KaraokeHost Manual

Version: 1.2
App: KaraokeHost for macOS

What's New in Version 1.2

• MP4 key adjustment support.
• MP4 tempo adjustment support.
• Saved queue-entry key and tempo settings.
• Played-singer notes.
• End Show workflow for saving or copying show summaries.
• Improved MP4 full-screen playback behavior.
• Improved MP4 external display reliability.
• Improved MP4 pause and resume behavior.
• General playback and reliability improvements.

Contents

• What KaraokeHost Is
• What KaraokeHost Does Not Include
• Supported File Types
• First-Time Setup
• Choosing Your Karaoke Folder
• Loading a Catalog CSV
• Main Show Screen
• Library Management
• Singer Queue
• Editing Singers, Singer Notes, and Show Notes
• Played-Singer Notes
• Adding Singers
• Playback Controls
• Pause and Resume
• Key Change
• Tempo Control
• Saved Queue Key and Tempo Settings
• External Lyrics Display
• Filler Music
• Settings
• Pre-Show Checklist
• Display Recovery
• End Show Workflow
• Troubleshooting
• Known Limitations
• Support

What KaraokeHost Is

KaraokeHost is a macOS app for hosting karaoke shows using your own compatible karaoke media files.

It is designed for private events, community rooms, parties, and host-run karaoke shows where you already have your own karaoke files.

KaraokeHost helps manage the practical parts of a show, including song search, singer queue management, playback, external lyrics display, filler music, and show preparation.

What KaraokeHost Does Not Include

KaraokeHost does not include karaoke songs.

KaraokeHost is not a karaoke music store, streaming service, subscription song catalog, cloud song library, or licensing service.

You provide your own compatible karaoke files. You are responsible for any permissions or licenses required for your use of those files.

Supported File Types

KaraokeHost supports:

• MP3/CDG karaoke files
• ZIP files containing matching MP3/CDG files
• MP4 karaoke video files

Key change and tempo control are available for MP3/CDG, ZIP/CDG, and MP4 karaoke songs.

MP3/CDG files

MP3/CDG karaoke songs usually come as a matched pair:

• An .mp3 audio file
• A matching .cdg graphics/lyrics file

The MP3 and CDG files should have matching names and be stored together.

ZIP/CDG files

KaraokeHost also supports ZIP files that contain matching MP3 and CDG files.

MP4 files

MP4 karaoke videos are supported. MP4 songs contain their own video and audio.

In KaraokeHost 1.2, MP4 karaoke videos support key and tempo adjustment.

First-Time Setup

When you first use KaraokeHost, choose the folder where your karaoke files are stored.

KaraokeHost will use that folder to find your compatible karaoke songs.

For best results, keep your karaoke files organized in a dedicated karaoke folder or external drive.

Choosing Your Karaoke Folder

Use the folder selection control in KaraokeHost to choose the folder that contains your karaoke files.

If your songs are stored on an external drive, make sure the drive is connected before opening KaraokeHost or before choosing the folder.

If you move your karaoke files to a different location, choose the new folder in KaraokeHost so the app can find them again.

Loading a Catalog CSV

The Load Catalog CSV button is an optional tool for users who have a separate song catalog file.

Some karaoke collections contain files with short codes or unclear filenames instead of complete artist and song-title information. A catalog CSV can help KaraokeHost match those codes to more readable song information when the catalog file contains matching data.

Most users do not need to load a catalog CSV. If your karaoke files already show useful artist and title information, you can ignore this button.

When a catalog CSV may be useful

• Your karaoke files use code-style names instead of clear artist and title names.
• You have a separate CSV catalog that identifies those codes.
• You want KaraokeHost to show more useful song information where possible.

How would I get a catalog CSV?

A catalog CSV may come from a song list you already have, an export from other karaoke library software, a spreadsheet you created yourself, or catalog information that came with your own karaoke collection.

The catalog CSV must match your actual karaoke files to be useful. A random song catalog from the internet usually will not help unless it uses the same codes or filenames as your own collection.

A catalog CSV does not provide karaoke songs, music downloads, streaming, or licensing. It is only a text-based list that may help KaraokeHost display clearer song information for files with code-style or unclear names.

Important notes

• A catalog CSV does not add songs to your collection.
• A catalog CSV does not provide karaoke music, downloads, streaming, or licensing.
• The CSV must contain useful information that matches your files.
• If you do not have a catalog CSV, you can ignore this feature.

Main Show Screen

The main show screen is where you search for songs, add singers, manage the queue, control playback, and monitor the show.

The main screen is designed to keep the most important hosting controls available during a show.

Click screenshots on this website to enlarge them.

Library Management

KaraokeHost includes tools for managing large karaoke libraries.

• Hide Song
• Unhide Song
• Show Only Hidden Songs
• Hide Weak Metadata Songs
• Show Only Weak Metadata Songs

Weak metadata songs are files whose filenames do not contain enough information to reliably identify the artist or title.

Singer Queue

The singer queue helps you keep track of who is singing next.

Add singers to the queue as people request songs. KaraokeHost keeps the list organized so you can continue running the show without manually tracking the order elsewhere.

Editing Singers, Singer Notes, and Show Notes

KaraokeHost includes tools for editing singer information and keeping notes during a show.

Editing a singer name

If a singer’s name needs to be corrected after they have been added to the queue, select the singer in the queue and use the edit singer name field to update the name.

Singer notes

Singer notes can be used to remember details about a specific singer, such as preferred key changes, song preferences, or other helpful hosting notes.

Show notes

Show notes can be used for general notes about the current show, event, or hosting setup.

These notes are intended as practical host tools to help keep the show organized.

Played-Singer Notes

KaraokeHost lets you keep notes for singers who have already performed during the show. These notes can help you remember singer preferences, show details, or follow-up items after a performance.

Played-singer notes are useful when you want to remember something after a singer has already left the active queue.

Adding Singers

To add a singer:

1. Search for the song.
2. Select the song.
3. Click the add option.
4. Enter the singer’s name.
5. Confirm the entry.

Singers can be added while a song is playing, allowing the show to continue without stopping playback.

Playback Controls

KaraokeHost includes playback controls for running a karaoke song during a show.

Depending on the file type and current playback state, controls may include starting the next singer, stopping playback, pausing and resuming playback, adjusting volume, seeking within the track, and using time-jump controls.

During a show, the main goal is simple: select the next singer, start the song, and keep the queue moving.

Pause and Resume

Pause and Resume are available during playback. KaraokeHost 1.2 includes MP4 playback improvements for full-screen use, external displays, pause/resume behavior, and general reliability.

Pausing temporarily stops playback without advancing the singer queue or losing the current playback position.

Key Change

Key change is available for MP3/CDG, ZIP/CDG, and MP4 karaoke songs.

This can help adjust a karaoke song to better fit a singer’s vocal range.

Tempo Control

Tempo control is available for MP3/CDG, ZIP/CDG, and MP4 karaoke songs.

Tempo can be adjusted from 75% to 125% of normal speed in 5% increments.

Tempo control can help better fit the singer, the room, or the feel of the performance.

Saved Queue Key and Tempo Settings

KaraokeHost can remember key and tempo settings for a queue entry. This is useful when a singer prefers a song in a different key or at a slightly different tempo.

Adjust the key or tempo for the queued song before or during playback as needed. The saved queue-entry settings help keep singer-specific adjustments easier to manage during a show.

External Lyrics Display

KaraokeHost is designed to support an external lyrics display for TV or projector use.

This allows the host to keep the main controls on the Mac while the singer or audience sees the lyrics or video on another screen.

External display setup depends on your Mac and connected hardware, including adapters, HDMI cables, splitters, TVs, and projectors.

KaraokeHost 1.2 includes MP4 playback improvements for external displays and full-screen use.

Using a TV or projector

Connect your TV or projector to your Mac using the appropriate adapter or cable. Open your Mac’s display settings to confirm the external display is detected.

Some Macs and hardware setups can mirror the same external output to more than one display by using an HDMI splitter. Results depend on your Mac and connected hardware.

Filler Music

KaraokeHost includes filler music support for playing background music between singers.

Filler music can help avoid silence between songs and make the show feel smoother.

Filler music categories are based on the folder names inside your chosen filler music folder. MP3 files placed directly in the main filler music folder appear under All Filler Music.

Settings

KaraokeHost includes settings for adjusting the app to your preferred hosting workflow.

Settings may include display behavior, filler music behavior, saved volume settings, theme choice, and other practical options.

KaraokeHost supports Light, Dark, and System theme choices.

Pre-Show Checklist

KaraokeHost includes a pre-show checklist to help prepare before hosting.

Use the checklist before a show to confirm your music folder, audio output, external display, volume levels, and other setup items.

Display Recovery

If the lyrics display appears black, misplaced, or does not recover correctly after unplugging HDMI, sleep/wake, or display changes, use:

Display > Reset Display Windows

Keyboard shortcut:

Command + Option + R

This is the recommended recovery action if a display window is misplaced or does not appear where expected.

End Show Workflow

The End Show workflow helps you finish a show by saving or copying a show summary.

Use this when you want to keep a record of the show, review who sang, or copy show information for your own notes.

Show summaries can be useful for reviewing the night, keeping notes for future shows, or preserving information about singers and songs.

Troubleshooting

The external screen does not show lyrics

• Confirm the TV or projector is turned on.
• Confirm the HDMI cable or adapter is connected.
• Check macOS display settings.
• Use Display > Reset Display Windows.
• Try unplugging and reconnecting the display cable.

A song does not play correctly

• Confirm the file type is supported.
• For MP3/CDG songs, confirm the MP3 and CDG files are a matching pair.
• For ZIP files, confirm the ZIP contains matching MP3 and CDG files.
• For MP4 files, first test the video in QuickTime Player to confirm the file itself plays correctly.
• Try another song to see if the issue is limited to one file.

Key change or tempo control does not behave as expected

Key change and tempo control are available for MP3/CDG, ZIP/CDG, and MP4 karaoke songs. If a setting does not seem to apply correctly, stop playback, confirm the song type, adjust the key or tempo again, and try playing the song from the queue.

Filler music does not appear

• Confirm your filler music folder is selected.
• Confirm the folder contains MP3 files.
• Confirm files are either directly inside the filler music folder or inside category folders.

Known Limitations

• KaraokeHost does not include karaoke songs.
• KaraokeHost does not provide music licensing, streaming, downloads, or cloud song access.
• External display behavior depends on the Mac and connected hardware.
• Users are responsible for their own media files and any permissions or licenses required for their use.

Support

For support, email:

support@karaoke-host.com

When requesting help, include your Mac model, macOS version, KaraokeHost version and build number, file type, external display setup if applicable, and a short description of the issue.

Feature Requests

Feature suggestions are welcome and may help guide future updates.

Send feature requests to:

feedback@karaoke-host.com

Not every feature request can be promised or added.