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Hoster Help Post Hoster questions, tips and suggestions here. |
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#1
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![]() I have been a long time Hoster user, My company between my brother and I own 3 Hoster programs, I also own Vogone, Microstudio, Karaoke Pro. I would guess about a $1000.00. Maybe not a lot of money, But to me alot. I read in the forums where ADMIN stated he wished he never supported zip files. Well then stop supporting them, leave one version for zip files, and make all your upgrades non-supportive of those.
Here is the most stressing part of my recent Hoster experiance! CONS 1. The upgrades are full of bugs. 2. Hoster is falling behind, the other KJ programs on the market. 3. MTU too secretive about upgrades 4.0 for example (what is in it?)(when?) MTU PROS 1. Best support staff in the country 2. Forum Members are so helpful and Knowledgeable. 3. Easiest program to use Like every thing else in this wonderful world the big question always is. "What have you done for me lately?" Sound Choice is losing Business because of a simple reason. A hit song (I gotta Have it song) is only a hit for a month or two. By the time it is released on a Sound Choice Disc, IT'S OLD MUSIC. Mtu should in my humble opinion bite the bullet, get away from anything that is hampering them from being #1 in the karaoke business. ie... zip files. Carl |
#2
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I have never used a zip file myself anyway.
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#3
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Zip files
Roy , I don't use them. If this is such a big problem for MTU, then give the people, who use zip files, a choice of using songverter and convert these zip files to CDG or KMA. Then they can easily install the new songs to the Hoster format. If I knew how to, I would put this up to a vote to the community. But again, it is MTU. In the end,it is there decision. Unfortunetly, if I ever buy songverter it would be, to leave MTU. I, as a small bussiness owner, try to put the best product out. In my case, that Is the newest music, most music, best sound and best presentation.
Not being a Computer geek, or pretending to even know how to do this. I would yank zip filing out of Hoster and Have "zip files" a stand alone product. I think it would eliminate tons of work for MTU staff. It seems to me the most recent significate upgrade to Hoster was SND. Most of the other upgrades are fixing problems in Hoster using Zip Files. Remember I love Ya MTU Carl |
#4
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DDouglass
As my last post stated, Just make the zip file conversion a stand alone product, not incorporated in Hoster itself. Example you own "songverter" then when you buy your MP3+G's or other types of zip files, use songverter to convert these, then install into hoster. I do not see why file conversion should or has to be part of the Hoster Program, beyond the conversion to KMAs. So my thought is use songverter to convert this file to cdg or kmas and then install those files into your song data base.
Carl |
#5
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__________________
Dale Douglass 2nd Generation Karaoke I am not a member of the MTU Staff.
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#6
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DDouglass
Quote "Please do not take this as personal Carl. I am only voicing my opinion as you are. You have been an MTU user a bit longer than I have and I respect that. I know you have seen a lot of changes to Hoster and all have been to make it the best on the market."
I have been a customer and a user of MTU products since 12/2003. I believe I started out with Version 2.014. Don't get me wrong I Love Hoster and the other Products MTU puts Out. Dave and Brian should be on my XMAS list. But Hoster is very much the same as it was 4 years ago. Yes we have a delete button, we have a SND (but very primitive by todays standards.) But besides these features and adding more CD drive capibilities, and fixing bugs, what has changed. What changes can I show my customers. I am not trying to be critical, but with the exception these things and a skip button, & restart button. Tell me how hoster is better. I don't want to count the updates to hoster since i became a customer just too many. You can go back into these forums, and the same Feature Requests are asked for year after year. Now I am being promised the key to Karaoke Heaven with version 4.0. Yet I am not told when I will get the key, and what is included in this gift. Four years as a customer and I cannot be trusted with even a hit of this paradice. I am so glad that I didn't buy this newest upgrade, Can you even imagine how many man hours were lost trying to recover lost music library's and how much money and reputation was lost for canceling engagements. i have 2484 Karaoke Cd's if i didn't back them up (as some didn't) I would probably spend the better part of 6 months, reinstalling them. and lose 6 months of income Crazy carl |
#7
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First let me say this. I am not an employee of MTU, but just a user like you. I am a Beta Tester for MTU and a long time user as well as having been an IT tech for many years.
CONS 1. How many program releases have you seen that are completely bug free. No matter how much testing and retesting a program is put through prior to release (Microsoft tested Vista for over a year) there will be things that get missed. No matter how much testing you do someone will find a problem. 2. You said yourself that Hoster is the easiest program to use. I don't agree that Hoster is falling behind. Those other programs may have some added features that Hoster doesn't currently have, but from what I have seen they are not all they are hyped up to be. One local KJ uses another program that has Key change built in, but he won't use it. Why because it is difficult to set and doesn't work well. That is definately not the case with Hoster. If the competition were so great then a lot more people would be changing over. 3. MTU used to put information on their website about up-coming releases. The competition was reading it too and getting the jump on MTU by putting out their product first with those added features. I can't say what is going in it, but I will tell you it will have a huge amount of new features. When? This year. You said if zip files are a problem then leave them out. If you do you have just cut off a great many users. The companies that are beginning to use on-line purchasing and downloading are using zipped mp3+g files for the downloads. They are smaller and easier for the average user to download. Figuring out all the varied formats and determining how to handle them has been a real pain in the A** (sorry Admin) for them. However I think that because of all the time and effort having been expended to get it to work is why Admin made that statement. I think he was just venting a bit as we all need to do from time to time. Please do not take this as personal Carl. I am only voicing my opinion as you are. You have been an MTU user a bit longer than I have and I respect that. I know you have seen a lot of changes to Hoster and all have been to make it the best on the market.
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Dale Douglass 2nd Generation Karaoke I am not a member of the MTU Staff.
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#8
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Carl,
I think you have brought up some valid points. And I like the way your thinking about zips. You can save one step though by converting them to BIN and importing those directly from the hard drive rather than burning them to CD.
__________________
Dale Douglass 2nd Generation Karaoke I am not a member of the MTU Staff.
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#9
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![]() Admin you closed my last post, and that is understandable. I know you read them and responded. But i fear you have not heard. I do not mean to critize, but hoster as the product I need is not progressing. As far back as I can trace "Hot Buttons was requested in 2005 by Digital Party, Singer data Base also in 2005 in these NFR. I think you have (had) the best product on the market. Your support staff excellant(brian). Forum members the smartest most helpful anywhere in the world.
But in my world, where I make my living doing karaoke, I am falling behind the competition, Oh I have more music than them, and I have the newest songs. But I do not have the bells and whistles. I can't make the show personal to them. After reading your responce to my posts, Hot Buttons are still 2+ years away. That will be 2010 or 2011 5 to 6 years after Digital Party requested them. Maybe I am mistaken but from what I read in your responce. As I understand you, you are saying that: Mine and My Customers karaoke experince will not be enhanced to much degree in the next 2-3 years. I am so sorry to hear that, I have been a loyal customer but i may have to go elsewhere. I do love your products, but I feel like time Tom Brady in the super bowl. My Offensive line is tired. And Hoster you are my offensive line. Thank You Doug Thank You so much Brian Fellow Hosterers You guys are just wonderful and sometimes funny(rarely) Crazycarl |
#10
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i agree with carl.
i have always wanted the advertizing feature. i think i remember asking for it in 2002. plus i like all your other requests. im not sure if there is no call for the upgrades here because everyone is just sitting and waiting for new stuff to be added. admin, i know all the additions are complicated, but is there a way to have another program run along side of hoster with some of the new features ?????
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The King of One Liners! Windows 10 Hoster 5.10 |
#11
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Beavis
You know through the years, I would read the NFR. but never bothered to second the Idea. So a lot of this just might be my fault. When ever I saw that ADMIN had responded to a post, I thought enouh said. I whish I had been more active.
Carl |
#12
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There is a program that you can run side by side with Hoster that will do those bells and whistles you are asking for. It is called Messageoke.
Personally I would rather see Hoster be the best and easiest karaoke program to use for actually running the show rather than have MTU spend all their time programming in the bells and whistles. Yes Bryant I agree with you that the SND needs so background options instead of just black, but beyond that let me have the best quality sound and video outputs.
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Dale Douglass 2nd Generation Karaoke I am not a member of the MTU Staff.
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#13
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Ddouglas
I owned a copy of messageoke, then I changed computers (upgraded) and they never responded to over a dozen emails and numerous phone messages asking they send me a workable key number.
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#14
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I agree they are not the easiest people to work with, but I don't think anyone else has a separate program like that one. Maybe that is what MTU needs to think about instead of trying to add it into Hoster.
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__________________
Dale Douglass 2nd Generation Karaoke I am not a member of the MTU Staff.
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#15
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i agree dale. thats why i wish MTU would build a seperate software to do this, at least we wouldnt have any conflicts with hoster. plus support would be the best here in the forums.
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The King of One Liners! Windows 10 Hoster 5.10 |
#16
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I've been answering posts all over this Forum trying to explain some of the Hoster 4.00x features we ARE NOW WORKING ON. So, here goes a better answer for you, starting from what you haven't read yet of what we HAVE done for you recently.
BTW: Hot keys have been in Hoster for years! ![]() ![]() ![]() Quote:
* Tempo change * Crossfade between 2 songs * Add Singer's Database of songs with key/tempo changes they regularly sing with easy ways to add to the Show Rotation or Playlist * Preview play so you can hear a song (headphones or non-show speakers) before adding to the playlist (no lyrics display for preview) * Record while singing, eventually allowing separte input and output for the recording so you can use external mix console, yet we can create a mixed wave file to burn to a CD when it is legal * Allow Select From Multiple Audio Cards (in Microstudio 4.006 now) * Replace Bucket.mdb Database and provide means to upgrade via downloading or via CDROM * Create new Songs Database to incorporate new KMA header changes * Allow converting Audio (MP3, WMA) files and Video (all supported formats) files to KMA so they list in the Songs Database, and in the Songbook * Show Remaining "Time Until Singer Up" in Play List and/or SND Screen * Add Tools Menu “Rotation Control” Command - Mega new feature * Add Random play function * Add "Hot keys/buttons" to trigger preset audio files * Modify the Singer Names Display dialog to allow showing Track times by each song * Auto-detect and set Start-End pointers in the new KMA header to cut out Title and Credit page dead air time, and modify Edit Songs dialog to allow playing and adjusting each point. This will allow more singers/hour to perform. * In Import HD Files Screen, Add Support When Importing SCDG Hard Drive Tracks * Allow Changing Fonts/Colors in SND for Singers and Songs and Background * Allow adding up to 128 custom Language entries * Allow adding up to 128 custom Genre entries * Allow setting a "Hide in Songbook" flag in the KMA header of duplicates you don't want to print * Change Video Type playing so it drives the Singer’s Display, no longer the separate Video Display * Add Tool Tips * Add Skinning for eye candy * Modify Skip Behavior based on Man/Auto Button mode * Modify Songbook to support "w/vocal" as a separate field * Modify Prepare Songbook To Handle "Hide in Songbook" Flag in KMA & Songs.mdb * Modify Songbook to Allow Excluding Groups of Songs * Add player code to play VCD files * Update KMA Header with new features * Add Check for Hard Drive Available Space * Select video images to appear behind the lyrics screen while songs play * Other....... I haven't scanned the New Features Forum for several months. We will add in other requests as we always have. Quote:
Hoster is a NEW PRODUCT. We will offer an upgrade, but it will require installing over your existing Hoster if you do upgrade. If you buy new, you can install on 2 new computers. Price...................... considering $249 to $299 based on competition. Upgrade cost........... considering $120 to $150. Those who have bought an upgrade since 1/1/08 will get $49.99 credit towards 4.000. Auto-update of bucket.mdb file will be a separately priced option if you want it. We may split the Songbook out of Hoster and keep Hoster at $199, and make the Songbook a separate product as one of our competitors does. They get $289.98 for the combination. Quote:
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![]() There are 2 camps of Hosts: 1. Those who want more singers on stage per hour. That group is HUGH. 2. Others want to have some singers, but run ads to take up more time that singers could otherwise have. IMHO, Messageoke is a valid way to do this. Quote:
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If you simply continue to say MTU hasn't added anything to help you in the past 5 years, and the 4.00x doesn't get your juices running, then maybe you could tell us exactly, factually without emotions what you want. If you don't know, we will simply continue adding the features others ARE helping us design into Hoster. If not, I don't see how we can meet your needs. I've been up since 2:02AM answering this post. Does that say anything to you? ![]() ![]() |
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