Karaoke Forums

Thank you for your previous responses.


It's not necessarily more of a consumer product. There have been times (admittedly very few), where I have had a Singer get up and request to just sing along with the song (because they were not familiar enough with the song, or they just were not a very confident Singer). I have also played many Multi-plex tracks at my shows (the few I have done), when I had no Singers. I would put a Multi-plex disc up and put my system on "Auto-Pilot" (with the screen/monitor visable to the audience). This was in the hopes of attracting some Singers to the stage. Sometimes, if I saw people singing along to the Multi-plex tracks, I would walk up to them with the Mic and ask if they would like to sing along. This also enticed some people to want to participate. Also, there have been times when a (potential) Singer would approach me after I have finished setting up, and ask to hear a particular song (so that they might decide to try it) before I have officially started my show. So, as you can see, the Multi-plex tracks do come in handy for professional use as well.

With all due respect Cue......they come in handy for YOU in a very specific situation. On top of that, you don't do regular gigs (unless that has changed), you are a DISC based host asking about a product targeted at PC based hosts, and by your own admission, the feature would be used very, very rarely.

I would much rather see them spend their time, energy and money creating products with a much greater appeal to a broader set of professional KJ's.

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-Chris

That might be ok if you can work it that way.

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

Well, sure, I guess that makes sense for your specific situation, and under the right circumstances I'm sure it's helpful. You sound like the best kind of karaoke host--one who gets people involved with the show. There are plenty who don't.

But I have probably been to 500 karaoke shows over the last 6+ years, and I have not encountered that even one time. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just that it's probably pretty rare.

I will say, however, that part of the financial calculus for this business is finding ways to use the raw materials (in this case, the recordings) for multiple kinds of products. It has always been SC's practice to record the lead vocal for every track, and I doubt that will change going forward. I'm not involved with production, so I can't say for certain. But you might eventually see a multiplex for these tracks.

I would just play karaoke music, don't think i've ever used a multiplex song ever, don't even bother ripping those personally.

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

Same here. I removed every "with vocal" track from my original just after I picked it up. I have never ripped the vocal tracks since then, but i also avoid buying discs with vocal tracks anyway just to optimize my purchases.

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-Chris

In this day and age, forcing customers to pay for vocal tracks or unwanted songs is not commercially or ethically viable. Let each song stand on it's merits.

The days of buying an entire album just to get the one decent song on it are over and i say good riddance to that model.

Now if we can just kill the bundle. Real tired of paying overinflated prices for 99% garbage I would never use in a million years..

(Bumped further down)

Chris, with all due respect, keep your "due respect" to yourself!!! This is NOT the first time that you have played down and devalued my wants and suggestions, and then gone on to decry how I am different from the rest and publicly disparage why a business should take no notice of me.

In response to your rather unfavorable observations, no, my situation has not changed. I haven't hosted a show now in about 2 years, but that doesn't mean I won't ever again. Yes, as stated, it's been rare for me to have to use a multi-plex track for the main vocals, but it's been nice to have them.

As for your statement about a product that's targeted at PC based hosts, well, what difference does that make with regard to a multi-plex track being available. Granted you (admittedly) have no use or need for the tracks with a main vocal, but that has absolutely nothing to do with being PC based. If SC/Pep is producing song tracks in digital format (for you to download), it should take no effort or real cost on their part to also offer a multi-plex version (since they already have created the track with the main vocal in it (see Harrington's quote below)). It would be up to you whether you want to have that version or not. If you had a multi-plex track downloaded into your library, you could easily use your Right/Left balance to have the main vocal removed for play during your show. I can do the same thing with my CDG Player (I hit the MPX button on my JVC machine for the Right Channel to be eliminated). You can't do the reverse with a track that has already had the Main Vocal removed.

This would not entail creating a new product, as already described, they would already have made these tracks.
Now, as to how many people would really like to have this, I can't say. I'm sure I'm not the only one, but I won't deny that I am definitely a minority. SC used to sell a series of discs that were just that... 8 regular tracks and then the same 8 tracks with the main vocal included (I remeber it retailing for $17 (although the price was higher in SC's earlier years)). PHM and THM used to do that on all their discs too (retailed at $18 for their 10 plus 10 discs). Likewise with PS (retailed between $18-$22 (depending how many tracks they had on the disc... average being 8 )).

I agree with you on this. The one thing I should add is, I would not be willing to pay more to have both copies of the same song (a Multi-plex version with Main Vocal, and the same version without the Main Vocal).

Hey James..

Did you ever contact Phill about sponsoring the advertising you are doing?

Seems like it should be a level playing field for other companies that do pay.

Just askin'.

Is fundraising allowed too?

They can use "Kickstarter" I guess..

i'm not positive, James could answer better, but i think making a Multiplex version would be considered a new product and require re-licensing at least of the graphics and sync.

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

Cue - You are a karaoke enthusiast, not a karaoke host. You are still disc based while the manufacturers, your singers and your peers have moved on. You have asked for multiple exceptions to rules and policies and how products are made and distributed because you are technically challenged by things that are actually very simple to learn.

As noted - You aren't even a karaoke host, but you want karaoke companies to make stuff to suit you just in case?

If you were making reasonable requests that a) made business sense, and b) Impacted more than just you, I wouldn't say a word. But that is not the case. Your requests are absurdly selfish.

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-Chris

Well.... according to you, you're not a host either... You're just a "fill-in host" without a regular gig either and it doesn't matter whether you own the equipment or not.

BTW: where's your little buddy InsaneKJ?... He's been very quiet for some time hasn't he?

And?

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-Chris

So what!!!!!!!


The Manufacturers: Yet this Manufacturer has been stating for the past few years that your choices are to either use their original product as is in its original form (DISC), or PAY them (by paying a fee to have your library submitted to an Audit) for the permission to media-shift and use them from a hard drive, or don't use their song tracks at all. Well guess what... I'm using their song tracks on discs (in original form).
My Singers: I never owned Singers. They were never MINE. And, as to what the Singers want, they could care less whether it's played from a Disc, a Hard Drive, or the Internet. All they care about is that it's played.
My Peers: Have moved on to where? I still know of several KJs who are disc based.


Really???????????? The only thing I asked for with regard to rules and policies, was to be listed as a Certified KJ so that I can be afforded the same perks and opportunities that have been stated to the 1:1 KJs. One of those perks was the ability to be able to purchase new SC discs if they ever started up production again, because they had once stated the only people that would be eligible to purchase those discs would be either GEM Licensees or Certified KJs (and then, when PEP came into the picture, HELP Licensees). Now, they have changed the wording in the PEP website to reflect that ODB KJs (such as myself) could also purchase these discs. Another perk in being listed is something you have benefited from... FREE advertising which got you hired at at least 1 venue that you never even approached. Just because I am not running a computerized show, WHY shouldn't I get some of that offered to me as well? Besides that, the way SC was "EDUCATING" the venues, they were focusing the emphasis on a KJ being 1:1, and glossing over the fact that there are other KJs out there who are legitimately using the product in its original format. They may have mentioned it, but they put their main emphasis on the 1:1 KJs, and thus implied that others MAY NOT be legal (planting a poisoned seed in the potential venues mind).


And why shouldn't a product be made available in other formats to be used. Why should the minority be alienated?

NOT YOUR CALL TO MAKE!!!! You ARE NOT the Manufacturer. They're perfectly able to make those decisions WITHOUT your assistance!!!



Since I am NOT the only ODB KJ in existence, it DOES impact more than just me.

You've said MORE than JUST A WORD!!! STAY OUT of MY BUSINESS.... whenever I might be KJ-ing (whether regularly or as an occasional fill-in) is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!! We're on opposite sides of the Coast (East vs West), and definitely pose no competition to each other.

Your negativity towards what I might need are MORE SELF-ABSORBED to your own needs, and clearly show you don't give two craps about someone who is different. You waste no time whatsoever to put me down in the name of technology. Talk about who is really being ABSURDLY SELFISH!

STOP being SC's spokesperson for me. Let SC (or at least Mr. Harrington) speak for themselves (at least Mr. Harrington addressed me in a more professional manner, and didn't blow me off the way you keep doing). I don't need YOUR opinions on what is viable and what is not!

I have nothing more to say to you on this.

Are you using them in a professional setting....No.



My bad. You don't have singers because.....you don't do shows. Since I do shows and I have plenty of actual experience in the past two years I can state with the utmost certainty that singers do not buy discs any longer. Mostly because no one sells them, but more accurately because they moved on years ago with the rest of the people that accepted modern technology. The discs they do use they bought long ago. And as I have pointed out several times over the years, the number of singers that own discs is getting smaller, not bigger. The same applies to KJ's. The same applies to karaoke producers.



Really? Do you really believe that the number of disc based hosts is significant for anyone at all to take notice or recognize from a business perspective? Do you really think that you and any other remaining disc based hosts matter to any karaoke company? I don't have a problem with you running from discs. I have a problem with you expecting the industry to make exceptions for you because you have not accepted modern technology AND that you want those exceptions when you aren't even and active participant in the industry.

Your peers have moved one. The very small number of disc based hosts you know are in exactly the same boat as you. I just hope they have a more realistic view of the future than you do.



So you fought to get recognized only to........do nothing with it. WTF???? Why bother? You cried about getting certified as an ODB host - I even supported your efforts - only for you to do nothing with it? Nuff said.



Have you signed up for ADVANCE? Wait..... I think I know the answer.....NO.....because they aren't making discs.



Because you aren't actually doing anything with it? Because you aren't a karaoke host? Because you aren't hosting shows? Because you fought for something that you aren't making use of?

I can't come up with anything less significant in the realm of karaoke than someone who holds on to the idea of running a disc based show, but doesn't actually run any shows at all.



It isn't a matter of being alienated. It's a mater of business.



Just like you are free to ask them to support you, I am free to ask them to ignore you and focus their (PEP's) limited resources on supporting those of us that will actually impact their bottom line. Every penny they spend making something for the ever shrinking number of disc based hosts is a penny they can't spend making something for those of us that have modernized!



You are statistically insignificant. Take that however you want. But add that to the fact that you DON'T RUN SHOWS, how can you expect anyone to take you seriously!?!?!?!?



I am not trying to be in your business. There is no possible way for me to be in your business because you don't have any business for me to get into.




You call it negativity toward you and I feel it is more of a reality check that you need to make. I accept that you are "different". I do not accept that the industry should have to cater to you or make exceptions for you. You aren't disabled. You can overcome your technological hindrances. You are consciously choosing not to all the while not even actively participating in the industry. How long will you wait before hopping back in? If it is 10 years from now, will you still hold the view that companies show make discs for you? Will you still not task yourself with learning whatever karaoke technology may be the norm? Or will you insist that because you own some discs and a disc player that you are relevant and exceptions should be made for you no matter how unprofitable they may be?



I am not a spokesman for anyone. I am however a realist whereas you seem to live in a selfish fantasy world. It is exactly the fact that I am NOT a spokesman and have no business dealings with you and never will that allows me to be blunt and not pull punches.

You may not want or like my opinions, but I am not wrong.

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-Chris

Phill says yes, ad in the Karaoke Scene magazine, and soon a banner ad here..

Good job..

And you would be WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!! Pre-paid my $30 on 8/20/2015. And if you looked (edit) back to the 2nd page in this topic thread, (end edit) you would notice my questions regarding CDGs for the Advance Series (which entailed asking what (if any) permissions i would need to media-shift to disc). Oh... by the way... They (Pep) have something in their FAQ's regarding the Advance Series and (possibly) getting it on a CDG. Just for meeeeeeeeeee???????????? I think not.

You don't know what my specific situation is, and you have made other assumptions about me as well (which I have no desire to get into WITH YOU!!!!!!!!)

Go climb back up on your HIGH HORSE now... We now continue with our regularly scheduled program...