Problem with HDZIP/HDMP3G

[zzeliminator]

Morning. So this is a issue that MTU knows about?
Do you do when it is going to be fixed?
Are there any work arounds like GMANN mentioned above?
I looked into my song.mdb folder and there are 10000 HDZIP songs in it?
Do I have to change the extension to them to "zip"?
I have more zip format songs to add to Hoster. What is the best way or format to change them to in order to perform this?
I have tried to attach a copy of my song.mdb by it keeps on failing. The size may be too big as it is 1.2 meg zipped. Thanks, Kelly

[zzeliminator]

I tried again to attach a copy of my songs.mdb, guess its too big.
So, I should be able to play every karaoke song I Have in Hoster, correct?
With the following exception:
Any karaoke song with a "HDZIP" extension in or added to the playlist will only play once.
Once it is played to completion, it will still be a "HDZIP", but wont be playable in that playlist.
I would close Hoster when ready, reopen Hoster, then I could delete that song because it it still not playable and the extension changed to "HDMP3G". If I tried to play this song, I would get a "ERROR" in the status column.
I typed this out to ensure that my thinking is correct, plus I could refer back to this thread later.
Please feel free to comment also about my last reply.
I want to try to fix this issue...if it is fixable at my level.
I have just started looking at the other features and so far, they are pretty cool. And naturally, reading the manual at every step.
Thanks, Kelly

[bryant]

Originally Posted by zzeliminator

Morning. So this is a issue that MTU knows about?
Do you do when it is going to be fixed?
Are there any work arounds like GMANN mentioned above?
I looked into my song.mdb folder and there are 10000 HDZIP songs in it?
Do I have to change the extension to them to "zip"?
I have more zip format songs to add to Hoster. What is the best way or format to change them to in order to perform this?
I have tried to attach a copy of my song.mdb by it keeps on failing. The size may be too big as it is 1.2 meg zipped. Thanks, Kelly

Perhaps you can use Hoster 3.3xx or 3.4 to create hdzips from zips as you have already done before. I have done some of that.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by zzeliminator

Morning. So this is a issue that MTU knows about?
Do you do when it is going to be fixed?
Are there any work arounds like GMANN mentioned above?
I looked into my song.mdb folder and there are 10000 HDZIP songs in it?
Do I have to change the extension to them to "zip"?
I have more zip format songs to add to Hoster. What is the best way or format to change them to in order to perform this?
I have tried to attach a copy of my song.mdb by it keeps on failing. The size may be too big as it is 1.2 meg zipped. Thanks, Kelly

The HDZIP is not the file extension but is Hosters way of identifying the type of file it is. The file extension for all Hoster songs after importing is actually KMA.
The only way you can fix this yourself is to re-import them which will automatically unzip them and make them HDMP3Gs. The new ones you want to add will do this too. That way when you re-use a playlist when it says they are HDMP3Gs instead of HDZIP then it will work. It sounds like a lot of work but will be worth it in the end.

[zzeliminator]

Thanks Ddouglas. Would MTU's songverter do any good?
My thought is that songverter could change the kma's currently in hoster to another format, what type of format is to be discussed. Then the format could be be imported back into Hoster. Man, this sounds like more money and more work.

I also have freeware called MP3+G Toolz which can do some converting:
ZIP to Bin, audio+G to Bin, Bin to Zip, Zip to audio+G, Bin to Audio+G, but no KMA to anything.


I cant reimport the zips as I don't have them with me. So....I don't know what to do!

[ddouglass]

You can use Songverter and convert them to any other format. MP3+G would probably be best as BIN files are much larger. Since they are MP3+G inside the zip then that would make the conversion quicker. After you convert them re-import them, so the header gets re-added correctly.

[zzeliminator]

Hello. You chimed in at the right time. I downloaded Songverter demo. I navigated to a kma karaoke song that I knew was build using a zip (opened songs.mdb folder).
On songverter block 2 "Source format" I chose "KMA Karaoke Files (*.kma with audio + lyrics). On songverter block 4 "Target Format" I chose "Zip Karaoke Files (*.zip with mp3 + cdg)". I then pushed "Convert Now" That action bought up the proper artist/title. I imported the song into Hoster as a zip and it played great (for the 45 seconds demo). On block 4, I could have selected "MP3+G Karaoke Files (*.mp3, +*.cdg) like you mentioned and for the same reaseons too!

Two things...Will my headers remain the way that I changed them in their zip format then I imported them into hoster? I added little comments into the zip header and I don't know if those comments go into the titles of the mp3 and cdg files within the zip???

Other thing...I got ten thousands zip songs in hoster to convert using songverter, how could i identify them quickly and run the converter process. I hope that you can understand this. It would be a very slow process to pick one song at a time.

Plus, do I really need to do this or is MTU going to implement a fix in a hurry!!!
Thanks

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by zzeliminator

Hello. You chimed in at the right time. I downloaded Songverter demo. I navigated to a kma karaoke song that I knew was build using a zip (opened songs.mdb folder).
On songverter block 2 "Source format" I chose "KMA Karaoke Files (*.kma with audio + lyrics). On songverter block 4 "Target Format" I chose "Zip Karaoke Files (*.zip with mp3 + cdg)". I then pushed "Convert Now" That action bought up the proper artist/title. I imported the song into Hoster as a zip and it played great (for the 45 seconds demo). On block 4, I could have selected "MP3+G Karaoke Files (*.mp3, +*.cdg) like you mentioned and for the same reaseons too!

Two things...Will my headers remain the way that I changed them in their zip format then I imported them into hoster? I added little comments into the zip header and I don't know if those comments go into the titles of the mp3 and cdg files within the zip???

Other thing...I got ten thousands zip songs in hoster to convert using songverter, how could i identify them quickly and run the converter process. I hope that you can understand this. It would be a very slow process to pick one song at a time.

Plus, do I really need to do this or is MTU going to implement a fix in a hurry!!!
Thanks

You should convert in Songverter to MP3+G without making it a KMA. Songverter does not add the BookID for Hoster to the KMA files it creates.
The Titles and Artist information comes from the file name inside the zip, not the zip header itself so any comments you add thre will not be included.
Since you know how to open and read the songs.mdb file then you should be able to sort them by type and get all the ZIP files together in one group and determine from that.
I have no idea when MTU will fix this and may not but will get the conversion working right. Zip files will not be used at all in Hoster in the near future because they cause too many problems and save very little space.

[zzeliminator]

Thanks Ddouglass for the nice explaination in your last reply, and throughout this discussion. I have submitted a support ticket to MTU as I think this situation warrants their involvement.

However, if anyone out there have comments regarding this issue, I and others concerns would like to hear from you. Thanks, Kelly

[laddie]

Originally Posted by BANDL

I have about 10,000 Zip files. Here is what I am afraid of: If they are all converted to HDMP3g using 4.02, would they play with the back up copy og 3.4?

The easy fix is to load 4.2 and let it convert all your files. The converter will find any bad Zips. You will only have to fix and reload the files that report as bad. This is way faster than re- importing 10000 files.

It takes a few hours for the files to convert, but after its done life is good.

[zzeliminator]

Hello. I went from 3.21 to 4.03 and had no involvement with 4.02. I am using Vista Ultimate with 64-bit. I am a little scare of those versions. But if you and others thinks its safe...where do I get 4.02..do I uninstall 4.03? And anything else that needs addressing.

Good idea!

[madjim- with the Lord]

[quote=zzeliminator;80258]Hello. I went from 3.21 to 4.03 and had no involvement with 4.02. I am using Vista Ultimate with 64-bit. I am a little scare of those versions. But if you and others thinks its safe...where do I get 4.02..do I uninstall 4.03? And anything else that needs addressing.

Good idea![/quote

ZZ,
4.02 is no longer available through MTU. The web site always delivers the lastest version of every program. They make fixes with each new version as well as adding features.

This issue has come about because of two different changes that were made in Hoster 4.02.

1. It converts all HDZIP files to HDMP3G files (and finds the bad ones apparently )

2. It changed the HDZIP listings in all of your playlist's to the HDMP3G listing


MTU had to make changes in 4.03 so the converted HDZIP's and Playlists from 4.02 were usebale in 4.03.

Your problem may be a playlist issue. (I have not seen your problem.)

If you open 4.03, clear the playlist and load new tracks from your database will they play?

How did you get HDMP3G files if you didn't install 4.02? Were they zip files that were converted when you imported them into 4.03?


I know I'm chimin' in a little late on this one so excuse me if I'm covering something that has already been discussed.

I feel certain that the playlist issue will be fixed 4.04.


Jim

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by zzeliminator

Hello. I went from 3.21 to 4.03 and had no involvement with 4.02. I am using Vista Ultimate with 64-bit. I am a little scare of those versions. But if you and others thinks its safe...where do I get 4.02..do I uninstall 4.03? And anything else that needs addressing.

Good idea!

Unfortunately Kelly, you can't get it now, since MTU has moved on to 4.03 (nice idea Laddie but he can't do that). You didn't need to submit a support ticket because MTU is already aware of this. They can't magically fix this for everyone. It will have to be incorporated into the next update but it will take some time to get it out.
I realize that with 10,000 zip files it is going to take some time to fix it, but it is either that or don't re-use playlists and enter those songs in the playlist anytime you want to use them until MTU can get the next update ready. I am sorry if that is not what you want to hear.

[laddie]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

Unfortunately Kelly, you can't get it now, since MTU has moved on to 4.03 (nice idea Laddie but he can't do that). You didn't need to submit a support ticket because MTU is already aware of this. They can't magically fix this for everyone. It will have to be incorporated into the next update but it will take some time to get it out.
I realize that with 10,000 zip files it is going to take some time to fix it, but it is either that or don't re-use playlists and enter those songs in the playlist anytime you want to use them until MTU can get the next update ready. I am sorry if that is not what you want to hear.

It would be nice if MTU could release the converstion process as a standalone application. Or allow you to use the option in the next version.

[laddie]

[quote=madjim;80262]

Originally Posted by zzeliminator

MTU had to make changes in 4.03 so the converted HDZIP's and Playlists from 4.02 were usebale in 4.03.
Jim

I don't think this is true. I converted all zips with 4.2. My old list work fine in 4.3.

[madjim- with the Lord]

[quote=laddie;80270]

Originally Posted by madjim

I don't think this is true. I converted all zips with 4.2. My old list work fine in 4.3.

That's good to hear!

I know there was a playlist converter in 4.02 that changed all of the HDZIP files entries in the all of the playlists to HDMP3G entries. There was also an issue where playlist's made in 4.02 would not play in 3.40. Fixing these playlist changes, some good code may have been disturbed. Like Dale said, it will be fixed in 4.04.

Jim

[laddie]

[quote=madjim;80278]

Originally Posted by laddie

That's good to hear!

I know there was a playlist converter in 4.02 that changed all of the HDZIP files entries in the all of the playlists to HDMP3G entries. There was also an issue where playlist's made in 4.02 would not play in 3.40. Fixing these playlist changes, some good code may have been disturbed. Like Dale said, it will be fixed in 4.04.

Jim

That true but 4.03 and 3.40 will play both hdmp3g and hdzip files. At least it does on all my computers. Or mayby because all my files are converted ,it just plays the file without regard to what the list calls it. But, you are right either way it will get fixed.

[zzeliminator]

Hello fellas. Thanks for the replys. Laddie I guess your recommendation isn't possible, but I do thank you for thinking outside of the box!

Madjim, I upgraded to 4.03 and open it. I never saw a conversion visually occurred. I old playlist opened normally and there were cdg and hdzip songs on there. When a hdzip played and finish, it stayed hdzip until you lost Hoster and reopened Hoster and that song changed to HDMP3G. But you couldn't play it.

Ddouglass, understand that MTU is aware of the issue and hopefully it will be fixed in 4.04. I got over 20000 songs and half of them are hdzip imported, so this dance with the playlist will get old pretty quick. I am a patient person, but you have to admit this issue is a fairly large one.
Thanks everyone, Kelly

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by laddie

It would be nice if MTU could release the converstion process as a standalone application. Or allow you to use the option in the next version.

They did Laddie...it is called Songverter. I think (don't quote me on it) that MTU took code from Songverter to do this and applied it to only convert HDZIP to HDMP3G.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by zzeliminator

Madjim, I upgraded to 4.03 and open it. I never saw a conversion visually occurred. I old playlist opened normally and there were cdg and hdzip songs on there. When a hdzip played and finish, it stayed hdzip until you lost Hoster and reopened Hoster and that song changed to HDMP3G. But you couldn't play it.

Correct, there is no conversion in 4.03. The reson for the playlist converter that MTU included was to change all of the HDZIP entries into HDMP3G entries. This is what your are seeing but in your case there are no HDMP3G files and your problem occurs.

This is what I believe is happening, MTU will fix it.

Jim