Time delay in hoster display

[Singsation]

Hi Guys, I have just downloaded Hoster 4.06, when i play a mpeg video files the image starts on the second display about 4 seconds before the the hoster display although everything is in sync on the second display (audio and video) it's a bit annoying when i am trying to cue my converted lazer disc karaoke tracks. Hoster is geat and i have used it since release but i cannot understand why there is so many problems with key changer and video display, I have another dj software package which I wont advertise that does not have any of these isues regarding video display and key change but still is no where near as user friendly as Hoster or as stable.
Windows XP sp3, Nivida GL7500 512meg, HPdual core, 2gig ddr ram
Many Thanks
Garry.

[Roy Dennis]

Try switching to the old player. To do this go to Tools/options/ at the bottom of the options list is "Select current video player" Change this, you will find the preview doesn't show video but the singers screen works right.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by Singsation

Hi Guys, I have just downloaded Hoster 4.06, when i play a mpeg video files the image starts on the second display about 4 seconds before the the hoster display although everything is in sync on the second display (audio and video) it's a bit annoying when i am trying to cue my converted lazer disc karaoke tracks. Hoster is geat and i have used it since release but i cannot understand why there is so many problems with key changer and video display, I have another dj software package which I wont advertise that does not have any of these isues regarding video display and key change but still is no where near as user friendly as Hoster or as stable.
Windows XP sp3, Nivida GL7500 512meg, HPdual core, 2gig ddr ram
Many Thanks
Garry.

Hoster is going through a double transistion right now. Vista has caused a major amount of problems that have slowed down the upgrading of Hoster's video and audio. Hoster 4 has a totally new player and sound manager needed to allow MTU to add the new features such as Crossfade and Tempo change that we users have requested.
Getting this working and stable for Vista and XP has been a major challenge for them. When they fix something for Vista it breaks in XP and back and forth. Microsoft screwed up so many things in Vista that even they don't know how to fix it and will be abandoning it next year.
Now to your problem when you move your singer's display to the second display are you double clicking it to jump it over or dragging it and resizing? Some of the users in here have found that by dragging and resizing the display and making it not quite full screen has kept the video in sync in both locations.

[Singsation]

Hi thanks for your replies, the problem with using the old player is that I loose a valuable preview display which means I have to be in view of the singers display or use a further moniter for myself, which defeats the object, as I have about 2500 mpeg karaoke tracks most of them good versions, they are used quite alot. I do drag and resize the display on the second moniter. There is no problem with cdgs or KMA just video. When I first installed 4.06 it would play windows media animations on one moniter and the video on the other, why, i don't know, it just did. But since updating all the drivers and updating to SP3 this is now sorted. Just this time delay to sort out.
Thanks Garry

[Picolo Porco]

I agree. This is a major, major problem for me. I bought a new computer, new video card--both just short of very high end specs--and still have sync issues (about a half second video lags audio) with Hoster. I don't have the same problem with other video players and files using the same multi-monitor setup, and I don't have the same problem if the computer is in single monitor mode (i.e., the singer's monitor isn't enabled via extended desktop).

Unfortunately, I have a big investment in Hoster with over 9,000 songs imported and am basically held hostage, hoping that some future release will fix my problems.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by Picolo Porco

I agree. This is a major, major problem for me. I bought a new computer, new video card--both just short of very high end specs--and still have sync issues (about a half second video lags audio) with Hoster. I don't have the same problem with other video players and files using the same multi-monitor setup, and I don't have the same problem if the computer is in single monitor mode (i.e., the singer's monitor isn't enabled via extended desktop).

Unfortunately, I have a big investment in Hoster with over 9,000 songs imported and am basically held hostage, hoping that some future release will fix my problems.

Your problem does not sound like the same thing as Singsation. His problem is a slight delay between the 2nd monitor and the Preview screen display.
Video requires much more resources than a standard CDG does. When you throw in a second monitor/display then that taxes the system even more.
You say you bought a high-end system and video card, but this doesn't really tell us anything about your system.
Is it a laptop or desktop?
Vista or XP?
Processor speed?
Memory (RAM) amount?
Video card type and amount of memory on it?
Power Supply size (does it matter....yes it does)

[Picolo Porco]

Here are the specs, and please don't just point at Vista and say that it's its fault. I am running well above the minimum specs and have everything set as per MTU's instructions. Also, I was having the exact same problem with XP MCE SP3 which is why I bought a whole new computer.

Desktop
Core 2 Quad Q6600 @2.4GHz
4 GB RAM

Vista Ultimate 64 bit
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT @ 800MHz w/8.552 driver and 8.11 Control Center
512 MB DDR3@700 MHz

350 GB free on the system disk
kma files are on a separate partition

first screen is a Dell monitor via DVI at 1280x1024@60Mhz
second screen is a plasma HDTV via DVI. I've tried 1080i and 720p

I always have a delay of at least a quarter second when running with extended desktop and a singer's display. Both the new player and the old player give the same results.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by Picolo Porco

Here are the specs, and please don't just point at Vista and say that it's its fault. I am running well above the minimum specs and have everything set as per MTU's instructions. Also, I was having the exact same problem with XP MCE SP3 which is why I bought a whole new computer.

Desktop
Core 2 Quad Q6600 @2.4GHz
4 GB RAM

Vista Ultimate 64 bit
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT @ 800MHz w/8.552 driver and 8.11 Control Center
512 MB DDR3@700 MHz

350 GB free on the system disk
kma files are on a separate partition

first screen is a Dell monitor via DVI at 1280x1024@60Mhz
second screen is a plasma HDTV via DVI. I've tried 1080i and 720p

I always have a delay of at least a quarter second when running with extended desktop and a singer's display. Both the new player and the old player give the same results.

You did not list your power supply rating. This can effect the performance. According to ATI, for that card a minimum of a 400 watt power supply is needed.

For the second screen what resolution are you using?
Hoster is only set to run in 1024x786 or 800x600 (for the secondary).
The big question that comes to mind is why are you using HDMI when Hoster's (Windows Media Player) output does not support HD.
Have you tried it with SVideo analog output?

I would try the above first then the following if that still won't fix the delay.

Leave Hoster 4.06 closed and open Hoster 3.4.
Go to Tools/Playback Offset. Set it for -0.5 and close Hoster 3.4.
Open Hoster 4.06 and try a couple songs to see if this helped. If it isn't enough go back and do it again setting it down to -1.0.
Even though this offset was removed from 4.0x version 3.4 still will set it in the registry and it does effect 4.06. Because of this discovery this control has been added back in version 4.10 so you won't have to do it this round about way if needed.

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by Picolo Porco

Here are the specs, and please don't just point at Vista and say that it's its fault. I am running well above the minimum specs and have everything set as per MTU's instructions. Also, I was having the exact same problem with XP MCE SP3 which is why I bought a whole new computer.

I would really like to help you solve these ongoing issues. I was wondering what these two systems have in common. Do you have the same software on both machines other than Hoster? Are any of these running in the background? Specifically, I am inquiring about anti-virus, anti-spyware, "helper" programs for your video card, sound card, or maybe a printer. Do you know what services are running? We can go through these one at a time until we find an answer.

[Singsation]

Just a thought, you could make sure A/V sync is turned off on the plasma display as it might be waiting for a audio singnal to sync up with.
worth a try,