Karaoke Forums

I really don't want to pay Sound Choice every year and I ultimately don't want to end up going away from the computer, so if anyone has found good replacement tracks for what SC offers - especially in the Bricks and Foundations I'm all ears.

Well you basically have two options then.

1. Get a Gem set. The only money you will potentially have to pay is a maximum of $100 every 5 years and they may waive that fee. You can either try to sell your discs to use as a downpayment for the GEM or Kurt MAY give you en a credit for your discs, but don't quote me on it.

2. If your not willing to lease the GEM, you could get a set of chartbuster essentials. Depending on what sets you get, you could replace about 60-70% of the songs on the Bricks/Foundations and then replace a lot of them with single downloads from Zoom, SBI and karaokeversion.com

I'm not 100% sure, but i think there are songs that you cannot get anywhere else anymore on the brick and foundations I'd have to check that.


If you don't have any chartbuster essential sets, PM me and i would be HAPPY to work out something with you

-James

I'm not replacing them in the "foreseeable" future. With over 700 SC discs, there is no way - unless something changes to the terms of original certified hosts to pay annually. Then I'd probably sell them and replace as needed with other brands - SBI, Zoom, Sunfly, Karaoke Version would be the top gotos. If for some reason these were pulled from US availability - I'd get out of karaoke altogether!

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

I am not replacing them either. But for future expansion I am picking up Pop Hits Monthly and Chartbusters discs, and continuing to buy in bulk when I can.

For two plus years now, new music has been digital download buys from KaraokeVersion, SBI, Zoom.

_________________
-Chris

If people don't choose to replace their SC That's fine by me. It would make more financial sense for me to certify at the present time. But despite the fact I have a significant investment already made, I choose not to because of uncertainty about the future.

I know several folks here have already done switched, so I'm looking to hear what they have done.

Why would we replace them? We use them as intended. To throw away over 300 discs would be insane.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

Because they can be sold at a premium and use the money to buy up only what you need from other brands.

_________________
-Chris

The intent of the thread isn't to debate the merits of replacing SC. It's for those who have already decided to replace SC to decide what to purchase to replace it with.

e.g. "Sailing" Christopher Cross much better on Pioneer cdg.

Other examples virtually any Van Halen song superior on Radio Starz to Sound Choice. "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" superior on (blech) Sweet Georgia Brown. Almost any Sinatra song better on Performance Tracks (blech again).

Big Jer, while I haven't replaced what few SC discs that I have ( maybe 50 or so?) and have no reason to (I'm OMD based) I can tell you what I have used instead. This same information is available on another thread in the legal forum, can be helpful anyway. Please keep in mind that the choices given are not based on MY taste, but on general consensus of singers and other KJs. In other words, most seem to agree.

For songs already released on SC:

Country: Chartbuster is THE producer for the Country Genre - hands down- and I don't think even the most devout SC follower would argue the point.

Broadway / Show Tunes: This genre is the bailiwick of Pocket Songs, and later on Stage Stars. Even Kurt admitted that PS was the superior Show Tunes label awhile back.

Holiday: From Yuletide to St. Patrick's Day, Top Tunes is the all out winner.

Oldies: This one's a toughie. A whole BUNCH of folks will choose Music Maestro for this genre. I can't say that I neccesarily agree. They are most certainly the closest to the originals ( the reason for their popularity) but their production values seem kind of bland to me. However, in the end there are very few if any singer complaints, so they are a viable option, though if I have it on DK I would use that first. SC did well with many of these ( SC8108 and SC8218 were absolutely terrificly done oldies discs), but in some cases their versions ( especially Elvis) are almost unsingable.

Pop: There are a LOT of options here. DK, Zoom, Pioneer, SyberSound / Party Tyme, and on and on... Plus, some of the compilation producers ( companies like KJ Tools/SuperCore, Amerising, etc...) contain tracks from many superior mfrs. through agreements made back then.

With the exception of Top Tunes and Pioneer, all the brands mentioned above were still in production well after SC shut new production down. You WILL find most of SC's tracks among these brands.

There are also what I call "One Artist Wonder" brands. that were just OK, or even generally crappy, that happened to do a terrific job with one or two discs/artists.

Examples:

BackStage is widely known as a "drink coaster" brand, yet they did good to very good job with Neil Diamond, Queen, and even a well accepted job with their Eagles disc.

Ameri-Sing is an old so-so brand who happened to do a very good job with the Beatles.

Stuff like that.

Please keep in mind that I am speaking of DISCS only, not downloads. Not my area or my interest. Also, I am speaking of quality in general. Of course there will be SOME tracks that SC produced that were superior enough to stand out. So keep THOSE tracks for disc play.

One more thing when using PURCHASED mfr. discs: At this point it is a waste of time to worry about what brands had what licensing /permissions from the publishers. It was NEVER our responsibility in the first place, and as it turns out, almost EVERY brand had some sort of licensing problems. If you PURCHASED the discs ( GEMS are only rented) then no one can force a recall. If the publishers/owners lose their minds they COULD try a cease and desist for ALL , but the possibility of that happening is near null- and if it did there would be no way to fix the problem anyway.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Zoom, Karaoke Version, and SBI are the main three i have been buying over the last few years through Tricerasoft. i will go to Karaokecloud for country if it has gotten relicensed.

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

Well if you asking what brands to replace soundchoice with my picks would be in deceonding importance would be

1. Zoom
2. Singking "Not much of these on the bricks or foundation tho*
3. SBI
4. karaokeversion.com


The only reason i put karaokeversion last is because they are more expensive per track

I have some Zoom - I agree they're pretty good. Just wish they had a count in.

SBI 's bought a few downloads - have been impressed - have concerns over downloads now.
Karaoke Version - mixed bag. Their version of "Barely Breathing" was a real disappointment.

Have the Sing King Gordon Lightfoot discs - not bad, but they were pricey when I bought them. Still nobody else has most of those songs.

Never seen a bad Radio Starz disc yet - just wish for more.
Priddis Lost Classics - very usable for Journey.

I have a few Amerising - they are ok in my book.

House Party Karaoke stills. Bad pics but blue background. Ldtters chsnge from orange to white.

House Party 2/3

Look familiar?

House Party 3/3

Nice count in bars oh and it sounds good!
Price: $1.99 at thrift shop.

hmmm....that font.....those count in bars...

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