) before you click on import."

Are you refering to the import from a singer's disk or the Import from CD for importing your CDs? If you are talking about from a singer's CD, I have never noticed this, but now that I think about it I always have put their disk in first and then selected CDG.

For your paying for the upgrade, Admin will have to tell you how to get credited for that, but when they say the upgrade is free then you need to check your account history for your previous purchase. If it doesn't show the upgraded version in the download link, then you need to contact them (through here) to get it fixed before paying for it.

[tkelley3]

I am a bit confused. When did Hoster ever have an import speed control? You are not confused as Hoster does not have an import speed control but something in the code must have changed during the import process with version 3.3xx. The upgrade has caused many spots and globs to the point that the song cannot be read on the screen. As for cleaning the disks, I can do that but these disks have NEVER been played and have only been used to convert to the Hoster format. With the old program 3.2 there was not a problem. Something has to have changed and as I said, I can import them into Microstudio at a slower read speed and then import them into Hoster with no problem spots? I did not have to do that before. I am using the 128 compression.

Yes I am referring to the import from a singer’s disk. I always put the CD into the drive and clicked on import and the CD would close and import. It was a quick way (OK, lazy) to save a step of pushing in the CD button to load the CD. I do like that connivance and I also used it (CD going in) to make sure the CD would read disks during the show. I put the CD into the CD drawer but do not close it. I select the track and type in the song and click on Add and in goes the CD, the track is read and I am done.

Something has changed with this update and I really need Hoster Tech to look at it. Of course I could be out of my mind and nothing has changed. I do wonder then, why I had so many CD’s that had spot problems with this version and NO problems with the 3.2 version. Same disks and same program?

No one else has noticed this problem??

tmk

[ddouglass]

I don't have an answer for you. I don't believe that part of the code for the main import was touched. One other thing I suggested above was to clean the drive. I have had case where the drive was causing the spotty problem and cleaning it did help.

I do know that part of the change in the last upgrade was to fix the singer's import because it was causing the program to crash. SO it is possible that in fixing that they caused it to not close and read the disk automatically.

[lmcmains]

I just imported CB60350 and 30057 which is the newest Chartbusters and they were fine. I didn't have any spots or (snow flakes). I am using a home built Shuttle computer with an AMD 2800 processer 1gig of memory and a Plextor 716A drive. Hoster 3.303.

[tkelley3]

Thanks for the reply's. Try importing Chartbuster E5 disks 28, 29, and 30. I had to slow down the read speed on these three disks to 2x so they would import into Microstudio and then into Hoster. Before I slowed them down I could not even get a good copy to use. (I used disks before Hoster and NEVER took the originals to the show. This was for scratch and steal safety on my part.) These are just three of the disks that I had problems with in Hoster AFTER my move up to 3.303. I have re-done all my CB disks but if I can recall any other disks I will post them. DDouglas was correct in saying that this is a READ problem and not a write problem. Hoster is reading the disks at too high a speed for these disks. (This is my opinion here!) tmk

[Don Dees]

I myself, in the process of loading CD+G's onto my hoster Rack PC is having a heck of a time!! alot of my CD+G's are atleast 3 - 3 1/2 years old been use a bit in those years.. they play fine in my Player that i used in the past, but now that i am loading them onto hoster there are a number ( affraid to guess ) of them that the music either skips and words when that happens, or the songs play fine but there is spots in the lyrics ( snow some people call it) some play just fine!! I have found out right quick loading songs is a very long process. i have a few hundred disc to load and bascially i am just getting started.

I have bought a resurficing product ( being shipped as we speak ) to take care of scratches that would cause alot of the problems i think i might be having ( i hope ) My question is, does anyone know if this product i bought might be my answer?... i am loading all my songs at 192k compression ratio since i will not be loading anywhere near 50,000 songs. My thinking is to go ahead and load the CD+G's and then go back and reload the ones that i am having trouble with after i resurface them, not all my songs on the CD+G's skip some do some dont, thought i could fix and reload the ones that are messing up if possible. i am trying to save valuble time in this process.

Please if theres any other tricks that may help me, let me know i am very new at this and somethings im not understanding right now

Thanks Don

[CochrellGary]

Don, here's another suggestion if you're willing to take the time
Put a buffing wheel on a bench gringer and apply red rouge polishing compound.
You can buff out most, if not all, minor scratches on your CDG's.
I have buffed out my CDG collection to their original mirror finish.
Just be careful that you don't buff in one place too long to prevent heat buildup.

[admin]

OK, lets see if I can answer all these. I appreciate your wonderful way of asking for help.

Originally Posted by tkelley3

Hello MTU . I am having a problem importing songs within Hoster 3.303. Hoster is not importing the graphics correctly (I think it's an import speed issue) and so they don't come out "clean". I have over 10,000 songs and I HAD imported them into hoster 3.2xx and they were perfect (graphics display and music). I mean really perfect. No spots or ticks or globs or anything. (Well, yes every once in awhile there would be a small spot but that was RARE.)

If you are using a Plextor drive (712, 716 are the better current ones), you should make sure the Hoster Tools menu > CD/DVD Drives Default "Use Software Decode" is clicked OFF. Then, it will use the superior error correction that the Plextor drive provides in hardware. If you are using ANY OTHER Brand drive, you WILL get "snowflakes" with Chartbuster discs. Their mastering process (not so much the media we don't think) creates 3 or more errors per sector, which is darn near impossible to repair on the fly in real time on even 3GHz processors... and the software code doesn't exist to fix them.

Originally Posted by tkelley3

Hoster 3.303 did import all the disks but the quality of the import is very suspect. There is no disk speed control that I see and so Hoster just imported at its top speed. Well, Chartbusters (just to mention one company) uses cheaper disks and they need to be imported at a slower speed (this is a good idea with all KJ disks as the interleave and wobble is minimized at slower speeds).

We are working on Hoster 3.310 that SHOULD (no promises) restore the ability to control the read speed. Yes, it DID used to be a selectable option in the past. 3.310 will be out... when we release it. Watch the http://www.mtu.com or http://www.mtu.com/support/news.htm pages for the announcement.

Originally Posted by tkelley3

Many of the newly imported tracks (not just the last one) had so many spots that the song became unrecognizable as it played. This is a very disappointing update of Hoster in this ONE respect. I love the program and I did love the way it input the music and graphics. This really does need to be fixed.

Yep, Chartbusters is incredibly bad. I suspect they are intentionally doing this to PREVENT importing them into a computer. Call and complain to them. They either will clean up their act, or no one will be using their discs and songs withint many months. There is no excuse for a professional producer to do this poor a mastering/production job.... IMHO.

Originally Posted by tkelley3

What did I do? Well since I had already upgraded, I copied ALL 10,000 songs into Microstudio and imported them into Hoster and that cleaned up the problems. Of course Microstudio has an option to slow down the import process to fix wobble among other things. (Not all companies are using 48 or 52 speed disks…duh.) Please fix Hoster so that we can import disks (poor manufactures copies) at a slower speed if we want to.

Argh... 10,000!!! We are working on it now...
You clearly are now the import expert... and have the patience of Job!

Originally Posted by tkelley3

While I am at it, I noticed that you must now insert the disk into the burner (mine is a Plextor PS-708UF and my other one is a Plextor PS-716UF) before you click on import. Very annoying as BEFORE the disk would slide in if the door was open and you clicked on import. Please fix that also and put it back the way it was. Remember, I absolutely LOVE Hoster and would not think of EVER doing a KJ show without it ever again. I know you have lots of programming experience and have been in this business for many years. I am guessing this just got lost in the shuffle of the new updates.

Hummm. From subsequent posts (now above mine), it appears you are referring to importing tracks from a Singer's disc using the CDG button. I'll note this to be reviewed. We did have a problem as DDouglas indicated, and this might have been part of the fix. Our new 3.310 may overcome the "bug" that required fixing. We'll look at it. Thanks for asking.

[admin]

Originally Posted by Don Dees

I myself, in the process of loading CD+G's onto my hoster Rack PC is having a heck of a time!! alot of my CD+G's are atleast 3 - 3 1/2 years old been use a bit in those years.. they play fine in my Player that i used in the past, but now that i am loading them onto hoster there are a number ( affraid to guess ) of them that the music either skips and words when that happens, or the songs play fine but there is spots in the lyrics ( snow some people call it) some play just fine!! I have found out right quick loading songs is a very long process. i have a few hundred disc to load and bascially i am just getting started.

I have bought a resurficing product ( being shipped as we speak ) to take care of scratches that would cause alot of the problems i think i might be having ( i hope ) My question is, does anyone know if this product i bought might be my answer?... i am loading all my songs at 192k compression ratio since i will not be loading anywhere near 50,000 songs. My thinking is to go ahead and load the CD+G's and then go back and reload the ones that i am having trouble with after i resurface them, not all my songs on the CD+G's skip some do some dont, thought i could fix and reload the ones that are messing up if possible. i am trying to save valuble time in this process.

Please if theres any other tricks that may help me, let me know i am very new at this and somethings im not understanding right now

Thanks Don

Don, we RARELY hear of audio skips, only "snowflakes" where there are 3 or more errors per sector. Be sure you disable Windows "autorun" ability, which slows down disc importing significantly. I don't know right here how to do it, but it has been described often in these Forums... search for "autorun". I'm late for a family dinner or I'd do it for you.

Chartbusters, as I indicated above, is the worst for import graphical errors (snowflakes). Since you do have an MTU CDG Certified drive, be sure you read my instructions in my post above in this Thread about DISABLING the "Use Software Decoding" check box. It will make a world of difference.

You wrote: "My question is, does anyone know if this product i bought might be my answer?...", Uh... you forgot to mention what you bought.

[WDEWDAD7]

As far as restoring damaged discs, the best product I have found to work is " Disc Rescue" Repair Compound. It works better than anything I have found. It comes in tube, and doesn't take much.

[tkelley3]

Thanks for the information ADMIN. I cannot say if I had the "Use Software Decode" checked or not at this point. I had done a bunch of different things but I do remember clicking that box on at one point in time. That might have been my problem. I appreciate you giving me the “import god” status as I have now finished importing all 12000+ songs from microstudio to hoster.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread and to all new comers here is a special message. NEVER do another KJ show with anything else but Hoster. Swapping disks if way too much work. This program is excellent!!!