Karaoke Forums

Hi there!
As the title says, what do you think is the best karaoke brand (and why)? There are so many to choose from (Chartbuster, Sound Choice, Sunfly, Priddis, Easy Hits, Zoom, etc.), I would like to know what you think.

I saw a thread with someone asking this same or similar question, but the thread was about 3 years ago, so Im curious as to what are the new opinions now.

I'm still kind of new to this whole karaoke thing, but so far, my top choice would be Priddis and Easy Hits. I think they sound closest to the original songs, look nice, and arranged well. I also really like Priddis' vocals because the people actually sing quiet well! I also like Chartbuster and SoundChoice because they also look good and the songs/sounds are decent. Though the vocals in SoundChoice forces me to set the song to Karaoke mode because some of the singers for SC sing really bad, .

Your turn, what brands do you like and why?

Well since there hasn't been too many (if any) new companies since that thread, it would be a pretty good bet that most of the opinions still stand. Everyone has there favorite brands, but everyone pretty much agrees EVERY brand does have some diamond in the roughs - even the stinker brands.

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I generally prefer Sound Choice since I don't have any of the old Pioneer laser discs, but if the song requires woodwinds, brass or strings it's another matter. Sound Choice tends to use cheesy synthesizers for those instruments and it's just not the same.

I have to agree that there are many excellent tracks to be found on cheaper brands that will provide pleasant surprises from time to time. I have some very cheap Sinatra stuff I bought on clearance - a brand called Performance Tracks. Most of it has a relatively good synthesizer backing, but their versions of "All Or Nothing At All" and "I Had The Craziest Dream" sound like they have real instruments instead of synthesizers backing the music. Go figure..

Depends on genre for me. These selections are usually spot on.

country-CB
oldies-DK
newer stuff- SF,PH,ME
older rock- pioneer
everything else- SC

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

Showtunes and standards - Pocket Songs (Just Tracks) and Stage Stars

I agree with this quite well. I also break down things into instruments (remember my shows are heavily country and oldies):

* If lead guitar is strong and important, SC is the best choice. They can flat out make those axes sing. In a few cases (SC8146-07 is an example) I would say their musicians are better than the original artists.

* Pedal steel and rhythm guitar -- CB. They have some great pedal steel players. But their lead guitar is pretty bad, not up to the standard of the rest of their instruments.

* Pedal steel and guitar both on newer songs -- PH. I don't know where they get their players, but they can be really good. A few songs I will only do the PH version of (PH0210-01 is an example) as it is the only good version.

* If there are strings or keyboards, DK is the best. They also have a lot of poor lead guitar, sad to say.

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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.

Karaoke-Version custom accompaniment track because they are the best suited for a live solo performer and sound less karaoke Most cdg brand out there sound too compressed and electronic, especially Sound Choice, in my opinion

my favorite was Top Hits Monthly... but we know why they not producing anymore.

sound choice
chartbuster
dk <- because the harmony in the background for the tone deaf singers.
pioneer

my list is pretty much the same as others.

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It's all good!

CB...Country!!

SC...Country & Rock... When I am not happy with the version others have.

Top Hits Monthly For Country!!

SF for certain Rock songs!!

Madacy....Elvis songs, and others when I don't like the version others have.

Tracks made for live solo performers that sound as close to original as possible even with original FX but no lead Vocal!!!!

Example.....I found some Pink Floyd Tracks and a couple others that sounded Original to the Max...But had no lead Vocal!!! ...I love those, even though the lyrics are displayed they are not high lighted like a regular karaoke Track, but I am trying to get use to those as I like them The best because there are no back ground singers that suck....The Track sounds Original, backing vocals even sound original!!!

The above Tracks that I am so impressed with, might not be legal, as they sound that much like the original that I cannot tell the difference between these tracks with no lead vocal and the original!!!

Like Lord Burnstrum, I too have perfect pitch!!
...So yes it makes a huge difference when the track is as close to original as possible!!!

There are some karaoke tracks that are so off from the original, that I cannot sing the song to those crap Tracks!!! They must have been made by tone deaf Musicians!!!!

I hate DK for that stupid pan flute or what ever they use for the tone deaf singers....It obviously does not work!!

It does hinder me from using there Tracks because I hate that stupid Pan flute or whatever it is with a passion!!!!!!

Pioneer is fine, but the volume is too low!! I have to Normalize the track so it is loud enough for me to use!!!

But then I am a home user!! ..."If I were a KJ, then I would adjust the volume when a Pioneer track was chosen by a customer". But I am not a KJ, so it don't matter!!

Sorry to hear that. DK was the first and only brand to create karaoke tracks specifically meant to aid the amateur singer.

The so called "pan flute" is actually in the middle (vocal ) track, which means that if you can hear it while you are singing, it's because you are singing out of tune. It was added to keep amateurs on melody, and if the singer in in tune with the song, his/her vocals will bury that melody line.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Check out Sweet Georgia Brown discs.. but put a plastic bag over your head first so you don't make a mess when it BLOWS YOUR MIND!

But seriously..

Generally speaking, I like Sound Choice, Chartbuster, and the Top Hits Monthly stuff.. and not one really any more than the other.. but Sunfly.. old Pioneer tracks.. Music Maestro.. it's all good in the hood.

Some people get real anal about it, but dude.. it's KARAOKE.. if you're looking for something that sounds just like the original track, put the mic down and go play the jukebox.

Eh? When did I say that?

I do not sing out of tune,( have perfect pitch,so it hurts when I do hit an off note)and hate hate hate those horrible flutes.They can be clearly heard if you improvise at ALL,and they are cheesy.They are often an octave above the vocal melody line if not 2,which makes for doubly unpleasant listening.

They may be good for amateur singers,but they still sound annoying.

Sound Choice,Dangerous,and some Pioneer pm and ps for old,IMO....FTX,Zoom,and some Sunfly and Karaoke Vrsion tracks for newer.

Hate to break it to you, but if your vocals don't bury the melody line...Sorry, but you DON"T have perfect pitch.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."