Hoster Shutting Down - Stopped Working: Upgrade DirectX and WMP

[Susan Waites]

So far so good. I used 4.21 last night at my show. It worked great did not stop all night and it was running for 5 hours. I was not running BA, I will try that next time.

[muzicman144]

We do a fast paced show, no karaoke, so a breakdown by hoster is a big concern. We use 4.21, and it works flawlessly for me. I sometimes run as many as six Hoster programs at once to switch to different types of show material. I have found it useless, in my case, to run any other program in conjunction with Hoster. I use hoster for break music,(or could be for dj) I have found that Hoster can do anything musical i need to do without using other programs. If by chance Hoster failed at some point, a simple click of the mouse and instantly another hoster program in on screen, ready to work, with no time lost.
If i was having a problem with shutdowns, i would also run extra versions of hoster so a click of the mouse, another hoster is on the screen and less than two seconds of time lost, just in case it happens while i was waiting for an answer to the problem.
muzicman144

[billyo]

that's a good way of doing a karaoke show, i too always bring my back-up laptop with me everytime i play, we all know that comp. don't always work the way we wanted to, that's why it's always good to have a back-up. when i do a private party ( just djing ) i have 2 extra laptops that i bring with me w/ all diff. dj. programs. i can't expressed this enough, " do not upgrade on the day you'll playing, and if you do, don't upgrade both your show and back-up at the same time" just incase something like this happened...

[Musicman51]

My goodness i haul too much equipment now. The idea of me going to computer presentation software, was so i wouldn't have to keep hauling extra stuff. If i wanted to make more trips to the trailer, i'd stay with disc.

I have never had my laptop, or any computer i've ever owned drop dead during a show, in my studio, or even at home. Freeze up..yeah..but far and few between times. Almost unheard of as far as i'm concerned. I've got an old HP almost 6 years old, that will still hold it's own against a brand new one. Just outdated and tired is all.

One good laptop or PC, external drive, with nothing on it but hoster, and i can go forever..one song after another.

[muzicman144]

george, i run muliple hoster programs on the same computer. If i do have hoster shut down, click the mouse, no time loss, another hoster screen ready for business. i do carry a laptop, back up, in case my computer itself fails.
not sure what billyo is saying except to have a computer back up. that is not what i meant.
muzicman144

[kod]

Hoster shut down four times on me last night (Thursday night 6/3) during my show. I ran the BA for over an hour before the show with no problems whatsoever.

After I started the show, Hoster shut down once about an hour into the show with the BA running. After that, I did not turn the BA back on all night and Hoster shut down three more times. All of the shutdowns were between songs.

I now have a Saturday night show too. We'll see what happens Saturday night...

[billyo]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

george, i run muliple hoster programs on the same computer. If i do have hoster shut down, click the mouse, no time loss, another hoster screen ready for business. i do carry a laptop, back up, in case my computer itself fails.
not sure what billyo is saying except to have a computer back up. that is not what i meant.
muzicman144

i didnt know you were running a multiple programs, i thought you have hoster running on diff. comp. just in case the show pc shuts down..my mistake i'm sorry, but it's always a good idea to have a back-up .

[Musicman51]

oh ok Jim, i gotcha now...sorry.
Ya know i have come to the conclusion...a computer is like an automobile. If ya take care of'em, and don't mess with'em under the hood..they will run forever. I have an old pickup truck i plow snow around here with 225,000 miles on it. Got an old HP 6 year old computer that i use with microstudio, and KHPro, that's still working.yeah..i know..i know. Now..what did i do with that Sony Beta video machine tape of batman......

[Skybird74]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

george, i run muliple hoster programs on the same computer. If i do have hoster shut down, click the mouse, no time loss, another hoster screen ready for business. i do carry a laptop, back up, in case my computer itself fails.
not sure what billyo is saying except to have a computer back up. that is not what i meant.
muzicman144

What version of Hoster are you running 2 copies of? I used to do that before the Singers Database was incorporated and kept 3.4 running along side for break music and to read alternate playlistslists, but I didn't think that was a good idea any more

[muzicman144]

Originally Posted by billyo

i didnt know you were running a multiple programs, i thought you have hoster running on diff. comp. just in case the show pc shuts down..my mistake i'm sorry, but it's always a good idea to have a back-up .

Billyo, I remember quite a few years ago when i was the only one around my areas of playing using a computer and Hoster. I was showing it to someone who was still using disc, and the first thing said was, "well, what are you going to do if your computer fails". i replied, "the same thing you are going to do if your disc player fails, i'm pulling out the backup system".
you are so right about backup, sometimes i'm a thousand miles from home, so backup is most important.
Muzicman 144

[muzicman144]

Originally Posted by Skybird74

What version of Hoster are you running 2 copies of? I used to do that before the Singers Database was incorporated and kept 3.4 running along side for break music and to read alternate playlistslists, but I didn't think that was a good idea any more

I'm running 4.21. I just load as many versions as i use on one computer. Never had a problem. I run a break music version, and different show material versions and have them ready at the click of the mouse
muzicman144

[billyo]

Originally Posted by Musicman51

oh ok Jim, i gotcha now...sorry.
Ya know i have come to the conclusion...a computer is like an automobile. If ya take care of'em, and don't mess with'em under the hood..they will run forever. I have an old pickup truck i plow snow around here with 225,000 miles on it. Got an old HP 6 year old computer that i use with microstudio, and KHPro, that's still working.yeah..i know..i know. Now..what did i do with that Sony Beta video machine tape of batman......

i have a 7 or 8 yrs. old Dell Inspiron 1000 laptop, and i dont have any problems with it, still running and it's still fast i might add, as a matter of fact i have my 2nd copy of MS on it and the only thing i did to it was upgrade the hhd from 40g to 250g my 4 yr. old daughter uses it now.( got this laptop before she was born)

[billyo]

Originally Posted by kod

Hoster shut down four times on me last night (Thursday night 6/3) during my show. I ran the BA for over an hour before the show with no problems whatsoever.

After I started the show, Hoster shut down once about an hour into the show with the BA running. After that, I did not turn the BA back on all night and Hoster shut down three more times. All of the shutdowns were between songs.

I now have a Saturday night show too. We'll see what happens Saturday night...

i have never use the BA before the show, i used and still using itunes,the only time i use the BA was during my show, which i kinda stopped, my reason was i have a fast paced show and the tunes on the BA will only play for just a few sec. before the next singer comes on, and to me having to play bits and pieces of a song is kinda annoying...but don't get me wrong BA is still a very if not an excellent Hoster feature.

[kod]

Billy,

Apparently you can get people on and off stage faster than I can. I try, but it's not always easy and I hate dead air so I keep BA on! Smoking in Bars is against the law here and a lot of my singers end up outside smoking when I need them, even though I announce their names two songs ahead of when they'e up...

I do not do regular DJ shows. I am strictly a Karaoke DJ (KJ)... I don't (and refuse to) play any dance music during my show. To me a Karaoke Show should be only Karaoke and that's the way I operate.

I make that understood with every bar owner before I begin with them. If they want something else, they need to hire someone else and I need to move on. I've been retired for 10 years and I'm 65 years old. I do this because I love it, not because I have to...

The main reason I got into the business is because no one in my area operates this way and I have built up a loyal following of dedicated Karaoke singers because of it. They know they don't have to compete with the Dance music in order to sing. They also know that if I have a lot of singers, I back out and don't sing anymore to allow more chances to sing during the night.

Example: Last night I sang only two songs during the first half-hour of my show when things were slow and never sang again all night. I was very busy. I only return to the rotation if the crowd gets small.

[billyo]

Originally Posted by kod

Billy,

Apparently you can get people on and off stage faster than I can. I try, but it's not always easy and I hate dead air so I keep BA on! Smoking in Bars is against the law here and a lot of my singers end up outside smoking when I need them, even though I announce their names two songs ahead of when they'e up...

I do not do regular DJ shows. I am strictly a Karaoke DJ (KJ)... I don't (and refuse to) play any dance music during my show. To me a Karaoke Show should be only Karaoke and that's the way I operate.

I make that understood with every bar owner before I begin with them. If they want something else, they need to hire someone else and I need to move on. I've been retired for 10 years and I'm 65 years old. I do this because I love it, not because I have to...

The main reason I got into the business is because no one in my area operates this way and I have built up a loyal following of dedicated Karaoke singers because of it. They know they don't have to compete with the Dance music in order to sing. They also know that if I have a lot of singers, I back out and don't sing anymore to allow more chances to sing during the night.

Example: Last night I sang only two songs during the first half-hour of my show when things were slow and never sang again all night. I was very busy. I only return to the rotation if the crowd gets small.

Thats the reason why we have that marquee at the bottom of the singers screen, names and songs that's coming up next, if their names are called 2x and doesn't come up on the stage right away, most of the time i put them at the bottom of the rotation. i don't do dj regularly, only private parties and i do karaoke once a week ( Sat. ) used to do it 3x a week,and i play music in a country club every 2wks. i dont have problems playing dance music, i only do it if i'm asked, mostly by younger crowds. I've been doing this before karaoke became digital and cassette tapes are the most popular back then, where you have to count the beats in order to know when to start singing. I'm like you i don't do this( karaoke/djing ) because i have to or to make money, we all know that there's no return on the money we invested on this., and it's not my main source of income, i do this as a hobby( a very expensive hobby )The way i (we kj's )) do it here was if singers are not ready , or didnt have enough liquid courage yet to sing, i ( we ) usually sing first at least 2-3 songs.

[Musicman51]

I do my show at the American Legion Club up here. Been there for 6 years now. Talk about taking awhile getting to the mic... alot of these folks are ww2 vets and their wives. So it takes some time once in awhile. We're all patient. But I have found my crowd just hates filler or dance music of any kind, except a good polka or waltz. So what i do is a lot of dj'ing, announcments, and i play sound effects, and retro commercials, go one on one with my crowd, also i have giveaway's. During the school year, i even announce who won local high school sporting games. They also love the old budweiser, schlitz, and lowenbrau beer commercials. Also i have recorded different business people from around our community doing what is called a "shout" such as " This is james from JB Used Cars and you're enjoying the george show... so tip the dude". We even have celeberties like President obama, brad pitts, oprah and others that announce my show through the magic of voice over electronics. On a busy evening, i may have perhaps 40-45 singers. So you learn to be creative real quick.

[Skybird74]

Originally Posted by Musicman51

I do my show at the American Legion Club up here. Been there for 6 years now. Talk about taking awhile getting to the mic... alot of these folks are ww2 vets and their wives. So it takes some time once in awhile. We're all patient. But I have found my crowd just hates filler or dance music of any kind, except a good polka or waltz. So what i do is a lot of dj'ing, announcments, and i play sound effects, and retro commercials, go one on one with my crowd, also i have giveaway's. During the school year, i even announce who won local high school sporting games. They also love the old budweiser, schlitz, and lowenbrau beer commercials. Also i have recorded different business people from around our community doing what is called a "shout" such as " This is james from JB Used Cars and you're enjoying the george show... so tip the dude". We even have celeberties like President obama, brad pitts, oprah and others that announce my show through the magic of voice over electronics. On a busy evening, i may have perhaps 40-45 singers. So you learn to be creative real quick.

WOW! Sounds like you have some really great ideas. Thanks for sharing! I may have to steal a few LOL I entertained the older crowd for so many years (and loved it) that I find it somewhat difficult to keep the under 50 crowd happy now, having to learn more the newer music!

[billyo]

every placed i played out the only announced i do was what is on special that night, the name of the bartender and the waiters/waitresses who are ready to serve them.or whatever functions or epecial events myself and the owner are gonna be doing on a certain day at the place. and they usually sell raffle tickets, for $1.00 winner gets free dinner for 2, free drinks, and or 50/50, or an announced singing contest the same night, judged by the people themselves and they get the same prizes, just for fun.

[kod]

I did my Saturday night show last night (6/5) without using BA at all and Hoster never shut down once!

I really don't know what to make of it. Was last night a fluke or is BA really the problem? (rhetorical question)...

[ddouglass]

In your case BA is probably the problem and will remain so. The problem is the additional processing required for the BA and the laptop is not capable of handling it.
It has been pointed out since Background Audio and Visualization were added that many laptops just do not have the resources and processing power to be able to run them without difficulty.