Video/Karaoke HELP!!!!

[michaellynn]

I am currently running DJ Music from OtsAV on Windows XP.  I just downloaded AV--and I am looking to upgrade. 

I also run Karaoke music from a CAVS operating system, and I would very much like to add Videos to my show.

The problem I am having is converting videos to OTS--I have about 1000 videos on DVD...  I am also having problems decoding my CAVS formatted karaoke music and adding it to OTS.  (MCG to CD+G) 

I can decode the karaoke music to CDG on the computer--but can get no farther.   

I am also having issues getting the video screen to work on karaoke. 

ANY advice would be welcomed on how to get my system upgraded, or am I just wasting my time with OTS?? 

What I really want is a laptop that can run OTSAV with all 3 sources working properly.   I could live with DJ Music and videos only--and stick with CAVS in the case of a karaoke show...

HELP!!   

[Darryl]

I've got all three working fine. You are not wasting your time.

For CD+G karaoke you need the files in mp3+g format - I.e. an mp3 and a cdg file for each track. If you don't know what this means or how to see a file extension in Windows just ask.

Once you have a folder full of mp3 and cdg files, run Ots Studio and choose Import Ots/wav/mp3. Ensure you have a tick on the import cdg check-box.

As for the video not showing: read through the video tutorial in the OtsAV help files. You need to get the desktop extended to the secondary display such that you can move the mouse pointer from one screen to the other.

Let us know how you get on.

Have fun,
Darryl 

[tower]

If I understand correctly you are trying to convert a VIDEO format to Ots Karaoke and that will simply not work.  You need the original MP3 + CDG (video) file.   They look typically like this when ripped from a Karaoke CD:

Abba - Waterloo.mp3
Abba - Waterloo.cdg
Beatles - Help.mp3
Beatles - Help.cdg

There are often Karaoke cat. numbers before the artiste you must get rid of them and use software to retag the songs by FILENAME.   I strongly advise you add the suffex [Karaoke] to all these songs so they don't overwrite your audio tracks, for remember ALL ots files have the same extension, so unless you do as below you will overwrite your original audio files:

Beatles - Help.ots
Beatles - Help [Karaoke].ots
Beatles - Help [Video].ots

In effect if you are a serious player using ots software you will have 3 of each song title, so you can do Audio only, Karaoke or Video depending on the customers wishes.   I highly recommend the following software, it is minimal cost and worth the cash:

http://www.filerenamer.net/   Windsome File re-namer (makes cleaning up Karaoke files a dream and you can add the suffex [Video] or [Karaoke] to hundreds of titles at one go
http://www.softpointer.com/tr.htm  Tag & Rename software allows you to get the Karaoke meta data tags in line with industry standards FROM your new OTS file name

The key to Ots is having your Windows file names correct and then when you import them most of your problems go away then.   Next is quality, never EVER rip audio less than 192kBs, never rip Video from any other source than VOB or MPEG2 unless it is hi def apple mac or AVI and the file size is HUGE.  ALWAYS switch off titles on Promo Only (titled) Video's.   Ots does most of its magic in the CPU not the Video Card, MAKE sure you have the best and fastest CPU and memory you can afford.   On a laptop look for DDR3 Memory and Quad processors.    That is about it.  Hope that helped.

[kmorris]

The only thing I didn't see answered about his question is conversion of CAVS.

CAVS are the DVD equivalent of a karaoke CD.  Same thing, really... just much higher capacity.

I've used CDGFix 3 Super from http://www.cdgfix.com/ with great results to convert my CAVS discs to MP3+CDG files.  It's quite reasonably priced.

Some of the CAVS discs I've purchased are multiplexed, with guide vocals on the left channel and music on the right.  The best solution I have to that is to copy the right channel to the left when converting those types of discs. (I think the biggest offender was Sweet Georgia Brown)  Be sure to listen to your output files in a player (I use VLC, it plays back .cdg well) to make sure you got it right before doing the batch convert to OTS.  You will save yourself a LOT of time.

One thing you'll love is that when ripping CAVS, you won't have artifacting on the .cdg files like you get when you rip some CD's.  All pristine quality.