Karaoke Forums

I have recently had some discussions with some host buddies of mine, and this subject came up.

I am posting this because even though I am OMD based, even PC based KJs have to buy discs.

It seems many believe that that these half & half discs ( half the tracks with vocals, half performance tracks) are waste of time and money, and look down on them as "Home Singer Editions" or "Department Store" brands.

Me being me, I disagreed. It has been my experience that these types of compilation ( as opposed to all one artist) discs give me more bang for the buck.

"How can that be?" you ask. You only get half the tracks than those supplied on a regular disc.

True. However, though you get fewer separate tracks, you get more useable songs.

More stuff and less fluff.

Since SC is the most talked about brand here, I'll use them as an example:

The average Spotlight series disc contains- I think- soething like 15 tracks. In my experience, only 3-4 of the songs are used to any great extent.

On the other hand, there are only about 8 separate tracks on a Star Series disc. However, on a Star Series compilation ( again, not single artist) disc, I get 5-7 oft-used songs, because the songs used for each artist are usually their actual hits.

20-27% usage on a Spotlight vs. 62-87%

Yes, of course this is a generalization. There are certainly full discs with a much higher useage count, but it doesn't happen in the MAJORITY of cases.

Also, because these discs have fewer actual tracks, they are usually MUCH less expensive than a mfrs. non-multiplex discs. Feel free to make the price comparisons yourself using different brands. A HUGE savings per OFTEN USED track.

Of the thirty-something SC discs that I own, probably 25 or so are Star Series, simply because of the above.

You also have the advantage of using the vocal tracks with display for filler with the psychological advantage of putting chair singers at ease enough ( after singing along in their seat awhile) to give the mic a try.

Other good brands for this are:

Chartbuster 6+6 POP series

Pocket Songs ( Probably the best known for these types of discs.)

Karaoke Party (Medacy)

Party Tyme ( Sybersound)

Stellar does them, but theirs are not favorites of mine- just personal taste.

Don't get me wrong. I don't believe it would be effective to build the major portion of a library with these discs. One still needs the full discs for full volume and coverage. Out of the 1800 discs that I carry I probably don't bring more than 80-100 multiplex discs.

However, I do believe they are a good alternative when looking for particular songs on disc.

Just thinkin' out loud. Your mileage may vary.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

They are also a good buy for those who have multiple systems. I don't remember which thread it was, but I do remember the question being asked about splitting the disc. The co lawyers were consulted and responded that YES you have effectively purchased the song twice and can split the two versions between two different systems. For the PC host this would mean two songs for the price of one. A great way to reduce music costs.

Sure you might get a disc or two that might get a higher usage - but as your library expands almost ALL the discs as a whole are going to get less and less play over time as songs start fading/waning popularity and the flavor of the week moves in. You probably have just as many of the MPX discs that probably don't get used at all on that same note. One advantage about being computerized is being able to track what is being done off of which disc numbers (provided you enter them into the computer that way - which I do). That way if I do happen to get a 2nd rig going I can start focusing on the discs that actually get used - and if it's only 1 or 2 songs per disc, then I spend the money on a custom disc where I know the majority of those WILL get done since they are the singers that frequent the shows & ask for them.

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

If true, Karen, of course it wouldn't make a difference to OMD based hosts- can't physically split the disc. Might be a major consideration for a PC based multi-rigger though...

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Yup, usage may drop on ANY track, whether on an MPX disc or not. since that's the case, I don't see it as part of the equation.

As for tracking the useage- I don't need a computer. Not only can I track the top used few hundred in my head, I know their location without having to look them up.

Lon, I have absolutely no objection to custom discs. One obviously gets 100% useage from them- for awhile at least.

I don't know of any host that has a library that get 100% useage.

However, there is at least one advantage to buying regular discs. In many cases one gets songs that one doesn't even know they will need, yet end up either as heavy useage tracks, or as a lifesaver at a private event.

They are also usually much less expensive than customs.

Therefore, I don't mind a percentage of fluff, because fluff can BECOME good stuff- you never know.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

As I remember say a SC Star or Power Pick disc 8+8 would run me around $15-18 approx $2.25 per song - half of which were actually useable by probably the majority of kj's, the others I actually see listing them in their books (to date have never been to a show that a singer used a vocal version). A Spotlight would typically run me $22-25 for 15 songs. Approx $1.67 per song. I only bought the MPX if it was an absolute last resort or needed something right now.
I really wonder how much percentage ANY hosts library gets used. I am willing to bet throughout a years time, it's probably going to be less than 10% their entire library - no matter which library, and the bigger the library, that percentage can only go down further.

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

Can you possibly find that thread? I sent an email to Kurt Slep about splitting duplicate songs between two systems and SC's answer was, you can only split them by disk, not single songs. Reason was that if you were disk based, you can't just split one disk between 2 systems either.
I'm really interested to see those co lawyers response to it.

Alex, I remember it the way you wrote it too.

Alex, I don't remember which thread it was in and a lot of posts were deleted because of all the squabbling and people getting banned during that period. But if I remember correctly the question was posed to Gretchen either late last year or earlier this year while she was still with Chartbuster. She said she wasn't sure and would have to check with the lawyers. When she got back she said that their official position was that the costumer had effectively bought two copies of the song and could split them up 50-50 between two systems and still maintain 1 to 1. Hope that helps, also you might check with her and see if she remembers.

OK, think I found it or at least one instance, posted Oct 24, 2011, the original question is a little further up the thread.

She was actually talking about those Chartbuster discs that had both the regular CD duplicated with the MP3g format included - not just a regular multiplexed disc.

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

1) You pretty much proved my point. Even if you are correct ( you are not, because I specified compilation discs as opposed to one artist discs,and compilations are where almost all songs were hits), you still come up with a grater percentage of USEABLE hits per less expensive disc than the 2 or 3 on a full priced spotlight.

2) Considering the above, this statement strikes me as strange from a business standpoint.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

I was talking compilation discs as well. But it really doesn't matter. I have several 'full priced' Spotlights that get far more use and more songs per play than ANY of my Power Pick or Star series.


Not sure what is strange about it, I have bought discs in the past for good customers even if there were only one song on the disc. Mind you this was pre-custom disc availability. If it keeps a customer coming to my show, it more than pays for itself after a while.

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

Thanks Karen, but as Lonman says that seems to apply to the CD+G/MP3+G mixed disks. Oh well, would have been too nice. KJ File Manager can easily find duplicates from the same manu and move those files. That would have been easier than sitting and thinking about which disk can I place in which library...