Karaoke Forums

okay, so you didn't say it's JUST karaoke, but you did say more than once, "IT IS KARAOKE".

while some singers may not care what you spent, many of the ones I served DO care about quality. I've heard MORE groans at shows when the SGB, BS, Stardisc labels come up.

I'm done discussing this further... I'm telling you that there are quite educated singers out there that don't settle.

I would imagine it goes without saying everyone wants the best tracks. Not everyone has the same bankroll. The economically challenged eat cheap meat, cause it's all they can afford, but that doesn't mean they don't take eating seriously. I've seen where posters on this site have had a field day on anyone who thinks a particular track is better than another.

Personally, I agree with most on here that SC is the best overall, and have found CB to be as good with their country tracks and many others. There are some that I flip flop on; I'm always looking for closest to the original, which I think the bulk of singers appreciate - that's opinion, not fact. I have found PH does some great tracks (Kerosene by Miranda Lambert and So What by Pink for a couple), and have come to appreciate SF for their dance tracks. The best way to judge different versions (besides listening to them all), is to go to other shows and hear what others are singing. You can tell which manufactuer it is by watching the graphics.

SGB and MM - Blah. Some tracks are okay. For a $.11 a song, how can you go wrong. Pro or Am.

If you ask what are the best you're going to get 100 different answers. Pure opinion. I would love to have a listing of songs with 'closest to the original' manufacturer listed. That kind of listing would not only be useful it would provide a good baseline for future discussions.

Peace out!!

A good cover band does!


Why would one purposely purchase karaoke music that sound like garbage? I have been to shows like this & they 1) don't have a very good singing crowd 'as a rule' because those singers really don't care and would be happy with midi tracks for that matter& 2) generally do not last very long in the business - or at least their club turnover is relatively high. Purchase good quality sounding tracks that will attract better singers (not talking divas - these will go anywhere they think they can upstage anyone) because these people care about sounding a little better. Couple that to a kickin' sound system & you have a great combo.
Cheap discs do have their niche in the market, but there are much better manus out there usually that will help with a better crowd. I know I personally don't sing at shows that use primarily SGB, BS, MM, etc.


No good singers are attracted to good quality. Most of the crap tracks do not attract good singers. Not saying that the best tracks will attract ALL good singers, but the percentage is much higher with good tracks & sound system than with an SGB set & a little 200 watt mixer amp combo with a couple of 8" speakers tucked in the corner. I don't think of the show as just karaoke, I am hosting a show. The singers are the stars. The sound is like what you would hear in a club that is running live bands. Light show on stage. It's not JUST karaoke to me!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Lonman, first, AGAIN, as I responded to Knightshow, I did not say JUST KARAOKE. Please read the thread. I also said that in no way was my statement derogatory. I'm not saying that someone should buy ANY type of cdg, I'm saying that just because your collection is not ALL SOUNDCHOICE, or the like, doesn't mean you can't have karaoke. The thread asked about sgb, and mm, all of my music isn't made up of those manus, but a person having karaoke at home, or something similar, doesn't have to spend THOUSANDS of dollars to have a little fun.
In addition, I don't think a NEW karaoke host has to have a library consisting of 15 or 20 thousand songs. If the real karaoke buffs don't like the version of a particular song that you have at a show, they'll probably bring their own version anyhow, if they like YOU. The train of thought that you are displaying here could be why so many kj's think the only way they can compete is buy a LOADED HARDDRIVE with ALL the best versions available. I could go that way, and spend LESS money than I've already spent on music, but, I don't feel the need to compete with the BIG KJ's. I'll be happy with my 10000 or so songs on different manus, some good,some not so good. At least I'm LEGAL. Also, IF I don't make it, at least I'll give it my best shot with my limited pocketbook.

Sincerely,

Rosario

No you didn't JUST karaoke, "I" did. You just inferred it by stating (not exact quote) something to the effect that the song doesn't have to sound like the original, "it's still KARAOKE". Well to me it is MORE than karaoke, it's a show & I for one would like the music to be as true to the original & with the best sound possible. Yes it's still karaoke, but I prefer it to be GOOD karaoke. And I never inferred that your collection was made up of those brands, I stated that I have been to shows where they have been - and they weren't fun to me because the music sounded like crap, the sound was horrible & that is not fun to listen to.
Karaoke is karaoke - but there is good sounding karaoke & bad sounding karaoke, I prefer the good over bad. I have liked hosts that have crappy versions/manus as their library - some are actually friends of mine, but would I frequent their shows, no. I do not like to listen to crappy versions. One example is Born On The Bayou - CCR. I went to a show that had a MM version, sure they had it, I put it up & sang it. Walked off about 1/4 into it - it was THAT awful sounding. Sounded absolutely othing like the original, music completely midi-fied & even though I started to try to sing it, I couldn't - IT WAS THAT BAD! This is not fun IMO. I would much rather go to a show that had the good SC version.
Don't get your statement about if everyone were good, then we would be out of business? We get good singers every night & have been doing 7 nights a week for nearly 16 years now.
I have never EVER said that a new host should have 15 or 20 thousand songs. But I would recommend a new host having a QUALITY sounding core library in todays market - like the SC Foundations, Pop Hits had a good of music from 2000-2004 (or 5) set called the MIllenium (sorry to say no longer available). There is enough crappy sounding companies already. Too many people see this as a hobby and not a business and don't take it seriously enough to invest in good sounding tracks. And talk about putting words into anothers mouth, to say I have ever inferred that new hosts should buy pre-loaded hard drives is ludacris to say the least. I am very anti-piracy. Each and every song in my 12K library is fully legit. But each one is of quality sound as well. I don't buy crap versions - knowingly.

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I will say I COMPLETELY agree with this statement: A good friend of mine has a small home system and yeah, her collection is farrrrr from superior. But she prints off her ten pages of songs and throws a PARTY!

We've bought over many custom compilations, and I've pointed her to this forum to talk to people about what stuff to buy as she DOES recognize that many of her discs are less than she's sang too in the clubs. Problem is, she spends all her work day on a computer and says, "I'll be darned if I'm going to log on at HOME and spend more hours on the net!" heheheh

Lonman, I didn't say that you inferred anything. I'm saying that there are so many kj's out in my area that have 100000 song libraries, it's crazy. They feel that's the only way that they can compete with the BIG karaoke shows. They feel the same as you do in the respect that YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST, or your show is CRAP. Sorry, I just can't agree with you on that. I personally don't care what the other guy has, as long as I'm comfortable with my own situation. It takes MORE than just CDG'S, OR EQUIPMENT to impress me. Maybe I'll start a new thread on the subject. Karaoke to me is someone having a chance to have some fun, singing through a microphone, and hoping the other people like it. Having said that, whether they sound good or not, as long as they have fun, and sing, IT'S KARAOKE. Not everyone is Sinatra, or Elvis.

Rosario

well in the end i dont care what brand it is... they all have their good days and bad days at producing karaoke disks.... CHEERS!

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:angel:

Ain't THAT the truth. Never heard of a manufacturer that didn't make a clinker or a gem.....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I'll take on anyones 100K library anyday & chances are high that i'll still have more of what people want. Large libraries do not impress me, quality tracks do.


I guess karaoke is entirely in the eye of the beholder. I don't care what the other guy has either, never have. I offer what I feel is better than average karaoke - better than average sound, the club itself offers good drinks & atmosphere, fair prices, I run a fair rotation, do not take bribes & we have a great crowd most every night with better than average singers. I don't like having less as far as my quality - it has nothing to do with any other company - this is what I want for my company. SGB, Backstage, Nu-Tech IMO are less than average tracks most of the time & to have a show build their core around those manus is not going to be a good show to me. There are SOME gems in those brands but I would never build an entire core of selection from them & no I would not return to a show like that as it is not fun to me.



Karaoke is all about having fun - I highly encourage that. But again there is good karaoke & bad karaoke, I try to offer good karaoke. I could care less if you can sing or not, we welcome everyone & never skip anyone as you are all treated equal, but you will get good quality sounding tracks that sounds like what you would remember over some midified version that sometimes you can't even make out which song it is. I as a singer would much rather sing with a song that sounds good over one that don't so I try to offer what I would want to see & hear in a show for myself.

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Well Lon, at least we can agree that BOTH of us want the BEST WE CAN AFFORD for our customers. It's just that YOU can afford MORE than I can, at this time. I'm giving the BEST show I can afford to give. I'm also more laid back now also, so I'm into a more subdued venue. I hope we can just agree to disagree.

Rosario

It's not a matter of being able to afford more. I just don't jump in and buy something because it will work. If I have to save up a couple months to get something, then that's what I do.

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I had the ideal to buy the best but find myself doing a bit of both under pressure to fill in some gaps. For example I realized we had no Rolling Stones songs. I went straight to Sound Choice and their selection didn't really include the most popular songs. Zoom has more but again their compilation had a lot of the more obscure songs included. So do I pay $17-$20 for better versions of less popular songs or get a $12 Legends disc that has 16 of the best rockers and give the people some Stones to sing?

Leopard:

If I reviewed the Stone's material and came to the same conclusion as you regarding useful tracks, I'd go with the Legend product - which is what I guess you did?

Legend is another series that has often been slammed on this forum. And as you noticed with the challenge you faced regarding Stone's tracks, Legends can often be the best solution!

And Lon:

I can relate to how it feels when you have to leave the stage in the middle of the track when it is crap! One of my favorite numbers is "River Of Dreams" by Billy Joel. I love my BS version and always hope it's available when I feel like doing that song. I went to a show a couple of years back and all they had was a SC version of it. Would you believe that I had to leave the stage in the middle of it? It was so midi and the backing vocals sucked and the drums were off and the disc was plain junk. Can't imagine why it was even in the collection? Actually, I didn't leave the stage... I grinned, did my best and bared it until the track ended.

legends i always considered good but then i have gottena few that id rather use as coasters ... like i have said before all karaoke manufactures have their good and bad production days!

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:angel:

that's also where custom discs come in. I'd rather buy the songs I want at $2-$5 a piece, that you KNOW are great, as opposed to this disc here, this disc there... and slowly piecing a listing you're proud of. Like I HAD to do.

The LG120 discs is only good for "Gimme Shelter". It's literally the best I've EVER heard. But I hated all the other tracks in comparison to other manus.

My Beatles legend disc is pretty bad but it has the best version of Revolution I have heard yet. For me Sunfly has been putting out some cool tracks like Vasoline and Rooster ( which is better than the other version available IMO ) and the quality has been very good. Seems like Chartbuster has been doing better also, hopefully manus are learning that it behooves them to make the best tracks as possible for sales. Rudy.

Gimme Shelter on Legends rocks!

Very few "in-betweeners" in regard to Legends. Most either like or they don't.

I think their version of "Georgia (on my mind)" - Ray Charles, is probably the best instrumental I have ever heard. Bobby Darrin's tracks are all great too. Beatles ...ok. I generally like Legends, but lately I've been buying Zoom artist discs, which seem to be of a more consistent high quality, with Radio Starz coming very close.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

We have several Zoom and Radio Starz. But there are some artists that are hard to find a good choice on the Sacred Brands these days--Bruce Springsteen to name one. Or, we had a good version of Smooth on a Sound Choice custom that was lost/stolen and now that isn't available from them anymore. So for the time being, I have covered with Legends and lesser brands. No one HAS to sing them but plenty of people do. It's their party. Or funeral.