I need help

[bryant]

Originally Posted by RIKKI TIKKI

Dave,
I've been having an issue with the lyric sync also, and I believe it is maybe the video card giving me the problem. Check and see how much video ram you have. Can you restart the song (restart button) and have the lyrics and music re-sync? Also, have you have updated your video card drivers? Maybe one of the newest drivers is the culprit. Are both of your computer systems having this problem? Are both your systems the same? I am in the process of re-evaluating the drivers I updated when I made all the changes that 4.xx required, if I can figure it out, I'll be back to let you know!

Rick
Rikki Tikki Karaoke

64mB ram is not very much at all when trying to force video and visual effects on a computer. Also, most laptops video card is "shared" ram, which means some of that 64 mB is also shared with the computer.

I am guessing that on a laptop you may need close to 256 mB "dedicated" ram for good operation in video use.
Sometimes you can uncheck "graphics" acceleration in your preeferences and that seems to help, but then again it has been known to disallow other video functions at the same time. This is my experience with mixing videos for DJ'ing and VJ'ing at night clubs.

For some reason laptops are notorious for "bad" video mixing, may have something to do when they tend to heat up, they actually "remove" ram from the machine as a cooling effect. ,i.e., using less ram produces less heat, and that combined with shared ram from the video card. The FX7300 Nvidea has been singled out as causing videos to freeze in laptops using dj programs.
The 8000 series has not been recommended either.

I spent two years on VJ forums trying to get my laptop to run videos properly, very difficult. I ended up buying a shuttle (Mini-PC) with a 256 mB "deicated" video card ATI. ATI has been recommended for "better" video usage in laptops as well.

[Deeter]

Originally Posted by bryant

64mB ram is not very much at all when trying to force video and visual effects on a computer. Also, most laptops video card is "shared" ram, which means some of that 64 mB is also shared with the computer.

I am guessing that on a laptop you may need close to 256 mB "dedicated" ram for good operation in video use.

I guess I don't really understand this. Hoster is producing 2D sweeping graphics. I have played VCD video files on my 3.321 before with no problems whatsoever. It's not like we're rendering 3D games here. Why do the newer versions (4.0+) require such a leap in graphics capability? Especially if MTU has gone back to the "old" renderer and dumped IE and WMP?

[Bub-01]

As MTU sorted my registration problem today, i have been able to install hoster on my desktop system (AMD 4gb cpu, 1gb ram and XFX gforce 9750 graphic's)
Hoster 4.06 apears to run in sync ! which means H4.x has probably exeeded my sad laptop's limit's 64mb of shared Video ram.

So members that suggested 64mb shared video memory could be my problem seem to be correct.

By the way, Thanks for all your reply's everyone

Are there any members who can run hoster 4x on a laptop without sync issues ?

Dave.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by Bub-01

Are there any members who can run hoster 4x on a laptop without sync issues ?

Hey Dave,
Yes, there are lots of folks running Hoster 4.XX on laptops. MTU has found issues with a few laptops out there but this is a computer problem, not a Hoster problem. (HP has some laptops that don't like Hoster, I think)

Dedicated video card memory is much better than shared memory. I use a rack mout computer to run my shows and do not owm a laptop but I have been reading about these issues.

I hope this helps.

Jim

[Bub-01]

It's nice that hoster users on forum are so helpful.
I cant believe 4x runs fine but not on my laptop I'm gonna have to decide what to do now ie: upgrade my laptop or go desk/rack for shows.

Laptops are just so small and simple bearing in mind all the other equipment needed, but hey, at least i can still do shows with 3.4 untill i decide what to do.

Thanks for your help bro'

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by Bub-01

Thanks for your help bro'

Glad to help.

Jim

[admin]

Originally Posted by Bub-01

It's nice that hoster users on forum are so helpful.
I cant believe 4x runs fine but not on my laptop I'm gonna have to decide what to do now ie: upgrade my laptop or go desk/rack for shows.

Laptops are just so small and simple bearing in mind all the other equipment needed, but hey, at least i can still do shows with 3.4 untill i decide what to do.

Thanks for your help bro'

The problem is some laptops have such poor CPU Types and speeds that they just don't have the power to run Windows XP/Vista.

We sell Laptops that are tested to insure Hoster runs. You can look at our specs to get an idea if you want to try to "roll your ow"... just don't complain if you buy elsewhere and it doesn't work well.

The problem is we have tried to meet everyone's needs, and that demands a lot of compute power.

Then there is Vista......... it is garbage. It takes WAY TOO MUCH compute power and RAM. XP is not as bad, but keeps growing also.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Bub-01

As MTU sorted my registration problem today, i have been able to install hoster on my desktop system (AMD 4gb cpu, 1gb ram and XFX gforce 9750 graphic's)
Hoster 4.06 apears to run in sync ! which means H4.x has probably exeeded my sad laptop's limit's 64mb of shared Video ram.

So members that suggested 64mb shared video memory could be my problem seem to be correct.

By the way, Thanks for all your reply's everyone

Are there any members who can run hoster 4x on a laptop without sync issues ?

Dave.

I will be trying my backup laptop for the first time Wed. night. I have recently installed H4.06 on it. I'll let you know.

Another helpful piece of info; is to use a laptop cooler (19-29 bucks), as that can make all the difference in the world, esp. the life of the laptop as well. laptops get warm and you're never sure how they'll respond to that, program operation will get affected. Also, an ext. HD better be 7200 rpm, using internal is even better still. Laptops now come with up to three hundred gB storage capacity. I've been pricing up laptops lately and what I see I would want for all my satisfactory specs for what i do is well over 2,000 dollars.

[Bub-01]

Thanks for the advice bro', I'm sure your right about the graphic's cards,
It does seem that hoster requires more from systems now.

I found the graphics stayed in sync slightly better if the scrolling marquee is set to "NO SCROLL" and slowing down hardware accelaration (XP) did also make a difference, and after making the above changes some kma's played with lyrics in sync, but others drag and then sweep super fast as if to catch up !

I hope wednesday goes well for you with the laptop, let me know how it goes.

Later bro'

Thanks
Dave.

[Bub-01]

Are their any users able to run h4.x on a laptop with only "64mb shared video memory" WITHOUT lyric sync issues ?

If so, please let me know.

Dave.

[Bub-01]

Sorry to hear you have the same problem as me, it's very frustrating !
the graphic driver i'm using i have had a while and seems to be the only one that works ok.

As i said in earlier thread, try reduce hardware accelaration (xp) and set marqee to "no scroll" may help, but hey one of the best features of H4 is the scrollin' marquee LOL.

If you find a resolve please share !

Thanks
Dave.

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by Bub-01

Are their any users able to run h4.x on a laptop with only "64mb shared video memory" WITHOUT lyric sync issues ?

If so, please let me know.

Dave.

Bub-01, visit this site.
http://www.blackviper.com/
It is by far the absolute best resource for your situation. It is geared toward the gaming community, but all the same rules apply. It will instruct you on what you can/should get rid of in your configuration to maximize it's potential. And yes, you can still run an older system as long as you stick to XP and run it lean. It will take some time to read through the information, but it will be time well spent.

[RIKKI TIKKI]

Originally Posted by bryant

64mB ram is not very much at all when trying to force video and visual effects on a computer. Also, most laptops video card is "shared" ram, which means some of that 64 mB is also shared with the computer.

I am guessing that on a laptop you may need close to 256 mB "dedicated" ram for good operation in video use.
Sometimes you can uncheck "graphics" acceleration in your preeferences and that seems to help, but then again it has been known to disallow other video functions at the same time. This is my experience with mixing videos for DJ'ing and VJ'ing at night clubs.

For some reason laptops are notorious for "bad" video mixing, may have something to do when they tend to heat up, they actually "remove" ram from the machine as a cooling effect. ,i.e., using less ram produces less heat, and that combined with shared ram from the video card. The FX7300 Nvidea has been singled out as causing videos to freeze in laptops using dj programs.
The 8000 series has not been recommended either.

I spent two years on VJ forums trying to get my laptop to run videos properly, very difficult. I ended up buying a shuttle (Mini-PC) with a 256 mB "deicated" video card ATI. ATI has been recommended for "better" video usage in laptops as well.

Bryant,

These are not videos I'm having the sync problem with, and it was Bub-01 that gave you his video ram specs for video card ( Mine happen to be the same / 64 mb ). My problem is with kma's created from cdg's and upon initial start of hoster 4.06 or 4.xx the first song in the playlist has had a lyric sync problem. If I restart the song, with restart button, or /stop/play combination it will put the lyrics and music /audio & video back in sync. I am not knowledgeable enough to understand what is happening with the video card, that allows the audio/video to re-sync correctly after this start/restart proceedure. Then I may understand the capabilities of, or the need for increasing the video memory (shared/dedicated), and whether another video card with either 124mb, or 256mb, ...., would be warranted!

Thanks!

Rick
Rikki Tikki Karaoke

[bryant]

[quote=RIKKI TIKKI;84816]Bryant,

These are not videos I'm having the sync problem with,

I understand that, but the video card ram, being shared with the internal ram, still has a required minimum when using graphics (moving song lyrics on a screen, and even more resources used for two or more screens) and other things that are on the displays (marquee, snd, etc.) all use resources. Hoster 4.0 really requires a much higher end video card now with ample computer ram as well. What I have seen evolving, I wouldn't dare use less than 256 mB, dedicated (not nVidea), and PC or mini-PC, and 2gB computer ram. Others have made it work with less but they are pushing the limits, especially the limits of laptops.