Importing mp3g zip files to hoster

[admin]

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

So, you're saying that if it does see something in the space for discID it will go ahead and copy it in that way? As far as the quotes I was just using them to uncompass the catagories...in the other program the format is actually this...

{Atrist}-{Title}-SC7501-{TrackNumber}

And in that format it will put the information under the template for

Artist-Title-DiscID-Tracknumber

Namely because you have told the program what you want it to assign each of the catagories and it can tell the separation of each by the "-" in the middle. So, it puts in in that template without using the internal database.

I know what you mean as far as assigning the KMH to the zip file. I actually already went in and uploaded some songs in the demo version of hoster and I saw where it added that addtional file to each of the Zip files...I didn't know what it was but now that you have explained it to me...it makes sense. So, it's just assigning a way for it to identify the track while actually keeping it in the mp3g format? Kind of like putting a desktop icon for programs to keep you from having to go hunt for them? So, it will still be in mp3 zip format actually?

As long as your actual filenames appear as: Artist-Title-DiscID-Tracknumber.zip
Then you can set Hoster's "Import Hard Drive Files" screen to break apart the filename into its separate fields. This screen ONLY identifies the data fields from the FILENAME.

The "Build Database" newer screen ONLY identifies the data fields from the fields embedded within the MP3 HEADER. IF the Title field is blank it then takes the entire filename as is with "-" included, and stores that in the Title field (64 characters long). This screen is designed to allow folks to SLAM IN all their songs into Hoster's Songs Database, then over time use Hoster's "Edit Songs" dialog to make changes.

I've attached the Import Hard Drive Files screen image so you can see the "Define Fields" section. It is EXTREMELY flexible, which means it is a bit more complicated. I STRONGLY suggest you read the manual topic on how to use it.

You WILL be able to index your files and the FIELDS you have withint their filenames exactly as you desire.

Also, as Dale pointed out, when you select a filename in the "File Window" (shows all files in the selected folder with .zip extension), then you select the Fields and Delimitors in the "Define Field Order" section to match the format used in THAT SELECTED FILENAME, only filenames that match that exact format (yes, _-_ is different from " - " or just "-"). All other filenames are SKIPPED over. The factory default is to hide already imported songs, so you will ONLY SEE those that had different filenames. If all your filenames are in the exact same format, you won't need to do a second, third, etc. pass to get them all indexed.

Originally Posted by Roy Dennis

I just tried a test one myself using the quick method and as you say you do get Unknown. It just treats it as one long file name.
So you will be best of with the index HD files option. providing you select the correct field setting here it will put in your disk id.

The "Build Database" ONLY uses the fields in the MP3 Header, or the entire filenamd added to the Title field if there is no Title found in the header. I would NOT suggest you even try indexing your songs with this method. Once you understand the "Import HD Files" screen, you will see it is highly polished to allow you to have the exact precision you desire.

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

Well, I really don't even want Sound Choice 7505 to be the description. I only want it to say SC7505...just like my DKK says DK3045...Pioneer is PC309 and so forth. That's the way I have them in my books and I don't want to have to do a lot of work with that. And also as I mentioned earlier in the thread about if the song or possibly artist is mispelled and it becomes difficult to locate...I just want to be able to put in there SC7505 in search and it will pull in only those 15 songs on that disc. That way...even if the song or artist is mispelled it won't matter because it will be on that disc so I can find it easy. Since I have it labeled as SC7505 in my book...that's what the singers will put on the slips in the way of discID numbers...so I don't even have to do a search by artist or song title..just put in the disc number and there it is on that disc. That was working so much better for me on my other hosting software program I was using. I prefer that method to searching artist and title. Now...granted occasionally someone did bring up the wrong number but a quick look the book and I had the correct disc number. If I go with Sound Choice 7505 then I have to put all that in the search field.

If you filename contains SC7505, that is exactly the "string" of characters that will be stored in the DiscID field within the Songs Database for that song.

[Mustangt93]

Ok, thanks again for all the information. I will admit I'm very new at the computer karaoke host thing. I haven't even used that other programmed I mentioned but a couple of weeks before deciding to go this route because I like the way it looks and operates better than the the one. So, in a nutshell I'm saying that a LOT of this is going right over my head for now. I will need to get the manual and read and try to figure out exactly what you're talking about here. Im very smart and will always figure this stuff out...it just tends to take a little time. But, I will print out all these replies and try to follow them too along with the manual.

One more question before I close the topic. The KHM and the KMA files? They are non compressed files? I was generally told that since I have a huge database (Around 22,000 songs) that I needed to make sure they were in mp3g format to take up less space. But, you guys do them in KMH or KMA files. So, why do you opt for a non compressed type of file? Is it for sound quailty? Or are these somehow small files...as if they were compressed? I notice your program seems to be the only one that puts these songs in a KMA or KHM format. Even that other program has the ability to change FROM the KHM or KMA format to mpg3 zip files...and they even call them HOSTER format. LOL. Just trying to understand it all. So much to grasp when I've just been doing these off CDG for 15 years. Thanks!

[Mustangt93]

I guess what Im asking is..what are the benefits of going with the KMH or the KMA files over the mp3g zip files?

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

I guess what Im asking is..what are the benefits of going with the KMH or the KMA files over the mp3g zip files?

The kma format is a Hosters own format, it is compressed format. disadvantage in your case is as you already have 22,000 songs you would have to use about the same hard drive space again doubling your hard drive space.
KMH format just adds a small file alongside your existing mp3+g or zip files with information for Hoster to find your file and keep all relevant data in.
The advantages of this format in your case are:
1: it will be a lot quicker for you to initially set up.
2: very little extra hard drive space required.
3: your original zip files are not altered in any way should you want to use them in other programs.

You must have one or the other for fast file retreiving you can't just leave them as Zip or mp3+G

[Mustangt93]

Ok. Im not sure the best way to handle that just yet. I may just go ahead and convert everything to KMA files for ease since this is the only program I intend to use. IF I were to end up going with the another I know I could always just convert them to mp3g zip again. But, I will probably just go with the KMH files. I looked at that attachment that one of the admistrators sent me above. I see there is a list on the top rt side of the formats that you can import your files in but it doesn't show the order I was talking about but there is the drop down menu about midway down the screen where you can put them in the order that you want to import. That is what I would need to use, correct? Since I don't see my format on the top rt side? So, how do I disable the list on the top rt side so that Im only using the define field order in the center? Does that one automatically supercede the list on the rt? I just notice I don't see a way to disable that list on the rt based on the list choices.

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

I see there is a list on the top rt side of the formats that you can import your files in but it doesn't show the order I was talking about but there is the drop down menu about midway down the screen where you can put them in the order that you want to import. That is what I would need to use, correct? Since I don't see my format on the top rt side? So, how do I disable the list on the top rt side so that Im only using the define field order in the center? Does that one automatically supercede the list on the rt? I just notice I don't see a way to disable that list on the rt based on the list choices.

The list on the top right hand side you can just ignore, use the drop down menu midway.

As I have said before, you will learn far more by trying it first with just a few disc id, if you make a mistake and want to start again, use Hosters Edit dialog to delete your imported files, don't delete things in Windows Explorer.

[Mustangt93]

Ok. Sounds like I've got enough to go on. I'm going to sit down and give all this a try. Thanks.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

Ok. Im not sure the best way to handle that just yet. I may just go ahead and convert everything to KMA files for ease since this is the only program I intend to use. IF I were to end up going with the another I know I could always just convert them to mp3g zip again. But, I will probably just go with the KMH files. I looked at that attachment that one of the admistrators sent me above. I see there is a list on the top rt side of the formats that you can import your files in but it doesn't show the order I was talking about but there is the drop down menu about midway down the screen where you can put them in the order that you want to import. That is what I would need to use, correct? Since I don't see my format on the top rt side? So, how do I disable the list on the top rt side so that Im only using the define field order in the center? Does that one automatically supercede the list on the rt? I just notice I don't see a way to disable that list on the rt based on the list choices.

If you do use the KMA format then Hoster copies your original ZIP file to another location and adds the Hoster header to the file. Your original ZIP files are not deleted or converted. They remain exactly as they are. So what you end up with is a KMA copy and the original ZIP file copy doubling the amount of space used. If you wish to use those ZIP files in another program there is nothing to convert to use them.
Since all of your library is already in MP3+G my suggestion would be to use the KMH import since that does not create a second copy (no extra space needed) and you can still use the same library location for other programs if needed.

[admin]

Since MTU was the first to ship computer karaoke software, we had to design a file format to import your CDG disc tracks into. We called it KMA, which was a single file containing the "audio + lyrics/highlighting + database fields header". It was the standard for years. Imported audio uses WMA compression, which allows 10:1 compression -vs- 8:1 for MP3 for the same audio quality. Compression damages your audio, so MP3 or WMA are inferior to WAV pure audio, and they take 1/8th to 1/10th the hard drive space. KMA files are created at around 8-20 seconds/song.

Several years ago, we created the .KMH "header" file that points to the audio+lyrics (mp3+g, wma+g, zip) file for which it stores the database fields. It can easily be edited to correct any mistakes. It does NOT duplicate the audio+lyrics and takes up 4KByte of hard drive space. Hoster can scan through MP3+G, ZIP, etc. files and create the KMH files for them at the rate of roughly 6 songs per second, which is MUCH faster than creating KMA files.