I recently bought an Asus N53SV A1 with i5 chip and 7200HD. My thought was to get a powerful and fast laptop to handle as many needs as possible to avoid extra gear.

So far I have the following programs:

Siglos Karaoke and MP3 player
http://www.powerkaraoke.com/src/prod_siglos-karaoke-player-recorder.php

Notation Composer
http://www.notation.com/NotationComposer.php

This program scolls lead sheets in notation and/or lyrics. I use this to play over midi sequences and edit and create my own.

Music Reader
http://www.musicreader.net/

This is a terrific program that is taking the place of my MPP.

I need the music sometimes for lesser played songs.

VanBasco Player
http://www.vanbasco.com/karaokeplayer/

I use this for MidiKaraoke

VB3 Tonwheel clone

http://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=24

This is a terrific little program with tons of features, small size, and very easy on the CPU usage. The best I've seen.

Kontakt4 and Collossus libraries for great samples.

vArranger
http://www.varranger.fr/

The best sounding and easiest OMB out there.

There are so many ways to do things and we all do them differently. However, I thought it of interest to some of you to share mine.

Bernie

Bernie, download the demo version of Mixcraft5..a great program..great price..and comes with a large group of VST's...it is also a great VST host..

www.acoustica.com


Also Karafun is a great player...and it is free..

Fran, from your experience is it as good a host as Brainspwan's forte?

Hi Frank, yes I believe it is...and more flexible in a recording enviroment..

It is not complicated, and easy to use the VST instruments and effects that are shipped with the program...The cost of the program with all the extra goodies is only a few dollars more than Forte...

Try it Frank, and let me know what you think...

Fran
Thanks for the link. It does look impressive for the price. I have a simple VST host and GM soundset, but this may be better.

I am looking for an easier articulation engine than Kontakt for live playing. It is probably that I haven't spent enough time with it, and I am not terribly good CC messages from my controller(Axiom61).

I will try it, thanks.

As far as Karafun is conscerned, I couldn't get it to stop after each song when I had it before.