Karaoke Forums

I have had that happen, too. When we first started we were 2500 songs against a 100,000 song pirate next door. We used to mitigate it by keeping a request list and this one guy would come to the show and talk about what we didn't have and request only Sound Choice songs and of course they were ones that you would have to buy a whole Brick to get or were otherwise only available on Custom. Next thing you know the fellow is running shows next door......

But for the most part, any time someone has winced about a version we have, it did need replacing. The one funny one was I replaced an SGB that was being done regularly with a Sound Choice and got a complaint from the singer that it wasn't as good because the guitars weren't as loud. Or piercing........

I've often thought about having a few cdg players, and making it a BYOK(bring your own karaoke) show......if you don't bring any, you don't sing...... .....would anybody here come?...let's assume my stuff sounds acceptable....

ps....would Harrington come?

I would definitely go to that kind of show. I just don't think that it would last very long. While there are always a few people at the shows around here that bring their own karaoke discs, the majority of singers do not; especially the singers that only go to karaoke once in a while or on a whim.

I used to go to one like that--the host had a minimal library and if you wanted to sing something else you brought your own. People liked to be the only one to sing a certain song or find a rare song so we all built up our own collections. Some people even brought in their own compositions with backing tracks. Others had so many discs they made their own little songbooks so people could share. I know at least one singer from there who brings her own Brick in. As it was the first show I had ever been to, I thought that was how it was done.

As far as how long that would last--this one went 16 years at the same location until the hosts retired. Then the co-hosts took it over and have been running it the past few years.

That would be the scenerio where the singer got used to a certain version - regardless of how bad. I had that happen as well in the past. Replaced a really crappy version of I Hate Myself For Loving You from Nikkodo with the SC version. One gal refused to sing the SC version - even though it is much closer sounding to the original, better lyrics swipes. But she learned on the other one I had for a couple years. I don't see her much anymore, but when she does come in, that crap version is still the one she asks for .

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

When you are providing a service, don't you always give the customer what they want, the customer is always right, right?

Did someone say we didn't?

Yep! And I said she still asks for that crap version, no where did I indicate that is not what I gave her.

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

How bad is the crap version? I just had an idea--do you think some people go to the version that sounds least like the original in order to put their own spin on it?

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

As a singer, I first started buying karaoke CDGs back in 2000 and SC was the absolute best out there; in my opinion. However, these days, that is not necessarily the case. SBI, CB, DK, Karaoke-Version etc. make some better rendtions than what SC had made in the past. I admit, I am a picky singer about how good the CDG version is compared to the original artist, but to me, the CDG brand does not matter to me as long as it is the best rendition to my particular taste. Regardless, being a jerk and complaining to the KJ is rude. I you don't like what they have, then BYO or go to another show!

The guitar sounds like it's playing through an AM radio, the drums sound like a sequenced midi machine, no real bass to speak of. Words are wrong, missing parts.
No it's the version she learned to sing. Exactly like when people bring in say a Music Maestro version of a song because they know that version, if they aren't used to it, it's not going to be to their liking.

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

Well I disagree with DK & CB making better versions, DK did make some really good renditions - however many of their songs were purposely recorded in the wrong keys - as explained back in 97 (or so) that they felt certain songs were too high for most singers - what about those singers that could sing them, cutting the length including instrumentals and the pan flute melody guide is what turned me off on them, although DK hasn't produced anything since 2000.
Chartbuster JUST recently started doing better in both pop & rock in the last 5 years - their country has always been good to above avg., but again are now out of business.
SBI & K-Version also have many clinkers as well - although being able to hear them first help, I have bought many - but the clinkers are either the only version available or I was trying to upgrade only to find out it was the same version as the one I was trying to upgrade and didn't really hear that they were the same on the sample and didn't compare to the one I already had.

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

I used to get a bit frustrated with some CBs in the past. And since they've been gone, the versions of country I'd been getting on All Star seemed passable. But on my last All Star, several of the country versions turned up to be CB/Karaoke Cloud and they made the other brands sound thin and tinny in comparison. I think that losing CB was actually a blow to quality, relatively speaking.

I'VE BOUGHT A LOT OF KARAOKE VERSION MP3S TO MAKE MY OWN KARAOKE TRACKS. Most of them sounded really good. The karaoke files that they put out look terrible and have plenty of incorrect lyrics and misspelled lyrics. I believe that they are made in Europe, France I think, and whoever does their graphics has a problem with the English Language.

As far as someone saying that you can get in a lot of trouble for making your own karaoke tracks....I've yet to hear about anyone getting in trouble unless they were trying to sell them to make profits with them.

Just have to ask: How can you disagree about the better versions when the actual tracks were never mentioned? While SC definitely made a really nice product, it's generally agreed that CB did better versions of the country genre than SC- as well as some pop, Pocket did better show tunes, Zoom is at least equal in pop, as was Priddis, and even SGB had a few tracks that were better ( Son Of A Preacher Man is the first to come to mind), and EVERYBODY did better Elvis.

While you may prefer a certain brand in general, without knowing the tracks in question there is no way to make the call.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

When customers ask me for a specific version, I pull out my Louisville Slugger and say "You'll sing what ever version I give you, and LIKE it!"

Actually, I've had several customers ask for DK over SC for oldies (60's & 70's), CB over SC for country and Sunfly for modern rock.

My guess is that Lonnie, with his many years of experience, has heard those other versions and bases his opinion on just that.

I have actually taken my most requested songs over time and listened to the other versions I have. This helps me pick the right version for the singers. For the songs I have never heard or no one has ever requested before, i generally go with SC first, CB second, then whatever I have after that.

-Chris

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-Chris

For me, "truest to the original" is not always the measure of a good karaoke track. How easy is it to sing to?

That is my complaint with some of the Sound Choice tracks. While they are undoubtedly more like the original, sometimes other brands like DK / CB / SF / LG have fuller instrumentation and are easier for the singer to navigate. I prefer the Legends version of Cherry Bomb and I Got A Name, though no one could ever claim that they were truer to the original than the SC version.

In other words, a good studio version doesn't always make a good live version.

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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.

And I never disagreed about CB country I said they have always been good to above avg.
Highly disagree on Son Of A Preacher Man from SGB. Sounds very sterile, midi synthed & drum track is off - but still many fold under the SC version. I have SC, DK & SGB version, and the DK is one of the few DK choices that get the spot in the book over the other two.

Because I have many of both DK & CB & compare them to other brands. Doesn't matter actual tracks, it was an in general statement. CB for example, most of their pop/rock stuff in general plain sucked up until a few years ago, then it started to get better.
DK i've had that stance all my karaoke life when I first heard them, even though I have owned them and even at one time had the full 99 set. They made some great tracks, but MANY of them were screwed up by recording the songs in the wrong keys, editing them for length and the irratating pan flute guide. I don't have to know which tracks to compare with. If they fell into the good tracks, then I concure, otherwise I disagree.

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

My guess is that Lonnie, with his many years of experience, has heard those other versions and bases his opinion on just that.


-Chris[/quote]


Chris, you missed my point. The OP never mentioned WHAT SONG (S) were in question, therefore there is no way to KNOW if another version was better. I respect Lon's experience every bit as much as you do, but he was generalizing based on brand, as he stated above- that' all I meant.

In the case of DK, I think that my opinion of them has been misunderstood. They are certainly make a very high quality of product, but I don't think that is why they are so popular. I think it's because they are the ONLY brand specifically designed to aid amateur singers with their performances. They are true karaoke productions.

Therefore, they can be easier to sing with and learn from for the beginner.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."