Karaoke Forums

Phoenix has now opened up Sound Choice certification again. There are a few procedural changes to the program. We've streamlined the application process, and it's all online at the Sound Choice website. You can hit the soundchoice.com domain in a browser and it will take you to the right place.

The program will be open at least until May 16. If response to the program is weak, then we will probably take it offline on that date. If you've been on the fence about whether to go ahead, now is the time.

Just a few points:

1. Certification does not expire. We had considered making it an annual renewal, but we decided against it.
2. The cost is $150 per system certified, payable with the application.
3. Although certification is mostly for operators who media-shift content from SC discs, original disc-based operators can be certified if they like.
4. Once your application has been completed and given an initial review, you'll be listed as provisionally certified in the online listing. Once the audit is completed, the "provisional" tag will come off the certification.
5. If you want to be certified but prefer not to be listed in the database, just email customer care after you complete your application to let us know, and we'll leave you out of the database.

tried to sign in--would not let me enter
when you hit the get started part--nothing happens

I've sent a PM to Dave with some suggestions. Anyone who is having trouble with the site, or who needs to know where to go, please send me a PM and I will help out.

still cannot get on the website to register another library
called Brian at sound choice who we bought our gem series with.
He called me back and is very helpful to try to figure it out-at this time google chrome wont let us into the website. Hope they fix this for us computer dummies.

We have over 600 sound choice disks besides the gem series and still cant get on the phoenix website--will try to get on Monday again--I do not want to miss the window for another library. I want 1 red logo library and 1 blue.

For those who missed last Friday's deadline, I'm pleased to report that based on demand for certifications, we've extended the program at least through June 19, 2015. If demand continues at the present pace, we will very likely open it up permanently. However, I would encourage anyone who wants to get certified not to wait any longer than necessary.

As a reminder, a completed and provisionally approved certification application puts you on our Certified KJ list immediately upon that provisional approval, before the audit takes place. We currently have a significant backlog on audits, but we will get to everyone eventually. Audits are proceeding as quickly as we can arrange and complete them.

Also, if you are considering a GEM series license, now would be the time to pull the trigger as we are planning to implement a significant price increase next week. The current cash price is $3500 plus S&H for 6,000 tracks, or financing is available at a somewhat higher total cost. You'll have to call (704-588-7778) as the GEM series is not available via the website.

is the EMI suit including call for recall on GEM series sets concluded?

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Several sources are stating that the recall motion was denied by the Judge. The court docs have not been published yet (at least i can't find them) or I would provide a link.

_________________
-Chris

They never actually asked for that.

We'll have an announcement next week about all of the pending litigation.

SIGNIFICANT increase!! So now you are going to hurt people another way!! You couldn't leave well enough alone. Now you have to make it even harder to buy the damned thing. I do not know who told Kurt that he is a good business man, but they should be flogged!! Kurt is nothing but a greed monger. Seriously. You are going to raise the price of an outdated collection of songs that were recorded using obsolete recording technology, and do not sound HALF as good as the new stuff others are releasing. WTH is going through this man's mind??

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

First off, the comment about using outdated songs is very narrow minded. For the Newbie KJ who doesn't have a built up library already, or for the KJ who is looking to get another rig (or 2 or 3 or 4...), those "OUTDATED SONGS" are a staple in at least half of the KJs out there in the US (probably a lot more than half of the KJs out there).

Secondly, the fact that you feel that SC doesn't sound half as good as the new stuff out there is YOUR OPINION. You can't compare SC to the NEW STUFF out there, because SC hasn't made any NEW STUFF. And, as for what they did make, it still stands the test of time against others.

Thirdly, how is SC making it harder for people to buy it? If you do the math, 6000 tracks at 15 tracks per disc equals 400 discs. 400 discs at (let's say) $18 per disc comes to a total of $7,200 (which is twice the amount of SC's asking price of $3500). Just like the price of a cup of coffee has gone up over the years, what gives you the right to tell some other business that it's outrageous for them to raise their prices on a product that they sell... especially one that you have no intentions of purchasing anyway?!

Bottom line is, if the people who want to buy the GEM series feel that it's just not worth it, then they (as your average Joe Consumer) can go and buy from a different Manufacturer at a lower price. If SC feels that they are not selling the GEM anymore because their price became too high, well then, they (as a business) will have to reassess things and decide whether they want to lower the price again or just discontinue it all-together.

I think the point that Bobby has missed, and that maybe others have missed as well, is that far from being pulled off the market (as some suspected would happen), it's about to be worth even more than before because of pending developments.

Prices change according to market fluctuations. There is a limited supply of this particular product available. It is still in high demand, and it will likely go higher shortly. Price is a function of supply and demand--that's a basic fact of economics that has nothing to do with greed.

As for "recorded using obsolete recording technology," I'll point out that our goal has always been to produce the most authentic sound, not the "best" sound. You can argue that a modern recording of a song from the 1960s sounds better, but if you want an authentic recording, you've got to use "obsolete recording technology." And in fact, that's exactly what SC did. When they recorded songs from a long time ago, they used instruments and equipment from that time period--as exactly as possible, the same types of equipment used by the original artists.

In the many karaoke shows I go to, in all types of venues, it is fairly rare to hear more than a couple of songs that were originally recorded after 2005. Most of what's played was recorded long before that. Maybe your shows are different, but in my experience, that would be the outlier. So the GEM series is not really "outdated" in any sense other than that there isn't anything more recent than 2009 on it. That material is still in the highest demand.

So, James..

Did you ever contact Phill Cross about advertising rates?

I'll give you a really specific example of what Mr Harrington is talking about. Take a listen to the track "96 Tears" as made famous by ? & the Mysterians.

Now listen VERY CLOSELY to the hook. That is a REAL hammond B3 organ in the background. Do you have ANY idea how incredibly rare they are and how much it would cost to even rent one?! Talk about commitment to the real thing.

When a piano riff was required, they used a real piano, if they needed a steel guitar part they got one and if they needed a horn section, they used REAL horns, not synthesized crap.

Whatever you may think of them personally you can't deny that at one point they had a real commitment to quality.

If you feel that I have violated some unspoken policy on advertising please PM me. I am only stating my OPINIONS on specific things ALREADY being discussed on this forum

oops, just realized that you were talking to Mr. Harrington

Mea Culpa


But since it has already been hinted at. I just signed 'an agreement' with some company that will give me access to a LARGE collection of super cool renditions of karaoke songs that has a high degree of what I sing, for a VERY reasonable down payment.

Just waiting for my phone call so I can make the payment.

I am SUPER stoked.


this means that I am both provisionally certified and will be a licensee of an unamed product for the same company and DARNED happy about it.

-James

PS. Happy now JD?

As far as outdated collection, I'm betting a majority of the songs on that list are still done in most shows combined, I know my shows do as have many that I have been to. I get my fair share of newer music too, but the core is the 'outdated' songs.

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

It has been stated somewhere and I believe by Mr. Harrington that when SC composes a piece and they do not have the appropriate instruments that they outsource the work so your statement about a REAL HAMMOND B3 ORGAN is mute as they could have contacted anyone of numerous organizations that have such an organ to do that portion of the work that go to all the other musical instruments also. It is recorded elsewhere and then SC puts it all together. When you hear a recorded musical piece do you really think that all the instruments are in the room at the same time when it was recorded? Think again. As to the cost and rarity of the B3...it's not...can pick them up for about $5,000 or so. Lots of them listed on EBAY.

_________________
I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

I have checked ebay, this is the cheapest listing I could find for a FULL system *with the leslie speakers*

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1960-Cherry-Wood ... 4aea925371

If, by "pending developments," you mean more sales resulting directly from individual outcomes of SC's lawsuits against individual Pirates, I said "people who WANT to buy the GEM series," not people who are FORCED to buy them.