oh! and which, if any, are Mac OS X compatible?

I agree. KaraFun is the best player/recorder that I know of--though it is not perfect. There is very little by way of home karaoke software on the market that focuses on both playing and recording.

The only Mac KJ program I know of is KJams.

_________________

the smart (@$%&#!) answer is they are all compatible if you run them in a virtual machine on your mac

*of course, you still need a copy of windows then*

I want to move my setup to the Mac platform. I have invested a lot of time in KMA files. Has anybody here compared audio using KMA files with Windows players and KJams on Mac?

Thank you

I agree with the early pot about Siglos Karaoke Pro. We have used it to host shows every night for the past three years. It is easy to understand, looks like it was programmed this century, very stable and has a ton of useful features.

_________________
Kroaky's Karaoke

Three years ago, I made the switch from CD-based to laptop, and, knowing next-to-nothing about computers and programs, I started out with Winamp with the cdg and Pacemaker plug-ins.

I've tried several trial programs, but found them all to be either (a) too complicated, with a huge learning curve for an elderly old f*rt like me, or;
(b) missing some essential (to me) features.

As a for-instance... I'd be happy with both Karma or Show Hoster IF I could add a singer to the que without having to pick a song first.

I like to add our "regular" singers to the rotation as soon as they walk through the door... and currently do that by using a white-board and erasable markers.

However, if I have to wait for a request slip or to find out what song they want to sing.... well, it just wouldn't work for me.

Even if I could insert the singer into the rotation with a "dummy" song title and edit it later would be fine.... but, although you can edit the singer's name, you can't edit the song title.... which makes no sense to me.

Although programs like Digital KJ have virtually every feature a person could possibly want (to my untrained eye), I'm sure the learning curve would be such that it would take me the 30-day trial period just to get the thing switched on...

So, despite it's many limitations, I'll probably stick with Winamp... and not bother attempting to join the 21st century.

_________________
Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

In Karma, you can press the "Insert" key, and it will allow you to enter a singer to the rotation. You can add a song after the fact.

-Chris

_________________
Work hard. Play hard. Land face down.

Oops.... Sorry Chris. I mis-spoke.

I meant to say Tricerasoft's "Just Karaoke" rather than Karma.

I looked at Karma too.... and it's waaaaaaayyy over my head.

Just Karaoke and Show Presenter are similar, and I love their simplicity... except for that one annoying fact that singers' names cannot be entered without an associated song...

Without that feature, my shows would be very difficult to handle.

_________________
Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

Earl,
I use DigitalKJ, and found it to be one of the simplist to operate, and the support to be very helpful. As with any new program you just have to get past the install and set-up. That's pretty easy too. I know you like to do contests, and the contest features in DigitalKJ are unmatched. I recommend trying it and any others that interest you.

When it comes to putting in a singer without a song, there is a work around for that on pretty much any program. Just put them in for any song to hold their place in rotation and change it when they come up. With DigitalKJ, their repertoire(history) will contain all the songs they have done before and it only takes a couple of quick clicks to change the song without any additional typing.

If the install, set-up and learning curve on these programs have got you worried, get a computer savvy kid (most of them are) to install to your home computer for testing so you can find the one that suits you best.

I know hosts as old as you who use programs like these with ease. I also know many younger ones who can use these programs but can't figure out how to tie their shoes.

_________________
KNOW THYSELF

That's exactly what I'd like to do... but neither "Show Hoster" or "Just Karaoke" (which, incidentally, seem to be the same program) will allow it. You can change/edit the singer's name, but not the song.

Perhaps I'm just having a brain f*rt, but if there is a work-around, I can't find it.

I will take a good look at DigitalDJ... but the information, and screen shots given with the link in the original post is, to me, nothing short of mind-boggling.

By the way, I'm deeply hurt... "cut to the quick" one might say, by your insinuation that I'm old. I may still be using coal-fired amplifiers, but I've recently up-graded from water-wheel to dual ox-driven turntables.... Isn't that progressive??? Isn't that what young people do??? NOW, I'll bet you're sorry....

_________________
Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

With Justkaraoke I believe there is a + button underneath the singers que. That adds a singer without adding a song just make sure delete singer with no songs is unchecked.

_________________
"None of it are originals. All are copies."

quote]
With Justkaraoke I believe there is a + button underneath the singers que. That adds a singer without adding a song just make sure delete singer with no songs is unchecked.[/quote]

Sorry to be such a pain in the butt Danny, but I've been playing with the program for a while, and I can't find that "+" button... Not saying it isn't there, but I don't see it.

_________________
Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

Sorry to be such a pain in the butt Danny, but I've been playing with the program for a while, and I can't find that "+" button... Not saying it isn't there, but I don't see it.[/quote]
I think this picture will help. It is justkaraoke 2.0 but 1.0 is close to it.

_________________
"None of it are originals. All are copies."

Thanks Danny... (and others who've helped) I've now purchased Just Karaoke 2... and have from now till Thursday - my next show - to get used to it...

Not sure what the rules are about tranferring it to my show lap-top (which has never seen the internet).. but I'll figure it out.

Thanks again

E.

_________________
Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I tried the trial version of JustKaraoke last night, and I gotta say,, it was easy to follow,, (just like the 1.0 version),, and had some extra features that the earlier version lacked. Like "announce next singers", customize singer screen, filler music,, etc. I will be purchasing this one for sure. I find it has EVERY feature that I look for in a hosting software. I don't use a kiosk, still use slips for that "personal" touch with the singers.

If I may say, the "personal" touch doesn't come from whether or not you use a kiosk. I do use a kiosk but I still offer books, slips and pencils. For my gigs this past weekend, the kiosk was in constant use, more so than books and slips. But regardless of what method my guests use to submit their songs, they are all made to feel special by me. You can make your guests feel great and have an awesome time regardless of how they turn in a song. And that's what I do. And that's why they come back. Thanks.

siglos has a demo, i am using it on 7 right now, and it seems to do everything Hoster does with more customization abilities.
download the demo and try it yourself.

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

If you are talking playing cdg direct, Hoster has always had this feature.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Thanks earthling12357
....I do believe I came across this software the other night. It did spark up my curiosity. Just can't remember the reviews/feedback from other users. However, I will give it a try. Thanks again!