Karaoke Forums

I'm sorry (in advance) if this is a repeat topic somewhere...

I have never done the Custom CDG thing before, and I started to glance at the catalogue for SBI (I'm up to the H's in the Artist listings). I am seeing a lot of songs listed that I now want to add to my library (even if nobody ever sings them).

These questions go out to those of you who have specifically bought physical custom CDGs from SBI (I have no intention of using the download option):

1. How is the sound quality of the music? I have listened to some of the sample tracks that they have available, but they also have a disclaimer which makes me wonder....

Above, results will show with the option of listening to an audio sample if available. At this time, we cannot guarantee that the track you receive will be in the same key as the audio sample, but in most cases it will be.


2. How are the word-swipes? Are the in synch with the songs? Are they done using a decent Font Size (as opposed to Pioneer CDGs, which had a small font on their graphics)?

I have a couple of their tracks in my library. The quality is pretty good.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Concur.

They are my go-to brand for Tricerasoft downloads. I prefer them to most of the others, even Zoom.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

My first experience with them was on really new releases only (via SelectaTrack CD&G Custom) and I was in ecstasy with their Green Day, Kings of Leon, etc. If there is a new song that isn't out elsewhere, they seem to have it. The words are not as large as Sound Choice but very readable and the swipes are good.

On older material I have previewed them against Zoom and gone with Zoom usually. The older SBI seems to have accurate orchestration but it seems somehow muffled or somehow just not as "out there" as Zoom. But SBI makes up the majority of my "Collector's Items" songs--songs that only I like that no one else will ever sing and I can't sing them anywhere but at home--"Know Your Enemy," "Time to Pretend" by MGMT, etc. They have lots of rare ones including a version of the Beatles Stars on 45 medley.

I couldn't read your red writing about the disclaimer so I don't know what that is all about. The only other thing I can think of is that SBI is going to add video to a lot of their songs and if you don't have the format to play it and get it in CD&G you will have a lot of plain black screen for the instrumental interludes.

I just changed it to yellow now.

First of all, the recordings are top notch. For me, they are the go to over sunfly. Second the lyric tracking is excellent. New lyrics appear at the top of the screen before the previous verse disappears from the bottom. Far superior to the way Sound Choice does... which frequently leaves you hanging while your waiting for the screen to clear.

They are as fast as pop hits for getting the new songs out as well. They have quickly made their way to the top of my list as the go to company for new tracks. My singer are also quite happy with them.

I use a 22" flat screen so the lyrics size isn't an issue for most folks.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

It's been a long time since I was involved in the business of karaoke, so pardon me if this is more than a dumb question. What (or who) is SBI. I've been looking for the quality suppliers of CDG's and Legal download (if there is such a thing). This may be a comment for a new post, but I will see where it goes here first.

They are a karaoke producer out of England. They produce disks but also provide their comprehensive library online as well. Here ya go:

http://www.sbikaraoke.com/shop.php

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I think if anyone runs a show where Metallica's "One" might be requested, SBI is a must. The Legends version is an atrocity.

I also found some gems in the SBI catalog. "Juicy" by Notorious B.I.G. is excellent if you run a show where hip-hop is permitted.

But be wary of some hip hop tracks, it does sound like the song and the lyrics are on spot, but there's just some songs where the key should be different or a beat just isn't pronounced in the background. You can hear the music samples when you choose songs so that's also a plus. I love their stock in the hard alternative Slipknot, System of a Down, Alice In Chains, Deftones, Korn etc. And on SBI you can get select a track to get other UK companies instead of just SBI.

All I have to say about it is look at their Alice in Chains selection!

Yep I have them all, great sounding & get used often!

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

Thank you all for your feedback and assistance. Last week, I ordered 26 songs (requested to be on discs), and they made an error in processing my order. They accidently sent me the temporary links for me to download the songs to my PC. I wrote to them and asked about this, and they admitted to making an error, and that I will still receive the discs. I decided to download some of the songs, so that I could see the quality, and it is pretty good.

While I'm waiting for my 2 discs to arrive, I just ordered 4 more. Even tho I can download the files to my PC and then burn them to CDs, I still would rather just receive the discs from them (complete with labels and track info and all of that).

How do you rate the different producers that SBI carries (in general)?

Looks like they have:
SBI
Sunfly
MPme
Abraxa

--Tad

Hey Cuey, what's the wait time on your disc order from the UK to the east coast and how much did it cost overall for those 2 discs, if you don't mind sharing.

and lookat that...this is my 1st post? i was shut out as jreynolds and now i gotta start all over again!

I don't know how SBI and Selectatrack compare (Is SBI a separate company besides a disc brand?) but I ordered 17 songs (female pop, Duffy, etc.), on a CDG from Selectatrack -- 17 tracks, cost of tracks was 29.58 pounds, 5 pounds postage, 4.42 VAT, total 39 pounds. I did this mostly because I wanted Zoom for the Duffy songs -- they didn't let me down. I ordered the disc on the 21st of August and it arrived on the 30th of August to the west coast. I'll order more from them as they have an abundance of music we just can't here on this side of the puddle.

I believe SBI is associated with SelectATrack. While offering most of their own library, they also are on board with several other UK manufacturers like Sunfly, Legends, Mr. Entertainer, Zoom, and more. So selectatrack is not exclusively SBI tracks and will vary from manu to manu.

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

So far, all I ordered from SBI are tracks from SBI and MPme. The quality of these two are pretty good; however, I would rather not order MPme tracks if given the choice of an SBI track because of the way they did their multiplexing.... I have to remember to hit the Left Mono on my machine (the MPX button on my JVC player) to block out the main vocal, and then I have to remember to reset it back to normal when the song is over.

I don't know what the Abraxa tracks are like yet, but I believe their tracks are multiplex (and made the same way that the MPme tracks are).

I already know what Sunfly is like, and don't really care to add more Sunfly tracks to my library (IMO, their sound tends to be slightly muffled).

I'll have to get back to you on that. I haven't received them yet (since I just ordered them last Friday).

I just checked the charges on my Credit Card....
The first order is supposed to be on 2 discs (total of 26 songs). The total charge on my card for this purchase is $81.87.
The second order that I placed (2 days later) is supposed to be on 4 discs (total of 56 songs). The total charge on my card for this purchase is $165.05.

That works out to about $41 per each disc that I ordered.

Now how the heck were you shut out and why?