[ATTN: TOM] Karaoke - Only previews?

[Draco1962]

There is a post somewhere in the forums with a detailed setup for running Karaoke as an emulator but for the life of me I could not locate it. Maybe someone else knows where to find it.

[sty151]

Thank you, I'll do a search to see if there's another way to play karaoke in GameEx. But I was curious about other people playing karaoke files outside of GameEx. I found it odd that after installing Karaoke for DirectX (through GameEx but I've also found its webpage and the download on SourceForge) I couldn't just double click on the file in Windows. I had to associate .cdg files with WMP. My problems are usually something I did wrong so I'm trying to make sure I'm not the kid doing his own thing.

[sty151]

Okay I played with karaoke a little on several machines and this is what I found. On a fresh machine with no GameEx or Karaoke for DirectX, I installed Karaoke for DirectX and tried to play one of my .cdg+ files and got this error "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.". I checked permissions they were fine so I downloaded a couple of public domain karaoke files and got the same error. After I opened the files with Windows Media Player they played without the error. On another machine I built to be HTPC (but the family only uses it to watch Netflix) I tried karaoke through GameEx and when I hovered over a song, like my arcade cabinet, it showed and I could hear it, like it's supposed to. When I picked a song the screen went black and 30-60 seconds went by then I could hear the music but not see the words/graphics. When I pushed the exit (right mouse button) my desktop came up and GameEx was minimized. I was able to click on it and bring it back up no problem. The only thing I could think of that is similar for both of these systems is that they both have AVG anti-virus software, use AMD processors and video cards (with drivers and catalyst display) and the karaoke files themselves. On one machine I have a vanilla ffdshow and Haali Media Splitter and the other is Shark's Codec Pack (which I think includes ffdshow and Haali Media Splitter). I've included the log and ini from the new machine. Hope this helps.

log.txt

GameEx.ini

[jyturbo]

I am having a very similar issue. I am at work so I can't provide my log file yet but I will later this evening. I know GameEx had an update last night so I assume I am running the most current version as of Oct. 5th 2012. Karaoke files play fine in the previews but when I launch one the screen goes black and I can hear the song playing in the background. It's like GameEx is not maximizing the karaoke video player and bringing it to the front (main focus screen for computer). Since my mouse pointer is hidden I can't see it but I think I occasionally have rolled over a minimized window and it will have a small pop up in the bottom left corner of my screen (Win7 64-bit) showing the karaoke video file playing correctly with the audio, but there is no way it will allow me to grab that screen and maximize it or get it to stay in focus. Hope this sheds a little more light on the issue for you guys. I will provide my .ini and .log file later this evening.

NOTE: I am running a 2nd gen Core-i3 with an ATI graphics card. The above post was curious as to his hardware but I have different hardware and am experiencing the exact same issue.

Here are my files:

10:48:43.0 10/5/2012: Opening Configuration File

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: GameEx: Version 12.85: Starting Log

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Operating System Name: Windows 7

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Operating System Version: 6.1.7601

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Aero running

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Initializing Vista/Windows 7 volume control

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Getting CPU and RAM info

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Intel® Core i3-2120 CPU @ 3.30GHz, 6124MB

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: 3.29Ghz - 4 Cores or CPU's

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Running Randomize()

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Loading PlugIns

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Running Misc startup tasks

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Setting Menu types

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Getting Configuration Values

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Using Theme: Default - Arcade-Classic 800x600

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Arcade-Classic 800x600

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Launching HideOS.exe

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Hiding Taskbar

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Is Media Center running?

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Media Center Mode 2

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Snap Delay set to: 6

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Get other settings

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Start work for Form

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Getting Original Screen Size

10:48:43.1 10/5/2012: Opening Database Connection

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Initializing Component

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: MAME Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: daphne Path is: C:\Emulators\Daphne

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: daphne EXE file is: daphne.exe

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Use daphne on. daphne.exe will launch games

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Model 2 Path Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Multi Core/Hyper Threading detected. Looking for emulator_multicpu.exe

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Model 2 EXE file is: emulator_multicpu.exe

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Model 2 emulator with command line support detected

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Use Model 2 on. emulator_multicpu.exe will launch Sega Model 2 games

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: MAME EXE file is: MameUI64.exe

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: ROM Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\roms

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Catver.ini is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: controls.ini is located at: C:\GameEx\data\controls.ini

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: History.dat is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: command.dat is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\command.dat

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Loading Controls.ini map file

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Snap Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\snap

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Background Snap Path: Not Found

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: AVI Snap Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\AVI snaps

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Flyer Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\MAME\Advert

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Cabinet Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\MAME\Cabinet

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Cabinet 3D Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\MAME\Cabinet

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Title Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\MAME\Title

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: PCB Path: Not Found

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Artwork Preview Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\MAME\Artwork

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Panel Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\MAME\CP

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Manual Path: Not Found

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Icon Path: Not Found

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Marquee Path is: C:\Emulators\MYMAME64\MAME\Marquee

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Applying Language/Text

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Text/Language: English

10:48:43.2 10/5/2012: Loading Language/Text

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Custom Emulators

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Emulator 2: [Console] Atari 2600 (Stella)

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Emulator 3: [Console] Nintendo NES (Nestopia)

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Emulator 4: [Console] Sega Genesis (GENS+)

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Emulator 5: Supermodel

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Emulator 6: [Arcade] Naomi

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Emulator 7: [Arcade] Atomiswave

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Loading Emulator 8: Taito Type X

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Checking if Steam enabled

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Cannot find steam path

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations.

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Retrieving resolution setting

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: Using Title Font: VAGRundschriftD

10:48:43.3 10/5/2012: GameEx will try to reduce CPU usage

10:48:43.4 10/5/2012: Initialising Direct3D

10:48:43.4 10/5/2012: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

10:48:43.4 10/5/2012: Setting Resolution to 800x600 32 bit color

10:48:43.4 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Creating Back Buffer

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Version 2 Theme being used. Loading.

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Loading Button Data

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Loading Font Data

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Loading Layout Data

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Loading Taskbar Data

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Loading graphic Surfaces

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Display is running at: 800x600 32bit color, 85hz

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 5670

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Max texture size: 16384x16384

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Available texture memory: 739MB

10:48:43.8 10/5/2012: Initialising Bass Audio Library

10:48:43.9 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

10:48:43.9 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Volume

10:48:43.9 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Arrows

10:48:43.9 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

10:48:43.9 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Surface Unselected

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Snaps

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Fonts

10:48:44.0 10/5/2012: Creating Game Font

10:48:44.1 10/5/2012: Creating Game Font Faded

10:48:44.1 10/5/2012: Creating Title Font

10:48:44.1 10/5/2012: Restoring Title Font From Cache

10:48:44.2 10/5/2012: Creating Menu Font

10:48:44.3 10/5/2012: Creating Font Black

10:48:44.3 10/5/2012: Creating Font Black Small

10:48:44.4 10/5/2012: Fonts Created Succesfully

10:48:44.4 10/5/2012: 2MB Video Memory Used

10:48:44.6 10/5/2012: Playing Startup Video on thread

10:48:44.6 10/5/2012: Attempting to load game list

10:48:44.6 10/5/2012: MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo

10:48:44.6 10/5/2012: Gamepad/Joystick disabled

10:48:44.6 10/5/2012: Loading Start Page

10:48:44.6 10/5/2012: Initializing MCE Remote

10:48:45.7 10/5/2012: Playing intro sound file

10:48:45.7 10/5/2012: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

10:48:45.7 10/5/2012: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

10:48:45.8 10/5/2012: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_2: Custom Background: atari.png

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_2: Custom Background Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_2: Snap Path: C:\Emulators\Atari\Snaps\Video_AVI

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_2: Control Panel Path: \Atari 2600\Controls

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_2: Control Panel Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_2: Title Snap Path: C:\Emulators\Atari\Snaps\2600Screens

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_2: Box Art Path: \Atari 2600\Boxes

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_2: Box Art Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path: \Atari 2600\Cartridges

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_2: Manual Path: \Atari 2600\Manuals

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_2: Manual Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_3: Custom Background: nes.png

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_3: Custom Background Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_3: Snap Path: C:\Emulators\Nintendo\Nestopia140bin\AVI snaps\Nintendo_NES\Video_AVI

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_3: Control Panel Path: C:\Assets\Nintendo NES\Controls

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_3: Control Panel Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_4: Custom Background: gen.png

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_4: Custom Background Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_4: Snap Path: C:\Emulators\Sega Genesis\AVI Snaps\Sega_Genesis\Video_AVI

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_4: Control Panel Path: \Sega Genesis\Controls

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_4: Control Panel Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_5: Custom Background: mymamemodel3 bak.png

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_5: Video Snap Path: C:\Emulators\Supermodel\Video snaps

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_6: Custom Background: jynaomibak.png

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_6: Video Snap Path: C:\Emulators\Demul 5.7\video snap

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_6: Control Panel Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Controls

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_6: Control Panel Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_6: Box Art Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Boxes

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_6: Box Art Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_6: Cart Art Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Cartridges

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_6: Cart Art Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_6: Manual Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Manuals

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_6: Manual Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_7: Custom Background: myatomswave bak.png

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_7: Control Panel Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Controls

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_7: Control Panel Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_7: Box Art Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Boxes

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_7: Box Art Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_7: Cart Art Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Cartridges

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_7: Cart Art Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Validating: Emulator_7: Manual Path: C:\Assets\Arcade\Raine\Manuals

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Warning: Emulator_7: Manual Path Does not exist

10:48:49.1 10/5/2012: Restoring Emulator from Cache: 2

10:48:49.2 10/5/2012: Restoring Emulator from Cache: 3

10:48:49.2 10/5/2012: Restoring Emulator from Cache: 4

10:48:49.2 10/5/2012: Restoring Emulator from Cache: 5

10:48:49.2 10/5/2012: Restoring Emulator from Cache: 6

10:48:49.2 10/5/2012: Restoring Emulator from Cache: 7

10:48:49.2 10/5/2012: Restoring Emulator from Cache: 8

10:48:54.7 10/5/2012: Loading Karaoke Cache

10:48:58.2 10/5/2012: Getting Display Aspect Ratio and FPS

10:48:58.3 10/5/2012: Display Aspect Ratio is: 1

10:48:58.3 10/5/2012: Reported Video Size is: 300x216

10:48:58.3 10/5/2012: Playing Karaoke: C:\Emulators\Karaoke\Animals - House Of The Rising Sun.zip

10:48:58.3 10/5/2012: Open Karaoke: C:\Emulators\Karaoke\Animals - House Of The Rising Sun.zip

10:49:29.6 10/5/2012: Reseting Display

10:49:29.6 10/5/2012: Initializing Display

10:49:30.5 10/5/2012: Opening Video

10:49:41.3 10/5/2012: Playing Video

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Exiting GameEx!

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Disposing all videos

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Deleting temporary Karaoke videos

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Disposing Image List

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Disposing Fonts

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Disposing Surfaces

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Saving Settings

10:50:16.2 10/5/2012: Shutting down Bass

10:50:16.4 10/5/2012: Closing HideOS.exe

10:50:16.5 10/5/2012: Disposing Plugins

10:50:16.5 10/5/2012: Disposing Plugins

10:50:16.5 10/5/2012: Closing database connection

10:50:16.5 10/5/2012: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

10:50:16.5 10/5/2012: Media Center was not open when starting GameEx, so not launching

10:50:16.6 10/5/2012: Bye

I see at 10:48:58.3 it shows video size of 300x216. It has been quite a while since I launched this but it used to run fullscreen.

[Tom Speirs]

All, Could you please check the VMR9 Checkboxes under Karaoke for DirectX setup in control panel.

[jyturbo]

tanks for looking at this Tom. I did what you said and still no luck, but GameEx is acting a little differently than it did with the box unchecked. Now when I launch a karaoke file, the screen changes as if it's about to work then returns to the karaoke selection screen again. Before it launched the file but you couldn't see the screen. Now with the VMR9 box checked, it doesn't seem to even open the karaoke window.

[sty151]

I found two boxes that say "Use Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer 9" both were unchecked on both of the machines I'm running GameEx on. I checked them both on both machines and now they are both doing the same thing which is that it will play the video preview of the song with both sound and video but when you select it, GameEx comes right back to the list of songs. Additionally, the sound after this fades out on the preview and does not come back even if you hover over a different song. I also checked Karaoke for DirectX properties again and found that the boxes were unchecked. Now that I'm at work I installed Karaoke for DirectX on this machine and both VMR9 boxes are checked by default. Let me know if I can test anything else or send in a log.

[Tom Speirs]

Please try the attached and let me know the results.

GameEx.zip

[sty151]

I edited and added more information; didn't do a very good job the first time (late at night for me).

Unfortunately GameEx crashed when trying to play a karaoke file. Still got a preview with audio and video and when I clicked a song the screen went black and maybe 10 seconds went by then Windows error message window came up. I'll attach the log and here's what Window's said (let me know if I can do anything else):

Description:

Stopped working

Problem signature:

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: GameEx.exe

Application Version: 1.0.0.0

Application Timestamp: 50734a21

Fault Module Name: cdgvid.ax

Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0

Fault Module Timestamp: 4194dd28

Exception Code: c0000005

Exception Offset: 0000135f

OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1

Locale ID: 1033

Read our privacy statement online:

http://go.microsoft....88&clcid=0x0409

If the online privacy statement is not available, please read our privacy statement offline:

C:\Windows\system32\en-US\erofflps.txt

log.txt

[jyturbo]

No go here either. Put the new GameEx.exe file in. When I launch a karaoke file, the screen kinda freezes but in about 5 seconds i can hear the song playing in the background. Just cannot see the video. I tried messing around to get it to show the video but it crashes gameex and sends me to Windows desktop. Once the karaoke song is playing (without the video) the only thing I can do is exit the song - but it does put me back to the karaoke song selection screen and still has all normal functionality.

I have 2 other PCs in my house and put Gameex on them just to test out the karaoke and I'm getting the same results on all 3 machines. One is an HP laptop (Win7 Pro), one is a Lenovo desktop (Win7 Pro) and my main arcade PC is a Gateway desktop running Win7 Home.

[Draco1962]

sty151 and jyturbo - in reviewing your gameex.ini files, I noticed the following:

[DVD]

EnableDVD=True

CODEC=1

DVDFFDSHOW=0

EnableDVDDisk=False

DVDPath=

UseVMR9=True

EnableExternalPlayer=False

Use VMR9=False

I am not sure, but it seems that one might cancel the other? What would happen if the extra Use VMR9 lines were removed from the ini file?

[sty151]

I did a search in the setup program and the only place that VMR9 was found was once and it was an option "Use VMR9/EVR" and I have it set to "Yes". Are you asking me to use a text editor and change my ini file? I'll help anyway I can but my technical ability falls off a cliff pretty quickly (but I should be able to handle a text editor).

[jyturbo]

sty151 and jyturbo - in reviewing your gameex.ini files, I noticed the following:

[DVD]

EnableDVD=True

CODEC=1

DVDFFDSHOW=0

EnableDVDDisk=False

DVDPath=

UseVMR9=True

EnableExternalPlayer=False

Use VMR9=False

I am not sure, but it seems that one might cancel the other? What would happen if the extra Use VMR9 lines were removed from the ini file?

Tried this and still not working. I actually deleted the 2nd line, then added it back, then edited it so both lines said "True" and GameEx crashes everytime I try to launch a karaoke file with all of these different cfg

[Tom Speirs]

Its not a configuration issue. I am not going to be able to fix the issue easily I am afraid.

[Tom Speirs]

PS: I just got a chance to test on another machine and it still works for me. Also forget about the exe I posted it was just a long shot.

[Tom Speirs]

Also please confirm general videos/movies play fine in the player so we can definitely confirm this is an issue with Karaoke and not the player in general. I never got a definitive answer to that when I asked before.

[sty151]

Yes, everything else - videos, music and games play as they should.

[jyturbo]

UPDATE: I recently switched to the Shark codec pack and now the karaoke player works perfectly. Hope this helps.. Thanks for looking into this guys