Ots was awesome

[Vinny H]

Thought I'd share a "Ots awesome" story.

I've always worked for other companies DJing but I own my own music, laptop, and a license to OTS (paid for out of my pocket), just didn't have the rest of the equipment.  Well, I finally started my own company with another gentleman and last Friday was our first official gig under our own banner.

We ran a two computer setup: mine was running Ots AV for Djing and his was running MTU Hoster (don't buy it folks...seriously!) for karaoke, the night (which was suppose to be more DJing and less karaoke) turned out to be a straight karaoke night.  But I had OTS running the entire night hooked up into the bars flat screens running the slideshow.  It looked awesome!  Not a great story...but it's mine.

[tower]

You should of had Ots AV Pro running the Karaoke!   Then you would only need the one Laptop and you could throw in an Audio track (To still show the slideshow) and a Pop Video too and really set the seal on just how great OtsAV :Pro is over the rest.

[Vinny H]

You should of had Ots AV Pro running the Karaoke!   Then you would only need the one Laptop and you could throw in an Audio track (To still show the slideshow) and a Pop Video too and really set the seal on just how great OtsAV :Pro is over the rest.

Unfortunately, most of the karaoke is still in the KMA format from MTU.  Working on converting them.  It's not as simple as batch converting them cause there is no way to turn the automatic stuff off so it would add segue points (unless I missed that thread) so I have to go through every track by had and extend the intro and outro points.

[Darryl]

You don't have to set the intro and outro points any more - if you don't want to use ACI (audio control info) for karaoke you can turn it off in OtsAV from the menu: Options -> Intellifade/ACI Mixing -> Karaoke Items -> Ignore Intro/Outro.

Personally, I think it sounds so much better with the ACI on - I just go through and edit the problem ACI chunks as and when I they crop up at a gig.

Have fun,
Darryl.

[Vinny H]

You don't have to set the intro and outro points any more - if you don't want to use ACI (audio control info) for karaoke you can turn it off in OtsAV from the menu: Options -> Intellifade/ACI Mixing -> Karaoke Items -> Ignore Intro/Outro.

Personally, I think it sounds so much better with the ACI on - I just go through and edit the problem ACI chunks as and when I they crop up at a gig.

Have fun,
Darryl.

Why would it sound better?  I talk before and after each singer, so It's not needed.

[discodonal.com]

If you turn the aci off you will get the compete content off the song such as the 10 second delay before the music starts and also at the end. I like it off as it allows the singer a few seconds to get ready and also some songs start too quickly and they are way off with their timing and most karaoke singers will blame the DJ rather than themselves. Also at the end with aci on without proper editing it can cut the song too quickly which is not good either. Again I think it's best that the karaoke track plays every scrap of detail from start to finish.

[Darryl]

I said what I choose to do. It works for me. If a song starts with a vocal then obviously you have to start the song cold. I edit the aci chunks accordingly for those tracks. Each KJ has his own style and mine is to keep the music flowing.

Have fun,
Darryl

[Vinny H]

I said what I choose to do. It works for me. If a song starts with a vocal then obviously you have to start the song cold. I edit the aci chunks accordingly for those tracks. Each KJ has his own style and mine is to keep the music flowing.

Have fun,
Darryl

Keeping the music flowing is hard when it takes some people a while to get up to the mic sometimes so I fill up the dead air.  I'm an old (I use the term loosely) radio guy so I know how to fill the dead air.

[Darryl]

I find it interesting how we all approach things differently on here.  Don't take my approach as any attack against yours - because you should use whatever works for you.   The way I do it is firstly I call them up (talking over whatever song is playing - preferably in a suitable place to talk over - but when I'm in a rush, I'll crash over lyrics etc without any concerns!).  If there's no sign of them after the first call, I'll try again a little later (how long I give them depending on how many singers are waiting) with the current song still playing.  At this point their karaoke request isn't in the playlist - OtsAV might move on to the next track whilst I'm waiting for them to come up.  When they finally turn up I transfer their karaoke request into the playlist.  I ask them if they are ready, when they say yes I click the next track button and let OtsAV mix from the music to the karaoke.

This works well for my style of event - where I like to keep the music flowing.  If the song starts with a dry vocal, there is no choice but to go quiet to allow the singer to start the song, but as long as I've set the ACI correctly, OtsAV will do the job just fine.  If I discover that the start of the song has been missed, I can quickly re-cue it, apologise to the singer and switch off the karaoke ACI option as mentioned earlier for that track.  I'll probably fix the ACI chunk while they are singing - but won't be able to save the Ots Album file in Ots Studio until it has left the deck.

Have fun,
Darryl.

[Vinny H]

Believe me, I wasn't taking it as an attack.  I'm more of a "fill dead space with stuff" kinda of guy.  I talk up the bar (drink special, upcoming events), introduce the staff (especially the bartenders) who are working hard for people.  I don't use slips of paper for a request system.  Instead I use a dry erase board so I may (for those just coming in) tell people how to sign up for a song...stuff like that. 

[Darryl]

That's good - I just wanted to make it clear - tone of voice/body language/etc don't come over on forums.  I like the idea of your approach.  KJs with personality seem to be rare these days!  I don't think I have the verbal dexterity, so I'll hide behind the music instead.   I've also just realised that you are state-side - I wonder if the attitude of the singers is different to here in the UK?

Have fun,
Darryl.

[Vinny H]

That's good - I just wanted to make it clear - tone of voice/body language/etc don't come over on forums.  I like the idea of your approach.  KJs with personality seem to be rare these days!  I don't think I have the verbal dexterity, so I'll hide behind the music instead.   I've also just realised that you are state-side - I wonder if the attitude of the singers is different to here in the UK?

Have fun,
Darryl.

Yep. US of A.  Vermont to be precise.  Small state.

[DJ B-rad]

When I do karaoke, i always have some random song set to play in between singers.  You can always cut that song when the next singer is ready to go.  By random i do mean a good song with mass appeal, usually one with a video so it keeps the tv's rolling.

[Vinny H]

When I do karaoke, i always have some random song set to play in between singers.  You can always cut that song when the next singer is ready to go.  By random i do mean a good song with mass appeal, usually one with a video so it keeps the tv's rolling.

I try to keep the show moving cause I usually have a lot of singers so I try to get people up quickly and plug the bar or whatever while they walk up.  With ots, it can run a slideshow which keeps the TV active.  When someone does take a while to walk up, I do throw a song on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKg5ggoqJ0g

[jonnyrockcom]

The first post on this thread said not to use MTU Hoster, great program for a "Karaoke Night", I love OTS, but doesn't have the control to change the key, to put in the singers name. We use both OTS and MTU Hoster, but for karaoke 90% hoster. - jonny