Importing mp3g zip files to hoster

[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.

[Mustangt93]

So, compressing the files to mp3g damages the audio? So, what would I do if I don't want the audio damaged? You said the KMA is compressed, right? So, the audio is actually damaged in that form as well? Sorry, if I sound like a moron on this stuff but in actuality at this point in the game..I still am. Im sure in a year or so I will be where everyone else it.

[admin]

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

So, compressing the files to mp3g damages the audio? So, what would I do if I don't want the audio damaged? You said the KMA is compressed, right? So, the audio is actually damaged in that form as well? Sorry, if I sound like a moron on this stuff but in actuality at this point in the game..I still am. Im sure in a year or so I will be where everyone else it.

MTU is credited by Mix Magazine as being the "first in the world to ship a digital audio workstation (DAW) on a microcomputer." We were actually the first in the world to ship any DAW.

We sold to audiophiles with excellent hearing, and .wav files were the norm. Heck, MP3 wasn't even in general use then, and WMA from Microsoft didn't yet exist. There was no other format than pure samples without any compression.

I used to hear 22KHz frequencies, so our focus was absolutely the purest sound you could create, and we did it!

Today, most folks under 40 (maybe higher?) grew up with cruddy boom-boxes that destroyed the music. Thus, the CAN'T even hear the high frequencies and pure tones that the .wav format is able to deliver.

So, it's now a moot point what you are worrying about. I'm truly sorry I "jabbed" the MP3 and WMA compressors. You will probably already have MP3 songs in whatever compression ratio they were created with. For MP3's, a 160kb compression sounds to MOST people today, as good as a .wav. Your songs probably use 128kb, which ain't bad either. If they use 96kb, that's getting into a range where many users can hear the hissy damage done to the audio.

So, enjoy and don't worry about it unless you are going to turn into an audiophile!

[Mustangt93]

Well, I have to admit. I have noticed that high pitch hissy sound and don't really care for it that much. But, at the same time I don't want to have to have a 3 terabyte hard drive to hold all my files, either. But, as you said...the damage has already been done anyway, right? So, even if I converted my mp3g zip files to KMA it wouldn't really do any good, right? Hard to get back what's already been destroyed. But, I am kind of a stickler for good quality. I was known for that for years around my karaoke shows. The good singers came to my shows because they knew I had the best quality in karaoke CD's and in equipment.

[admin]

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

Well, I have to admit. I have noticed that high pitch hissy sound and don't really care for it that much. But, at the same time I don't want to have to have a 3 terabyte hard drive to hold all my files, either. But, as you said...the damage has already been done anyway, right? So, even if I converted my mp3g zip files to KMA it wouldn't really do any good, right? Hard to get back what's already been destroyed. But, I am kind of a stickler for good quality. I was known for that for years around my karaoke shows. The good singers came to my shows because they knew I had the best quality in karaoke CD's and in equipment.

If you have your original CDG discs, you can use Hoster to import them as KMA. We ALLOW you to select the WMA compression ratio for the quality -vs- storage you can live with. A 128Kb WMA ratio is equal to an MP3 160Kb ratio, but takes a lot less storage. That... is why MTU chose WMA for our compression in our KMA files; you get the best audio and smaller storage requirements.

[Mustangt93]

Well, the program that I used to originally upload my cdg's to my hard drive was the power CDG program. And that actually has a section where you can set the constant bit rate for the amount of quality that you want and I put the highest quality available so that may be close to where the KMA's that you guys have. But, I do definitely notice that high pitch noise you're talking about in the songs. I just try to compensate by bringing down the high levels on the EQ and bring the low and low mids up some. Seems to do ok. But, I do notice it for sure. Answer me this...is there a difference in quality between the mp3G and the mp3g zipped file? Does that compress it even more or just combine the files together in one folder but not do anything to the quality? Thats the way my files are right now...mp3g zipped.

[admin]

Originally Posted by Mustangt93

Well, the program that I used to originally upload my cdg's to my hard drive was the power CDG program. And that actually has a section where you can set the constant bit rate for the amount of quality that you want and I put the highest quality available so that may be close to where the KMA's that you guys have. But, I do definitely notice that high pitch noise you're talking about in the songs. I just try to compensate by bringing down the high levels on the EQ and bring the low and low mids up some. Seems to do ok. But, I do notice it for sure. Answer me this...is there a difference in quality between the mp3G and the mp3g zipped file? Does that compress it even more or just combine the files together in one folder but not do anything to the quality? Thats the way my files are right now...mp3g zipped.

They have absolutely identical sound quality.

MP3 and WMA do Audio psycho-acoustic compression that removes parts of the audio the human ear does not perceive.

ZIP does data compression that does not affect the audio quality.

Question: Since you used the Power product, do you see any random color changes in the files that came from disc tracks #10 and higher?

If so, would you try to import a few of those same tracks from Chartbuster discs into Hoster as KMA and then look at them?

I'd love to know the results. When we did this test in the past we found the Power files had lots of damage that continually degraded up to the last lyric panel.