Karaoke

[Krischelj]

I have been trying to get the Karaoke feature to work for a while now. I've searched the threads and found other topics on this subject, but it seams that everyone's problem was that they didn't have the DirectX karaoke downloaded and installed. I do. I have uninstalled it, reinstalled it, downloaded different versions of it, reinstalled Gameex, and am running out of options. The next step I guess is to reinstall my OS. But if I can help it, I'd rather not.

I'm running Windows 2000, and have no other software installed, other than the drivers for my video, audio, and gameex. I'm up to date on my Windows updates, have Media Player 9 installed, but still can't get the Karaoke to run inside Gameex. I can launch CDG files from within Media Player and they work fine. When I go to Gameex, the files appear, but when I click on a song, Gameex just stares at me and doesn't do anything. If I click on "start karaoke", the screen goes black and I can see a screen load in the background, but after a second or two, it returns me to Gameex. I'm pulling out the few strands of hair I have left... Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[Nologic]

hmm don't really have a clue but maybe make sure your DirectX is up to date.

Past that maybe search the forums for Karafun its another Karaoke app...and its nicer than the default GX Karaoke. There is also UltraStar...but I'm not sure if it plays CDG or not.

I have yet to dig into Karaoke so I'm not a lot of help there...tho I do have tons of it...just not making use of it right yet.

[Krischelj]

Thanks for the thought. Will GameEx launch another version of Karaoke other than the KaraokeDx? If I can get another version of it to work outside of GameEx, with it launch inside GameEx?

[Nologic]

Yeah you can launch anything you want really with GX...just has to be setup a little differently. Basically KaraFun gets setup as a Emulator...and UltraStar as a PC game. Other applications are also possible...just may require bandaid like AutoIt or AuotHotKey or the like to get things to run smoothly.

[headkaze]

If you have a look on the GameEx website under Wrappers & Utils there is a program there called WMP Full. What that is is basically Windows Media Player repackaged for use in a cab. It's simple it takes one paramter and thats the name of the file you want to play. It will exit when it's finished playing the media or exit when you press ESC. You can also use the right mouse button to get access to the Windows Media Player menus.

[Brian Hoffman]

Please post your gameex log file. Also this may be a silly question but you are registered right?

[Krischelj]

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: GameEx: Version 9.08: Starting Log

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Operating System Name: Windows 2000

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Operating System Version: 5.0.2195

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+, 2046MB

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: 2.11Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Running Randomize()

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Loading PlugIns

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Running Misc startup tasks

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Setting Menu types

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Opening Configuration File

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Getting Configuration Values

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Using Theme: Default - Custom V2 Default 1024x768

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Custom V2 Default 1024x768

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Launching HideOS.exe

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Hiding Taskbar

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Is Media Center running?

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Media Center Mode 2

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Snap Delay set to: 2

16:44:59.0 1/2/2008: Get other settings

16:44:59.1 1/2/2008: Reading MAME hall of fame

16:44:59.1 1/2/2008: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

16:44:59.1 1/2/2008: Start work for Form

16:44:59.1 1/2/2008: Getting Original Screen Size

16:44:59.1 1/2/2008: Opening Database Connection

16:44:59.1 1/2/2008: Initializing Component

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: Retrieving resolution setting

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: Creating Radio Station Genres

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: Succesfully created station genres

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: MAME Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: MAME EXE file is: Mame32.exe

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: ROM Path is: D:\ROMS\MAME

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

16:44:59.2 1/2/2008: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Loading Controls.ini map file

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Snap Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b\snap

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: AVI Snap Path: Not Found

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Flyer Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b\flyers

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Cabinet Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b\cabinets

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Title Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b\titles

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: PCB Path: Not Found

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Panel Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b\cpanel

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Manual Path: Not Found

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Icon Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b\icons

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Marquee Path is: D:\EMULATORS\Mame32b\marquees

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Loading Custom Emulators

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Loading Emulator 1: Nintendo NES Games

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Loading Emulator 2: Super Nintendo

16:44:59.3 1/2/2008: Loading Emulator 3: Nintendo N64

16:44:59.4 1/2/2008: Loading Emulator 4: Sega Genesis

16:44:59.4 1/2/2008: Loading Emulator 5: Sega CD

16:44:59.6 1/2/2008: Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations. This could be slow

16:44:59.6 1/2/2008: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

16:44:59.6 1/2/2008: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS

16:44:59.6 1/2/2008: Attempting to load game list

16:44:59.7 1/2/2008: Initialising DirectDraw

16:44:59.7 1/2/2008: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

16:44:59.8 1/2/2008: Creating DirectDraw Device

16:44:59.8 1/2/2008: Using Device: Primary Display Driver

16:44:59.8 1/2/2008: 247mb video memory available

16:44:59.8 1/2/2008: Setting Resolution to 1024x768 32 bit color

16:44:59.8 1/2/2008: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

16:44:59.8 1/2/2008: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Creating Back Buffer

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Version 2 Theme being used. Loading.

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Loading Button Data

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Loading Font Data

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Loading Layout Data

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Loading Taskbar Data

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Loading graphic Surfaces

16:44:59.9 1/2/2008: Display is running at: 1024x768 32bit color, 75hz

16:45:00.0 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

16:45:00.0 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Volume

16:45:00.0 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Arrows

16:45:00.0 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

16:45:00.0 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

16:45:00.0 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

16:45:00.2 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

16:45:00.2 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

16:45:00.2 1/2/2008: Creating Surface Unselected

16:45:00.2 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

16:45:00.2 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Snaps

16:45:00.2 1/2/2008: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

16:45:00.3 1/2/2008: Creating Fonts

16:45:00.3 1/2/2008: Creating Menu Font

16:45:00.3 1/2/2008: Restoring Menu Font From Cache

16:45:00.3 1/2/2008: Creating Game Font

16:45:00.3 1/2/2008: Creating Font Black

16:45:00.5 1/2/2008: Creating Font Black Small

16:45:00.6 1/2/2008: Creating Game Font Faded

16:45:00.6 1/2/2008: Creating Title Font

16:45:00.6 1/2/2008: Restoring Title Font From Cache

16:45:00.7 1/2/2008: Fonts Created Succesfully

16:45:00.7 1/2/2008: 188mb video memory left available

16:45:00.7 1/2/2008: Creating instance of global keyboard hook

16:45:00.7 1/2/2008: Starting GameExtender Publisher

16:45:00.7 1/2/2008: Text/Language: English

16:45:00.7 1/2/2008: Applying Language/Text

16:45:00.7 1/2/2008: Initialising Bass Audio Library

16:45:00.8 1/2/2008: MAME CMD options: -video d3d -joy -nowindow

16:45:00.8 1/2/2008: Loading last used Game List

16:45:00.8 1/2/2008: Setting Music Volume

16:45:00.8 1/2/2008: Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename

16:45:00.8 1/2/2008: Creating DirectSound Device

16:45:00.8 1/2/2008: Trying: Primary Sound Driver

16:45:00.8 1/2/2008: Loading Sound Files

16:45:00.9 1/2/2008: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

16:45:00.9 1/2/2008: Creating ICONS

16:45:00.9 1/2/2008: Recreating ICONS

16:45:01.1 1/2/2008: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

16:45:01.1 1/2/2008: Using Device Logitech Dual Action

16:45:01.2 1/2/2008: Playing intro sound file

16:45:01.2 1/2/2008: Initializing MCE Remote

16:45:01.2 1/2/2008: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

16:45:01.2 1/2/2008: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

16:45:01.6 1/2/2008: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

16:45:09.1 1/2/2008: Loading Karaoke Cache

16:45:16.0 1/2/2008: Specified cast is not valid.

16:45:16.0 1/2/2008: at DvdCore.GeneralEngineClass.Open(String file)

at l.a(Boolean A_0, Boolean A_1, String A_2, String A_3, Boolean A_4)

16:45:24.0 1/2/2008: Exiting GameEx!

16:45:24.0 1/2/2008: Saving Settings

16:45:25.0 1/2/2008: Disposing Plugins

16:45:25.0 1/2/2008: Closing database connection

16:45:25.1 1/2/2008: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

And yes, I am registered.

Thanks for the help!

[Brian Hoffman]

16:45:09.1 1/2/2008: Loading Karaoke Cache

16:45:16.0 1/2/2008: Specified cast is not valid.

Not sure what this means exactly. Maybe tom could chime in

[Krischelj]

I've searched everywhere for those strings, but still can't find anything online. Any suggestions?

It appears to be a problem with the .net?

[Nologic]

Well if its .Net try a fresh download & reinstall...ideally 1.2-2.x

[headkaze]

Most likely there is a Karaoke song title that has some strange character in it and GameEx is trying to cast a value in the cache file and failing. Just a guess... (check your Karaoke song list for strange characters?)

[Krischelj]

Most likely there is a Karaoke song title that has some strange character in it and GameEx is trying to cast a value in the cache file and failing. Just a guess... (check your Karaoke song list for strange characters?)

That's where I was going with it at first as well, but after some thinking, I created a new KARAOKE folder and copied only ONE song (both files) into that folder and told GameEx that my karaoke path was this new folder. I had the same thing happening, so I went back into that folder and renamed both files (.MP3 and .CDG) to one word file names "jungle.mp3" and "jungle.cdg" Relaunched GameEx and the song showed up as "jungle" but when I tried to play it, I got the same thing... NOTHING HAPPENS. If I go to "start Karaoke" the screen goes black for a second or two, and then comes back to GameEx. I also got the same thing in the log file after exiting GameEx with this new configuration.

Sigh, the plot thickens...

Thanks for your ideas though! We'll get to the bottom of this thing yet! And hopefully it will help someone else out that ever runs into this problem instead of banging their head against a wall like I have been for the past week or so...

[Brian Hoffman]

Okay Ill be honest.. I havent used the Karaoke feature.

Do you have another pc to install gameex on along with a single song.. Just to see if the problem lies deeper in the OS instead of just gameex?

[Nologic]

Well I just tried GX's karaoke & seems fine on my system...tried a few of them...all from Sound Choice Karaoke...hehe tho I did have to install the plugin...first try and I just got a blank screen...I thought I had it installed already...but guess not.

So it works fine here...just have a stock onboard AC'97 sound...nVidia based.

[Krischelj]

UPDATE

Well, I tried the karaoke feature in GX on another box and it works great. So, back to the drawing board. I am reformating my cab computer right now, and will install fresh copy of GX with only the karaoke component. We'll start there and see what happens. I will let you know as soon as it's done.

[Krischelj]

Hmm... well I put a fresh OS on my box, installed JUST the bare minimum for apps. Did all my updates from Microsoft along the way. Installed my video driver, audio driver, and then GameEx. GX installed all the key components, one by one, and the only option I checked during the install was Karaoke. I ran the app once and then closed it so I could enter the reg key for the registration. I then relaunched GX, but suprise suprise, karaoke showed my one file that I moved to the default c:\karaoke folder when I tried to launch it, the screen faded away like it was going to give me a special treat, but alas, it dropped back to GX.

So, my question is... Is there any additional software or updates that need to be done, OTHER than what's installed by default when I install GX? Do I have to go out and find an update for DX9? Or the .Net updates? Somthing along those lines? Like I said before, I got this to run perfectly on another box, but the OS has been installed for quite some time, and I'm sure I"ve updated all the software a time or two. Again, the karaoke files play fine when launching them in MP9, just not GameEx. I'm sure it's something right under my nose, I just can't put my finger on it.

[bkenobi]

GameEx needs DirectX 9, dotNET framework 2, and ffdshow (for some features), but I don't think it will load if you don't have the first 2 installed. The karaoke feature requires a special package for DirectX (it's linked during setup, so you can just install it at that time). I don't think there's anything else that's required and out of the ordinary.

[headkaze]

In the Setup Wizard if there is a button in the Karaoke section to install it then you don't have DXKaraoke installed.

[Krischelj]

GameEx needs DirectX 9, dotNET framework 2, and ffdshow (for some features), but I don't think it will load if you don't have the first 2 installed.

ffdshow is not installed on this machine. Any chances that may be the problem? ffdshow is a video codec, right? It makes sense that it may be required, no??

[bkenobi]

I think you only need ffdshow if you are planning on running videos. I don't think it would affect the karaoke setup since there is a karaoke plugin/codec specifically for that. But, I've never run karaoke, so I don't know.

[Krischelj]

I guess it's a lost cause? Can anyone help me???

[bkenobi]

I don't use karaoke, so I can't really help. However, why do you think it's a lost cause? There are many, MANY people here who have successfully gotten it to work. My first suggestion (after searching the forum since there were just 1 or 2 similar threads in the last 2 weeks), would be checking to make sure you have the karaoke codec installed. Go to the Configuration Wizard and go to the karaoke section (you can go directly there by selecting 'custom' and selecting karaoke settings) and check to see if it has a link for installing the codec. If it does, you don't have it installed.

[Krischelj]

I don't use karaoke, so I can't really help. However, why do you think it's a lost cause? There are many, MANY people here who have successfully gotten it to work. My first suggestion (after searching the forum since there were just 1 or 2 similar threads in the last 2 weeks), would be checking to make sure you have the karaoke codec installed. Go to the Configuration Wizard and go to the karaoke section (you can go directly there by selecting 'custom' and selecting karaoke settings) and check to see if it has a link for installing the codec. If it does, you don't have it installed.

I checked and rechecked the codec for Karaoke. It's installed. I even reinstalled my OS, and installed GE, updated Windows, tried Karaoke, installed the update for GE, tried Karoake again, still nothing. I reconfirmed that I can run the Karaoke songs with lyrics in Windows Media player, which I think is the engine that runs karaoke in GE, and it runs fine. Just can't seem to get it to run correctly in GE. I've tried everything that I've found in this forum, and other sites online, but just can't seem to get it to work on my MAME box. I can get it to run great on another machine, just not the one that has nothing else installed. That's why I've chalked it up to a "lost cause". I'll continue to check the forum for updates or maybe someone else having the same problem, but as of right now, I don't have a resolution.

[Brian Hoffman]

Have you tried installing the directX redistrib from M$

I know with vista I had to in order to play some games correctly.

[Krischelj]

Have you tried installing the directX redistrib from M$

I know with vista I had to in order to play some games correctly.

No, I haven't tried to download the latest DX from MS... I'll give that a try and see what happens. Good call! Thanks!